Common Council Urging the Indiana State Legislature to Pass Senate Bill # 120 Addressing Pensions for the Police & Fire Departments

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BILL NO. 98-17 RESOLUTION NO. X553 -yS A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, URGING THE INDIANA STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS SENATE BILL NO. 120 ADDRESSING PENSIONS FOR THE POI ICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS. Vbtrt90, the South Bend Common Council has been apprised that Senate Bill.No. 120 which would amend Title 36 of the Indiana Code addressing police and firefighters' retirements has been introduced for consideration by the 110th General Assembly of the State of Indiana; and Vbg"48, the Senate Bill provides in part that a member of the 1977 Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension and Disability Fund would be eligible to retire at the age of 52; and further provides that a police officer or firefighter of said fund would be able to receive reduced benefits if he or she retires at the age of 50; and 'Il bt"ag, Senate Bill 120 further contains a formula specifying the benefits to be received by qualifying police officers or firefighters retiring after the age of 50 and before the age of 52; and Wbtrtg8, this Senate Bill would also provide that a member of the 1925, 1937 or 1953 fund who converted to the 1977 fund who retires or becomes disabled on or before June 30, 1998 would be treated as a member of the 1977 fund; and 'Dl btrt0Z, that since the benefits for converted police officers and firefighters are funded on a pay -as- you -go basis, significant savings to the City of South Bend would result over the next five (5) years if Senate Bill No. 120 is passed. 7fi0b1, Vt It Orbs UO by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section L The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana urges the Indiana General Assembly to enact Senate Bill No. 120 addressing police and firefighters' retirement. Section II Senate Bill No. 120 contains two (2) major and significant parts, namely: 1. It would change the requirement for retirement from age 55 to age 52 so long as the police officer or firefighter has at least twenty (20) years of credited service and permitting an early retirement at age 50 with at least twenty (20) years of credited service with reduced benefits; and 2. It would transfer the liabilities for former converted plan members of the 1977 Plan who become benefit recipients on or before June 30, 1998 from the responsibility of the City of South Bend. Section III. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, directs the City Clerk to distribute copies of this Resolution to Governor Frank O'Bannon and Lieutenant Governor Joseph E. Kernan and to members of the Indiana General Assembly representing the City of South Bend as well as to the State Department of Health so that they know the position of the South Bend Common Council on this important issue. Section IV, This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Common Council approval by the Mayor. James Aranowski, First District Andrew Ujdak, Sixth District