Judiciary Committee

JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT

SPONSORS OF BILL:

Governor's Bill

REASONS FOR BILL:

Implements the budget by extending the changes to the state employee retirement plan made by the most recent SEBAC agreement to judges, family support magistrates and workers' compensation commissioners.

SUBSTITUTE LANGUAGE: LCO #2877 makes mostly technical fixes to fully accomplish the bill's original purpose.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

Judicial Branch- Hon. Barbara M. Quinn: Supports this bill. The purpose of this bill is to make important technical changes to the legislation passed last year that amended statutes governing retirement of judges, family support magistrates and workers' compensation commissioners. The intent of the legislation was to apply the same changes that were made to the state employees' retirement system as the result of the SEBAC agreement to the judges' retirement system. This proposal is important to the Judicial Branch because it will allow it to operate in a more efficient and cost-effective manner and will address issues that have come to their attention over the past few years.

Office of Policy and Management- Karen Buffkin: Supports this bill. This bill makes corrections to the pension provisions for judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners based on the changes that were adopted by the General Assembly last session. The changes were based upon the SEBAC agreement that changed pension provisions for non-represented employees and the judicial branch. The bill specifically corrects the potential for an overlap in effective dates of changes to the pension plan by clarifying the dates applicable. Further, it clarifies that longevity payments will not be imputed to a judge, family support magistrate or compensation commissioner for purposes of calculating the amount of retirement benefit. It also makes a modification to the amount of the cost of living increase that would be applicable to judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners who retire after September 2, 2011. Finally, the bill permits the judges, family support magistrates and compensation commissioners the opportunity, if an irrevocable election is made, to maintain their existing pension plan by paying the additional actuarial cost of maintaining that benefit.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

None Expressed.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

None Expressed.