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Committee approves amendment to phase pension contribution increase over 20 years and concurs in SB 287
Summary
The House State Administration Committee approved an amendment to Senate Bill 287 to phase a 2% increase to PERS and TRS contributions over 20 years (instead of 10) and concurred in the bill as amended; sponsors said coordination language resolves conflicts with other bills and the bill will proceed to Appropriations and the floor.
The House State Administration Committee on an unspecified date approved an amendment to Senate Bill 287 that changes the timetable for a 2% employer contribution increase to the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and Teachers' Retirement System (TRS), phasing the increase over 20 years rather than 10. The committee then concurred in SB 287 as amended and arranged for a committee member to carry the bill to the Senate.
Ms. Power, committee staff, told members the amendment (identified in committee as amendment 287.001.006) spreads the contribution increase over 20 years to make the change more gradual and adds a coordination section so that SB56 and House Bill 924 do not conflict with SB287. She also said a remaining conflict with HB924 was likely to be resolved in the Appropriations Committee.
During discussion representatives expressed concern about the budgetary implications of multiple pension-related bills moving through the process. Representative Julie Darling said the pension bills are pieces of a larger puzzle and that Appropriations could trim any excess. The amendment was adopted by voice vote with proxy votes recorded, and the committee subsequently concurred in SB 287 as amended. A member volunteered to carry the bill to the Senate.
Next steps: SB 287, as amended, will move to the floor and be handled in Appropriations for further fiscal review. No formal fiscal figures or effective dates were specified in committee.
