Members of the PERA Correctional Plan, Bill  SF1556 ( Bahr ) ;   HF 708 (Scott)  a bill to add a correctional officer is being heard this Tuesday March 25th by the Pension Commission.  This bill must be approved by the Pension Commission to move on and become law. MNCORA is on the list to speak to the Pension Commission at that meeting but it is very important the Pension Commissioners hear from you. Email them and tell them you are a PERA Correctional Plan member and want them to support these bills. Use your own words but stress we are now considered by the Federal Government as Public Safety Employees and this Bill will cost no money.  Here's their addresses: LCPR members 2025 and 2026   House side:   rep.ethan.cha@house.mn.gov ,   rep.josiah.hill@house.mn.gov ,   rep.leon.lillie@house.mn.gov ,   rep.danny.nadeau@house.mn.gov ,   rep.tim.odriscoll@house.mn.gov ,   rep.terry.stier@house.mn.gov ,   rep.dan.wolgamo...

 I attended the PERA Board meeting remotely today (3/13/25). As all of you know there's lots of pieces at play in the PERA pension plans. There have been in the recent past attempts by 911 Dispatchers and Probation to be merged into the PERA Correctional Plan which MNCORA has vehemently opposed. The positive note from todays meeting is that the current discussion is centered around improved pensions (earlier retirement) for probation and dispatch without talk of adding them to the Correctional Plan.  The sad part is the apparent confusion among PERA Board members as to the difference between Essential Employees and Public Safety Employees. Some were using the terms interchangeably which could lead to future problems.  While Police, Fire, Corrections, Probation and 911 Dispatch are all essential employees  https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/179A.03 . Only Police, Fire and Correctional Officers are Public Safety! The Secure Act 2.0 spells out changes to the defi...

March 11, 2025 the LCPR finally had their first meeting of the session. Officers were voted on and are as follows- Chair- Sen. Frentz Vice Chair- Rep. Lillie Secretary- Sen. Howe Notably absent was Rep. Wolgamott . This was the AGENDA Here is PERA Executive Director Doug Anderson's presentation on behalf of PERA . Here's their retirement plan scorecard shared during the presentation- MNCORA will continue to monitor the LCPR and work to advance our Bill for a seat on the PERA Board.

MNCORA had asked PERA to update their website and let our members know of the changes to our plan especially the Federal change of our status to Public Safety Employee the same as police and fire. They promised to do this in February and have kept their word. Here's the link  https://mnpera.org/news/attention-correctional-members-important-plan-updates/ The changes due to the Secure Act 2.0 begin here: Disability Recipients Some recent changes may apply to your disability benefit: >>The Pension Protection Act of 2006 in conjunction with Secure 2.0 also allows correctional officers receiving disability benefits to reduce their taxable income by up to $3,000 annually in costs paid for qualified insurance premiums, such as health, dental, and long-term care. Contact a tax professional if you have any questions. >>As of January 1, 2025, Correctional disability benefits will no longer be reduced by worker’s compensation. Recipients will receive their 2024 annual earnings for...

MNCORA thanks Representatives Peggy Scott and House Leader Harry Niska for Authoring HF708 in the House and senators Cal Bahr and Jim Abeler for authoring the bill in the Senate SF1556 . Next step is for the LCPR to hear this Bill. Here's a link to the Pension Committee (LCPR). It's very important to contact them and ask them to give it a hearing for it to move on. https://www.lcpr.mn.gov/members.htm

 Bill HF708 was introduced in the House today. MNCORA thanks to Representative Peggy Scott and Leader Harry Niska. Scott and Niska introduced: H. F. 708,  A bill for an act relating to retirement; Public Employees Retirement Association; adding a member to the board of trustees who is a member of the local government correctional service retirement plan