SEIU Local 1984

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Weekly Legislative Update Edition 4

RETIREMENT

HB1313 – This bill allows the chairman of the retirement system board of trustees to vote in matters before a subcommittee of the board. The bill was voted OTP by a vote of 16 – 0 as Amended.

House Calendar: 3/5

HB1643 – This bill would extend the dates for eligibility for retirement system payment of the medical benefit subsidy for eligible group I teachers and political subdivision employees from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2011. The deadline for reporting this bill was extended by the full House this week. The new deadline is 3/13.

Subcommittee Work Session: 2/19/2008 2:00 PM LOB 306

HB1645 – This is the large retirement bill that would make changes to COLAs, average final compensation, maximum benefits, and alter employee majority governance on the retirement board. The deadline for reporting this bill was extended by the full House this week. The new deadline is 3/13.

There was a public hearing on this bill on Thursday and one work session has been completed. At the public hearing there was testimony from most public employee unions against this bill. There was also a testimony questioning the constitutionality of certain parts of this bill by an attorney representing public employee unions, including SEA. The Local Government Center and their allies testified in favor of the bill. There are several more subcommittee work sessions scheduled on this bill.

Subcommittee Work Session: 2/19/2008 9:00 AM LOB 306

Subcommittee Work Session: 2/21/2008 9:00 AM LOB 306

Subcommittee Work Session: 2/22/2008 1:00 PM LOB 306

LABOR BILLS

HB1127 – This bill would allow a town to certify a bargaining unit of less than 10 members. Executive session was postponed.

Continued Executive Session: 2/19/2008 10:00 AM LOB 308

HB1436 – This bill requires agreements under the public employee labor relations act to contain an automatic continuation clause, also known as “evergreen status”. Executive was session postponed.

Continued Executive Session: 2/19/2008 10:00 AM LOB 308

HB1607 – This bill would establish a leave policy for state employees who are also firefighters. Executive was session postponed.

Continued Executive Session: 2/19/2008 10:00 AM LOB 308

HB1210 – This bill would establish a commission to study whistleblower protection for public employees. The prime sponsor asked that this bill be defeated. The Bill was voted on in executive session as ITL by a vote of 15 – 0.

House Calendar: 3/5

HB1342 – This bill would require work related travel time to be reimbursed at the employee’s regular rate of pay. At the executive session this bill was voted by the full committee, ITL by a vote of 15 – 0.

House Calendar: 3/5

YOUR DEPARTMENTS

Department of Corrections

HB594– This bill would have granted group II retirement status to certain civilian positions at the department of corrections. Unfortunately, this week the House Finance Committee voted to ITL 15 – 6 on this bill.

Awaiting House Calendar Date

Health and Human Services

HB1296 – This bill would repeal the law passed last year that requires the continuation of group health insurance in the event of divorce or legal separation. This bill was voted on in subcommittee on Thursday, 2/15, as ITL by a vote of 2 – 0.

Executive Session: 2/19/2008 11:00 AM LOB 302 (Continued 2/21/08 11:00 AM LOB 302 if needed)