01/24/2000 01:35 PM Senate HES

        HB 226-CREDITED SERVICE FOR ON-THE-JOB INJURIES                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIRMAN MILLER announced that a companion bill to HB 226 was                                                                   
reviewed by the Senate HESS committee last session therefore                                                                    
committee members are aware of the bill's contents.  He asked                                                                   
Representative Coghill to briefly explain the measure.                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN COGHILL, sponsor of HB 226, explained the  bill                                                             
does two things.  First, it provides an equity of credited services                                                             
between the PERS and TRS retirement programs.  Second, it provides                                                              
that when an employee is assaulted on the job and unable to work                                                                
due to the assault, credited time will be picked up by the                                                                      
administration or, if the employee is unable to work due to an                                                                  
injury or illness, the employee can purchase the credited time for                                                              
retirement.  The bill is straightforward and although assault has                                                               
not been a big problem, CSHB 226(HES) offers a good solution.                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
JEFF WALTERS, representing the Fairbanks Education Association,                                                                 
stated support for CSHB 226(HES) as the bill closes a loophole in                                                               
current law which he became aware of after being assaulted on-the-                                                              
job.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
There being no further testimony or discussion on CSHB 226(HES),                                                                
SENATOR WILKEN moved to report CSHB 226(HES) out of committee with                                                              
individual recommendations and its zero fiscal note.  There being                                                               
no objection, CHAIRMAN MILLER announced the motion carried.