Legislation
Summary
Updated 5/26/2023
The Legislature convened for the twenty-fourth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, and twenty-seventh legislative days of the Regular Session this week. There are only three legislative days remaining.
The House concurred with the Senate changes to HB41 by Rep. Reynolds, which as amended would increase the compensation limits to $52,000 for ERS retirees who return to work as correctional officers or school resource officers until December 31, 2026. The bill now goes to the Governor for her signature.
The Legislature also gave final passage to the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets (HB124 and SB88 respectively). The budgets fully fund ERS, TRS, and PEEHIP at the requested employer rates. Additionally, the Legislature gave final passage to the Education Trust Fund supplemental appropriation bill (SB87), which includes $59M in funding for PEEHIP as reimbursement for its COVID-related expenses. These bills have been sent to the Governor for her signature.
No new bills dealing with RSA were filed this week.
Bill Chart
House Bills |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill/Sponsor | Companion | Summary | Status |
| HB41/Reynolds | SB61/Givhan |
Temporarily loosens the return to work restrictions for RSA retirees by removing the part-time or temporary requirement and increasing the compensation cap to $52,000. Requires that a retiree have a 90-day break in service. Changes expire in five years and current restrictions are reinstated. As amended would only apply to retirees who return to work as correctional officers and school resource officers. |
Enrolled; Pending the Governor's Signature. |
| HB46/Treadaway | n/a | Exempts retired law enforcement officers who return to work as school resource officers from the return to work restrictions. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by House Ways and Means General Fund. |
| HB66/Lovvorn | SB69/Jones | Reopens the provision allowing FLC members to purchase hazardous duty time for prior uncredited FLC service. | Enacted. Act 2023-101. |
| HB93/Clouse | n/a | Proposes a constitutional amendment to allow mayors in Dale County to participate in ERS. | Enacted. Act 2023-32. |
| HB117/Garrett | SB49/Orr | Increases state income tax exemption for taxable retirement income for taxpayers who are 65 years of age or older from $6,000 to $10,000. | Read First Time in Second House; Pending Consideration by Senate Finance and Taxation Education. |
| HB119/Mooney | n/a | Proposes a constitutional amendment to allow county commissioners in Shelby County to participate in ERS | Enacted. Act 2023-31. |
| HB124/Reynolds | SB82/Albritton | General Fund budget; fully funds ERS. | Enrolled; Pending the Governor's Signature. |
| HB176/Ingram | SB92/Carnley | Extends the deadline for local units to elect to provide the retiree bonus as provided for by Act 2022-229. | Read Second Time in House of Origin; Pending Third Reading. |
| HB233/Almond | n/a | Authorizing the City of Tuscaloosa to elect for its fire and police retirement plan to join ERS. | Enacted. Act 2023-148. |
| HB303/Hill | n/a | Authorizes the St. Clair DAY Program to participate in TRS. | Read First time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by House Ways and Means Education. |
| HB308/Sells | n/a | Allow ERS, TRS, and JRF retirees to return to work for an RSA-participating employer and draw their benefit so long as they have separated from service for a year and earn 75% or less of their final earnable compensation. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by House Ways and Means Education. |
| HB317/Pettus | n/a | Requires a county or city to purchase retirement service credit on behalf of a law enforcement officer or firefighter under certain circumstances. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by County and Municipal Government. |
| HB371/Kiel | n/a | Removes requirement that retirement benefit garnishments for restitution must run through the District Attorneys' Restitution Recovery Division. | Read First Time in Second House; Pending Consideration by Senate Judiciary. |
| HB403/Jackson | n/a | Allows a pre-2016 unmarried judge to name a beneficiary to receive the spousal benefit. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by House Ways and Means General Fund. |
| HB406/Shaw | n/a | Requires RSA to publish a list of certain companies owned or controlled by the Chinese government; prohibits RSA from acquiring direct holdings in publicly traded securities of these companies. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by State Government. |
| HB437/Shedd | SB310/Orr | Establishes a procedure for granting and funding TRS and ERS retiree benefit increases. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by House Ways and Means Education. |
Senate Bills |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill/Sponsor | Companion | Summary | Status |
| SB49/Orr | HB117/Garrett | Increases state income tax exemption for taxable retirement income for taxpayers who are 65 years of age or older from $6,000 to $10,000. | Read Second Time in House of Origin; Pending Third Reading. |
| SB61/Givhan | HB41/Reynolds | Temporarily loosens the return to work restrictions for RSA retirees by removing the part-time or temporary requirement and increasing the compensation cap to $52,000. Requires that a retiree have a 90-day break in service. Changes expire in five years and current restrictions are reinstated. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund. |
| SB68/Chambliss | n/a | Provides State Police retirement benefits to all employees of ALEA who perform law enforcement duties and modifies State Police Tier II benefits to allow 25-year retirement and to provide hazardous duty time. | Enacted. Act 2023-73. |
| SB69/Jones | HB66/Lovvorn | Reopens the provision allowing FLC members to purchase hazardous duty time for prior uncredited FLC service. | Read First Time in Second House; Pending Consideration by House Ways and Means General Fund. |
| SB87/Orr | HB174/Garrett | Makes supplemental ETF appropriations, including $59M to reimburse PEEHIP for its COVID expenses. | Enrolled; Pending the Governor's Signature. |
| SB88/Orr | HB169/Garrett | Education Trust Fund budget; fully funds TRS and PEEHIP. | Enrolled; Pending the Governor's Signature. |
| SB92/Carnley | HB176/Ingram | Extends the deadline for local units to elect to provide the retiree bonus as provided for by Act 2022-229. | Enacted. Act 2023-107. |
| SB129/Singleton | n/a | Provides FLC benefits for the Commissioner and deputy commissioners of DOC who maintain APOST certification. | Read Second Time in Second House; Pending Third Reading. |
| SB174/Orr | n/a |
Exempting compensation received by a retired law enforcement officer for hours worked as a school resource officer for extracurricular activities from the return to work restrictions; as amended would mirror provisions of HB41 as amended in Senate committee. |
Read Second Time in Second House; Pending Third Reading. |
| SB252/Elliott | n/a | Prohibits future employees hired by the Alabama High School Athletic Association from participating in TRS and PEEHIP. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development. |
| SB295/Chesteen | n/a | Proposes a constitutional amendment to allow mayors in Geneva County to participate in ERS. | Enacted. Act 2023-236. |
| SB307/Elliott | n/a | Removes the earnings limit for retirees who serve as elected officials in positions which are eligible to participate in ERS or TRS. | Read Second Time in House of Origin; Pending Third Reading. |
| SB310/Orr | HB437/Shedd | Establishes a procedure fo granting and funding TRS and ERS retiree benefit increases. | Read First Time in House of Origin; Pending Consideration by Finance and Taxation Education. |
3/10/2023
3/20/2023
3/24/2023
4/7/2023
4/14/2023
4/21/2023
4/28/2023
5/5/2023
5/12/2023
5/19/2023
Archives
2022 Regular Session (archive)
2021 Regular Session (archive)
2020 Regular Session (archive)
2019 Regular Session (archive)
2018 Regular Session (archive)
Presentations
TRS and PEEHIP Overview - Education Legislative Symposium, March 2, 2023
Legislative Orientation Presentation - December 2022
News
RSA Legislative Update - March 2022 Advisor
Retiree Bonus This Month - April 2022 Advisor
A Solid Benefit Improvement for Active Members - April 2022 Advisor
Contacts
Neah Mitchell Scott,
Legislative Counsel
neah.scott@rsa-al.gov
Twitter: @neahmitchell
Neah Mitchell Scott has served as Legislative Counsel for the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) since September 2013. Before joining the RSA, Neah practiced civil litigation and healthcare law as an associate with Balch & Bingham LLP. Neah obtained a Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama in 2008 and a B.A. in History from Auburn University in 2004.
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