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Status of Changes to Ohio State Pensions

Screeching to a halt, but why?

June 21, 2011

After many weeks of debate and discussion, largely overshadowed by Senate Bill 5's attempted destruction of public sector collective bargaining, legislation on pension reform is once again on hold.

Join the Debate, Part 1

The discussion about public pension reform is heating up. Is your voice being heard?

With all the attention being paid to public employee collective bargaining, we shouldn't make the mistake of believing that pension reform is a mere afterthought. Whatever our views, it's time for our voices to be heard, in a respectful, principled debate.

A chance to be heard

What do you want your legislators to know about public pension reform? Tell us. We'll pass along as many concerns as we can in Columbus in the next few weeks.

I'm going to the State House to give testimony on HB 69, the bill to reform Ohio's five public pension systems. I'm told I'll have about five minutes to make a statement, and should be prepared to present my testimony in writing. I think I'll be able to attach more information to my written statement. I have some talking points to share with the members of the House Health and Aging Committee's Subcommittee on Pension Reform.

But wouldn't it be great to be able to share your opinions with them as well?

A bill: H.B. 69

Not quite 18 months after pension reform proposals were presented to ORSC, a bill has been introduced in the Ohio House, and hearings are under way.

On Tuesday, February 1, Rep. Lynn Wachtmann (a member of the Ohio Retirement Study Council [ORSC]) introduced House Bill 69, "[a bill to] amend ... the Revised Code regarding the state retirement systems." Sources advise that the bill is in fact a synthesis of the five state pension systems' recommendations that were originally presented to ORSC on September 9, 2009.

According to the OPERS website, Rep. Wachtmann has referred to the bill as "placeholder legislation." This suggests that substantial changes to the bill are expected. And at least one significant change is already being discussed as a done deal.