Pensions committee adopts substitute, advances pension bills; clarifies systems’ communications role

In executive session the committee moved multiple committee substitutes and amendments covering municipal and public employee retirement matters.

Representative Steinhoff offered an amendment (ending in 0.02h) clarifying that language intended to limit retirement systems’ political activity does not prevent those systems from informing members and the public about impacts to the system, routine processes or benefits. "This doesn't prohibit our retirement systems from... informing members and the public about impacts to their system and their regular processes," Steinhoff said while explaining the amendment.

The committee adopted the amendment, rolled it into a substitute, and then voted to give the house committee substitute for HB 2884 and HB 1655 a 'do pass' recommendation; the clerk recorded 12 ayes and 0 nays. Later the committee considered a substitute combining HB 1762 and HB 2059 and voted to advance that substitute by a roll call of 8 ayes and 4 nays. The committee recorded the four 'no' votes as Ranking Member Boiko, Representative Clemons, Representative Jacobs and Representative Steinhoff.

Chairman Hovis closed the executive session items and resumed hearings on other bills.