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Indiana State Legislative News...We are going to continue supporting bills that benefit our members. In an effort to do so, we believe the following bills will provide our members with some benefit: Currently in the HouseSB0501 State Retirement Benefits Account – providing medical retirement benefits to employees SB0568 PERF Cola increase – an increase of 2% in retirement payments Call your House Representative NOW at 1-800-382-9841! Currently in the SenateHB1009 Privatization Review Committee – offering a procedure to privatizing state work HB1088 Collective Bargaining
for Public Employees Legislation passed and signed by the Governor effects us...SB 0568 - PERF COLA and thirteenth check. Provides for a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for a retired member of the public employees' retirement fund (PERF) (or a survivor or beneficiary of a PERF member). Provides for a thirteenth check based on the complete years of service credited to a PERF member at retirement. SB 05010 - State retirement medical benefits account. Establishes a retirement medical benefits account for elected officers, appointed officers, and employees of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of state government to pay participants' medical expenses after retirement. Designates the budget agency as the account administrator. Requires the state to make annual contributions to the account based on the age of the participant. Provides for a supplemental contribution to the account for a participant who retires with at least: (1) 15 years of service with the state, for an employee; or (2) ten years of service as an elected or appointed officer. Provides that: (1) employees who qualify and have applied for a normal unreduced or disability retirement benefit at separation from service; and (2) elected or appointed officers with at least ten years of service; are entitled to a benefit from the account. Allows the surviving spouse or dependent of a retired participant to receive a benefit. Provides that unused amounts credited to a retired participant are forfeited if the retired participant dies without a surviving spouse or dependent. Requires the budget committee to review the financial status of the account annually. Provides that, if allowed by the Internal Revenue Service, the retirement medical benefits account established by the public employees' retirement fund must: (1) require a state employee to convert certain unused vacation leave to a monetary contribution to the account at retirement; and (2) allow the state to contribute to the account on the employee's behalf an amount not to exceed two times the amount of the employee's contribution. Specifies that the budget agency may not establish the retirement medical benefit account or implement the health reimbursement arrangement unless the general assembly makes a specific appropriation to implement the health reimbursement arrangement SB 0568 - PERF COLA and thirteenth check. Provides for a 2% cost of living adjustment (COLA) for a retired member of the public employees' retirement fund (PERF) (or a survivor or beneficiary of a PERF member). Provides for a thirteenth check based on the complete years of service credited to a PERF member at retirement. |