Serving those who serve Georgia E RSGA Employees' Retirement System of Georgia For the Week of: March 14 - 18, 2016 Legislative Days: 36 - 38 Employees' Retirement System of Georgia Legislative Update March 18, 2016 Inside This Update 1 Legislative Log For More Information on Legislation, please visit: www.ers.ga.gov Page 1 Legislative Log Monday, March 14, 2016 HB 421 Retirement and pensions; officers employed by Department of Community Supervision shall be entitled to certain disability benefits; provide Contact Us Jim Potvin Executive Director, ERSGA 404-603-5602 jim.potvin@ers.ga.gov Kelly L. Moody Legislative Liaison and Communications Manager, ERSGA 404-603-5646 kelly.moody@ers.ga.gov Danise Thaxton Executive Assistant to the Director, ERSGA 404-603-5602 danise.thaxton@ers.ga.gov This bill is a companion bill to HB 310 (2015 Session), which creates a new Department of Community Supervision. Certain employees of the new Department will remain eligible for enhanced disability benefits once transferred. Certain employees of the new Department currently not eligible for enhanced disability benefits would become eligible upon passage. HB 421 received a DO PASS from the full Senate by a vote of 52 - 0. HB 508 Appellate court judges; age of eligibility for certain benefits; decrease This bill changes the normal retirement age for Appellate Court Judges eligible to receive pension benefits from age 65 to age 60. HB 508 was TABLED by the full Senate. SB 335 Retirement; permissible investments in commingled funds and collective investment funds; revise provisions This bill adds state chartered banks or trust companies to the allowable list of commingled investments under Title 47. SB 335 received a DO PASS from the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House debate calendar for 3/15/16. March 18, 2016 Legislative Log (continued) Page 2 Tuesday, March 15, 2016 SB 243 Georgia Judicial Retirement System; preservation of rights by certain persons; change certain provisions This bill allows any person who is a member of ERS and is employed as Legislative Counsel in a full-time position requiring admission to the State Bar of Georgia to make an irrevocable election to become a member of JRS. SB 243 received a DO PASS from the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House debate calendar for 3/16/17. SB 335 Retirement; permissible investments in commingled funds and collective investment funds; revise provisions This bill adds state chartered banks or trust companies to the allowable list of commingled investments under Title 47. SB 335 received a DO PASS from full House of Representatives by a vote of 167 - 1. Wednesday, March 16, 2016 SB 243 Georgia Judicial Retirement System; preservation of rights by certain persons; change certain provisions This bill allows any person who is a member of ERS and is employed as Legislative Counsel in a full-time position requiring admission to the State Bar of Georgia to make an irrevocable election to become a member of JRS. SB 243 received a DO PASS from the full House of Representatives by a vote of 96 - 65. Thursday, March 17 - Friday, March 18, 2016 No bills were considered due to the General Assembly being in recess.