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Committee reports bill creating optional 'backdrop' retirement for abolished judgeships
Summary
HB 1134 would offer an optional backdrop retirement benefit to judges whose positions are abolished; committee adopted an amendment to tighten eligibility dates and reported the bill as amended, while retirement staff flagged Section 2 and estimated benefits for qualifying judges.
Representative Breaux presented House Bill 11‑34 to the Senate Committee on Retirement on May 5 to create an optional "backdrop" retirement benefit for judges whose positions are later abolished by law.
The sponsor said the provision would be optional and apply to judges who elect the benefit within one year of the statutory trigger. Amendment 30‑38 was offered to tighten the effective dates and require an election within one year; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill as amended.
Travis McElwain of the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System told the committee that Section 2 would permit certain qualified judges to retire early without meeting the usual age or service thresholds and estimated annual benefits for those who qualify ranging from about $18,000 to $34,000 per year. He said the benefit would be modest compared with the state's savings from eliminating a judgeship but flagged the need for continued work on statutory language and eligibility.
With no recorded opposition, HB 11‑34 was reported as amended to the next stage of the legislative process.
