A. In order to establish a public employee benefit program to encourage outstanding performance in the workplace, the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services is hereby directed to establish an on-the-job employee performance recognition program which encourages outstanding job performance and productivity.

B. In order to promote excellence in job performance and provide recognition for work units with exceptional performance, state agencies are authorized to expend from monies available in the agency's operating funds so much thereof as may be necessary for the purchase of recognition awards for presentation to the members of work units or individual employees with exceptional job performance records or for other significant contributions to the operation of the agency. State agencies may also provide for such recognition awards to be cash awards.

C. Recognition awards may be presented to members of work units or individual employees having exceptional job performance records or other significant contributions and such awards may be presented at a formal or informal ceremony, banquet or reception, the cost of which may be expended from monies available in the agency's operating funds.

D. 1. Recognition awards may consist of distinctive wearing apparel, service pins, plaques, writing pens, or other distinguished awards of a value not exceeding One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) per recognized employee each fiscal year to recognize the achievement of the work unit or individual employee.

2. In addition to recognition awards listed in paragraph 1 of this subsection, the agency may establish an employee cash recognition program not to exceed Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per recognized employee each fiscal year.

Added by Laws 1999, c. 396, § 29, emerg. eff. June 10, 1999. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 50, § 1, emerg. eff. April 10, 2001; Laws 2001, c. 348, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2001. Renumbered from § 162.6 of Title 56 by Laws 2001, c. 348, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2001. Amended by Laws 2002, c. 325, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2007, c. 342, § 6, eff. July 1, 2007; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 1018.