State House Bulletin February 25 2011

Reminders:

Tomorrow, Saturday February 26th - SEA members are urged to attend the "Meet-Up for Worker Rights" sponsored by Seacoast for Change, featuring special guests from Wisconsin.  Turnout is important.  Tea Party protestors are expected to attend, also, to stand up for the way Governor Scott Walker treats public workers.
 

• 11 AM, Saturday, February 26
• Me and Ollie's Cafe
  Market Square, 10 Pleasant Street, Portsmouth
• Please bring a homemade sign and a friend.
• Carpools leaving from SEA office in Concord at 9:30 am

More information is available from Protect NH Families. 

You can also send a message of support to Wisconsin workers here. Watch a video of University of Wisconsin Hospital nurse Angela Aldous explain why her union is so important to her work, here.  Wondering what the "younger generation" thinks about unions?  Watch the music video here.

The photo at right was taken during this week's rally outside the National Governors' Association in Washington DC.  This is not just about Wisconsin.  Media outlets predict that "similar confrontations loom on the horizon in Ohio, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico and other states."  Alabama has already passed anti-union legislation this year.

In fact today, right here in the NH House, Representative Steve Vaillancourt - a member of the important Finance Committee - gave a threatening warning to SEA President Diana Lacey as she and Political Director Jay Ward concluded their presentation regarding the need to work together and seek careful, purposeful and sound improvements that will develop long term benefits for New Hampshire. Not realizing the nature of SEA's presentation due to his late arrival, Vaillancourt made a singular and pointed statement: "Considering what's going on in Wisconsin and other states, unions aren't in a good position right now, so you certainly shouldn't be making any demands!"  

Monday, February 28th

The House Special Committee on Public Employee Pensions will hold a public hearing on the newest version of HB 231, starting at 10:00 am in Room 307 of the Legislative Office Building at 33 North State Street, Concord. A full Committee work session will follow the hearing, at 11:00 am in the same room.

You can read the newest version of HB 231 here.

This version would require all State retirees to pay a “premium” for their health insurance as well as their spouses’ insurance. The premium would be:

• for under-65 retirees: $135 per month (plus an additional $135/month for spouse)
• for over-65 retirees: $25 per month (plus an additional $25/month for spouse)

The premium would be deducted from your pension check. If the premium is larger than your pension, then the State would bill you for the difference.

The bill also sets an absolute limit of $30 million/year for retiree medical benefits. If the cost to the State’s general Fund is expected to exceed that limit, then the plan’s coverage would have to be changed to bring the cost below the $30 million limit.

Please attend Monday's hearing, if you can.  Even if you can't make it to the hearing, please let the members of the Special Committee know what you think about this bill. 

• Contact information for the Committee members is available here. (Please remember to use your home or personal cell phone when calling legislators.)
• You can use our on-line contact system to send an email to Committee members by clicking here.  (Please remember to use your home computer and home email address only.)

Hundreds Come to Hearing on SB 3

Hundreds of public workers braved today's weather to appear at the public hearing on SB 3, the "Omnibus" pension bill filed by Sen. Jeb Bradley.

The Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee heard four hours of testimony before closing the hearing.  Among many memorable moments was Sen. Lou D'Allesandro's response to one person who testified that "this bill is for local taxpayers".  Sen. D'Allesandro said, "The notion that these workers and retirees do not pay their fair share and are not taxpayers is very illegitimate.  Everyone in this room are taxpayers.  Every one of these workers pay all of the increases other taxpayers pay, and they paid their employee share [of retirement contributions] all along."  The audience broke into loud applause.

The Committee is expected to hold a work session on the bill soon.  We will let you know when it is scheduled.  In the meantime, please tell the Committee members how this bill would affect you and your family. 

• Contact information is available here.  (Please use your home or personal cell phone.)
• Use our on-line contact system by clicking here.  (Please use your own computer and personal email address.)

The bill would

1. redefine "earnable compensation" for new and non-vested employees
2. increase the number of years for calculating average final compensation from three to five, for new and non-vested employees.
3. increase the retirement age for group II employees who begin service or who are not in vested status on and after July 1, 2011.
4. increase certain group I and group II member contribution rates.
5. change the membership of the Board of Trustees of the New Hampshire Retirement System, so that System members no longer hold the majority of Board seats.
6. eliminate the allocation of funds to the special account.
7. transfer $89 million from the group II special account to the state annuity accumulation fund.
8. eliminate any future increases to medical benefits subsidies.
9. repeal employer assessments for excess benefits in "spiking" cases (where a single retiree receives a very high pension benefit).
10. repeal provisions for the purchase of credit for out-of-state service (even though members pay both the employee's and the employer's contribution amounts for purchased credit).
11. establish a committee to study establishing a voluntary defined contribution plan.

The SEA, along with fellow labor partners, supports several pension reform measures: the Bradley bill just goes too far and breaks too many promises.

Please make sure your voice is heard, as the Senate Committee reviews these proposals to significantly change our Retirement System. 

Secure Your Future!

This winter, hundreds of SEA members gathered to discuss pending legislation that would harm New Hampshire's public services -- and the people who provide them.  Did you miss out on these conversations? You can still get involved in the campaign to Secure Your Future.

1. If you only receive our email newsletters when a friend or colleague forwards them to you, join our mailing list!  You can subscribe to our newsletters by filling out the online form here.
2. You can "Tell Your Story" about how pending legislation will affect your work and your family.  Statistics and aggregate data only go so far, when we're trying to explain to Legislators why certain bills would be good -- or bad -- for New Hampshire. Personal stories often have a greater impact. Tell your story by filling out the form here.
3. You can let us know how you want to get involved in the campaign by filling out the form here.
4. Contact your field representative for more information, or to set up a meeting at your worksite.
   
     

Selected Legislative Calendar Items

Week of February 28 - March 4

Monday, February 28

SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Room 102, LOB
INFORMATIONAL SESSION on:
1:00 p.m. SB 154-FN, reforming the comprehensive shoreland protection act.
NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN

FINANCE – (DIVISION I), Room 212, LOB
Budget Work Session
10:00 a.m. Department of Corrections

FINANCE – (DIVISION III), Room 209, LOB
Budget Work Session
10:00 a.m. Department of Health and Human Services

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSIONS REFORM, Room 307, LOB
10:00 a.m. Public hearing on proposed amendment to HB 231-FN, relative to payment of state retiree medical benefits for spouses and dependents. The proposed amendment establishes specific monthly payments by state retirees toward their health care premiums. Copies of the proposed amendment are available from the Sergeant-at-Arms Office.
11:00 a.m. Full committee work session on HB 231-FN, relative to payment of state retiree medical benefits for spouses and dependents.
12:30 p.m. Executive session on HB 231-FN, relative to payment of state retiree medical benefits for spouses and dependents.

Tuesday, March 1

COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (BANKING/BUSINESS DIVISION), Room 302, LOB
3:00 p.m. Full committee executive session on HB 96, relative to issuance of individual health insurance policies by health carriers, HB 430, establishing a committee to study the feasibility of establishing a state development bank in New Hampshire, HB 398, relative to service animals.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY, Room 204, LOB
1:45 p.m. HB 552, establishing a committee to study repealing the revisions to the law implemented by SB 500-FN of the 2010 legislative session.

ELECTION LAW, Room 308, LOB
10:30 a.m. Executive session on HB 186-FN, relative to restrictions on political communications, HB 251, relative to absentee ballots, HB 257, relative to removal of political advertising, HB 258, eliminating certain unenforced election laws, HB 411, relative to distributing campaign materials at the polling place, HB 451-FN, prohibiting the use of prerecorded political messages for political advocacy within 30 days prior to an election, HB 459-FN, relative to placement of political advertising.
11:00 a.m. HB 588, relative to polling hours and location of polling places.
1:00 p.m. HB 598, prohibiting a candidate from receiving the nomination of more than one party.
1:45 p.m. HB 427-FN, prohibiting political advertising on public property.
Executive session may follow.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 306, LOB
10:30 a.m. HB 449-FN, expanding the information available on the state transparency website.

FINANCE – (DIVISION I), Room 212, LOB
Budget Work Session
1:00 p.m. Or immediately following the full committee work session, Department of Corrections.

FINANCE – (DIVISION II), Rooms 210-211, LOB
1:00 p.m. Or immediately following full committee work session, budget work session.

FINANCE – (DIVISION III), Room 209, LOB
Budget Work Session
1:00 p.m. Or immediately following full committee work session, Department of Health and Human Services

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS, Room 205, LOB
8:00 a.m. Subcommittee work session on HB 642-FN, requiring the departments of health and human services and administrative services to jointly issue a certain request for information.
9:00 a.m. Executive session on HB 642-FN, requiring the departments of health and human services and administrative services to jointly issue a certain request for information.

JUDICIARY, Room 208, LOB
10:00 a.m. Full committee public hearing on HB 347, exempting from nondisclosure the records of accidents involving and violations by county, city, and town employees and officials.
1:00 p.m. Executive session on HB 609-FN, establishing the New Hampshire circuit court to replace the current probate courts, district courts, and judicial branch family division

LABOR, INDUSTRIAL AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES, Room 303, LOB (Please note room change.)
9:30 a.m. Subcommittee work session on HB 26-FN, clarifying the definition of gross misconduct for purposes of unemployment compensation.
Room 307, LOB
11:00 a.m. Rescheduled public hearing on HB 494-FN, relative to tipped employees who deal card and table games at games of chance venues.
Executive session may follow.
1:00 p.m. Executive session on HB 133, relative to the minimum wage, HB 273, relative to public or private criticism of employers by employees, HB 275, establishing an employers' private right of action to enforce the payment of workers' compensation coverage, HB 401, relative to postsecondary training for workers with disabilities, HB 26-FN, clarifying the definition of gross misconduct for purposes of unemployment compensation, HB 236, relative to workers' compensation for illegal aliens, HB 362, relative to binding arbitration in public labor relations disputes, HB 420-FN, relative to voluntary registration for independent contractors under workers' compensation law, HB 494-FN, relative to tipped employees who deal card and table games at games of chance venues, HB 560, increasing the minimum wage, HB 582, relative to communication between employers and employees during bargaining negotiations, HB 589, repealing written majority authorization for an employee organization to be certified as the exclusive representative of public employees in a bargaining unit, HB 647, relative to withholding of wages.

LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION, Room 104, LOB
10:00 a.m. Executive session on HB 357-FN, suspending the payment of travel expenses for legislators and staff

MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY GOVERNMENT, Room 301, LOB
11:00 a.m. Executive session on HB 341, relative to local spending caps

PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, Room 201, LOB
Capital budget presentations and public hearing on proposed HB 25.
1:00 p.m. Adjutant General
1:30 p.m. Department of Cultural Resources
2:00 p.m. Veterans Home
2:30 p.m. Liquor Commission
3:00 p.m. Department of Safety

TRANSPORTATION, Room 203, LOB
10:30 a.m. HB 540-FN, relative to motor vehicle inspections.
 

Wednesday, March 2

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 306, LOB
2:00 p.m. Or 45 minutes after the House session, executive session on HB 331-FN, relative to posting agency expenditures on the state transparency website, HB 348-FN, transferring the duties of the racing and charitable gaming commission to the lottery commission and abolishing the racing and charitable gaming commission, and prohibiting new electronic gaming devices without statutory authorization, HB 458-FN-A, establishing a sunset review process for executive agency and judicial programs and making an appropriation therefor.

TRANSPORTATION, Room 203, LOB
3:00 p.m. Or immediately following the House session, executive session on HB 540-FN, relative to motor vehicle inspections.
 

Thursday, March 3

EDUCATION, Room 207, LOB
10:00 a.m. Executive session on HB 219, establishing a committee to study the abolishment of the department of education

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION, Room 306, LOB
10:15 a.m. HB 508-FN, establishing a performance measurement system for state agencies.
11:00 a.m. Rescheduled public hearing on HB 623, prohibiting preferences in recruiting, hiring, promotion, or admission by state agencies, the university system, the community college system, and the postsecondary education commission.
Executive session may follow.

FINANCE – (DIVISION I), Room 212, LOB
Budget Work Sessions
9:00 a.m. Judicial Branch

FINANCE – (DIVISION II), Rooms 210-211, LOB
10:00 a.m. Budget work session.

FINANCE – (DIVISION III), Room 209, LOB
Budget Work Session
10:00 a.m. Department of Health and Human Services

HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND ELDERLY AFFAIRS, Room 205, LOB
11:00 a.m. Rescheduled public hearing on HB 489-FN, relative to health information exchange.

JUDICIARY, Room 208, LOB
10:00 a.m. Continued executive session from March 1, if needed and executive session on HB 347, exempting from nondisclosure the records of accidents involving and violations by county, city, and town employees and officials

PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS, Room 201, LOB
Capital budget presentations and public hearing on proposed HB 25.
9:30 a.m. Administrative Services
1:00 p.m. Department of Corrections
2:00 p.m. Department of Education
2:30 p.m. Judicial Branch
 

Friday, March 4

COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS (BANKING/BUSINESS DIVISION), Room 302, LOB
2:30 p.m. HB 562, relative to overdraft fees charged by banks.
Work sessions may follow the public hearings.

FINANCE – (DIVISION I), Room 212, LOB
Budget Work Session
1:00 p.m. Department of Administrative Services

FINANCE – (DIVISION II), Rooms 210-211, LOB
10:00 a.m. Budget work session.

FINANCE – (DIVISION III), Room 209, LOB
Budget Work Sessions
10:00 a.m. Department of Health and Human Services

SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PENSIONS REFORM, Rooms 201-203, LOB

10:00 a.m. HB 460-FN, relative to the retirement age for group II members.

11:00 a.m. HB 462-FN, relative to the determination of employer assessments for excess benefits paid by employers in the retirement system.

1:00 p.m. HB 580-FN-L, relative to the New Hampshire retirement system.
Executive session may follow.

2:00 p.m. Full committee work session on
HB 227-FN, relative to the membership of the retirement system board of trustees,
HB 461-FN, relative to repealing the authority for retirement system members to purchase service credit for certain out-of-state service,
HB 464-FN, requiring the transfer of certain retirement system group II special account funds to the state annuity accumulation fund,
HB 456-FN, relative to the calculation of average final compensation for the purpose of determining retirement system benefits,
HB 265-FN, redefining earnable compensation in the retirement system for new and non-vested members in service,
HB 463-FN, relative to the retirement system maximum initial benefit limitation,
HB 360-FN, establishing a state defined contribution retirement plan for state and political subdivision members of the retirement system and establishing a committee to study the transition of current employees into the new plan and administration of the new plan, HB 492-FN, establishing a deferred retirement option in the judicial retirement plan, and relative to benefits related to service of certain judges of probate retiring because of permanent disability,
HB 465-FN, relative to the number of years for calculating average final compensation for retirement system benefits,
HB 460-FN, relative to the retirement age for group II members,
HB 462-FN, relative to the determination of employer assessments for excess benefits paid by employers in the retirement system,
HB 580-FN-L, relative to the New Hampshire retirement system.

3:00 p.m. Executive session on HB 227-FN, relative to the membership of the retirement system board of trustees,
HB 461-FN, relative to repealing the authority for retirement system members to purchase service credit for certain out-of-state service,
HB 464-FN, requiring the transfer of certain retirement system group II special account funds to the state annuity accumulation fund, HB 456-FN, relative to the calculation of average final compensation for the purpose of determining retirement system benefits,
HB 265-FN, redefining earnable compensation in the retirement system for new and non-vested members in service,
HB 463-FN, relative to the retirement system maximum initial benefit limitation,
HB 360-FN, establishing a state defined contribution retirement plan for state and political subdivision members of the retirement system and establishing a committee to study the transition of current employees into the new plan and administration of the new plan,
HB 492-FN, establishing a deferred retirement option in the judicial retirement plan, and relative to benefits related to service of certain judges of probate retiring because of permanent disability,
HB 465-FN, relative to the number of years for calculating average final compensation for retirement system benefits,
HB 460-FN, relative to the retirement age for group II members,
HB 462-FN, relative to the determination of employer assessments for excess benefits paid by employers in the retirement system,
HB 580-FN-L, relative to the New Hampshire retirement system.