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Senate moves to raise public-safety retirees' maximum COLA to 4%; bill advanced
Summary
Senate Bill 19 would increase the maximum annual cost-of-living adjustment for certified public-safety retirees from 2.5% to 4%, allow local employers to opt in, and provide funding mechanics; sponsors cited parity with firefighters and a fiscal note of roughly $3,172,000. The Senate advanced the bill to third reading (28–0–1).
Senator Christine Walker presented Senate Bill 19 to raise the maximum annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for certified public-safety members and retirees from 2.5% to 4%. Sponsors and committee members said the change is intended to correct a long-standing inequity with firefighters and other state retirement systems and to allow local employers to elect participation without imposing a statewide mandate.
Senator Walker said the bill would repeal the public-safety retirees restricted account and redirect funds to a Public Safety Trust to support part of the increased COLA. She and supporters emphasized that the change is optional for localities and that it was developed in consultation with the Retirement Board and local stakeholders. "It provides a maximum annual COLA adjustment of 4% for public safety members and retirees instead of the current 2.5%," the sponsor said.
Senators noted fiscal impacts and local options. Senator Hickman referenced a fiscal note of approximately $3,172,000. Supporters said the bill provides for current retirees and allows participating employers to make a one-time election. Senator Bramble described local negotiations (Provo cited) and said cities had made administrative adjustments in anticipation of the bill.
The Senate advanced SB19 to third reading; the clerk announced 28 yes votes and 0 nays with 1 absent. Sponsors asked that members confirm any conflict-of-interest disclosures on final passage where applicable.
