Purpose:

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide processing instructions to agencies for entering the new College Degree Pay Differential for eligible employees at DOCCS.

Affected Employees:

Employeesat DOCCS (Agency 10xxx) in the Security Services Unit (SSU - BU01) represented by the New York State Correction Officers and Police Benevolent Association (NYSCOPBA), Security Supervisors Unit (SSPU – BU61) represented by Council 82 (C82), and employees in the title of Correction Captain designated Management/Confidential (M/C – BU06) are affected.

Background:

Pursuant to all Memorandums of Agreements dated 07/09/2025 between DOCCS and the applicable negotiating units above, as well as approval from the Office of Employee Relations for unrepresented M/C Correction Captains, a one-time lump sum College Degree Pay Differential of up to $750.00 has been approved as follows:

The College Degree Pay Differential is not pensionable but must be included in the calculation of overtime.

Effective Dates:

The College Degree Pay Differential is effective on the following dates:

Eligibility Criteria:

To be eligible for the new College Degree Pay Differential, on 12/31/2025 employees must:

• Be employed at DOCCS (10xxx)
• Be in one of the following bargaining units:
  • M/C (06), Correction Captains only
  • SSU (01)
  • SSPU (61)
• Have an Employee Status of Active (A), Leave with Pay (P) or Leave of Absence (L)
  • Employees with an Employee Status of L who meet all remaining eligibility criteria are eligible for the College Degree Pay Differential if they return to the payroll on or before 03/31/2026.
• Have received an associate’s degree or higher from a college or university
  • DOCCS shall provide guidance to employees regarding how, and to whom, proof of eligibility should be submitted.

Note: Eligible employees must not receive more than one College Degree Pay Differential.

OSC Actions:

OSC has created the following Additional Pay Earnings Code to process the College Degree Pay Differential

Agency Actions:

To pay the College Degree Pay Differential to eligible employees, the following information must be submitted on the Additional Pay page:

Overtime Calculation:

The College Degree Pay Differential must be included in the calculation of overtime for one year from the effective date of the payment if the employee remains in an eligible position. Each installment will be automatically included in the calculation of overtime earned from the OT Eff Date and forward, but must be end dated when:

1. One year has passed from the initial effective dates referenced above, and the employee remained in an eligible position (OSC will process).
2. The employee left an eligible position (appointed to an ineligible position, terminated or retired from state service, or deceased) before one year has passed from the effective dates referenced above (Agencies must process).

Ending Overtime Eligibility – One Year Passed

In Fiscal Year 2026-2027, OSC will automatically insert an end date on the College Degree Pay Differential payment using the following end dates:

Note: The Earnings End Date above will be inserted on all existing rows in Additional Pay for Earnings Code EDU which do not already have an end date.

Ending Overtime Eligibility – Left Eligible Position

Agencies must insert a row on the Additional Pay page at the Effective Date level of Earnings Code EDU using the information below if, prior to a year after the effective date of the EDU payment, the employee is:
 

1. Appointed to an ineligible title

   OR

2. Terminated/Retired/Deceased.

Retirement and Deduction Information:

Money paid using Earnings Code EDU is not included as salary for retirement purposes but is subject to union dues and deferred compensation. Deductions will be taken from the lump sum payment for garnishments and federal levies.

Tax Information:

The College Degree Pay Differential payment is supplemental taxable income, will be added to the employee’s taxable gross wages, and is subject to employment and income taxes.

Federal, State and New York City income tax withholding will be calculated using the Aggregate method. Yonkers income tax withholding will be calculated using the Flat Rate method (1.95975% for Yonkers residents and 0.50% for Yonkers non-residents).

Payroll Register and Employee’s Paycheck/Advice:

Earnings Code EDU and the amount paid will be displayed on the Payroll Register. The corresponding Earnings Description in the OSC Actions section and the amount paid will be displayed on the employee’s paycheck stub or direct deposit advice.

Undeliverable Checks:

When a valid payroll check is undeliverable due to the agency’s inability to locate the employee, the agency should follow the Agency Actions identified in Payroll Bulletin No. 1786 – Non-Negotiated and/or Undeliverable New York State Payroll Checks.

Checks issued to eligible employees who are now deceased should be submitted as a Stop Payment Request with a reason of Exchange in PayServ. The Report of Check Exchange (AC 1476-P) Next of Kin Affidavit (AC 934-P), and original death certificate should be submitted to the Payroll Reversal and Exchange mailbox at the same time as the Stop Payment Request. If a Next of Kin Affidavit has been previously submitted for a deceased employee’s payroll check, OSC will accept a photocopy of this form along with a new Report of Check Exchange.

Questions:

Questions regarding this bulletin may be directed to the Payroll Earnings mailbox.