CHAPTER I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

  Section 1. Purpose. The Suggestion Award Program is established to recognize employees with monetary or other types of awards who contribute suggestions that reduce expenditures, increase revenues or productivity, eliminate safety hazards, improve efficiency in State operations and services or result in other benefits to the State.

  Section 2. Authority. The Suggestion Award Program is authorized by W.S. 9-2-1034. This law establishes a Suggestion Award Board (hereafter referred to as "Board") composed of four (4) state employees and (1) staff coordinator appointed by the Governor.

  Section 3. Responsibilities.

  (a) Suggestion Award Board. The Board shall be responsible for the following:

    (i) Adoption of rules and regulations, including criteria for making awards.

    (ii) Administration of the program to ensure uniformity and consistency among agencies.

    (iii) Reviewing and approving agency recommendations regarding whether an award shall be made and the type and amount of the award.

    (iv) Reviewing and approving all non-cash award alternatives.

  (b) Suggestion Award Coordinator. The Suggestion Award Coordinator shall be responsible for;

    (i) Scheduling and coordinating quarterly Board meetings and award events.

    (ii) Participating as a voting member on the Board.

    (iii) Forwarding suggestions to appropriate Agency Heads for evaluation.

    (iv) Receiving evaluation results and reporting all problems, issues, disputes and status of suggestion to the Board.

    (v) Developing and maintaining a record keeping system and preparing periodic reports regarding the achievements of the program.

    (vi) Developing marketing strategies for the program.

  (c) Agency Head. The agency head shall be responsible for the following:

    (i) Appointing an Agency Coordinator to act as the liaison between the agency and the Board and coordinating the program within the agency.

    (ii) Appointing an Evaluation Committee to assist in the investigation and evaluation of suggestions and recommendations for type and amount of the award. The size and membership of such committee shall be determined by the agency head.

    (iii) Making recommendations to the Board regarding eligibility of employees and suggestions for awards.

    (iv) Making recommendations to the Board as to whether an award shall be made and the type and amount of the award.

    (v) Ensuring that suggestions are fairly evaluated and implemented within a reasonable time frame.

    (vi) Encouraging employees to participate in the Suggestion Award Program.

    (vii) Authorizing non-monetary program rewards.

  (d) Agency Coordinator. The agency coordinator shall be responsible for the following:

    (i) Receiving and processing suggestions.

    (ii) Monitoring evaluation status of suggestions and keeping suggestors informed.

    (iii) Conducting initial eligibility determination of employees or suggestions for an award.

    (iv) Notifying the Board of the agency's intent to adopt/reject a suggestion and recommending type and amount of award for the adopted suggestion with sufficient documentation to support recommendation.

    (v) Developing internal marketing strategies for the plan.