Connecticut Senate Bill SB00090

Connecticut 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/17
• Refer: 1/13/17

Caption

An Act Excluding Reimbursements To State Employees For Mileage And Payments For Overtime From The Calculation Of Retirement Income.

Impact

The enactment of SB00090 would have significant implications for state employees as it modifies how retirement income is calculated. By excluding overtime and mileage reimbursements from retirement salary calculations, the bill is anticipated to lower the final pension amounts for state employees who may have relied on such reimbursements as part of their income. This could particularly affect those who frequently work additional hours or incur travel costs in the line of duty, changing their financial prospects in retirement.

Summary

SB00090 proposes an amendment to state law that aims to exclude reimbursements for mileage and payments for overtime from the calculation of retirement income for state employees. The primary objective of this bill is to reduce the unfunded pension burden on the state by ensuring that these additional compensations do not inflate the pension payouts for retiring state workers. This change is considered a fiscal strategy to address budget concerns related to state pension obligations.

Contention

While the bill intends to alleviate the state’s financial burdens, it may face opposition from public sector unions and employees who argue that such exclusions could unfairly disadvantage workers and diminish their retirement benefits. Critics might contend that mileage and overtime are integral parts of employee compensation, and their exclusion from retirement calculations undermines fair treatment of state workers who contribute to the pension system. This tension between fiscal responsibility and employee compensation fairness may lead to robust debate and scrutiny in the legislative process.