§78-29  Incentive and service awards. (a)  Each chief executive may establish incentive and service awards programsto recognize employees who contribute to the efficiency, economy, or otherimprovement of government operations or who perform exceptionally meritoriousspecial acts or services in the public interest in connection with or relatedto their official employment.  The programs may allow appointing authorities toestablish their own programs consistent with the policies of the chiefexecutive.

(b)  The programs may provide for cash awardsto recognize suggestions, inventions, superior accomplishments, length ofservice, and other personal or group efforts.  A cash award shall be inaddition to the employee's regular compensation.  The acceptance of a cashaward shall constitute an agreement that use by the government of any idea,method, or device for which the award is made shall not form the basis of afurther claim upon the government by the employees or the employees' heirs andassigns.

(c)  Awards and expenses for programs may bepaid from funds available to the departments and agencies benefiting from orresponsible for recognizing the employee's or group of employees' contribution,as determined by the chief executive or appointing authority, as applicable. All administrative decisions made on the issuance of awards under this sectionshall be final and deemed a performance of a discretionary function of thechief executive or appointing authority. [L 2000, c 253, pt of §74; am L 2001,c 55, §36]

 

Note

 

  Second sentence of subsection (b) printed as enacted.