Mississippi Senate Bill SB2382

Mississippi 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/17/22
• Refer: 1/17/22
• Failed: 2/1/22

Caption

Legislature; allow PERS retirees to receive retirement allowance while serving as a member of.

Impact

If enacted, SB 2382 will facilitate a pathway for retired public employees to participate actively in the legislature by permitting them to draw their PERS benefits alongside their legislative pay. This change intends to encourage experienced individuals to engage in public service roles post-retirement. However, it requires those retirees to contribute fully to the system from the legislative compensation, maintaining a balance in the retirement fund and addressing concerns about the fiscal implications of allowing dual benefits.

Summary

Senate Bill 2382 aims to amend provisions for individuals receiving a retirement allowance from the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who are elected as members of the Mississippi Legislature. This bill allows such individuals to receive their retirement allowance while also receiving the regular compensation accorded to legislative members. It stipulates specific parameters regarding this dual compensation arrangement, ensuring that individuals who choose this option will not accumulate additional creditable service nor be considered active members of the retirement system during their legislative tenure.

Contention

Debates surrounding SB 2382 may center on the fairness of allowing retired legislators to benefit from both their retirement allowances and legislative compensation. Critics may argue that such provisions could lead to budgetary strains on the retirement fund or may encourage a trend of allowing a select group of individuals to reap multiple financial benefits that might not be available to regular working citizens. Conversely, supporters may advocate for the necessity of such measures to maintain a robust and experienced legislative body, arguing it serves the public interest in governance.