|
Clarification on Retirement Bills Although committee meetings and floor debate during both the morning and afternoon included consideration of many bills, the focus of attention was the Senate debate of three bills which will change the benefits of public employees under the Utah Retirement Systems. The Senate debated separately SB43 (first substitute): Post-retirement Employment Amendments, SB63 (first substitute): New Public Employees’ Tier II Contributory Retirement Act, and SB94: Supplemental Benefit Amendments for Noncontributory Public Employees before voting to pass each bill to the third reading calendar. Sen. Dan Liljenquist presented each bill followed by questions and comments from many other Senators. Republican Senators praised and support the bills. Democratic Senators asked questions about the data presented to support the bills and expressed deep concern about the need for the changes and with most emphasis, the need to act quickly without further analysis and study. Educators should express thanks to them for not climbing on the express train to retirement reform. Sen. John Greiner, himself a public employee, raised relevant and specific questions about SB43 and SB94 and was the only member of the Republican caucus to vote against these two bills. Some Senators have accused public employee groups, including UEA, of misinforming employees about what these bills would do. They seem to forget how complicated some of the changes are and that multiple amendments to the bills have been made in past weeks and continue to be made right up to and during debate of the bills. SO, let’s be very clear on each of these bills… SB43 (first substitute): Post-retirement Employment Amendments (effective July 1, 2010) makes changes for employees who are REHIRED into the state retirement system after retiring.
SB94: Supplemental Benefit Amendments for Noncontributory Public Employees (effective July 1, 2010) eliminates the employer 401(k) contribution (1.5% of salary) for all current state employees hired after July 1, 1986.
SB63 (first substitute): New Public Employees’ Tier II Contributory Retirement Act (effective July 1, 2011) changes (and substantially reduces) retirement benefits for all public employees hired on or after July 1, 2011.
For a comparison of the current and proposed plans, click here. Educators Share Experiences with Legislators The UEA Legislative Team was energized today when more than 20 educators joined us for Educator Day on the Hill. Teachers from Northern Utah, Davis and Granite School Districts came to learn more about issues critical to education and educators and to talk with their elected Representatives and Senators. They shared with Legislators information about their schools and the good things happening with their students. They also talked about the proposed changes to the retirement system and the impact on the state’s future ability to attract and retain teachers. Knowledge is power and these educators left with much more knowledge about the issues, legislators’ positions on issues and how the legislative process works. The Executive Appropriations Committee met in the late afternoon and into the evening. The recommendations for FY2011 public education funding were presented by Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee co-chairs Sen. Howard Stephenson and Rep. Merlyn Newbold. Those recommendations are just as reported in a previous Update. Sen. Stephenson took time to emphasize the importance of funding the WPU and what the impact on regular classrooms will be if that is not done. Sen. Luz Robles asked a most important question. She wanted to know the comparison between public education funding in FY2009 and what is currently proposed for FY2011. The startling answer is a reduction of 22.8 percent if the proposed budget is adopted. We are optimistic that funding will be added as final budget allocations are made later in the session…but nothing is certain. Here is what you can do: REMEMBER: IF YOU DON’T CONTACT THEM, THEY WON’T KNOW HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING IS TO YOU. THEY WON’T KNOW THAT YOU ARE CLOSELY WATCHING WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR SCHOOLS. YOU ARE CLOSEST TO SCHOOLS’ SUCCESSES AND NEEDS. SHARE YOUR STORIES. To send a letter to your legislator expressing concerns about the public education budget, click here. As noted in yesterday’s update, the retirement bills will be debated during the Senate’s afternoon floor session on Thursday, Feb. 18. Legislature Back to Work After Three-Day Hiatus First, the Senate has scheduled a debate on the three retirement bills for 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 (this is a change from the time originally posted). It’s not too late to contact your Senator about these bills. To send a letter to your legislator expressing concerns about the retirement bills, click here. The UEA Legislative Team continued discussions with House members about the three retirement bills all morning. Many legislators have been convinced these bills are necessary to save our state from financial insolvency in the long-term future. The groups of public employees working together in opposition to the bills have much good data that tells another side to the story. Your work to be well informed and to share your perspective with your legislators is critical. Be sure you understand the basics of each bill (SB43, SB63 and SB94) when contacting Senators and Representatives. One group working very actively in favor of the bills is the League of Cities and Towns. Tuesday: Day 16. After all involved with the Legislative session had a very welcome three-day weekend, today began early and ended late. A few bills being tracked by UEA were heard in morning committees including HJR20: Green Schools Joint Resolution sponsored by Rep. Mark Wheatley. The resolution encourages the State Board of Education and local school districts to use ‘green’ design and construction practices for new construction of schools and renovation projects. There are no mandates that this must be done, but the resolution’s intent is improved energy efficiency, improved healthiness of the school environment and long-term cost savings. UEA supports this resolution that now moves to the full House for consideration. House floor time began at 10 a.m. HJR24, the ‘fast tracked’ resolution proposing a Constitutional change that would effectively eliminate Affirmative Action programs, was to be debated by the House at 10:15 a.m., but the sponsor did not proceed with the debate today. Proposed Constitutional changes require a two-thirds vote (50 votes). We will be watching to see how the sponsor proceeds with the bill. In the Senate, SB77 (first substitute): District Association Leave Policies once again sat circled on the Third Reading calendar. Senator Hatch spoke to both houses today. That completes visits from all members of Utah’s Congressional delegation. The House Education Committee met in the afternoon and heard five bills. First up was our own Rep. Laura Black who presented HB105: Public School Employee Auditory Protection. The concept for this bill was brought to Rep. Black by music teachers who have suffered hearing loss due to the continuous levels of noise in their classrooms. The bill would require local districts to set standards related to noise and would require certain educators be provided with a minimum level of hearing protection…fitted devices that allow the individual to hear sounds and speech clearly while muting the noise level. Rep. Black introduced her bill with a group of band students from West Jordan High School playing their percussion instruments. It was LOUD and produced laughs and acknowledgements all around. After extensive discussion and debate with questions of local control and whether this might be accomplished by administrative rule, the Committee voted against moving the bill forward…a disappointment to Rep. Black and educators who are at risk of hearing loss. Rep. Christine Watkins presented HB246: Retirement Benefits for Charter School Employees. This bill would allow charter school employees who are hired by a public school district to buy their years of service at the charter school under certain conditions including 1) they must have been employed for at least four years in the charter school, and 2) they must relinquish any retirement benefit earned while at the charter school. For example, if the charter school provided a 401(k) program, they may use those funds to purchase years of service but cannot buy years and keep the 401(k) account. UEA supports this bill. It was passed out favorably by the Committee. Rep. Kraig Powell presented HJR25: Joint Resolution Regarding School Fees and Supplies (see the posting for February 15, below). Substantial debate followed after which Rep. Powell requested that the bill sent to Interim Study. The awaited new revenue numbers were delivered to legislators today (see the Salt Lake Tribune article). Revenue is projected to be mostly as expected. Revenue for the current fiscal year was very close to expectations and no further changes for FY2010 will be made beyond cuts determined earlier in the session. Revenue for FY2011 is approximately $50 million less than initially projected in Gov. Herbert’s budget. However, the Legislature held out $100M at the beginning of the session as a cushion. Now the real budgeting begins. The Executive Appropriations Committee met in the late afternoon to adopt the new revenue figures and to begin hearing appropriation subcommittee reports. Higher education was presented today. Public education will be presented tomorrow. Ed Budget and Constitutional Changes Discussed Student Advancement Bill— Sen. Morgan has been a strong and persistent advocate for reading and has worked to provide resources to support reading instruction and for reduced class sizes in grades 1-3. Sen. Morgan has also provided exemptions in the bill that would allow a principal to reverse the decision to retain, would allow a student to demonstrate reading ability up to Aug. 15 in order to advance in the coming school year, and exempts a student with an IEP or 504 Plan. After discussion, the bill was voted out favorably. It will next be considered by the full Senate. UEA believes the exemptions and flexibility given to the principal mitigate concerns about retention. We will be tracking the bill as it moves along in the legislative process. Education Funding Recommendations— Charged with cutting 5 percent across the board from public education, the Subcommittee adopted a plan that makes more severe cuts in some programs in order to spare others. Voted and board leeway guarantees, Educator Salary Adjustments and charter school replacement funds are among the areas where funding levels were maintained. Priorities to be funded if money is available include teacher-directed classroom supplies, adult education, library books and electronic resources, critical language/dual immersion programs, Beverly Taylor Sorenson Elementary Arts Program, I-See science education and regional service centers. Following these, any remaining dollars would be placed on the WPU. Rep. Tim Cosgrove made a final motion, which was adopted unanimously, to request that Executive Appropriations fund increased enrollment and not cut 5 percent from the education budget. Tuesday, Feb. 16, is the day new revenue figures will be released to legislators. Check in on Tuesday afternoon to get information about these projections and what they might mean for education funding. House Ed. Meeting Cancelled— Constitutional Revisions Considered— The CRC had little time for HJR25. Rep. Kraig Powell presented his resolution expressing his understanding that it may not be workable and may require further study, but expressing his desire to find a way to gain needed funding for public schools. The resolution would change Utah’s Constitution authorizing a requirement that elementary and secondary students provide their own school supplies or pay a fee for supplies. It would also authorize granting waivers in cases of financial hardship. It’s uncertain if Rep. Powell will move this resolution further this year. We commend his efforts in looking for funding sources even if this may not be a workable solution. This type of resolution if passed by a two-thirds vote in each body is placed on the next general election ballot to be voted on by the people. Senate Bill 77— To send a letter to your legislator opposing SB77, click here. |
