Connecticut House Bill HB05750

Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/21
• Refer: 1/28/21

Caption

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

Impact

Should HB 5750 be enacted, it would significantly change how retirement income is calculated for state employees by excluding certain types of payments that can vary widely. This approach is aimed at stabilizing state pension obligations, potentially resulting in lower monthly pension payouts for employees nearing retirement who have relied on overtime and mileage reimbursements as part of their income. Proponents of the bill argue that by standardizing pension calculations, the state can better project and manage pension-related expenses.

Summary

House Bill 5750 seeks to amend the state's general statutes to exclude reimbursements for mileage and payments for overtime from the calculation of retirement income for state employees. The intention behind this bill is to ensure that only base salary figures are used in determining pension benefits for retiring state workers. This proposed legislation has been introduced to manage fiscal liabilities associated with public employee pensions, particularly in light of fluctuating expenses related to overtime and travel activities.

Contention

Critics of the bill may argue that excluding overtime pay and reimbursement for mileage from retirement income calculations could disproportionately affect state employees who have relied on these types of compensation as a legitimate source of income. There may be concerns that this will deter qualified individuals from taking on additional responsibilities that involve travel or extra hours, as it diminishes the incentive for employees to engage in such work if it does not contribute to their retirement security.