Connecticut lawmakers face opposition on pension reforms affecting corrections employees

Concerns over proposed legislation dominated the Connecticut House of Representatives Appropriations Committee hearing on March 28, 2025, with significant opposition to Senate Bill 24, which seeks to exclude overtime from state employees' pension calculations. Testimonies from correctional officers and union representatives highlighted the critical staffing shortages within the state's correctional facilities, arguing that the bill would unfairly penalize workers who are already facing mandatory overtime due to chronic understaffing.

Correction officer Sarah Peters emphasized the necessity of overtime for maintaining safety and security, stating, "The overtime we work is both voluntary and mandated." She urged lawmakers to focus on hiring more staff rather than cutting retirement benefits. Brian Anderson, counsel for AFSCME, echoed this sentiment, asserting that the bill is part of a broader agenda to undermine public employee pensions, stating, "A worker's pension should be based on their true income, period."

Union leaders, including Robert Beaman, president of the Connecticut State Prison Employees Union, stressed the physical and psychological toll of correctional work, noting that the average life expectancy for correction officers is alarmingly low. Beaman argued that the bill threatens to strip away the dignity of retirement for those who serve the public, stating, "Senate Bill 24 threatens to take that away, reducing the ability of our officers to retire with dignity."

The hearing also featured discussions on other legislative items, including concerns about the Connecticut Association of Schools' inclusion in the teacher's retirement system, which could jeopardize the plan's tax-exempt status. The committee is expected to deliberate further on these issues, with significant implications for state employees and the overall safety of Connecticut's correctional facilities.