House passes bipartisan pension bill, Senate File 2884, on 133-1 vote

The Minnesota House passed Senate File 2884, a bipartisan pension bill, on a 133-1 recorded vote after members suspended the rules to give the measure a third reading and final passage.

Members described the measure as a broad package of pension changes that provides cost-of-living adjustments for some public employees, establishes a work group to study pension options for probation officers and 9-1-1 telecommunications staff, and changes duty-disability provisions for police and fire personnel. Representative Niska moved to suspend the rules and advance the bill under the procedures permitted by Article IV, Section 19 of the Minnesota Constitution; the motion carried and the bill received final passage later in the session.

The bill grew out of the bipartisan Pension Commission, several members said on the floor. "This is the bipartisan pension bill from the pension commission," Representative Lilly said during floor debate, urging members to support the measure. Representative…