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Committee approves bill allowing day-program staff to opt into teacher retirement plan
Summary
The committee gave a favorable report to House Bill 44, which would permit full-time employees of a Sacred County day program to opt into the teacher retirement system and allows purchase of prior service; funding of prior-service purchases remained undecided in committee discussion.
The Senate State Government Committee gave a favorable report to House Bill 44, which would allow full-time employees of a day program in Sacred County to opt into the state's teacher retirement program and permits the day program to purchase prior service for employees.
Representative Hill described the program to the committee as "a collaborative effort between our schools, our probation officers, our mental health, and our juvenile court system," and said the bill would let full-time day-program employees "opt into the teacher retirement program with the day program plan" that includes employer and employee shares. Representative Hill added the bill "would have a retirement. It's just a way for us to get another benefit to our folks."
Committee members asked whether the bill allows purchase of prior service and who would pay the cost. A committee questioner asked, "Do the employees have to put in their share of that as well?" Representative Hill said if the program "were to choose to do that, they have not chosen to do that, but if they do they would pay the cost." He also said, "My understanding, sir, is it all be born by the by the day program itself," while noting the program had not yet decided whether to purchase prior service.
Senator Orr said he was "going to abstain today" on the committee vote because he wanted to do more due diligence on potential costs. The committee recorded one abstention: Senator Elliott stated she would abstain. Other senators recorded as voting "aye" included Senator Kelly; Senator Roberts; Senator Stewart; and Senator Butler. The committee announced the bill "came out favorable." The transcript does not identify a motion mover or seconder by full name.
The bill as discussed is prospective and would allow participating employees to enroll going forward; committee members indicated the bill would not retroactively obligate employees. The transcript does not include the bill text, fiscal note, or an explicit funding mechanism; committee members asked questions about cost but no fiscal figures were provided on the record.
