The Florida Legislature is in session and the fun has started.  For the most part, they are leaving the Florida Retirement System alone except for a few changes. There is currently one change that may have a long term effect on the pension plan.  House Bill 525 and an amendment to Senate Bill 2024 says new employees, by default, will be enrolled in the investment plan. In other words, a new employee can choose to be on the pension plan or the investment plan. Currently new employees that fail to make a choice are placed in the pension plan. These new bills say if the employee fails to make a choice they will automatically be placed in the investment plan. Statistically about half of the new employees fail to make a choice (52%). Since the health of the pension plan depends on new people enrolling in the program, these new bills could have long term adverse affect.

Now is the time to write/email our legislators to let them know that we oppose these bills as they currently are written. Below is a list of the legislators on the committee and a sample of an email you could send. If you cut and paste the email, this should not take long but your time will hopefully make a difference. In the subject line on your email place the name of the bill; HB 525 or SB 2024.  The legislators track the number of emails/letters they receive and whether they are for or against the bills. It is very important that they receive email NOW while the bills are in the committee.  
 Feel free to pass this email on to everyone who has an interest in maintaining the Florida Retirement System. The more emails they receive the better it is for all of us. Remember don’t complain if you didn’t voice your opinion.
 The House Government Operations Subcommittee met today (1/31/12) and many people spoke in opposition to the default portion of the bill. However, the committee voted in favor of Bill 525. Next to the committee members name I marked how they voted on this issue. Yes means they voted in favor of the bill as written; no means they had objections to the bill as written. Except for Representative Moraitis it was along party lines.  
 Linda Edson
 

Dear Representative:  As a citizen and voter I urge you to NOT support House Bill 525 as it is written (Workman). The section of the bill that concerns me “requires new employees to, by default, be enrolled in investment plan”. The Florida Retirement System has one of the best pension plans in the nation. Since the health of the pension plan depends on new people enrolling in the program, this bill could have long term adverse affect.  Sincerely,

Jimmy Patronis:  (R)  Chair Dana Young: (R)  Vice Chair Cynthia Stafford (D) Democratic Ranking Member Larry Ahern  (R) Doug Broxson  (R) Jeff Clemens (D) Janet Cruz (D) Ana Logan (R) Debbie Mayfield (R) George Moraitis (R) Bryan Nelson (R) Marlene O’Toole (R) Ken Roberson (R) Irving Slosberg (D) Barbara Watson (D) Ritch Workman (R)

Panama City Tampa Miami St. Petersburg  Milton Lake Worth Tampa Miami Vero Beach Ft. Lauderdale Apopka The Villages Pt. Charlotte Boca Raton Miami Gardens Melbourne

jimmy.patronis@myfloridahouse.gov dana.young@myfloridahouse.gov cynthia.stafford@myfloridahouse.gov larry.ahern@myfloridahouse.gov doug.broxson@myfloridahouse.gov jeff.clemens@myfloridahouse.gov janet.cruz@myfloridahouse.gov ana.logan@myfloridahouse.gov debbie.mayfield@myfloridahouse.gov george.moraitis@myfloridahouse.gov bryan.nelson@myfloridahouse.gov marlene.otoole@myfloridahouse.gov ken.roberson@myfloridahouse.gov irving.slosberg@myfloridahouse.gov barbara.watson@myfloridahouse.gov ritch.workman@myfloridahouse.gov

Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No left the room Yes No Yes     absent Yes No No

---

Chair: Jeremy Ring (D) Vice Chair:  Gary Siplin (D) Lizbeth Benacquisto (R) Ellyn Bogdanoff (R) Charlie Dean (R) Anitere Flores (R) Rene Garcia (R) Jack Latvala (R) Gwen Margolis (D) Bill Montford (D) Nan Rich (D) Stephen Wise (R)

Margate Orlando Wellington  Ft. Lauderdale Inverness  Miami Hialeah St. Petersburg Miami  Tallahassee Sunrise Jacksonville

ring.jeremy.web@flsenate.gov siplin.gary.web@flsenate.gov benacquisto.lizbeth.web@flsenate.gov bogdanoff.ellyn.web@flsenate.gov dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov flores.anitere.web@flsenate.gov garcia.rene.web@flsenate.gov latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov margolis.gwen.web@flsenate.gov montford.bill.web@flsenate.gov rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov wise.stephen.web@flsenate.gov