House panel OKs PERA changes
The House Finance Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would shore up the Public Employees Retirement Association.
The deal was struck last week and calls for changes that would boost worker contributions to the system over six years, avoiding a taxpayer bailout.
Opponents of the plan, including state Treasurer Mike Coffman, are focusing on the structure of the governing board of the retirement system as the sticking point.
Gov. Bill Owens also opposes the board structure proposed by Senate Bill 235. The bill expands the board to 20 seats from the current 16 by adding five new seats for outside experts appointed by the governor and eliminating a seat held by the state auditor.
Owens’ spokesman, Dan Hopkins, said the governor will monitor the debate, which is expected to resume in the House today.
In other action
The House approved and sent to the Senate on a vote of 60-5 a bill (HB 1411) that would set a higher standard for communities that use eminent domain to claim property to eliminate blight.
The House approved and sent to the Senate on a vote of 54-11 a bill (HB 1402) that calls for the state to sell off a portion of the tobacco-tax settlement, pay off debts and put the rest into a savings account.
The House approved and sent to the Senate on a 63-2 vote a proposal (Senate Bill 110) that would subject those who make fraudulent documents used by illegal immigrants to a $50,000 fine.
The Senate gave initial backing to a proposal (House Bill 1045) that would require hospitals to report the number of patients who contract infections while in the hospital, starting in 2007.
