Connecticut House Bill HB05116

Connecticut 2011 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/10/11
• Refer: 1/10/11

Caption

An Act Concerning State Employee Retirement Benefits.

Impact

This bill is designed to address rising pension costs by changing how benefits are calculated for future retirees and aims to curb 'abusive pension practices'. The proposed changes could potentially result in reduced retirement payouts for new hires and state employees with less than five years of service. Such alterations may lead to long-term fiscal benefits for the state, aligning employee retirement benefits more closely with actual salary contributions without inflating calculations through additional compensation.

Summary

House Bill 05116 seeks to reform state employee retirement benefits by amending existing statutes concerning salary calculation for retirement purposes. The bill prohibits future state employee bargaining agreements from including overtime pay in the calculation of salary, which is significant because it impacts how retirement income is calculated for state employees. Additionally, the bill limits the consideration of expense or mileage reimbursements in retirement income calculations and sets a cap on Medicare Part B premiums for retirees, requiring higher-income beneficiaries to cover any excess costs themselves.

Contention

As expected with changes to employee benefits, there may be contention surrounding HB 05116. Supporters might argue that the bill is necessary for the sustainability of the state’s financial obligations regarding pension funds. Conversely, critics could express concern that limiting the calculation of salary to exclude overtime and reimbursements may unfairly penalize employees who rely on such earnings to ensure a reasonable living during retirement. Overall, the passage of this bill would represent a significant shift in how retirement benefits are structured, reflecting broader trends in public sector reform.