04/03/2003 08:03 AM House STA

HB 183-PERS BENEFITS FOR JUV INSTIT EMPLOYEES                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 2700                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH  announced that  the next  order of  business was                                                               
HOUSE BILL NO. 183, "An  Act relating to retirement contributions                                                               
and  benefits under  the public  employees' retirement  system of                                                               
certain  juvenile detention  employees and  juvenile correctional                                                               
institution employees."                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH reviewed  the highlights of the bill  and said he                                                               
wants to move the bill out of committee.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
Number 2645                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE   HOLM  observed   that   he   doesn't  know   how                                                               
appropriate it is  to go from a 30-year  [retirement for juvenile                                                               
institution  employees]  to a  20-year  retirement,  in one  fell                                                               
swoop.  He  indicated the committee should perhaps  suggest a 25-                                                               
year retirement.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR WEYHRAUCH  announced that he  would consider that  a motion                                                               
by  Representative  Holm  to adopt  Amendment  [1],  which  would                                                               
change the 20-year retirement to a 25-year retirement.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
Number 2620                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  BERKOWITZ objected.   He  said all  the testimony                                                               
that   the   committee   has   heard   [supports]   the   20-year                                                               
[retirement].  He  suggested that if Amendment 1 is  an effort to                                                               
reconcile some of  the financial impact, then  perhaps that issue                                                               
should be  taken up in the  [House Finance Committee].   He noted                                                               
that the committee is hearing  that juvenile justice officers are                                                               
subject to the same conditions  that peace officers in harm's way                                                               
are, for example.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
Number 2580                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE LYNN concurred with  Representative Berkowitz.  He                                                               
stated, "This is a dangerous  occupation and a 20-year retirement                                                               
for dangerous occupations  is not that uncommon."   He noted that                                                               
the military  has a  20-year retirement,  "going up  to 30."   He                                                               
said he  would [support]  the 20-year  retirement.   He commented                                                               
that people need to be younger [in those dangerous occupations].                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Number 2525                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE  HOLM said  he just  wanted to  bring the  subject                                                               
forward and  put it on  the record,  because "we can't  afford to                                                               
have people double- and triple-dipping like we have so much of."                                                                
                                                                                                                                
Number 2509                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE HOLM withdrew [his motion to adopt Amendment 1].                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
Number 2494                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE SEATON  moved to  report HB  183 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
note.  [No  objection was stated, and HB 183  was reported out of                                                               
the House State Affairs Standing Committee.]