(Constitutional Amendment) Provides for forfeiture of retirement benefits by public officials and employees who are convicted of felony acts associated with their positions (OR NO IMPACT APV)
Impact
To implement this change, the bill proposes to amend Article X of the Louisiana Constitution, specifically regarding retirement systems for public employees. If passed, it would allow the state to reclaim forfeited benefits and potentially redirect them toward addressing the unfunded accrued liability of the public retirement systems. The measure addresses concerns about accountability among public officials and ensures that they are held to a higher standard of ethical conduct, particularly in relation to criminal activity connected to their roles in public office.
Summary
House Bill 69 is a proposed constitutional amendment in Louisiana that aims to authorize the legislature to provide for the forfeiture of retirement benefits for public officials and employees who are convicted of felonies related to their public service. The bill stipulates that the receipt of retirement benefits will be conditioned upon honorable service, meaning that any public servant who is found guilty of a felony while serving in office could lose their pension benefits, either partially or entirely, depending on the specifics of the legislative implementation.
Sentiment
The sentiment surrounding HB 69 appears to be largely supportive, particularly among lawmakers advocating for transparency and ethical behavior in government. Proponents argue that such a measure is necessary to discourage corruption and ensure that public servants are held accountable for their actions. However, there are also concerns that the bill could lead to biased applications or unintended consequences, particularly in how 'honorable service' is defined and judged, raising questions about fairness and due process.
Contention
One notable point of contention related to HB 69 is the potential vagueness in defining what constitutes a felony related to public service. Critics worry that this ambiguity could lead to arbitrary decisions regarding benefit forfeiture and that it might disproportionately impact certain individuals or groups. Additionally, there are discussions about the implications this bill might have on recruitment and retention of public officials, as stringent consequences for felony convictions may deter individuals from entering public service roles.
A Constitutional Amendment to provide for forfeiture of retirement benefits by public officials and employees who are convicted of felony acts associated with their positions. (OR NO IMPACT APV)
(Constitutional Amendment) Authorizes the legislature to provide for forfeiture of retirement benefits by public officials and employees who are convicted of felony acts associated with their positions (EN NO IMPACT APV)
(Constitutional Amendment) Provides for forfeiture of public retirement benefits by certain persons who are convicted of felony acts associated with their positions (OR NO IMPACT APV)
Requires forfeiture of retirement benefits by any public employee or elected official who is a member of a public retirement system and is convicted of certain state or federal felony acts associated with his office (OR SEE ACTUARIAL NOTE APV)
(Constitutional Amendment) Provides relative to the forfeiture of public pension benefits by a public official upon felony conviction of certain offenses
Requires forfeiture of retirement benefits by any public employee or elected official who is a member of a public retirement system and is convicted of certain state or federal felony acts associated with his office (EN +$43,597 FC SG EX)
Requires forfeiture of retirement benefits by any public employee or elected official who is a member of a public retirement system and is convicted of certain state or federal felony acts associated with his office. (See Act.) (OR SEE ACTUARIAL NOTE APV)