05/05/1998 09:23 AM Senate FIN

HOUSE BILL 206                                                               
                                                                               
     "An Act relating to credit under the Public Employees'                    
     Retirement System for service as a village public                         
     safety officer."                                                          
                                                                               
JOEL   LOUNSBURY,   STAFF,   REPRESENTATIVE    BRIAN   PORTER,                 
SPONSOR,  informed the  committee that  HB 206  would allow  a                 
village  public  safety  officer  (VPSO)  to  get  credit  for                 
service through  the state Public  Employee Retirement  System                 
(PERS).  He  noted   that  throughout  the  state,   the  VPSO                 
program  had  provided  an  important   means  of  maintaining                 
peace and  harmony in  the villages.  Most of the  individuals                 
serving had  not been  covered by a  retirement program;  some                 
former   officers    were   currently   working    for   other                 
organizations  that were  covered by the  state PERS  program.                 
The  work  experience  obtained  by participating  in  a  VPSO                 
program  had  proven  to be  an  invaluable  asset.  The  bill                 
would allow  the individuals to  obtain retirement  credit for                 
service   rendered   under   the   VPSO    program.   Eligible                 
participants  would receive  credit  for up to  five years  of                 
service;  once the  service  had been  verified,  indebtedness                 
would  be determined  and the  vested employee  would have  to                 
arrange to buy the time back in the state PERS system.                         
                                                                               
Mr.  Lounsbury  reported  that  the  provisions  of  the  bill                 
would help  in recruitment  and retention  of participants  in                 
the  VPSO  program  in  the  villages.   He  noted  that  high                 
turnover   and   a   lack   of   qualified    applicants   had                 
historically been a problem with the program.                                  
                                                                               
Senator  Parnell queried  how the time  served would  function                 
for a person  who had worked five  years for the program.  Mr.                 
Lounsbury  replied that the  person would  receive up  to five                 
years of credit.                                                               
                                                                               
Senator  Parnell asked  whether  the credit  was  retroactive.                 
Mr. Lounsbury  replied in the  affirmative. He added  that the                 
individual would have to buy into the system.                                  
                                                                               
Senator  Adams   MOVED  to  REPORT  CSHB  206(FIN)am   out  of                 
committee   with  individual   recommendations  and   attached                 
fiscal note. There being no OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                      
                                                                               
CSHB  206(FIN)am  was  REPORTED   out  of  committee  with  no                 
recommendation  and  attached  indeterminate  fiscal  note  by                 
the Department of Administration.