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For Immediate
Release
2/11/08
Contact:
Stacey Connors
(717) 787-1349
Finance Committee OKs Statewide Police Pension
Plan
Panel also endorses home heating relief proposal
The Senate Finance Committee today (February 11) approved legislation that
would provide for a centrally-administered, statewide retirement system for all
local government police employees, according to Committee Chairman Senator Pat
Browne (R-16).
Senate Bill 596, introduced by Senator Jane Orie (R-40), would allow
municipal police officers to enroll in the current State Employees Retirement
System, which, under the bill, would be renamed as the "Government Employees
Retirement System."
"This is a move that I believe is long overdue and could save the
Commonwealth tens of millions of dollars annually, while improving efficiency.
Consolidation would cut administrative costs and allow us to get a better
return on our investment," Senator Orie said. "In these tight fiscal times, that
is a commonsense move we can no longer ignore. It would also increase the
stability of our police pension systems – by spreading out the risk and ensuring
that good financial decisions are made."
In a related matter, the Committee also approved Senate Bill 1093, also
introduced by Senator Orie, which would close an unintentional gap in the
survivor benefit coverage provided in Act 30 of 2006 for a small number of
surviving spouses of police officers who retired before the effective date of
Act 30 of 2006, and died after the act's effective date.
"These bills (SB 1012 and 1093) make significant changes that ultimately
would provide real benefits to retired police officers and their families, while
lifting an administrative burden from Pennsylvania's municipalities," Senator
Browne said. "When it comes to pension funds, there truly is strength in numbers
and I believe that the men and women who uphold the safety of our communities
and their families deserve to be secure in their retirement."
The Committee also approved Senate Bill 1248, a bill introduced by Senator
James Rhoades (R-29), that would amend the law governing Pennsylvania's Property
Tax and Rent Rebate Program in order to provide home heating fuel rebates to
senior citizens and others who are eligible to receive property and rent
assistance.
These home heating fuel rebates would be paid out of funds that have not been
expended on property tax and rent rebates in 2007. As of December 31, 2007, the
Department of Revenue reported that $84 million appropriated for the Property
Tax and Rent Rebate Program had not been expended. Senate Bill 1248 proposes to
direct this $84 million to home heating fuel rebates.
Other bills approved by the Committee include:
Senate Bill 1169, introduced by Senator Andrew Dinniman (D-19), which would
provide an earned income tax credit of up to $400 for a volunteer firefighter or
a volunteer emergency medical services provider.
Senate Bill 1012, introduced by Senator Bob Regola (R-39), which would
prohibit municipalities from levying an amusement tax on fixed site amusement
and water parks.
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