Below is a current list of bills dealing with retirement issues and the current Coalition’s position on each bill.

KEY

OTP: Ought to Pass / OTPA: Ought to Pass w/ Amendment / ITL : Inexpedient to Legislate (defeat)

HB1079: relative to part-time employment of a retirement system retiree.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors:  Rep. Douglas Trottier, Rep. Mike Bordes
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Thursday January 13 @ 11:00 am in LOB Rm 302-304
    • No action was taken
  • Subcommittee Work Session: Friday February 4 @ 1:00 pm LOB Rm 302-304
  • Recommended ITL 17-0, on consent calendar
  • House: defeated on consent calendar

HB1257-FN: requiring the retirement system to divest from investment in companies located in China.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Gary Hopper, Rep. Aboul Khan, Rep. Dave Testerman, Rep. David Love, Rep. Judy Aron, Rep. Brodie Deshaies, Rep. Louise Andrus
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Thursday January 13 @ 1:00 pm in LOB Rm 302-304
    • Recommended ITL 12-3, will be on regular calendar
  • House: defeated by roll call vote 312-25

HB1318-FN-L: relative to penalties for employer noncompliance with retirement system requirements.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Dianne Schuett
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Thursday January 13 @ 2:30 pm in LOB Rm 302-304
    • Recommended OTP 13-0, will be on consent calendar
  • House Vote: Wednesday February 16th and Thursday February 17th
    • on consent calendar
      • Passed
  • Senate Public Hearing: Wednesday March 16 @ 10:00 am
    • Recommended OTPA 5-0, will be consent calendar
      • amended to increase employer penalty from $25 a day to $200 a day

HB1417-FN-L: relative to payment by the state of a portion of retirement system contributions of political subdivision employers.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Robert Renny Cushing, Rep. David Cote, Rep. Michael Edgar, Sen. Cindy Rosenwald
  • Coalition Position: SUPPORT
  • Public Hearing: Thursday January 13 @ 10:00 am in LOB Rm 302-304
  • Next Step: the bill will go to a sub-committee for further discussion. Date & time of sub-committee is TBD
    • Recommended ITL 10-8
  • House Vote: Wednesday February 16th and Thursday February 17th
    • on regular calendar
      • original recommendation was overturned, bill passed by roll call vote: 182-169
  • House Div I Finance Committee recommended ITL 4-2
  • House Finance recommended ITL 11-10

HB1497-FN: relative to optional allowances in the retirement system.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Tom Lanzara
  • Coalition Position: SUPPORT
  • Public Hearing: Tuesday January 25 @ 11:30 am in LOB Rm 302-304
  • Subcommittee Work Session: Tuesday February 1 @ 8:00 am in LOB Rm 302-304
    • Recommended OTP 18-0
  • House Vote: Wednesday February 16th and Thursday February 17th
    • on consent calendar
      • Passed
  • Senate Public Hearing: Wednesday March 16 @ 9:30 am
    • Recommended OTP 5-0, will be on consent

HB1535-FN: relative to cost of living adjustments for retirees in the state retirement system.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Troy Merner, Rep. Joseph Guthrie, Rep. Mike Bordes, Rep. Brodie Deshaies
  • Coalition Position: SUPPORT
  • Public Hearing: Thursday January 13 @ 9:00 am in LOB Rm 302-304
  • Subcommittee Work Session: January 21 @ 1:00 pm in LOB Rm 302-304
    • Recommended OTPA 17-2
  • House Vote: Wednesday February 16th and Thursday February 17th
    • on regular calendar
      • Passed by voice vote
  • House Div I Finance Committee Work Session: March 14th @ 10:00am
    • Recommended OTPA 18-3, will be on regular calendar
      • amended to be a 1-time $500 payment fore retirees/beneficiaries who have been retired at least 60 months and whose benefits is $30,000 or less

HB1549: relative to special duty hours worked by retired police members in the retirement system.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors:  Rep. Tracy Emerick, Rep. Peter Leishman, Rep. Gerald Griffin
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Tuesday January 25 @ 1:00 pm in LOB Rm 302-304
  • Recommenced ITL 19-0
    • Defeated on consent calendar

HB1557: relative to survivor benefit optional allowances under the retirement system.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Jeffrey Goley, Rep. Dianne Schuett, Rep. Stephen Pearson
  • Coalition Position: SUPPORT
  • Public Hearing: Tuesday January 25 @ 10:45 am in LOB Rm 302-304
    • Recommended Interim Study 15-1, will be on consent calendar
  • House Vote: Wednesday February 16th and Thursday February 17th
    • on consent calendar
      • sent to interim study

HB1563-FN: requiring state employees to be enrolled in the deferred compensation plan.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Carol McGuire, Sen. John Reagan, Rep. Leonard Turcotte, Rep. Gregory Hill
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Tuesday January 25 @ 2:00 pm in LOB Rm 302-304
  • Subcommittee Work Session: Friday January 28 @ 1:00 pm in LOB Rm 302-304
    • Recommended ITL 17-1
  • House Vote: Wednesday February 16th and Thursday February 17th
    • on consent calendar
      • Defeated

HB1587-FN-A: relative to determination of average final compensation under the retirement system and making an appropriation therefor.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Kevin Pratt, Rep. Mike Bordes, Rep. Douglas Trottier, Rep. Brodie Deshaies
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Tuesday January 25 @ 10:00 am in LOB Rm 302-304
  • Subcommittee Work Session: Tuesday February 1 @ 8:00 am in LOB Rm 302-304
    • Recommended OTP 12-6
  • House Vote: Wednesday February 16th and Thursday February 17th
    • on regular calendar
      • Passed by roll call vote: 232-113
  • House Finance: recommended OTPA 20-1. will be on consent calendar
    • now amended to only include group II members who had been hired but not vested as of July 1, 2011

HB1590: relative to municipalities withdrawing from the state retirement system.

  • Original Committee: House Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Rep. Lex Berezhny , Rep. Keith Ammon, Rep. Leonard Turcotte, Rep. Edward Gordon, Rep. Andrew Prout, Rep. Bob Giuda, Rep. Dawn Johnson, Rep. Juliet Harvey-Bolia,  Rep. Leah Cushman, Rep. Erica Layon
  • Coalition Position: OPPOSE
  • Public Hearing: Thursday January 13 @ 3:15 pm in LOB Rm 302-304
  • January 25: Committee recommended ITL 15-2
  • House Vote: Wednesday February 16th and Thursday February 17th
    • on regular calendar
      • Defeated by division vote: 287-57

SB356: relative to medical benefits payments by state retirees.

  • Original Committee: Senate Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Sen. Lou D’Allesandro
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Wednesday January 12 @ 9:30 am in SH Rm 103
    • No action was taken
  • Next Step: Committee Vote TBD
    • Recommended OTP 5-0
  • Passed Senate on consent calendar

SB363: relative to service credit for certain group II retirement eligibility.

  • Original Committee: Senate Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Sen. Lou D’Allesandro
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Wednesday January 12 @ 9:50 am in SH Rm 103
  • Next Step: Committee Vote TBD
  • Recommended Interim Study 5-0
    • Overturned and passed OTPA by voice vote.
      • Senate Finance Executive Session Tuesday March 29th

SB411-FN: relative to critical incident stress management for emergency services providers, and establishing a violent act injury disability retirement for public safety employees.

  • Original Committee: Senate Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Sen. Kevin Cavanaugh
  • Coalition Position: MONITOR
  • Public Hearing: Thursday January 13 @ 9:40 am in SH Rm 103
    • This bill is currently being held by the Committee as another avenue to address this issue is being taken at the time. The committee may bring it back for further discussion later this legislative session.
  • Recommended Interim Study 5-0

SB434-FN: relative to the reduction in the calculation of state retirement annuities at age 65.

  • Original Committee: Senate Executive Departments & Administration
  • Sponsors: Sen. Kevin Cavanaugh
  • Coalition Position: SUPPORT
  • Public Hearing: Thursday January 13 @ 9:20 am in SH Rm 103
  • Next Step: Committee Vote TBD
    • Recommended OTP 5-0
  • Senate Finance: Recommended Interim Study 4-2, will be on regular calendar