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MNCORA Letter to PERA

On October 10th PERA will hold their planning meeting. One of the items to be discussed is MNCORA's request for a seat on the PERA Board for a CO. Below is the letter the MNCORA Executive Board sent PERA:


PERA Executive Director Doug Anderson and PERA Executive Board members,

 

The Minnesota Correctional Officer Retirement Association (MNCORA) understands the issue of adding a PERA Correctional Member to the PERA Executive Board is to be discussed at this upcoming planning meeting.

Last session a Bill was introduced to that effect, unfortunately it did not get a hearing from the LCPR, but that Bill will be reintroduced this year. (HF4342 and SF4464)

The Bill simply adds language to statute 353.03 sub 1… “Of the
six trustees elected by the membership, one of whom must be a member of the police and
fire fund plan, one must be a member of the local government correctional service retirement
plan, …”

Our plan has been in existence since 1999 and is the healthiest and best funded of the plans and MNCORA would like to keep it that way.

The PERA Correctional Plan has 12,611 members and almost $1 Billion in the plan and is fully funded.

Over the years there have been many attempts to raid our plan and we need someone on the Board dedicated to watch it like Police and Fire have. We need a seat and voice at the table.

Almost every session there’s an attempt or bill to add another group to our plan. Usually, 911 Dispatchers or Probation. They are members of other PERA Plans and they seek to become part of ours. We believe changing the definition of our plan weakens it from its original intent and would have dire consequences for the future funding of the PERA Correctional Plan affecting COLA’s and the overall health.

The State Correctional Officers have a seat on their MSRS Pension Board and PERA Correctional Officers should to.

THIS IS COST NEUTRAL THE PERA BOARD IS NOT A PAID POSITION.

Also of note is that as of 2025 State and Local CO’s will be recognized by the Federal Government as Public Safety Officers, no different than Police and Fire. This will have major implications for taxes and disability benefits and would cause there to be multiple payout levels to any non-CO’s added to the pension.

It is MNCORA’s position that the time has come for a Correctional Officer to have a seat on the Board. MNCORA respectfully askes for your support.

 

Signed,

MNCORA Executive Board


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