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PBA supported retirement and benefit bills continued
to be filed this week in the General Assembly.
Another law enforcement affected retirement bill sponsored by House
Pensions and Retirement Committee Chair Larry Bell and a LEO benefit
bill sponsored by PBA endorsed representatives, Charles Thomas and Tom
Tillis were introduced this week.
HB 2703/SB 2009 – SCHOLARSHIPS/CHILDREN OF FALLEN HEROES
Primarily sponsored by representatives Thomas and Tillis, and filed on
Tuesday May 27, 2008, this bill provides college scholarships to the
children of NC law enforcement officers and “eligible” firefighters and
rescue personnel as provided in GS 58-86-25 and 30, who are killed in
the line of duty. Scholarships will be awarded to eligible children, who
enroll at any of the public institutions in the University of North
Carolina system or at any of the state community colleges.
The line of duty death is defined as that which results from a direct
traumatic injury sustained while performing active duties or while
engaged in training of active duties.
The scholarship can be awarded to pay all or part of the cost of
attendance and will cover costs up to four academic years. The four year
coverage does not have to be consecutive.
The bill has been referred to the House Education Committee. Other PBA
endorsed sponsors of the bill are Representatives Rick Glaizer and Ty
Hanell.
The companion bill (SB 2009) also filed on May 27, 2008, is primarily
sponsored by PBA endorsed Senator Richard Stevens. Other PBA endorsed
senators, who signed onto the bill are Senators’ Don East, Fletcher
Hartsell and Vernon Malone.
HB 2772/SB 2132 – ENHANCE TSERS BENEFITS/RETIREMENT COLAS
Filed on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 by Representative Bell in the House and
in the Senate by Senator Charles Dannelly, this bill is an act to
increase cost of living adjustments for state retirees (4.1%) and local
government retirees (2.1%). These bills also increase the retirement
formula multiplier for state law enforcement officers and other state
employees from (1.82%) to (1.84%). This will benefit all state law
enforcement, correction and probation and parole officers. The current
multiplier for local and county law enforcement officers is (1.85%).
This bill brings state LEOs more in line with local officers.
Other PBA endorsed sponsors of the House bill are Representatives’ Jean
Farmer-Butterfield, Marian McLawhorn, Deborah Ross, Jenifer Weiss and
Larry Wimble.
SB1271 FIREFIGHTERS/EMS/LAW ENFORCEMENT PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS
As you recall from last years reporting, SB 1271 passed the Senate in
the long session and remains eligible for passage in the short session.
SB 1271, sponsored by PBA endorsed Senator John Snow, was originally
written to provide statewide payroll deductions of membership dues for
firefighters and paramedics. With help from our friends with the
Professional Firefighters Association of North Carolina, PBA members
were added to the bill along with members of the N.C. Fraternal Order of
Police. With these three associations, SB 1271 originally passed the
Senate with wide bi-partisan support.
Unfortunately the bill was pulled and reconsidered to include the
Teamsters. No one from the Teamsters consulted any of the other
associations prior to the rare bill recall. With the new addition, the
bill passed the Senate, but this time by a much closer margin and
straight down party lines.
In May of 2007, SB 1271 was referred to the House Committee on State
Personnel. Despite pressure from House leaders to hear the bill, the
bill was never calendared for consideration, citing concerns about how
the bill was handled in the Senate.
The good news is that the bill has been re-referred to the House
Committee on Local Government II, and committee chairman, Representative
Earl Jones, advised this week that he will allow the bill to be heard.
As always, we will keep you posted.
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