House advances bill boosting state worker pensions
Buoyed by soaring revenues, the House is moving to spend $3.1 billion to reverse some of the changes made in 2011 to cut pension benefits for state workers.
The House Appropriations Committee unanimously passed HB 239, which would restore the 3% cost of living adjustment for the 629,073 members of the Florida Retirement System Pension Plan and reduce the retirement ages for different classes of members.
For example, Special Risk Class members, including police, firefighters, prison guards and others, could retire after 25 years or by age 55, instead of the 30 years or age 60 requirements under current law.
Those changes were approved in 2011 as lawmakers sought to cut spending in the face of...
