Photo credit: Shannon Nickinson

A bill that would provide 3 percent raises for state employees was unanimously approved Monday by a Senate committee.

The Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee voted 4-0 to move forward with the measure (SB 478), which would give most workers a 3 percent bump.

Similar bills in the House (HB 213, HB 1239) offering 6 or 7 percent raises haven't been heard.

The House and the Senate included pay increases for some categories of workers in their proposed spending plans for the budget year that begins July 1 but didn't offer a statewide hike.

Gov. Rick Scott has advocated merit bonuses that could reach $1,500 for individual workers.