N.H. Rev. Stat. § 99:4-a
In the event the director of personnel has approved beginning compensation at a step higher than the minimum step for original appointments of employees at an agency, the appointing authority for that agency may file a written request to the director of personnel that the pay of all classified personnel in the same classification be increased to the same amount if the director of personnel determines that such approvals for new hires will result in difficulties with retention of similarly situated current employees. Any such retention step increase shall be subject to collective bargaining requirements pursuant to RSA 273-A. A request for any such retention-based step increases shall specify the group of employees to which the proposed increase shall apply, and shall include all similarly situated current employees within an agency, division, or bureau, taking into consideration job title, scope of duties, and physical work location. Any increase so made shall be a charge against the pay adjustment fund or if the department in which the position occurs is financed by a special fund, such increase shall be a charge against such special fund. Any step increase granted under this section shall not change the anniversary date of employees receiving the increase.
RSA 99:4-a
1967, 253:5, eff. July 1, 1967.