Planning and Development Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-5172
AN ACT CONCERNING REEMPLOYMENT AND THE MUNICIPAL
Title: EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
Vote Date: 3/18/2022
Vote Action: Joint Favorable Substitute
PH Date: 2/25/2022
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
Planning & Development Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill allows for retired police officers, receiving pensions through the Municipal Employee
Retirement System (MERS), to continue to serve their communities without having to risk
losing their retirement benefits, while also cutting costs for school districts. Currently, school
districts are limited in their pool of candidates to serve as school security officers due to limits
on the number of hours retired police officers can work while receiving retirement benefits
through MERS. This bill would remove that restriction, which would allow police officers
receiving retirement benefits through MERS to continue to receive their retirement benefits
while also being compensated for their work.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None expressed.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Brian Anderson, Legislative Director, Council 4 AFSCME: Mr. Anderson testified that the
Council 4 AFSCME, which represents a union of 30,000 public and private employees as well
as 2,000 Connecticut municipal police offers, urges support for this bill. Mr. Anderson stated
that this bill would allow retired police officers, who have retired under the Municipal
Employee Retirement System (MERS), to work in school districts that participate in the
MERS. This would allow for school districts to employ retired police officers to work in
schools and protect children, rather than candidates with less experience and training.
Luke A. Bronin, Mayor, City of Hartford: Mayor Bronin testified that this bill would allow
municipalities to gain access to qualified and experienced talent to fill urgent staffing needs.
By allowing retired personnel to gain employment with other Connecticut municipalities
without risking their current retirement benefits, municipalities would receive highly qualified
candidates to address staffing shortages while also lowering fiscal impact due to retirees not
receiving a new MERS pension.
Dr. Matt Conway, Superintendent, Derby Public Schools: Dr. Conway testified that this bill
would allow districts to select the most qualified candidates to protect our children and staff.
The only people who are allowed to bring a weapon into a school are current or retired
municipal, state, or military police officers. School Resource Officer programs are unduly
costly and unaffordable for school districts, so instead, they hire retired police officers for
School Security Officer positions. At present, retired police offers from a MERS town are only
eligible to work 20 hours per week, versus retired police officers who come from a non-MERS
town, who have no limit on the number of hours that they may work. This bill will allow school
districts to hire full-time school security officers, instead of part-time workers, which lowers
the cost of hiring, initial and annual training, uniforms, and other employment-related
requirements on an annual basis for the districts.
Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, 105th District: Rep. Klarides-Ditria urges support of this bill
because it would allow retired municipal police and fire department employees to continue
serving their communities, without having to worry about their retirement benefits being
affected. Retirees that are employed by school districts would not be able to double-dip in
MERS pensions, but rather would continue to receive their pension benefits, while also being
compensated for their duties as defined by the school districts.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None expressed.
Reported by: Jack Weitsen Date: March 21, 2022
Page 2 of 2 HB-5172


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-438
PD Joint Favorable Substitute: 7-438
File No. 288: 7-438
Public Act No. 22-39: 7-438