OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - The Oklahoma House has
overwhelmingly approved a $7.3 million plan to give state Highway Patrol
troopers a pay increase.
The House voted 90-0 on Thursday for the bill by Dacoma Republican Rep. Jeff Hickman. It now goes to the state Senate.
Hickman says one-third of the roughly 770 troopers
currently are retirement eligible and that there's a critical "manpower
issue."
The bill would boost the starting salary of a cadet
from $33,192 to $38,602. Starting troopers who have completed their
probation would see their pay boosted from $38,000 to $44,194.
Hickman says the OHP is competing with municipal
police departments, 15 of which pay officers more than state troopers.
He says troopers have not had a pay increase in more than six years.
Online:
House Bill 2145: http://bit.ly/13VMlO5
Copyright 2013 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
