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Status of Changes to Ohio State Pensions

Bill still in draft stage, but late-year passage is possible.

Some believe bill may be passed in Nov., Dec. 2010.

July 1, 2010

This is likely the last update you will see on this site for a while. Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) staff advised yesterday that the bill will likely remain in the drafting stage, with the Legislative Service Commission and OPERS continuing to work on the language, through about the end of the summer. So there won't be much to tell until that work is done.

Nonetheless, some believe there is a realistic chance of passage before the end of the year. If you want to let your Ohio Representative and Ohio Senator know what you think of the proposed pension changes, it's not too early.

Draft legislation still not complete, legislators heading home to their districts.

June 7, 2010

Work continues between OPERS and the non-partisan Legislative Service Commission (LSC) to finalize draft language on the omnibus public pension reform bill. Meanwhile, the Ohio General Assembly this week goes to its summer recess, giving constituents a golden opportunity to lobby their legislators.

Just a little work left on legislative language for OPERS. Also, ORSC staff may be ready to comment soon.

May 3, 2010

Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) staff advise that the draft legislation is waiting for only one detail. OPERS needs to come to agreement with the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) on the exact legislative language regarding a particular disability provision. This doesn't sound ominous, just an attempt at precise drafting.

Staff at the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) report that legislation for the reform of Ohio's five state pension systems remains in the drafting stage. Legislative language for introduction into the Ohio General Assembly is not expected in time for ORSC to comment at its March 10, 2010 meeting. ORSC staff continue to work with the non-partisan Ohio Legislative Service Commission to write proposed statutory language that accurately reflects the reforms intended by the boards of Ohio's state pension systems.

ORSC staff also report that once the legislative language is completed, the bill is expected to be introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives by ORSC Chair T. Todd Book (D-McDermott) of the 89th District.

February 26, 2010

The latest information from the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) suggests that the draft legislation is so near to completion we should almost be able to taste it. ORSC staff advise that it is still possible that the bill will be ready in time for the Council to have public comments on it at its March 10, 2010 meeting.

Is drafting the bill taking longer than it should?

(February 1, 2010)

Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) staff had anticipated the draft omnibus pension reform bill would be done before the Study Council's February 10, 2010 meeting.  Today ORSC staff advised that the draft bill will not be ready in time for next week's meeting.

A completion date is not known. (It's a little reminiscent of those childhood car trips when Dad had no choice but to tell us, "We get there when we get there!") The current plan, though, is to have it done in time for the Retirement Study Council or its representatives to have some official comment at its March meeting, currently scheduled for March 10.

(January 20, 2010)

There hasn't been much to tell.

An old Monty Python routine has the cast of a radio play trying over and over to properly begin their drama. "Still no sign of land," they begin, through perhaps four false starts. When they begin the final time, the actors' exasperation is showing through. "Still no sign of land!" one says, by now impatient and frustrated.

To those of us who enjoy classic off-beat comedy, it's a tempting comparison to the pre-legislative process we've all endured. We're still waiting for drafters to complete proposed legislation about the five state pension systems. And as tempting as it is to wonder what the heck is going on, it appears to be nothing more unpleasant than this: there are lots and lots of details, and they're trying to get them right.

(November 6, 2009)

Executive Summary: Draft legislation is not yet complete. As soon as it's done being drafted, we should expect it to be introduced in the Ohio General Assembly. Action on the bill isn't expected until 2010. In the meantime, kudos to staff of the Ohio Retirement Study Council, who have been diligent in accurately describing the process and providing information to the public as it's requested.

Waiting for news of proposed changes to our pensions can be nerve-wracking. (Yes, "our pension"—I still have my OPERS account from my time in public service, so I'm not immune.) But no matter how you feel about the players in what promises to be an extended drama, one thing appears to be very clear: the staff of the Ohio Retirement Study Council (ORSC) have been trying to keep us informed as best they can. It's just that neither they, nor anyone else, can yet answer the question we're all asking: "What will actually happen?"

October 15, 2009

The Ohio Retriement Study Council (ORSC) met on Wednesday, October 14 for further work on possible changes to Ohio's public pensions. For more background on what's happened up to now, see the posting below.

For now, there's not much to tell that's new.