Subcommittee advances bill allowing Catawba Nation to join police pension system

The Retirement Subcommittee for Finance voted unanimously to give a favorable report to S.127, a bill that would allow the Catawba Nation to join the state Police Officers Retirement System and require the Nation to waive sovereign immunity limited to disputes arising from participation in the system.

Olivia, a committee staff member, told the subcommittee that Section 1 adds the Catawba Nation to the retirement system's definition of "employer" under certain circumstances and that Section 2 sets qualifying language for admission. She said the Nation must apply to the board pursuant to current law in section 9-11-40, comply with the board's rules and regulations, specify a requested date of admission that meets statutory requirements, and meet the condition that an employee may not become a member unless "substantially all" of the employee's…