02/21/2008 01:30 PM Senate LABOR & COMMERCE

         SB 153-PEACE OFFICERS/FIRE FIGHTER RETIREMENT                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
1:31:35 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR ELLIS announced SB 153 to be up for consideration.                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
ALLISON BIASTOCK,  staff to  Senator French,  sponsor of  SB 153,                                                               
said she was available to answer questions.                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BUNDE said  he  generally supported  the  bill, but  one                                                               
factor under discussion was that it  would be used to recruit new                                                               
employees, and he asked if that was the case.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
MS. BIASTOCK replied that it applies  to only Tier II and III and                                                               
it is going  to be used as  a retention tool to  keep people from                                                               
leaving before they vest, not for new-hires.                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  BUNDE remarked  that  he wanted  it  clarified that  the                                                               
state is not  going to hire any people under  a retirement system                                                               
that no longer exists.                                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  DAVIS  moved   to  pass  SB  153   from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations  and accompanying fiscal  notes. There                                                               
were no objections and it was so ordered.