§5-5-2. Granting incremental salary increases based on years of service.

(a) Every eligible employee with three or more years of service shall receive an annual salary increase equal to $60 times the employee’s years of service. In each fiscal year and on or before July 31, each eligible employee shall receive an annual increment increase of $60 for that fiscal year.

(b) Every employee becoming newly eligible as a result of meeting the three years of service minimum requirement on July 1, in any fiscal year is entitled to the annual salary increase equal to $60 times the employee’s years of service, where he or she has not in a previous fiscal year received the benefit of an increment computation. Thereafter, the employee shall receive a single annual increment increase of $60 for each subsequent fiscal year.

(c) These incremental increases are in addition to any across-the-board, cost-of-living, or percentage salary increases which may be granted in any fiscal year by the Legislature.

(d) This section shall not be construed to prohibit other pay increases based on merit, seniority, promotion, or other reason, if funds are available for the other pay increases: Provided, That the executive head of each spending unit shall first grant the mandated increase in compensation in this section to all eligible employees prior to the consideration of any increases based on merit, seniority, promotion, or other reason.