05/11/1997 11:20 AM House FIN

SENATE BILL 130                                                                
                                                                               
     "An Act amending the retirement incentive programs for                    
     municipalities and school districts; and providing for an                 
     effective date."                                                          
                                                                               
ROXANNE STEWART, STAFF, SENATOR JIM DUNCAN, stated that SB 130                 
would allow school districts and municipalities to request one or              
more window periods before 6/30/99, to allow their employees to                
participate in the retirement incentive program.                               
                                                                               
The bill would allow school districts and municipalities to request            
one or more window periods up until 6/30/99, with retirement                   
required within six months of the end of the application period.               
That would give school districts and municipalities more                       
flexibility to address declining revenue over the same period as is            
available under the State employees Retirement Incentive Program.              
                                                                               
                                                                               
She stated that it would be in the best interest of our municipal              
governments and school districts to allow them the maximum                     
flexibility to address declining State revenues and increasing                 
demands for public services through the use of the Retirement                  
Incentive Program (RIP).                                                       
                                                                               
Representative J. Davies asked who would make the final                        
determination of eligibility.  Ms. Stewart stated that the school              
board would make the decision as to whether a person could qualify.            
                                                                               
Representative Foster MOVED to report SB 130 out of Committee with             
individual recommendations and with the accompanying fiscal note.              
There being NO OBJECTION, it was so ordered.                                   
                                                                               
SB 130 was reported out of Committee with "no recommendation" and              
with a fiscal note by the Department of Administration dated                   
4/29/97.