CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - An organization of state game wardens wants changes in a rule that forces them to take extra time off for working holidays, saying wardens often don't get a chance to take that time and end up losing their days.

At a meeting Wednesday to discuss proposed changes in state personnel rules, Mark Nelson of the Wyoming Game Wardens Association said game wardens already have a hard time scheduling time off. Add in the days they're required to take for working on holidays and a limit on the number of vacation days that can be carried over from year to year, and wardens often wind up losing their time off.

Brent Knotts, the human resources manager for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, said last year game wardens lost 1,510 hours of unused time off - the equivalent of almost 190 work days.

"They're just gone," Nelson said. "In effect, when we're required to work certain holidays, we're working for free."

Nelson wants the rules rewritten so that game wardens who work holidays can choose either bonus pay or time off.

"To be effective, we need to work many hours," Nelson said. "We love our job. We want to work. We just want to be compensated."

Ron Pinther, vice president of the State Employees Association, also wants a provision added to require the state to provide direct notification to employees when personnel rules might change. Although a public comment period on the current revisions was advertised in July in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, a Cheyenne newspaper, many employees missed the notice and only learned of the comment period last when they received an e-mail.

Pinther wants a rule that would require that employees be notified either with their paychecks or through e-mail of any upcoming comment periods or public meetings.

The proposed rule changes would include a new salary survey that would give state employees a better idea how their salaries measure up against market trends.

The state Human Resources Department will review the comments made at the meeting and other public comments, then respond in writing and publish a letter of intent to adopt the rule changes.

The Legislature's Management Council and the secretary of state then have another 60 days to adopt the changes.

Information from: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com