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 ...

MNCORA is hearing that there is another Bill being drafted to yet again try to add Dispatchers to our PERA Correctional Plan.  There was an attempt last year and there was a Senate 911 Telecommunicator Pension Benefits Working Group that studied the issue and concluded NOT to recommend adding them. MNCORA's President was an advisor to that group and testified against it. LELS and the MPPOA backed the previous effort and we hear rumors that they are behind this one too. We will let you know if that turns out to be true. Interestingly enough and probably unbeknownst to them is that on January 1, 2025 all State and Local Corrections Officers will be recognized by the Federal Government as Public Safety Officers. How can you have two different designations in one pension for disability and taxes once that occurs? MNCORA will fight this tooth and nail. UPDATE: It is LELS  Jim Mortenson,   Executive Director of Law Enforcement Labor Services ( LELS ) ,  has been reaching ...