Retirement cleanup bill amended, advanced to final round

Lawmakers amended and advanced a cleanup measure from select file March 31 related to Nebraska’s public employee retirement systems.

LB820, introduced by the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee, would amend various sections of state law governing state and county retirement plans administered by the Nebraska Public Employees Retirement Systems, the Public Employees Retirement Board and the Nebraska Investment Council.

During select file debate, Elkhorn Sen. Tony Sorrentino offered an amendment, adopted 39-0, to add the amended provisions of his LB433 to the bill. As originally introduced last session, that proposal would exempt state agency deputy directors and attorneys from the State Personnel System.

It also would amend the State Employees Retirement Act to provide that temporary state employees who previously were members of the state employees retirement system and return to state employment in less than 120 days would begin participation in the system within 30 days of returning as a temporary employee.

Finally, the measure would clarify that employees of the Legislature who are hired for a limited period of time, or for a grant-funded position or a special project, would be considered temporary employees for purposes of the State Employees Retirement Act.

Sorrentino’s amendment removed the provisions related to agency deputy directors and attorneys employed by the state. It would retain provisions related to returning employees and clarify the definition of temporary legislative employees for retirement purposes.

Sorrentino said the proposal would benefit multiple agencies by allowing them to rehire former employees on a temporary basis without requiring the current 120-day waiting period.

It also would allow for creation of a part-time, registered nurse pool across agencies that require medical care, he said, such as the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs and the state Department of Correctional Services.

“The changes outlined in [the amendment] are expected to better support the workforce needs and operational efficiency of state agencies,” Sorrentino said.

Lincoln Sen. Beau Ballard, chairperson of the committee, supported the amendment, saying the “pared down” version of LB433 would eliminate opposition to the original proposal from the Nebraska State Bar Association.

Following adoption of the Sorrentino amendment, lawmakers advanced LB820 to final reading by voice vote.