During the interim after the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement and before the effective date of any subsequent collective bargaining agreement, state employees covered by the expired collective bargaining agreement remain eligible for and must receive merit increases in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the expired collective bargaining agreement. [PL 2019, c. 393, §1 (NEW); RR 2019, c. 1, Pt. A, §32 (RAL).]