Mississippi House Bill HB790

Mississippi 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/16/23
• Refer: 1/16/23
• Failed: 1/31/23

Caption

PERS; county and municipal election commissioners shall be members of.

Impact

If enacted, HB790 will have a significant impact on the retirement benefits of county and municipal election commissioners, equipping them with creditable service consistent with their public service terms. This amendment will essentially align their retirement benefits with those of various other elected officials and public employees, thus fostering a standard across different categories of public service roles. The expectation is that this will incentivize capable individuals to pursue roles as election commissioners, knowing that they will accumulate creditable service during their tenure.

Summary

House Bill 790 seeks to amend Section 25-11-109 of the Mississippi Code to ensure that county and municipal election commissioners receive creditable service in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) for their terms of office. This adjustment signifies a recognition of the responsibilities carried out by election commissioners, thereby providing them with similar entitlements as other public employees within the PERS framework. By incorporating their terms into the retirement system, the bill aims to enhance the financial security of these officials post-retirement.

Contention

While supporters of the bill argue that it is a necessary step towards providing fair retirement benefits to essential public officials, there might be notable points of contention concerning the fiscal implications of expanding PERS coverage. Critics could question the additional financial burden placed on the retirement system and whether this could lead to increased contribution rates for other members or diminished benefits overall. Therefore, while the bill aims to enhance retirement security for election commissioners, it also opens a dialogue on the sustainability and equity of expanding retirement benefits within the public sector.