Committee backs bill to align Orleans Parish court employees' retirement system with other parishes

Senate Bill 455, advanced by the committee on April 13, would allow Orleans Parish Supreme Court employees to be enrolled in the Parochial Employees' Retirement System (PERS) rather than the LASERS system and would give current employees the option to remain where they are or transfer.

Sponsor testimony said the change corrects an apparent historical anomaly that placed Orleans courts’ employees in LASERS; the bill would align Orleans with other district courts. Kenny Herbel, director of actuarial services for the Legislative Auditor, told the committee that fiscal effects depend on employee choices — if no current employees switch and future hires are the only change, the near-term five-year net fiscal cost could be zero because impacts play out over time.

Justice Cade Cole said aligning Orleans with other parishes should reduce long-term costs and remove a disparity that began in the late 2000s. The committee adopted a technical amendment and reported the bill favorable.