TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- (
) The House Government Operations Subcommittee will
discuss a bill that would restrict new state employees from entering into the
pension program within the Florida Retirement System.
A draft of the proposed bill states it would close the FRS defined benefit
planned to state workers after January 1, 2014 and force them into its less
popular investment plan.
In November, state House Speaker Will Weatherford, a Republican from Wesley
Chapel, said the FRS pension plan was archaic and destined for failure and
restricting it would prevent the state from massive budget woes faced by
California and Illinois. The state's union leaders have contended that the
pension plan is one of the healthiest in the country and restricting new
employees from taking part was only an attempt to get rid of it.
Lawmakers likely will not have trouble making changes to FRS. A Florida
Supreme Court ruling released last week determined the Legislature did not
violate the state constitution when it forced the 620,000 active public
employees participating in FRS to contribute 3 percent of their pay. The high
court found that the Legislature, indeed, could make changes.
The House panel meeting will commence at 8 a.m. in room 212 of the Knott
Building at the Capitol.
Check tallahassee.com for updates or follow reporter Arek Sarkissian II on
Twitter; @TDSarkissian on Twitter