Legislative Update: 5/4/2020

The Louisiana Legislature returns today Monday May 4. The House reconvened at 9 a.m., while the Senate reconvenes at 2 p.m. Previous reports indicated the Legislature would only consider “essential” legislation relative to approving a state budget and other target areas agreed on by legislative leaders due to the limited session. 

None of the pre-filed retirement legislation is considered essential. However, almost all of the House and Senate Committees are meeting this week to consider many non-essential bills, including retirement.

The House Retirement Committee will meet on Thursday May 7 at 1 p.m. Our members are not encouraged to attend committee meetings because the majority of retirees are considered to be at high risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Starting with chairmen of the committees, we need EVERYONE to contact members of the House and Senate Retirement Committees. Ask that they oppose HB 26 and HB 32 before they are added to committee agendas. HB 26 proposes amending the Constitution to limit the guarantee of retirement benefits for state employees to certain types of benefits, and HB 32 recommends adding an optional hybrid retirement plan to the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana. Both of these bills would have a negative impact on the system.

Click here for a sample letter asking legislators to oppose these bills since our members cannot express their concerns or ask questions at the committee meetings. Please use this letter as a guide and refer to our letter writing tips letter writing tips. It would be imprudent for the committee to consider bills that put our retirement plan for current and future retirees at risk without hearing from ALL stakeholders.

Click here for contact information for both the House and Senate Retirement Committees. Please contact the retirement committee members, beginning with the House, by phone, email and written letters immediately.

Because we cannot be physically present at the Capitol due to social distancing, it’s important that we contact our legislators through letters, phone calls and emails to express our concerns.

Every time you reach out to a legislator, it makes a difference. Please respond to this “Call to Action” and contact your legislators today!

Persons who do not feel comfortable giving testimony in person at this time may submit a prepared statement in accordance with House Rule 14.33 in lieu of appearing before the committee: 

A. Any interested person or any committee member may file with the committee a prepared statement concerning a specific instrument or matter under consideration by the committee or concerning any matter within the committee’s scope of authority, and the committee records shall reflect receipt of such statement and the date and time thereof. 

B. Any person who files a prepared statement which contains data or statistical information shall include in such prepared statement sufficient information to identify the source of the data or statistical information. For the purposes of this Paragraph, the term “source” shall mean publication, website, person, or other source from which the data or statistical information contained in the prepared statement was obtained by the person or persons who prepared the statement. 

NOTE: Only statements mailed to watsonj@legis.la.gov and received prior to May 7, 2020, by 10 a.m. will be included in the record for this committee meeting. All persons desiring to participate in the meeting shall utilize appropriate protective health measures and observe the recommended and appropriate social distancing.