RPEA Legislative Priorites-2008

ALERT             ALERT             ALERT             ALERT

 

Both Houses Of The Legislature Have Passed RPEA’s Number One 2008 Legislative Priority --- S.6457-A (Farley) And A.9393-A (Abbate) Which Would Establish A Task Force On Retiree Health Insurance Protection And A Temporary Prohibition From Reducing Public Employee Retirees Health Insurance Below The Level Of Active Employees.

PLEASE WRITE GOVERNOR PATERSON AND LET HIM KNOW THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEE RETIREES NEED THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS TO BE PROTECTED!

Click Here For A Sample Letter

 

The Legislative Program provides important information about RPEA’s current legislative work. The 2008 Legislative Program is designed around four areas to Preserve, Support, Promote, and Protect. As specific legislation is developed we will be able to provide our members with information on key bills, memos written in support or opposition to key bills, and scorecards showing where state lawmakers stand on major pieces of legislation.

The Community Lobby Committee — under the direction of co-chairs Fred Ames and Dick Rice — will be leading the advocacy and steering the 2008 Legislative Program. This year, Anthony Cantore has joined the staff as our Legislative Representative. He has developed a new look and feel for our program materials. “We are quite optimistic about this approach and the show of support from members,” Michael Fitzgerald, RPEA Executive Director said. Speak to your CLC chapter leaders or call our office in Albany. We’ll be glad to discuss this year’s program with you.

2008 RPEA LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM

(Legislative Action updated through end of Legislative Session- June 25, 2008; New Action Underlined)

 

I.  Preserve Retiree Health Insurance Benefits

Health insurance benefits for all educational, state and local government retirees should be permanently protected as health insurance for educational retirees has been protected and extended on an annual basis since the enactment of Chapter 729 of the Laws of 1994.

• Task Force Establishment & Health Insurance Moratorium - Support the establishment of a twelve member Task Force on Retiree Health Insurance Protection to study and recommend cost-effective strategies for protecting adequate and affordable health insurance for retired educational and public employees and their dependents.  Pending the Task Force’s report, health insurance benefits shall not be diminished for such employees and their dependents below the level of benefits provided to corresponding active employees until June 30, 2009.

             S.6457-A     Farley         -              Passed Senate and Assembly

             A.9393-A     Abbate        -              Substituted By S.6457-A

 

• Notice of Cancellation - Provide third party notification of cancellation of a senior citizen’s health insurance policy.

 

            S.2905   DeFrancisco                  -             Referred to Insurance Committee

            A.1218-A  Latimer                       -             Passed Assembly; referred to Senate Insurance Committee

 

II.  Support Income Security for Retirees

Inflation erodes retirees’ standard of living, especially for lower income and older retirees.  Increases in pension benefits have lagged far behind the Consumer Price Index (CPI).  Improved Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) should be enacted to enable retirees to combat inflation.

 

• CPI “Catch-Up” - Advance COLA tables by 5 years for retirees between 1961 and 1972.

 

               S.6128-A   Robach          -             Referred to Civil Service and Pensions Committee

             A.8367-A   Abbate          -             Referred to Governmental Employees Committee

 

• CPI Increase - Increase future COLAs from the present limit of 50% of the CPI to the full CPI.

            S.7861  Lanza / S.8105 Connor , Thompson - Referred to Civil Service and Pensions Committee

            A.8376-A  Abbate / A.10718  Abbate            - Referred to Governmental Employees Committee

 

• COLA Pension Base - Raise COLA pension base from $18,000 to $25,000.

 

            S.7862-A     Lanza          -             Referred to Civil Service and Pensions Committee

            A.8373-A     Abbate         -            Amended and referred to Governmental Employees Committee

   

III.  Promote Pension Equity for Certain Public Employees

 

• Retiree Tier Reinstatement:

Seek passage of legislation to extend the provisions of Chapter 640 of the Laws of 1998 to include the remaining retirees who lost their pension tier membership due to pregnancy or family care giving responsibilities. End discrimination for 3,000 retired teachers and retired public employees who not only experienced gender discrimination, but also experienced age discrimination because they had retired prior to Chapter 640’s effective date.

 

              S.4447-A   Morahan        -             Passed Senate; Referred to Assembly Governmental Employees Committee

              A.9524-A   Gunther         -             Referred to Governmental Employees Committee

 

• Veterans’ Service Credit:

Seek passage of legislation to allow all retirees who are veterans who served in combat theaters or during periods of wartime to apply for and receive up to 3 years of military service credit as a supplemental allowance to their pensions.

 

              S.4555-A   Robach          -             Referred to Civil Service and Pensions Committee

              A.6805-A   Towns            -             Referred to Governmental Employees Committee

 

IV.  Protect Families of Deceased Retirees

 

• Unremarried Spouse Health Insurance Benefits: - Seek equity in health insurance coverage for certain unremarried spouses of deceased retired public employees.

                S.8223    Padavan             -             Referred to Civil Service and Pensions Committee

              A.11041  Carozza              -             Referred to Governmental Employees Committee

 

• Survivor’s Death Benefit - Increase Survivor’s death benefit by $500.

 

              S.                                       -             Senate companion bill to be introduced

              A.2396-A   McEneny            -             Referred to Governmental Employees Committee

 

 

RPEA also supports the following legislation:

• Earnings Limit - Raise the limit on earnings for post-retirement public employment to $32,500. 

             

              S.3548-A    Leibell                -            Amended and referred to Civil Service and Pensions Committee

              A.3896-A    Sweeney            -            Held for consideration in Ways & Means Committee

 

• Teacher Health Annual Insurance Protection - Extends until May 15, 2009 the provisions of L. 1994, Chapter 729.

 

              S.6650  Farley                   -             Passed both Houses; Gov. signed 4/8/08 – L.2008, Chapter 43

              A.9942  Weinstein              -            Substituted by S.6650

 

• Police & Fire  Health Insurance Protection - Prohibits diminution of health insurance benefits for police & fire retirees.

 

              S.6648  Farley                   -             Committed to Rules Committee

              A.9895  Abbate                  -             Passed Assembly; referred to Senate Rules Committee

 

• Flood Notification Bill - Requires insurance companies to notify homeowners annually of flood coverage.

              S.4907-A  Libous            -             Substituted by A.6344-B

              A.6344-B  Gunther          -             Passed both Houses; Gov. signed 3/4/08 – L.2008, Chapter 21

• Annuity Purchase Protection - Requires certain disclosures to seniors purchasing annuities concerning effect on Medicaid eligibility and other financial implucations

             

              S.7005     Padavan            -             Amended and Committed to Rules Committee

              A.10002   Carozza            -             Amended and referred to Insurance Committee

 

 

 

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