Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement

February 21, 2017
Room G-15 State Capitol

MINUTES

Call to order:

Senator Julie A. Rosen, Chair of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

Commission Members Present:

Representatives Albright, Anderson, Murphy, O'Driscoll, Peterson, and Vogel
Senators Dahms, Limmer, Pappas, Rosen, Schoen, and Senjem

Commission Members Absent:

Representative Thissen and Senator Jasinski

Agenda Items

Public testimony on SF1064/HF1288; MSRS Funding Proposal

Laura Sayles, representing the Minnesota Nurses Association, testified that they have no formal position at this time but are generally supportive of the bill.

Joe Dellwo, President, Minnesota State Patrol Trooper's Association, testified in support of the bill.

Mike LeDoux, Vice President, Minnesota State Patrol Trooper's Association, testified in support of the bill.

Julie Bleyhl, Legislative Director, AFSCME Council 5, testified in support of the bill as introduced.

Mike Gruhlke, Legislative Liaison, Minnesota Conservation Officer's Association, testified in support of the bill.

Public testimony on SF1066/HF1090; PERA Funding Proposal

Dennis Flaherty, Executive Director, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, provided a letter and testified in support of the bill.

Chris Parsons, President, Minnesota Professional Firefighters, testified in support of the bill.

Bob Kroll, President, Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, testified in support of the bill.

Brian Rice, representing the Minneapolis Police Fraternal Association, the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis, and the Minnesota Professional Firefighters, testified in support of the bill.

Laura Sayles, representing the Minnesota Nurses Association, testified that they have no formal position at this time but are generally supportive of the bill.

Dave Johnson, representing the Minneapolis Municipal Retirement Association, provided a handout and testified in opposition to the proposed COLA reduction and the elimination of the COLA trigger.

Keith Carson, Executive Director, Minnesota Inter-County Association; Matt Hilgart, General Government Policy Analyst, Association of Minnesota Counties; and Gary Carlson, Intergovernmental Relations Director, League of Minnesota Cities, provided a letter prepared jointly by the three associations urging the commission to go beyond the changes proposed in the bill to completely eliminate the Police and Fire Plan's funding deficiency.

Susan Lenczewski, Executive Director, Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, reviewed provisions of the bill and responded to questions from members.

Approval of February 14, 2017, meeting minutes.

Rep. Vogel moved approval of the February 14, 2017, meeting minutes. MOTION PREVAILED

SFxxxx; HF1460 (O'Driscoll): MSRS Administrative Bill

Chad Burkitt, Legislative Liaison, MSRS, presented and testified in support of the bill.

Ms. Lenczewski informed members that any provision from the 2016 omnibus bill that is also being addressed in this bill, the 2016 changes have been incorporated into this bill.

....Rep. O'Driscoll moved SFxxxx/HF1460 be recommended to pass and be incorporated into the 2017 omnibus pension bill. MOTION PREVAILED

SFxxxx; HF1471 (O'Driscoll): PERA Administrative Bill

Shana Jones, Policy Director, PERA, presented and testified in support of the bill.

Rep. Albright moved SFxxxx/HF1471 be recommended to pass and be incorporated into the 2017 omnibus pension bill. MOTION PREVAILED

SF746 (Rosen); HF721 (Murphy, M.): TRA Administrative Bill.

Laurie Hacking, Executive Director, TRA, presented and testified in support of the bill.

Rep. Murphy moved SF746/HF721 be recommended to pass and be incorporated into the 2017 omnibus pension bill. MOTION PREVAILED

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.