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2008 House Bill 5944: Grant early retirement full pension to certain juvenile justice employees
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- Introduced by Rep. Shanelle Jackson (D) on April 8, 2008, to grant a full pension to some employees of the Department of Human Services juvenile justice division who will be laid off under a plan to privatize a portion of the division’s operations, even if they retire earlier than allowed under current law. Also, to increase the pension benefits of some of these employees with greater seniority or age.
- Referred to the House Labor Committee on April 8, 2008.
- Reported in the House on June 10, 2008, with the recommendation that the amendments be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Amendment offered in the House on June 27, 2008, to revise some of the dates defining the "early out" enhanced pension offer window. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on June 27, 2008.
- Amendment offered by Rep. Alma Smith (D) on June 27, 2008, to also extend the enhanced pension benefits to certain Department of Corrections employees. The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on June 27, 2008.
- Substitute offered by Rep. Rick Jones (R) and Rep. Fulton Sheen (R) on June 27, 2008, to extend the enhanced pension benefits to all state employees. Although this passed, a subsequenct substitute removed the provision. The substitute passed 68 to 39 in the House on June 27, 2008.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
- Substitute offered by Rep. Fred Miller (D) on June 27, 2008, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that removes the provisions of the Jones substitute, which extended the enhanced retirement benefits to all state government employees. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on June 27, 2008.
- Referred to the House Labor Committee on April 8, 2008.
- Passed 100 to 7 in the House on June 27, 2008, to grant a full pension to some employees of the Department of Human Services juvenile justice division who will be laid off under a plan to privatize a portion of the division’s operations, even if they retire earlier than allowed under current law. Also, to increase the pension benefits of some of these employees with greater seniority or age, and also for certain Department of Corrections employees.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Received in the Senate on July 17, 2008.
- Referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 17, 2008.
Most Recent Comments
1) pension benefits by Anonymous Citizen on July 3, 2008What are pension benefits?
(A non-government employee (taxpayer) wants to know)
Reply
Rep. Bieda, having reserved the right to explain his nay vote, made the following statement:
“Mr. Speaker and members of the House:
I voted ‘no’ on this amendment because it would most likely create a substantial unfunded liability to the state retirement system. In addition, the expansive broadening of the bill contemplated by this amendment has never been subject to any actuarial or fiscal analysis.”
Reply
I'm confused -- won't this bill cost the state money instead of saving? I understand the concept of most early out plans, a lot of money is saved just by hiring lower wage workers. But why offer it to people who are going to leave anyway? I'm all for helping laid off workers, but is this the best time to spend money this way? Maybe it should be combined with a traditional early out plan so that it ends up saving more than it will cost.
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