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Session: State Capitol, Room 427 Juneau, AK 99801-1182 Phone: (907) 465-4925 Fax: (907) 465-3517 Send E-Mail Interim: 112 Mill Bay Road Kodiak, AK 99615 Phone: (907) 486-4925 Fax: (907) 486-5264 PO Box 795 Craig, AK 99921-0795 Phone:(907) 826-3008 Fax: (907) 826-4020 Home Phone: (907) 826-2930 |
For Immediate Release: February 24, 1999
Contact: Senator Jerry Mackie at (907) 465-4925.
Juneau -- State employees with temporary service would be able to buy up any temporary time and have it credited toward the minimum service time for retirement if a proposed Senate bill becomes law.
Senate Bill 85, sponsored by Senator Jerry Mackie (R-Craig), fixes an inequity in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). "This legislation provides equity to all state employees in temporary positions by enabling them to count their temporary time toward retirement eligibility," said Sen. Mackie.
Currently, temporary employees in the PERS system can buy back their temporary time, however their temporary time is not credited toward the minimum service time needed for retirement.
Provisions of the change proposed by Sen. Mackie will result in no additional cost to the State of Alaska Retirement System. "It's more likely for the State to realize cost savings," said Sen. Mackie. "The employees prone to use this for retirement credit are employees with higher service totals, thus they are on the higher end of the pay scale. I believe SB 85 is an option that provides us with a reasonable and fair remedy in minimizing the impact of current and future budget reductions," Sen. Mackie said.
"The passage of SB 85 is not only an opportunity to send a positive message to Alaska's State employees during a critical economic period in our state, it is the right thing to do," said Sen. Mackie.
SB 85 is in the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee which is chaired by Sen. Mackie.