Wisconsin Senate Bill SB630

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 11/7/23
• Refer: 11/7/23
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Protective occupation annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System who are rehired by a participating employer. (FE)

Impact

The main impact of SB630 is to provide flexibility for protective occupation annuitants who wish to return to the workforce. By allowing these individuals to bypass rejoining the retirement system, the bill seeks to retain experienced professionals in critical positions without the financial penalty that was previously imposed. This could lead to an increased pool of available staff in sectors crucial for public safety and healthcare, enhancing service delivery in those areas.

Summary

Senate Bill 630 proposes amendments to the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) that will impact protective occupation annuitants who are rehired by participating employers. The bill modifies current laws which require individuals receiving retirement or disability annuities to suspend those payments upon being hired by a WRS-participating employer. Specifically, the bill creates an exception allowing certain retirees, particularly those retired from protective occupations, to return to work while continuing to receive their annuity without needing to rejoin the retirement system as participating employees.

Contention

The bill has potential contention points regarding the fairness and sustainability of pension systems. Opponents may argue that allowing retirees to draw benefits while also working could strain the retirement fund and create disparities with other pensioners who do not have this option. Additionally, there may be concerns regarding the long-term viability of such measures, particularly in how they affect the funding and integrity of the WRS moving forward.