Opposing

This bill: defines certain terms; repeals a requirement that a participating employer who hires a retiree contribute the same percentage of a retiree's salary that the participating employer would have been required to contribute if the retiree were an active member of the retirement system; provides that a participating employer who hires a retiree before July 1, 2010 may not contribute an amount that exceeds the normal cost rate to a qualified defined contribution plan; provides that a retiree from the Utah State Retirement System who returns to work with a participating employer on or after July 1, 2010, is returned to active member status to earn additional service credit if the retiree is reemployed within one year from retirement; provides that a retiree who returns to work with a participating employer after a year from the date of retirement may elect to either: receive a retirement allowance and forfeit any retirement contribution related to the reemployment; or cancel the retiree's retirement allowance and earn additional service credit for the period of reemployment; requires a participating employer to pay the amortization rate to the retirement system that would have covered the retiree who is: reemployed after July 1, 2010; and receiving a retirement allowance; repeals the maximum allowance that a member may receive for a member who initially retires on or after July 1, 2010, in the following systems: the Public Safety Contributory Retirement System; the Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System; the Firefighters' Retirement System; the Judges' Contributory Retirement System; and the Judges' Noncontributory Retirement System; prevents the Commissioner of Public Safety, an elected or appointed sheriff, or a chief of police from retiring in place on or after July 1, 2010.

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE is pleased with the latest amendments allowing a retiree to come back following one year with options to keep their retirement and salary. UAGE supported an amendment that let retirees come back immediately and not lose their pension if they worked less than half time. That amendment failed. UAGE heard a lot about cost savings and how the Legislature could now spend money on raises and other benefit enhancements with the money they were saving from reduction in these type benefits. No committments were made however to those enhancements.

Opposing

This bill: defines terms; requires that the Retirement Office report when the funded status of the trust fund reaches 100% funded and requires the Retirement and Independent Entities Committee to study employee compensation and benefits; provides for a "Tier I" system or plan for which an employee is eligible to participate if the employee initially enters regular full-time employment before July 1, 2011; creates a "Tier II" retirement system and plan for which an employee is eligible to participate, if the employee initially enters regular full-time employment on or after July 1, 2011, and which includes a: New Public Employees' Tier II Hybrid Retirement System; New Public Employees' Tier II Defined Contribution Plan; New Public Safety and Firefighter Tier II Hybrid Retirement System; and New Public Safety and Firefighter Tier II Defined Contribution Plan; provides that all new public employees including public safety, firefighters, governors, and legislators may only participate in a Tier II retirement system or plan; provides that new employees may choose between the Tier II hybrid system or the Tier II Defined Contribution (DC) plan except governors and legislators are only eligible for the Tier II DC plan; provides that the retirement benefits for public employees Tier II hybrid system employees include: full retirement benefits after 35 years of service credit; 2.5% cost-of-living adjustments on the retirement allowance; a 1.5% multiplier for each year of service; a 401(k) employer contribution; a death benefit; and a disability benefit; provides that the participating employer shall contribute for public employees Tier II employees the percentage of the employee's compensation equal to the corresponding Tier I system amortization rate plus 10%; provides that the total public employees' Tier II contribution credited specifically on behalf of a Tier II employee is 10% of the employee's salary; provides that the retirement benefits for the public safety and firefighter Tier II hybrid system employees include: full retirement benefits after 25 years of service credit; 2.5% cost-of-living adjustments on the retirement allowance; a 1.5% multiplier for each year of service; a 401(k) employer contribution; a death benefit; a line of duty death benefit; and a disability benefit; provides that the participating employer shall contribute for public safety and firefighter Tier II employees the percentage of the employee's compensation equal to the corresponding Tier I system amortization rate plus 12%; provides that the total Tier II contribution credited specifically on behalf of a public safety and firefighter Tier II employee is 12% of the employee's salary; closes for employees who initially enter employment beginning on or after July 1, 2011, the: Public Employees' Contributory Retirement System; Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement System; Public Safety Contributory Retirement System; Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System; Firefighters' Retirement System; and Utah Governors' and Legislators' Retirement System; provides for certain exclusions from membership in the Tier II DC plan.

UAGE Position Notes:
Although several amendments were added to this Substitute measure, UAGE believes the justification for changing to a new system to be unwarranted. Cost containment within the Utah Retirement System could have accomplished losses in recent market down turns without switching to an entirely new system. UAGE fought a great fight for those who have yet to enter public employment. Our thoughts are these - that the new system will create two classes of employees working side by side 1) those with defined benefit plans and 2) those without. UAGE also believes that the State and local government jurisdictions will either require changes or enhancements to the new system in future years that will result in the new system looking similar to the one we currently have or when future employees begin to retire on meager allowances the State will be forced to fund supplemental benefits to keep employees whole during retirement years. Either way, the costs will mirror today's costs and the purpose for changing the current system will have been lost.

Opposing

This bill: defines terms; provides for a "Tier I" system or plan for which an employee is eligible to participate if the employee initially enters regular full-time employment before July 1, 2011; creates a "Tier II" retirement system and plan for which an employee is eligible to participate, if the employee initially enters regular full-time employment on or after July 1, 2011 and which includes a: New Public Employees' Tier II Hybrid Retirement System; and New Public Employees' Tier II Defined Contribution Plan; provides that all new public employees including public safety, firefighters, judges, governors, and legislators may only participate in a Tier II retirement system or plan; provides that new employees may choose between the Tier II hybrid system or the Tier II DC plan except governors and legislators are only eligible for the Tier II DC plan; provides that the retirement benefits for Tier II hybrid system employees include: full retirement benefits after 35 years of service credit; 2.5% cost-of-living adjustments on the retirement allowance; a 1% multiplier for each year of service; a 401(k) employer contribution; a death benefit; and a disability benefit; provides that the participating employer shall contribute for Tier II employees the percentage of employee's compensation equal to the corresponding Tier I system amortization rate plus 8%; provides that the total Tier II contribution credited specifically on behalf of a Tier II employee is 8% of the employee's salary; closes for employees who initially enter employment beginning on or after July 1, 2011, the: Public Employees' Contributory Retirement System; Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement System; Public Safety Contributory Retirement System; Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement Act ; Firefighters' Retirement System; Judges' Contributory Retirement System; Judges' Noncontributory Retirement System; and Utah Governors' and Legislators' Retirement System; provides for certain exclusions from membership in the Tier II DC plan.

UAGE Position Notes:

Opposing

This bill: amends certain definitions; amends vacant position report provisions for the Department of Human Resource Management executive director; repeals a requirement that an agency obtain field office approval for appointments to vacant positions; adds the attorney general or designee to the human resource management rate committee; requires that costs incurred by the attorney general to defend state employee grievances be submitted to the rate committee in the proposed fee schedule; repeals steps within pay ranges for state career service employees in the state employee compensation plans; repeals provisions requiring the most recently earned sick leave to be used first; provides that continuing medical and life insurance benefits provided at the time of retirement; may not be suspended or deferred for future use; and continues in effect until exhausted; amends and consolidates classification schedules for state employees; amends provisions for salary increases based on employee longevity and promotion; replaces the Career Service Review Board with the Career Service Review Office and provides that the office is the final administrative body to review employee grievances and appeals; provides for the appointment, qualifications, powers, and duties of the administrator of the office; provides that the administrator has rulemaking authority; amends employee grievance procedures.

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE is opposed to this legislation based on the further erosion of employee protections under the state personnel management act. It appears that state human resources managers no longer wish to spend time listening to employees tell them what's wrong with the system. It also appears that a disconnect will occur between the "field" and the "central" offices.

Watching

This bill: defines terms; requires the Legislature to participate in the large group demonstration project in the defined contribution arrangement market on the Health Insurance Exchange; provides that the Legislature shall determine the contribution towards the health benefit plan; permits the Public Employees' Benefit and Insurance Program to offer defined contribution health benefit plans on the Health Insurance Exchange to the Legislature; allows, but does not require, an individual legislator to select a health benefit plan offered by the Utah Public Employees Health Insurance Program on the Health Insurance Exchange.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: defines the term "adult designee"; and extends health insurance coverage for state employees to include an adult designee.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: provides that a peace officer who voluntarily relinquishes the peace officer's certification to the division may not thereafter reapply to the division to be certified as a peace officer in Utah; provides authority to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council to suspend or revoke certification of a peace officer for any of the following: willful falsification of any information to obtain certified status; physical or mental disability affecting the peace officer's ability to perfor duties; addiction to alcohol or controlled substances unless the peace officer reports the addiction to the employer and the director; and violation of a state or federal law, regardless of whether the conduct results in the filing of criminal charges; amends provisions referring to the POST director's rulemaking authority with the advice of the POST council; amends directives regarding specific rulemaking for dispatcher training and certification; provides procedures and requires the division to initiate all adjudicative proceedings as civil actions; specifies that the burden of proof in the adjudicative proceedings is by preponderance of the clear and convincing evidence; provides requirements for recusal of council members in hearings regarding a peace officer; permits a peace officer to request an appeal hearing conducted by an administrative law judge; provides that termination, whether voluntary or involuntary, or employment by an agency after termination does not preclude suspension or revocation of peace officer certification status by the council if the peace officer was terminated for cause; and requires a chief, sheriff, or administrative officer of a law enforcement agency who is made aware of alleged conduct of a peace officer that would be grounds for suspension or revocation to investigate and report the conduct to the division, if the agency finds the allegation to be true.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: changes the number of eligible full-time enrollees an institution of higher education must have in order to participate in the program's risk pools

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: provides that only two of the four appointed Utah State Retirement Board members, with experience in investments or banking, can be appointed every two years; provides that any retirement benefit ] defined contribution balance based on employer contributions .H not just service credit must be forfeited when service credit is purchased; provides that purchase of service credit made on or after July 1, 2010, shall be made in accordance with rules in effect at the time the purchase is completed, and the cost of the purchase will not be recalculated at the time of retirement; provides that payments made for a salary protection program for a disabled employee shall be paid over the period of the disability and shall not include settlement or lump sum payments; clarifies that a member may not be employed on the retirement date by any other participating employer in the same system from which the member is retiring; allows an attorney or a person appointed as a conservator or guardian of the eligible employee who is unable to apply for long-term disability benefits to make an application and prohibits an application for a deceased employee; provides that after the date of disability, cost-of-living increases to any offsetting benefits may not be considered in calculating monthly disability benefits; provides that monthly disability benefits shall cease when the eligible employee dies.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: removes exceptions to a provision that restricts a former state official from becoming a lobbyist for one year after leaving office.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill modifies the Public Safety Code regarding the authority of federal law enforcement officers to act on state land.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: provides that a governmental entity shall provide compensation information for an employee or officer by name if the employee or officer is elected or appointed; provides that a governmental entity shall provide compensation information for all other employees as identified by job title, rather than name; provides that gross compensation be provided as a range.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

No Information. Box Car Bill at this time.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: defines certain terms; prohibits employer contributions to a qualified defined contribution plan made by a participating employer who hires a retiree, if the retiree begins the reemployment on or after July 1, 2010; allows the contributions made by a participating employer who hires a retiree to continue and to be credited to the retiree-designated qualified defined contribution plan, if the retiree began the reemployment before July 1, 2010.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

No Information - Box Car Bill at this time.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: requires that when a peace officer arrests or takes into custody a person with an outstanding felony warrant, the officer shall check with the federal Law Enforcement Support Center for information on the person; and requires that the officer make a record of any information provided by the center.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: clarifies that a secondary residence may include any location that the offender does not own, or does not have a financial interest in, if the offender has stayed at that location for a specified period of time; clarifies that the Department of Corrections is to assist in investigating kidnapping crimes.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

No Information - Box Car Bill at this time.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill is in box car form.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: extends retirement and health coverage to retired legislators and governors who have qualified for Social Security disability benefits if public service term requirements have been met.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: makes legislative findings; prohibits a state agency or department from implementing any provision of the federal health care reform without first reporting to the Legislature: whether the federal act compels the state to adopt the particular federal provision;consequences to the state if the state refuses to adopt the particular federal provision; and impact to the citizens of the state if reform efforts are implemented or not implemented; and requires the state to opt out of federal reform when the state determines that opting out is in the best interest of the citizens of the state.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: requires the Utah State Retirement Office to provide written notice to a retiree's spouse of the retirement allowance option election made by the retiree under the Public Employees' Contributory or Noncontributory Retirement Act if there is a spouse of the retiree on file with the office; requires the Utah State Retirement Office to provide written notice to a retiree's spouse of the partial lump-sum payment option made by the retiree at the time of application for retirement if there is a spouse of the retiree on file with the office; provides that the Utah State Retirement Office is not required to notify a spouse on file with the office if the person is no longer the retiree's spouse.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill modifies per diem and travel expense language used for boards, commissions, councils, and committees.

UAGE Position Notes:

Supporting

This bill modifies the joint legislative rules that govern the receipt and review of an ethics complaint against a legislator.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: provides appropriations for the use and support of certain state agencies; provides appropriations for the use and support of certain institutions of higher education; provides appropriations for other purposes as described; approves employment levels for internal service funds; approves capital acquisition amounts for internal service funds.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: provides that taking, or attempting to take, an electroshock weapon from a peace officer is a third degree felony.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill provides protected status to certain records of the Independent Legislative Ethics Commission; provides that only records related to review of ethics complaints may be classified as private by a legislative ethics committee; permits private records related to review of an ethics complaint to be classified as public under legislative rule.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: allows a higher education employee hired on or after May 11, 2010, who has service credit in the Public Employees' Contributory Retirement System and the Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement System, to elect to continue participatio in that system regardless of the institution's employment classification assignment; provides a one-time irrevocable election until June 30, 2010, to a regular full-time employee of an institution of higher education to transfer to a Public Employees' Retirement System; provides for certain rulemaking by the board.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

No Information - Box Car Bill at this time.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

No Information - Box Car Bill at this time.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: specifies the employers who may elect to not participate in the Public Employees' Non-Contributory Retirement System; provides procedures for the exclusion; requires the retirement office to reduce an employer's delinquent contributions to the system on behalf of an employee who has relinquished service credit.

UAGE Position Notes:

Opposing

This bill: provides, through a graduated scale, a zero to five year increase in the number of years of service credit a member must accrue to retire at any age based on years of service credit accrued on July 1, 2011 from the current: 30 years to 35 years in the Public Employees' Contributory and Noncontributory Retirement Systems; and 20 years to 25 years in the Public Safety Contributory and Noncontributory and the Firefighters Retirement Systems; provides that, in the Public Employees' Contributory and Noncontributory Retirement Systems, if a retiree is less than 65 years of age and has not accrued the years of service credit needed to retire at any age, the allowance is reduced by the full actuarial amount instead of 3% for each year of retirement from age 60 to age 65

UAGE Position Notes:
UAGE was instrumental in getting this bill circled - killed. All current employees will stay in the existing system.

Opposing

This bill: defines certain terms; repeals a requirement that a participating employer who hires a retiree contribute the same percentage of a retiree's salary that the participating employer would have been required to contribute if the retiree were an active member of the retirement system; requires a participating employer who hires a retiree to contribute the amortization rate for the reemployed retiree to the retirement system that would have covered the retiree in the new position; provides that a retiree from the Utah State Retirement System who returns to work with a participating employer on or after July 1, 2010 is returned to active member status to earn additional service credit but: the retiree's allowance is canceled; and the employer's retirement contribution is made to the retirement system on behalf of the retiree for additional service credit; provides that a retiree who begins reemployment on a part-time basis with any participating employer on or after July 1, 2010 is subject to certain earnings limitations; repeals the maximum allowance that a member may receive for a member who initially retires after July 1, 2010, in the following systems: the Public Safety Contributory Retirement System; the Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement System; the Firefighters Retirement System; the Judges' Contributory Retirement System; and the Judges' Noncontributory Retirement System.

UAGE Position Notes:

Watching

This bill: provides for a "Tier I" system or plan for which an employee is eligible to participate if the employee initially enters regular full-time employment before July 1, 2011; creates a "Tier II" retirement system and plan for which an employee is eligible to participate, if the employee initially enters regular full-time employment by July 1, 2011 and which includes a: New Public Employees' Tier II Hybrid Retirement System; and New Public Employees' Tier II Defined Contribution Plan; provides that all new public employees including public safety, firefighters, judges, governors, and legislators may only participate in a Tier II retirement system or plan; provides that new employees may choose between the Tier II hybrid Tier II DC plan except governors and legislators are only eligible for the Tier II DC plan;provides that the retirement benefits for Tier II hybrid system employees include: full retirement benefits after 35 years of service credit; 2.5% cost-of-living adjustments on the retirement allowance; a 1% multiplier for each year of service; a 401(k) employer contribution; a death benefit; and a disability benefit; provides that the participating employer shall contribute for Tier II employees the percentage of employee's compensation equal to the corresponding Tier I system amortization rate plus 8%; provides that the total Tier II contribution credited specifically on behalf of a Tier II employee is 8% of the employee's salary; closes for employees who initially enter employment beginning on or after July 1, 2011, the: Public Employees' Contributory Retirement System; Public Employees' Noncontributory Retirement System; Public Safety Contributory Retirement System;Public Safety Noncontributory Retirement Act ;Firefighters' Retirement System; Judges' Contributory Retirement System; Judges' Noncontributory Retirement System; and Utah Governors' and Legislators' Retirement System; provides for certain exclusions from membership in the Tier II DC plan.

UAGE Position Notes: