Tag: Shawn Jasper

Appointments Made to New Hampshire Pension Reform Panel

board room chair

On Wednesday, New Hampshire House Speaker Shawn Jasper announced the formation of a 14-person panel to study the state’s retirement system and potential reforms.

Rep. Jasper has now also revealed who will populate the panel, called the Special Committee on Public Employee Pension Plans.

From Patch:

Veteran lawmaker state Rep. David Hess, R-Hooksett, will lead the Special Committee on Public Employee Pension Plans.

State Rep. John Sytek, R-Salem, will assist Hess as the vice chairman.

Also named to the new pension committee were state Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Weare; state Rep. William Infantine, R-Manchester; state Rep. Gary Azarian, R-Salem; state Rep. William Ohm, R-Nashua; Rep. Frank Byron, R-Litchfield; state Rep. Mark Proulx, R-Manchester; state Rep. Jeffrey Goley, D-Manchester; state Rep. Daniel Sullivan, D-Manchester; state Rep. Patricia Lovejoy, D-Stratham; state Rep. Dianne Schuett, D-Pembroke; state Rep. Len DiSesa, D-Dover; and state Rep. Frank Edelblut, R-Wilton.

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The committee will also look at the funding of public employee pension plans and programs; eligibility for participation in and benefits under public employee pension plans and programs; and alternative public employee pension plans and programs.

The New Hampshire Retirement System was 66 percent funded at the end of fiscal year 2013-14. The system manages $7.41 billion in assets.

Top New Hampshire Lawmaker Forms Pension Reform Study Committee

New Hampshire

New Hampshire House Speaker Shawn Jasper is forming a 14-person panel to study the state’s retirement system and potential reforms.

The committee was announced Wednesday. More from the Associated Press:

House Speaker Shawn Jasper is making pension reform a priority of the new legislative session by creating a 14-member committee to study the system that provides retirement benefits for public employees.

New Hampshire’s public pension system faces a $4.5 billion unfunded liability and Republicans want to reform the system. Jasper announced the committee Wednesday and appointed Rep. David Hess, a Hooksett Republican, as chairman.

The committee is made up of nine Republicans and five Democrats. The committee is tasked with studying how the program is funded, eligibility and ways to modify the system.

The state Supreme Court recently upheld changes made several years ago that increase the contribution rates for state employees.

The public pension system covers about 50,000 active and 30,000 retired workers.

The New Hampshire Retirement System was 66 percent funded at the end of fiscal year 2013-14. The system manages $7.41 billion in assets.

 

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