Rules committee releases conference report on Senate Bill 14; death benefit for 1977 fund members increased

Representative Teschka presented the conference committee report on Senate Bill 14, saying committee members introduced themselves and debated inclusions from Senate Bills 69 and 10. He said the conference removed certain provisions — including some adjustments to a drop program and language for an annual COLA on a death benefit — but raised the death benefit for 1977 fund members from $12,000 to $15,000.

“We will be doing is raising the death benefit from $12,000 to $15,000 for the 1977 fund members,” Representative Teschka said, describing the indexed increase for that membership class.

Teschka also said language that would allow the Missouri Public Employees’ Retirement System (MPERS) to increase a match for the Hoosier Start program must be reviewed by the budget committee; he characterized the inserted adjustment as arguably new language that had not been passed in either chamber but intended to address fiscal concerns.

A motion to provide the conference committee report for Senate Bill 14 for member distribution and hold it for one hour was made, seconded and approved on a roll call; the clerk recorded unanimous support as reported (9–0).