US: New law ensures pay for university staff during winter closures

University and community college employees will receive their pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a winter weather emergency.

US: New law ensures pay for university staff during winter closures -0
A lone vehicle moves eastbound along normally-conggested Speer Boulevard as a late winter storm dropped up to a foot of snow Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Denver. Forecasters predict that the storm will persist until early Friday, snarling traffic along Colorado's Front Range communities. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Senate Bill 331 requires the Board of Trustees of each public university and community college to pay employees their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits if a campus is closed due to a city, county or state declaration of a winter weather emergency.

The law does not apply if the day is rescheduled and the employee would be paid their daily, regular rate of pay and benefits for the rescheduled day when services are rendered.

“There’s little to no notice when campuses need to shut down for a winter storm,” said Turner. “Now, university and community college employees won’t go unpaid if there’s a closure.”

Senate Bill 331 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect Jan. 1, 2025.

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