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New session coming up-what to watch for and what will LELS support

Last session LELS Legislator of the Year Rep. Dan Wolgamott put forward Bill HF 4796  to add Dispatchers to the PERA Correctional Plan. MNCORA fought this.

The Bill didn't pass last session but resulted in a study that is to explore a better pension for Dispatch and Probation. We hope that doesn't include another swing at our Corrections Plan. As of today it's not listed on the LCPR's Workgroup page so we don't know. We were told the issue is not over.

Last session LELS Executive Director Jim Mortenson was very upset MNCORA was collecting petitions opposing HF4796. LELS CO's were blindsided by their Union's support of this threat to the Correctional Plan.

MNCORA has members statewide. We're hearing from some CO's LELS doesn't support adding Dispatch to our plan and from other groups they're telling dispatch they do. 

LELS has a history of treating Correctional members different than others. For instance they collect dues for the MPPOA, but LELS members are only Associate members of the MPPOA with no voting rights and not covered by the MPPOA Legal Defense Fund. Note it states "if you are a member of the MPPOA." (See the MPPOA membership page.)

Now compare with LELS membership page. It states a member of LELS is enrolled as a member of the MPPOA, but the MPPOA only extends Associate membership to non-sworn members and no access to the MPOA Legal Defense Plan. If you are a licensed police officer and a member of LELS this applies. If you are a CO it doesn't appear to. Jim Mortenson feel free to contact us if this is not so and we will correct this post.

Our point is that LELS has a history of backing adding Dispatch to the the PERA Correctional Plan and a history of treating CO's different than it's licensed members.

MNCORA is waiting to see what the upcoming session brings and what LELS will or will not support when it comes to Corrections. 

UPDATE to post:

This is LELS Letter to support adding 911 Dispatchers to our pension in 2022-

https://www.lcpr.mn.gov/documents/911WorkGroup/LELS_Position_Statement_in_Support_of_Enhanced_PERA_Benefits_for_911_Operators_Revised_10-01-21.pdf

It's part of the 911 Telecommunicators Pension Benefits Working Group signed by James Moretenson.

Here's MPPOA By-Laws spelling out what an Associate Member is and what they are not in Article 3. section 3:


Wait, what does MPPOA Membership have to do with LELS membership? Well according to LELS website under Cost of Membership, Non-licensed members (CO's) pay $5.84 a month to the MPPOA and $4.33 a month to the LDF (Legal Defense Fund) the MPPOA won't extend to CO's.

It is MNCORA's opinion that LELS doesn't have CO's best interest in mind.

We will be watching this upcoming session their partnership with Rep. Dan Wolgammott.




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