Posted: | August 24, 2023 04:02 PM |
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From: | Senator Katie J. Muth and Sen. John I. Kane |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | COLAs for Pre-Act9 SERS and PSERS Retirees (HB 1416 Companion) |
In the near future, we will introduce several bills that would provide a much-needed and long-overdue cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Pennsylvania’s retired school employees and our retired state workers. This approach will give the legislature several options to finally deliver a COLA to retired teachers, school employees, and government workers across our Commonwealth who worked their entire lives and contributed so much to our communities. This bill is a companion bill to House Bill 1416 introduced by Rep. Steve Malagari and would provide supplemental annuities, or COLAs, to approximately 69,000 retirees in PSERS and SERS who retired prior to July 2, 2001. These retirees, often referred to as Pre-Act 9 retirees, have not received an increase in their pension payments in more than 20 years. Under this bill, the supplemental annuity would range from an increase of 15% to 24.5% depending on the date of retirement. Our bill also clearly indicates in Title 24 (Education) that the annuity increases prescribed by this law must be paid for by Commonwealth funds and not by school districts. Everyone deserves to live and to retire with dignity and financial security and it is time that our legislature stands up for our retirees. Please join us in cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as SB952