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Showing posts from April, 2024

MNCORA testimony at the state Capitol on keeping Dispatch from our pension

On April 29, 2024 MNCORA President Wade Laszlo testified at the LCPR (Pension Commission ) meeting at the Minnesota State Capitol. MNCORA testimony starts at 1:11:54

How does the increase from 1.9% to 2.2% work?

The Bill to increase the multiplier from 1.9 to 2.2% for the high five is in the Omnibus Bill. We've received many questions regarding this. If signed into law this is how it will work. From the 2024 Pension and Retirement Bill (DE 24-0301) Section 14 increases the employee contribution rate for the PERA Correctional Plan by 1% of pay, from 5.83% to 6.83%, and the employer contribution rate by 1.5% of pay, from 8.75% to 10.25%. These increases are intended to fully fund the increase in the multiplier in section 15.  Section 15 increases the multiplier used to calculate the annuity amount for members of the PERA Local Government Correctional Plan from 1.9% to 2.2% for service earned after June 30, 2025. The current multiplier of 1.9% will continue to apply to years of service earned prior to the effective date. With these changes, the benefit formula will be:  Annual benefit = ((years of service earned prior to July 1, 2024, x 1.9%)  + (years of service earned after June 3...

Victory on keeping Dispatch out of Correctional Pension?

It's too early to declare victory as the Legislature is still in session. However there are signs the petitions from jails across the State and Cards to the Pension Commission are having the desired effect. Chair of the Pension Commission, Rep. Her wrote us saying- " Thank you for the letters.  I always appreciate feedback.  HF4796/SF4958 was not included in the Pension Omnibus bill. " Author of HF4796, Rep. Wolgamott wrote us and said- "Thank you for sharing your input regarding HF 4796. The bill will not receive a committee hearing and will not be moving through the legislative process this session. I hope you will continue to stay in touch and keep me updated with MNCORA’s perspective on issues and legislation affecting your members." There are still ways to sneak it in so we won't rest until the session is over, but we are cautiously optimistic. We thought the issue was settled after the Workgroup two years ago, but here it is again. Our hope is they ge...

1.9 to 2.2% Multiplier moves forward in Omnibus Bill

The Pension Commission has included the 1.9 to 2.2% Multiplier in the Omnibus Bill. Here's the agenda from their email. Their website is not updated yet. This is long overdue the multiplier has remained the same since 1999! Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) HF 4297 (Berg); SF 4604 (Nelson): PERA Police and Fire Plan; Clarifying firefighter eligibility HF 4899 (O’Driscoll); SF 5073 (Westlin): Defined Contribution Plan federal compliance HF 4429 (Nelson, M.); SF 5862 (Seeberger): PERA General and Correctional workers’ compensation offset elimination HF 4081 (Stephenson); SF 4092 (Gustafson): PERA Correctional; Benefit multiplier increase from 1.9% to 2.2% for prospective service; employer and employee contribution increase While MNCORA is happy with this, our Bill HF4342 which would add a Corrections Officer seat to the PERA board has yet to have a hearing. A Bill that has both a House File and Senate file, yet the Pension Commission heard several Bills last night that ...

Pension Fight update

Here's the update on the fight against HF4796 . We've received many petitions from across the State from CO's opposing this Bill to add dispatchers to the Correctional Plan. Those have been forwarded to the entire Pension Commission and we will continue to pass on more as they are still coming in. Some jails also participated in a card mailing campaign. Over 3,000 have been mailed to date. This is the second run at the PERA Correctional Plan to add dispatchers. They need to know you are not for it and a weaker pension. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SIGNED AND PASSED THE PETITIONS AND CARDS! MNCORA's Bill to get a seat on the PERA Board has yet to be heard! If it is not heard the bill will die. What can you do? The Chair of the Pension Commission is Representative Her. This is her contact information:  Phone 651-296-8799  E-mail:   rep.kaohly.her@house.mn.gov The Vice chair on the Senate side is Senator Frentz. This is his contact information: Phone  651-296-6153  E-...