The Senate passed the pension and ethics reform bill 35 to 1 without the House amendment, which separated out state employees from elected officials regarding pension provisions.
Last week the House amended the SB 333 with an amendment that would allow a judge to reduce a corrupt state employee’s pension, instead of revoke it. Under the House amendment corrupt elected officials could still have their pensions revoked.
In a press release, Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, said “The taxpayers in this state expect that, when someone who works in the public trust is convicted of a crime they will no longer receive a public pension. It makes no difference whether that person is an elected official or a public employee.”
“We’re sending a strong message that corruption will not be tolerated in our state at any level,” Slossberg said.
Since there was disagreeing action on the bill the House will get another chance to pass the same bill the Senate passed. If the House again decides to amend it with different language then the House and Senate Chairs of the General Administration and Elections Committee will have to meet to see if they can’t reach a compromise and pass the same bill in both chambers before session ends at midnight Wednesday.
