PUBLIC
SAFETY PERSONNEL RETIREMENT SYSTEM
2004 PROPOSED LEGISLATION
Updated June 7, 2004
FINAL
***The 46th Legislature, Second Regular Session,
adjourned sine die Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at 9:58 pm.***�
|
Bills
enclosed in a border have been passed. |
H 2010� Public
Safety Department Reserves
DPS reserves are not entitled to
receive benefits under the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System.�
Sponsor: Rep. Huppenthal
Current
Action: 2/16 referred to House rules only; 3/1 additionally referred to
house gov-ret; 3/2 from House gov-ret with amend #3477. STRIKER
AMENDMENT
H 2050� Firefighter Cancer Insurance; PSPRS
A former firefighter who was diagnosed with cancer subsequent to his becoming a member of the PSPRS and whose eligibility to receive insurance benefits is expiring (the system pays premiums for retirees at a rate of 5 months of coverage per year of service) may elect to continue coverage by paying the cost of the premium as determined by the fund manager.� Additionally, the amount the fund can charge participating employers is capped at $180 per fire fighter employee.�
Sponsor: Rep. Huppenthal
Current Action: 1/12 referred to House gov-ret; 1/13 from House gov-ret do pass; 1/15 from House rules with a technical amendment.� House COW approved with the rules tech amendment; 1/22 passed House 57-0; ready for Senate; 3/1 referred to Senate fin; 3/9 from Senate fin with amend #3628; 3/23 from Senate rules okay; 4/1 Senate COW approved with amend #3628; 4/6 passed Senate 29-0; ready for House action on Senate amendments; 4/27 House concurred in Senate amendments and passed on final reading 54-1; ready for governor; 5/3 signed by governor. Chap. 177, Laws 2004.
H 2051� Retirement;
PSPRS, Excess Investment Earnings
Changes the excess earnings threshold for the PSPRS from 9.0% to the assumed rate of return as determined by the fund manager, or eight percent, whichever is greater. States that the excess earnings shall be transferred to the excess earnings account only if the fund is at least 85 percent funded.� Retroactive to June 30, 2004.
Sponsor: Rep.
Huppenthal
Current Action: 1/12 referred to House gov-ret; 1/13
from House gov-ret do pass; 1/14 to House consent calendar; 1/15 from House
rules okay; 1/22 passed house 57-0; ready for Senate; 3/1 referred to Senate
fin; 3/24 from Senate fin with amend #3991; 4/28 from Senate rules okay.
H 2081� Retirement; PSPRS, Disability Offset
A member
receiving a pension for "accidental disability" will no longer have
the amount of the pension reduced if he/she finds work. The statutory reduction
for those whose disability is classified as "ordinary" remains
unchanged.
Sponsor: Rep. Huppenthal
Current Action: 1/14
referred to House gov-ret; 1/20 House gov-ret amended; 1/21 from House gov-ret
with amend #3013; 1/29 from House rules okay; House COW approved with amend
#3013; 2/9 passed House 58-0; ready for Senate; 3/1 referred to Senate fin;
3/16 from Senate fin with amend #3857; 3/23 from Senate rules okay; 3/31 Senate
COW approved with amend #3857; 4/1 passed Senate 28-0; ready for House action
on Senate amendments; 4/12 House concurred in Senate amendments and passed on
final reading 57-0; ready for governor; 4/16 signed by governor. Chap. 91,
Laws 2004.
H
2082� Retirement;
PSPRS, Military Credit
Exclusion of credit
for the military service of members of the PSPRS, if that service is on account
with any other retirement system, is repealed.
Sponsor:
Rep. Huppenthal
Current Action: 1/14 referred to House gov-ret; 3/2
from House gov-ret with amend #3475.�
STRIKER AMENDMENT
H
2185� State
Sick Leave Pay, Direct Transfer
Upon
retirement, a state or county officer or employee may elect to have accumulated
sick leave payouts transferred directly to an eligible retirement plan.
Sponsor:
Rep. L. Gray
Current Action: 1/19 referred to House educ, gov-ret;
1/21 from House educ do pass; 1/27 from House gov-ret do pass; 2/4 to House
consent calendar; 2/4 stricken from House consent calendar by L. Gray; 2/5 from
House rules okay; 2/12 retained on House COW calendar; 2/19 retained on House
COW calendar; 2/26 House COW approved with floor amend #3409; 3/3 passed House
57-0; ready for Senate; 3/4 referred to Senate gov; 3/16 Senate gov held; 3/23
Senate gov held; 4/7 from Senate gov with amend #4178; 4/13 from Senate rules okay.� STRIKER AMENDMENT
H 2361� State
Agencies, Outside Council, Procurement
State agencies authorized to retain outside counsel to perform legal services must comply with provisions of the state procurement code and must submit copies of the RFP and name of the proposed outside counsel to JLBC.� At conclusion of the proceeding, outside counsel must submit a detailed statement of hours worked, expenses, etc.� If the proceeding is a contingent fee case, the state agency is prohibited from paying an hourly rate in excess of $500.
Sponsor: Rep.
Biggs
Current Action: 1/28 referred to House gov-ret, appro; 2/10 House gov-ret held.
H 2433� Health Care District; Self Insurance
Allows special health care districts and other special districts in Maricopa County whose governing board is the county board of supervisors to establish a self-insurance program.
Sponsor: Rep. Hanson
Current Action: 1/28
referred to House gov-ret, fin-ins; 2/10 from House gov-ret with amend #3137;
3/3 from House fin-ins with amend #3502; 3/9 from House rules okay; 3/10 House
COW approved with amend #3137 and #3502; note
short title change; 3/11 passed House
40-18; ready for Senate; 3/18 referred to Senate gov; 4/7 from Senate
gov do pass; 4/12 to Senate consent calendar; 4/13 from Senate rules okay; 4/15
passed Senate 26-3; ready for governor; 4/23 signed by governor. Chap. 141,
Laws 2004.
H 2447� Administration
Dept Insurance
Authority for the sate Dept of Administration to self-insure for health and accident coverage for state officers and employees is repealed.
Sponsor: Rep.
Pearce
Current Action: 1/29 referred to House gov-ret, appro; 2/10 House gov-ret held.
H 2542� Retirement; Pensions, Health Insurance
1) Creates a �Catastrophic Disability� for members injured in the line of duty who cannot engage in gainful employment.� For the first 60 months, the benefit is equal to 90% of the member�s average monthly benefit compensation before termination of employment.� After 60 months the benefit is the greater of 62.5% of the member�s average monthly benefit compensation before termination of employment OR computed in the same manner as a normal pension using the member�s average monthly benefit compensation before termination of employment and the member�s actual credited service; 2) provides that a member�s pension may be subject to restitution and fines imposed by a court if the member is convicted of or discharged because of theft, embezzlement, fraud or misappropriation of property under the control of the employer; 3) effective June 30, 2008, extends medical reimbursement subsidy to out-of-state retired members and survivors who purchase their own insurance.� Those benefiting from the insurance subsidy prior to June 30, 2008 will see no change in the amount they are eligible to receive, however those electing to purchase their own insurance for the first time after June 30, 2008 will be allowed payment of no more than twenty-five dollars per month; 4) requires System to provide a final report of its health insurance study to the certain elected officials and state agencies.��
Sponsor: Rep. Huppenthal
Current Action: 2/4 referred to House gov-ret; 2/18 from House gov-ret do pass; 2/25 to House consent calendar; 2/26 from House rules okay; 2/26 stricken from House consent calendar by Huppenthal; 3/4 House COW approved with floor amend #3610; 3/10 passed House 56-4; ready for Senate; 3/18 referred to Senate fin; 4/5 Senate fin held: 4/12 from Senate fin with amend #4273; 4/28 from Senate rules okay; 5/19 retained on Senate COW calendar; 5/24 Senate COW approved with amend #4273 and floor amend #4603, #4604, #4605 and #4606; 5/25 passed Senate 29-0; ready for House action on Senate amendments. House refused to concur in Senate amendments and named Rep. Huppenthal, Boone and Prezelski to a FREE conference committee. Senate conferees awaited; 5/25 Senate named Sen. Martin, Cheuvront and Harper to the FREE conference committee; 5/26 Sen. Garcia replaces Cheuvront on conference committee. Note short title change; 5/26 Senate adopted conference report #4645. House adopted conference report #4645 and passed on final reading 56-0. Passed Senate on final reading 26-0; ready for governor; 6/3 signed by governor. Chap. 325, Laws 2004.
�
H 2596� State
Employees; Active Military
Military reservists who are state employees and are called to active service as a result of a declaration of an emergency by the President or governor are automatically given a leave of absence.� The state will make up the difference between the person�s state pay and his/her military pay.� This bill repeals and replaces a similar provision in Laws 2002, Ch. 321 that is set to expire July 1, 2004.� Retroactive to Sept. 1, 2002.
Sponsor: Rep.
A. Aguirre
Current Action: 2/11 referred to House com-mil, appro.
H 2599� Retirement;
ASRS, Retiree Health Insurance
Group health insurance offered by ASRS shall have comparable premiums, deductibles and co-payments for all participants regardless of where they live in the state.
Sponsor: Rep.
Konopnicki
Current Action: 2/11 referred to House gov-ret, appro.
H 2600� Retiree
Health Insurance Study
Legislative Council shall contract with a private entity to perform a study on various alternatives to provide health care coverage to retirees, including the feasibility of a single health insurance program for retirees of all state retirement plans or of allowing retirees to remain in the same health care plan as their previous employers; others.� Report due Dec. 1, 2004.
Sponsor: Rep.
Konopnicki
Current Action: 2/11 referred to House gov-ret, appro; 2/17 from House gov-ret do pass; 2/24 House appro held; 3/3 from House appro with amend #3505.
H 2650� Investment
Protection Committee
Establishes an Investment Protection Committee, in conjunction with the State Treasurer, to share information and ideas between the State Compensation Fund (SCF), the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS), and the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) to collectively improve the return on investments and to reduce the risks of investments within the participating groups.
Sponsor: Rep.
Rosati
Current Action: 2/12 referred to House gov-ret, pub inst-county; 2/24 from House gov-ret do pass; 3/2 from House pub inst-county with amend #3470.
H 2657� Public
Safety Meet & Confer Study
A committee of legislators and local officials is created to make recommendations on �meet and confer� legislation for police and fire fighters and study their working conditions.� Report is due by Dec. 1, 2004.
Sponsor: Rep.
Chase
Current Action: 2/16 referred to House util-muni, pub inst-county; 2/25 from House util-muni do pass; 3/2 from House pub inst-county with amend #3470.
S 1176� Retirement;
ASRS, Retiree Health Insurance
Premiums, coverage, co-pay costs, and deductible amounts for health insurance offered by ASRS for its retirees must be comparable for all eligible persons in the state.
Sponsor: Sen.
Arzberger
Current Action: 1/27 referred to Senate fin, appro; 2/23 Senate fin held; 3/4 from Senate fin with amend #3526.
S 1192� Retiree
Health Insurance Study
JLBC will contract with a private entity to conduct a study and make recommendations on various suggestions to provide a single health insurance plan for retirees in all four state retirement systems.
Sponsor: Sen.
Arzberger
Current Action: 1/27 referred to Senate fin, appro; 2/24 from Senate fin do pass.
S
1229� Retirement;
PSPRS, Pension Limitation
Conditions
under which a member is not entitled to receive a pension are expanded to
include conviction of the charge of theft, embezzlement, fraud or
misappropriation of an employer�s property.�
Previously, only being discharged for these offenses was cause to
forfeit a pension.� See also H
2542.
Sponsor:
Sen. Martin
Current Action: 1/28 referred to Senate fin; 2/2
Senate fin held; 2/10 from Senate fin with amend #3130; 3/16 from Senate rules
okay; 3/18 Senate COW approved with floor amend #3959 and #3960, a substitute for
amend #3130; 3/22 passed Senate 30-0; ready for House; 3/24 referred to House
gov-ret; 3/30 House gov-ret held; 4/6 from House gov-ret with amend #4154; 4/8
additionally referred to House appro.�
STRIKER AMENDMENT
S 1230� Airport Police Officers
In a definition that applies to all statutes and laws of the state, unless required otherwise by context, the meaning of �peace officer� is expanded to include those appointed by the governing body of a public airport who have �received a certificate� from the Peace Officer Standards and Training Board.
Sponsor: Sen. Bee
Current Action: 1/29
referred to Senate jud, fin; 2/4 withdrawn from Senate fin; 2/19 from Senate
jud do pass; 2/23 to Senate consent calendar; 2/24 from Senate rules okay; 2/26
passed Senate 28-0; ready for House; 3/4 referred to House trans, jud; 3/15
from House trans do pass; 3/25 from House jud do pass; 3/31 to House consent
calendar; 4/1 from House rules okay; 4/6 PASSED house 57-0; ready for governor;
4/13 signed by governor. Chap. 82, Laws 2004.
S 1290� Retirement;
State, Retiree Health Insurance
Retired members of must provide written evidence of health care coverage to the fund manager before the fund begins payment of the health care insurance subsidy.
Sponsor: Sen.
Martin
Current Action: 2/3 referred to Senate fin; 2/24 from Senate fin do pass; 3/1 to Senate consent calendar; 3/2 from Senate rules okay; 3/3 stricken from Senate consent calendar by Sen. Martin; 3/11 retained on Senate COW calendar.
S 1297� Retirement;
Public Safety
Payment for compensatory time is to be included in calculating compensation for retirees under the PSPRS.
Sponsor: Sen.
Mead
Current Action: 2/3 referred to Senate fin; from Senate fin do pass.
S
1305� Retirement;
PSPRS, Accidental Disability
The provision
for a reduction in pension benefits imposed on retired members of the PSPRS who
retired under �accidental disability� is deleted.
Sponsor:
Sen. Weiers
Current Action: 2/4 referred to Senate fin; 2/24 from Senate
fin do pass; 3/1 to Senate consent calendar; 3/2 from Senate rules okay; 3/4
passed Senate 29-0; ready for House; 3/11 referred to House gov-ret; 3/24
withdrawn from House gov-ret and referred to House com-mil; 4/6 from House
com-mil with amend #4151.� STRIKER
AMENDMENT
S 1343� State Investment; Terrorist Ties
The state treasurer and the retirement system fund manager must report annually to the Legislature on the economic impact of global security risks of investments under their management, including a list of companies in their portfolios known or suspected of doing business in terrorist-sponsoring countries, the total amount invested in each company and an assessment of the level of global security risk based on the �prudent investor rule.�
Sponsor: Sen. Verschoor
Current Action: 2/4
referred to Senate fin; 3/1 Senate fin held; 3/4 from Senate fin with amend
#3530; 3/9 from Senate rules okay; 3/11 Senate COW approved with amend #3530;
3/16 passed Senate 23-7; ready for House; 3/22 referred to House gov-ret,
fin-ins; 3/30 from House gov-ret do pass; 3/30 House fin-ins held; 4/7 from
House fin-ins with amend #4185; 4/15 from House rules okay; 4/15 House COW
approved with amend #4185; passed House 49-6; ready for Senate action on House
amendments; 5/3 Senate concurred in House amendments and passed on final
reading 27-0; ready for governor; 5/10 signed by governor. Chap. 217, Laws
2004.
S 1366� Administration Dept Self-Insurance
If the state Administration Dept self-insures, it must include all mandated health coverage benefits as well as provide for grievance procedures for issues such as: treatment denials, creditable coverage determinations, dissatisfaction with care, and access to care.
Sponsor: Sen. Martin
Current Action: 2/5
referred to Senate fin; 2/17 from Senate fin do pass; 2/23 to Senate consent
calendar; 2/23 stricken from Senate consent calendar by Leff; 2/24 from Senate
rules okay; 2/26 Senate COW approved with floor amendment #3414; 3/1 passed
Senate 27-0; ready for House; 3/4 referred to House gov-ret; 3/9 from House
gov-ret do pass; 3/31 to House consent calendar; 3/31 stricken from House
consent calendar by Rep. Carpenter; 4/1 from House rules okay; 4/8 retained on
House COW calendar; 4/26 House COW approved with floor amend #4404; 4/29 passed
House 49-2; ready for Senate action on House amendments; Senate refused to
concur in House amendments and named Sen. Martin, Garcia and Leff to a FREE
conference committee; 5/10 House named Rep. Huppenthal, Carpenter and Loredo to
FREE conference committee; 5/26 House adopted conference report #4638. Senate
adopted conference report #4638 and passed on final reading 28-0. Passed House
on final reading 43-13; ready for governor; 6/3 signed by governor. Chap. 335,
Laws 2004.