We are sad to report that our Bill to add a CO to the PERA Board is not going to be added to the Pension Omnibus Bill. We are told  it's due to PERA's opposition. We are thankful to those who authored the Bill-Representative Peggy Scott,  Representative Harry Niska, Senator Cal Bahr and Senator Jim Abeler.  The Bill is still good  next session and we have a couple of paths forward. PERA's main opposition is that adding another seat would make it an even numbered board. Disregarding the fact the largest pension board, the Teacher's TRA is even numbered. That can be remedied one of two ways. We can amend our bill to say one of the 3 existing General PERA Board seats will become a Correctional Plan member seat or because we are now Federally recognized as Public Safety Officers we make a bill to have the Police and Fire seat become Police, Fire and Corrections. There are after all more CO's than Firefighters and we are all now Public Safety Officers. Big decision...

MNCORA thanks Representatives Peggy Scott and House Leader Harry Niska for Authoring HF708 in the House and senators Cal Bahr and Jim Abeler for authoring the bill in the Senate SF1556 . Next step is for the LCPR to hear this Bill. Here's a link to the Pension Committee (LCPR). It's very important to contact them and ask them to give it a hearing for it to move on. https://www.lcpr.mn.gov/members.htm

Bill  HF4342 authored by Rep. Niska and Scott now has a companion bill in the Senate,  SF4464 authored by Sen. Bahr and co-authored by Sen. Abeler.  MNCORA is thankful for the support of these Representatives and Senators. If passed for the first time a PERA Correctional Officer will have a seat on the PERA Board. The next step is for the Pension Commission to give it a hearing. 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-Mail   sen.nick.frentz@senate.mn PLEASE contact them and ask them to have the Pension Commission give it a hearing and then contact your Representative and Senator and ask them to support these Bills. Make your voice heard!