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House passes bill adjusting PERA contributions for Denver Public Schools division; sponsors say savings to support educator pay
Summary
House Bill 11‑05, addressing the equalization of Denver Public Schools’ contributions to the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA), passed the House with amendments that exclude DPS from some provisions for a 5‑year period; sponsors said the change returns excess contributions to educators while preserving PERA solvency.
The Colorado House on April 7 passed House Bill 11‑05, a bill addressing long‑standing contribution disparities following Denver Public Schools’ 2009 merger into the Public Employees' Retirement Association (PERA).
Representative Camacho, sponsor of the bill, said Denver Public Schools had contributed substantially more than other school divisions since the 2009 merger and that an actuarial analysis shows DPS could reduce employer contribution rates without jeopardizing the division’s funding targets. The bill, as amended on the floor, excludes DPS from a direct distribution mechanism for five years (Amendment L005) and excludes DPS from an auto‑adjust provision (Amendment L006), sponsors said.
Camacho said the bill is designed to return modest savings to educators — the sponsor estimated about $2,500 on average per teacher and staff member — while maintaining the overall solvency commitments made to PERA. Members asked repeatedly for assurance from PERA that current retirees would not be harmed; sponsors and representatives said PERA officials stated in committee that current retirees would not lose benefits and that the changes, as amended, were within actuarial analysis.
Concerns were raised about PERA’s broader unfunded liability and the timing of any contribution changes during uncertain market conditions. Representative Taggart and others asked for explicit assurance from the PERA board; sponsors said they were continuing to coordinate with PERA and expected follow‑up communication.
The House adopted the finance committee report and passed the bill on the floor; committee amendments and the two floor amendments noted above were adopted prior to final passage.
