Posted: | February 4, 2015 02:57 PM |
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From: | Representative Thomas P. Murt |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Allowing Mine Safety Workers to Purchase Prior Service (Prior HB 1496) |
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation, previously offered by former Representative Gary Haluska (HB 1496), allowing certain mine workers, including mine inspectors, electrical inspectors and emergency response training specialists employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Bureau of Deep Mine Safety, to be eligible to purchase prior state service which is statutorily required for their positions. The Pennsylvania Anthracite Coal Mine Act (Act 346 of 1965) and the Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Mine Act (Act 339 of 1961) require certain individuals employed in the mining field, including mine inspectors, to have a minimum of 10 years prior experience in their respected mining field to be eligible for employment with the Department of Environmental Protection. However, these individuals are not eligible to credit their prior non-state work service toward retirement once hired by the DEP. My legislation will place these mine safety workers on an even playing field with other Commonwealth employees and I believe that this would help in the recruitment of new workers as it would add incentives to acquire experienced, qualified and skilled personnel that are desperately needed in the mine industry. |
Introduced as HB1032