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



(b)  The programs may provide for cash awards
to recognize suggestions, inventions, superior accomplishments, length of
service, and other personal or group efforts.  A cash award shall be in
addition to the employee's regular compensation.  The acceptance of a cash
award 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 a
further claim upon the government by the employees or the employees' heirs and
assigns.



(c)  Awards and expenses for programs may be
paid from funds available to the departments and agencies benefiting from or
responsible 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 section
shall be final and deemed a performance of a discretionary function of the
chief 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.