MNCORA thanks those who supported our effort to get a dedicated seat for a PERA Correctional Plan member. Once again the Bill died in the LCPR Pension Committee but MNCORA wishes to thank those who authored the Bill and those who supported it. Thank you Bill Authors Rep. Peggy Scott, Rep. Harry Niska, Senator Cal Bahr and Senator Jim Abeler. MNCORA thanks all of you who emailed and called your representatives to support the Bill. MNCORA gives a special thanks to MNPEA President Dave Deal. MNPEA was the only Union with PERA Correctional Officers to call, write and testify on behalf of our bid for a PERA Correctional seat. Not just this year but every year we have tried.

Another Legislative Session is passing and our Bill to add a PERA Correctional Plan seat to the PERA Board has once again not made it out of the Pension Committee! HF708 and SF1556 was authored by Rep. Peggy Scott, Rep. Harry Niska, Sen. Cal Bahr (who introduced the Bill) and Sen. Jim Abeler.  The Bill was opposed last session by PERA because they objected to an even numbered board.  So this year we had Rep. Peggy Scott amend the Bill so that one of the existing elected seats would be a dedicated PERA Correctional Plan member. Pension Commission Chair Nick Frentz shot it down.  Rep. Scott's Office emailed MNCORA after contacting Sen. Frentz stating:  " He has indicated that granting an exception in this case could lead to similar requests from other entities seeking the same considerations." MNCORA thanks Rep. Peggy Scott, Rep. Harry Niska, Sen. Cal Bahr and Sen. Jim Abeler for authoring the Bill. This is an election year. Remember those who supported us and ...

It's nearing the end of the legislative session so here's a snapshot of where we are at. First the positive. SF4721/HF4514 has passed the Pension Committee. This Bill lowers PERA Correctional Plan Contributions and Employer Contributions as well as raising the COLA Cap from 2.5% to 3%. Read the summary here   https://www.lcpr.mn.gov/documents/mtgmaterials/2026/2026.04.07/SF4721-HF4514%20Summary.pdf MNCORA submitted written testimony supporting this Bill.  Now for the Bad. Bill HF708/ SF1556 to add a PERA Correctional Officer seat to the PERA Board is stalled.  Last session Senator Cal Bahr sat with MNCORA President Wade Laszlo and introduced the Bill to the Pension Committee. The Bill was heard last session but Pension Committee Chair Senator Nick Frentz laid it over. Meaning no vote was taken to move it out of Committee.  PERA opposed this Bill because it would make the PERA Board even numbered (like the Teachers). We were advised that Amending the Bill to mak...

MNCORA says thank you to Representative Peggy Scott, Representative Harry Niska, Senator Cal Bahr and Senator Jim Abeler for authoring our Bill to add a CO seat to the PERA Board.  While it didn't pass this session we will be back next session to take another bite at the apple. The Bill is not dead. It was laid over by the Pension Commission so is very much alive for next session. Special thanks to Susan Lenczewski Executive Director of the LCPR for her help crafting the Bill. And of course thanks to all of you for your emails and phone calls to the Legislature in support of this!

The Pension Commission heard our bill to add a CO to PERA's Board on 3/25/25. Senator and Author Cal Bahr introduced the bill and MNCORA President Wade Laszlo testified in support. The Bill was "laid over" and SF1556 moves on to the State and Local Government Commission and HF708 moves on to the State Government and Finance Committee. MNCORA thanks Sen. Cal Bahr for authoring the Bill and introducing it. We also thank authors Sen. Jim Abeler and Rep. Peggy Scott and Harry Niska for authoring in the House. MNCORA thanks  the Pension Commission for hearing the Bill. Sen. Cal Bahr and MNCORA President Wade Laszlo Testimony at the Pension Committee

 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

Last session the following legislators authored HF4342  on the House side, a Bill to add a PERA Correctional Officer to the PERA Board.  Representative Harry Niska was the one who got the ball rolling quickly followed by Rep. Peggy Scott and Rep. Paul Novotny . On the Senate side SF4464 Senator Cal Bahr was the first to Author followed by Senator Jim Abeler  and finally Senator Nick Frentz . The Chair of the Legislative Pension Commission , Rep. Kaohly Her did not allow this Bill to be heard even though it had a sponsor on both the House and Senate side. MNCORA is hoping to get this Bill reintroduced this upcoming session. Each year the Chair of the  Pension Commission rotates. We are hoping the next Chair is more amenable to a Correctional Officer on the PERA Board. This is an election year and MNCORA wants our members to know who has supported our efforts. Supporting this Bill were Representatives Harry Niska, Peggy Scott and Paul Novotny. In the Senate were Se...