88th general assembly Legislation Page

The 88th General Assembly began on Monday, January 10, 2011.  The APERS Board of Trustees approved the introduction of three bills that are listed below.  In addition, several other bills have been introduced that, if approved, will impact the Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System.  A brief synopsis of all of the bills are listed below.  If a bill is “deferred” and/or “withdrawn” it is currently not being considered by the Legislative Retirement Committee.  To read a bill in its entirety click on the name.

HB 1121 is APERS Appropriation Bill and will be considered by the Joint Budget Committee (JBC).

Senate and House "Shell Bills" pertaining to the retirement system can be found here.

88th General Assembly
as of March 28, 2011
APERS Board of Trustees Legislative Package
Status	Bill	Sponsor(s)	Brief Description
Do Pass 3/21/11	SB 41	J. Key	Increase termination period for all employees to one (1) year.
ACT 558 of 2011 3/22/11	SB 127	J. Key	Require employers to pay employer contributions on DROP participants as well as retiree’s that return to work for APERS covered employer.
Deferred	HB1219	Summers	Change the full age and service eligibility to 30 years actual service, regardless of age (including DROP participation) for non-vested members and new hires.
Other Filed Bills
Senate Bills
Status	Bill	Sponsor(s)	Brief Description
	SB 6	D. Johnson	An Act to allow for redetermination of benefits for District Judge Retirement; and for other purposes. APERS Board opposes Bill
Do Pass 3/28/11	SB 100	J. Jeffress	An Act to provide that civilian employees of the State Military Dept. are to be regarded as public safety members for enhanced credited service in the State Retirement System; and for other purposes.
Deferred	SB 111	J. Taylor	An Act to include state-authorized, local retirement systems and plans for elected public officials within the APERS; to provide reciprocal credit for locally elected public officials; to provide 2 for 1 credited service for locally elected public officials; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.
Withdrawn 1/25/11	SB 116	P. Malone	An Act to clarify the requirements for reciprocal service credits for public employees; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.
Do Pass 3/21/11	SB 135	G. Jeffress, P. Malone	An Act to clarify the requirements for reciprocal service credits for public employees; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.
ACT 20 0f 2011 2/14/11	SB 139	J. Key	An Act to clarify the meaning of the term "compensation" for purposes of retirement; and for other purposes.
Interim Study	SB 153	B. Sample	An Act to amend the straight life annuity for the APERS; and for other purposes. APERS Board opposes bill
Act 199 of 2011 3/8/2011	SB 160	Files	An Act concerning the withholding of an elected officials salary & benefits upon the suspension of a required professional license or registration; and for other purposes.
	SB 162	J. Key	An Act to increase the income exemption for retirement and disability benefits; to provide for a cost-of-living adjustment to the income tax exemption for retirement and disability benefits; and for other purposes.
	SB 163	J. Key	An Act to increase the income exemption for retirement and disability benefits; to provide for a cost-of-living adjustment to the income tax exemption for retirement and disability benefits; and for other purposes.
	SB 169	J. Key	An Act to amend the current provisions regarding the transfer of police officers into the Arkansas LOPFI; and for other purposes.
ACT 38 Of 2011 2/16/11	SB 172	J. Key	An Act to make technical corrections to the public retirement systems; to bring the public retirement systems into compliance with federal law; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.
House Bills
Status	Bill	Sponsor(s)	Brief Description
ACT 40 Of 2011 2/16/11	HB 1018	Kerr, English, Summers	An Act to define "terminate" as that term applies to eligibility for retirement under APERS; and for other purposes. APERS Board supports Bill
Deferred	HB 1019	Kerr, English, Summers	To restrict the amount of credited service earned by a local elected public official first elected to office on or after 7/1/2011 to one (1) year of retirement credit for every year worked; and for other purposes. APERS Board opposes Bill
Deferred	HB 1040	English, Kerr, Summers	An Act to prevent retired members of a state retirement system from returning to work for the State following retirement except under certain circumstances; and for other purposes. APERS Board opposes Bill as currently written
Withdrawn 3/22/2011	HB 1119	Pennartz, Summers, Sanders	An Act to prevent state employees convicted of theft of property against the employer from drawing state retirement benefits based on the months in which the theft occurred; to declare an emergency;And for other purposes.
Act 326 of 2011 3/17/11	HB 1121	JBC	An Act to make an appropriation for personal services and operating expenses for the APERS for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012; and for other purposes.
ACT 563 of 2011 3/22/11	HB 1146	Kerr	An Act to restrict the amount of credited service earned by a local elected public official to one (1) year of retirement credit for every year worked unless additional contributions are provided; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes.
ACT 140 0f 2011 2/24/11	HB 1158	Branscum	An Act to allow additional time for members of the APERS to select contributory service; and for other purposes. APERS Board supports bill
Deferred	HB 1162	Nickels	An Act to extend the amount of time allowed for the filing of legislation affecting any publicly supported retirement system or pension plan; and for other purposes.
Deferred	HB 1186	English	An Act to increase the amount of time a retiree drawing benefits must wait before being rehired by a covered employer; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. APERS Board supports bill with revisions
Deferred	HB 1202	Nickels	An Act to require large municipalities to participate in the APERS for all newly hired employees and all newly elected public officials; and for other purposes. APERS Board is neutral
Deferred	HB 1203	Nickels	An Act to allow municipal employees to purchase credit in prorated amounts during a specific period of time; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. APERS Board opposes Bill
Act 737 of 2011 3/25/11	HB 1206	Bell, Collins-Smith	An Act to clarify that health care facilities owned but not operated by counties shall have equal treatment as hospitals under the APERS laws; to declare an emergency; and for other purposes. APERS Board is neutral.
Failed Comm.; Vote exp. 3/28/11	HB 1259	Nickels	An Act to require large municipalities to participate in the APERS for all newly hired employees and all newly elected public officials and to allow current employees to opt into the APERS; and for other purposes. APERS Board opposes bill.
Deferred	HB 1262	ENglish	An Act concerning the reemployment of members of the APERS and the ATRS; and for other purposes. APERS Board opposes bill.

Senate and House "Shell Bills" pertaining to the retirement system can be found here.