JEFFERSON CITY — On Monday, April 22, the Missouri Senate approved its version of the state’s operating budget for FY 2014, which will begin July 1 and go to June 30, 2014. The $24.7 billion operating budget is comprised of 13 core budget bills (HBs 1-13). Senator Mike Cunningham, R-Rogersville, is pleased to note that HB 9, which addresses funding for Department of Corrections (DOC), was passed out of the Senate to include an additional $150 salary increase for certain correction officers over the House’s recommendation. The pay raise, beginning July 1, would be implemented throughout the year and is set to continue beyond FY 2014.

“I’m very appreciative of all the efforts demonstrated by our state’s corrections officers who work tirelessly to ensure our state remains a safe place to live, work, and raise a family,” Sen. Cunningham said.

The proposed pay raise specifically applies to officers titled “Corrections Officers I” and “Corrections Officers II.” The Corrections Officer I position entails, among other duties, maintaining security in buildings, towers, and other posts of an adult correctional facility and intervening during emergencies. Missourians who work under the Corrections Officer II category, among other responsibilities, patrol the living quarters, grounds, and buildings of corrections facilities to observe offender behaviors and the effectiveness of corrections officers and/or probation and parole assistants.

The Senate version of the FY 2014 will be sent to the House (the chamber in which the bills originated) for its consideration. If the House does not agree with the Senate’s changes, a conference committee will be called and members from each chamber have the opportunity to iron out any differences. The constitutional deadline to hand the budget in to the governor is Friday, May 10.