The House voted 150 to 41 Monday to amend Senate Bill 1071 (Browne-R-Lehigh) to establish a hybrid pension program for future and existing employees moving them from defined benefit to defined contribution plan which has no immediate impact on the FY 2016-17 budget.
The amendment added is amendment #A08206 that was offered by Rep. Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill), but only after a motion to Table the motion and the bill failed by a vote of 16 to 175.
Unlike in December, when Senate Bill 1071 included the original “agreed-to” pension reform provisions and were defeated with House Democrats by a vote of 52-149, this amendment was supported by many Democrats.
The bill is over for further House action until reprinted. A final vote is expected Tuesday.The bill still faces an uncertain future in the Senate. Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), Majority Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told PLS Reporter a key consideration is how much future risk is transferred away from taxpayers and put the risk on employees in a defined contribution plan.
At the same time, Sen. Browne said, a key consideration is what the House can get votes for and actually get a pension reform bill passed.
A copy of the Actuarial Note on the amendment is available online.
NewsClip:
AP: House Votes For School, State Worker Hybrid Pension Plan
