Delaware General Assembly


CHAPTER 432

FORMERLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 20

ESTABLISHING A STATE POLICE PENSION REFORM COMMITTEE.

WHEREAS, members of the State Police of the State of Delaware are, by reason of their office, entitled to participate in a pension plan offering benefits which are among the most substantial offered by any State; and

WHEREAS, the State Police Retirement Fund created by Chapter 83, Title 11, Delaware Code, is beset by an unfunded past service liability which, unless addressed by the General Assembly, will increase in major proportion with each fiscal year; and

WHEREAS, as a result of recent legislation, members of the State Police Pension Plan must contribute to the State Police Retirement Fund at a rate higher than the rate of contribution of any other State employees; and

WHEREAS, in the absence of meaningful reform, members of the State Police are being deprived of serving the State of Delaware at a time when their proficiency is at its peak; and

WHEREAS, in the absence of meaningful reform the current pension plan for the members of the State Police contradicts the policy of the State of Delaware that its pension funds be maintained on an actuarially sound basis, consistent with available resources; and

WHEREAS, it is the belief of the General Assembly that it is possible to achieve agreement on meaningful reform of the State Police Pension Plan if the General Assembly and the State Police negotiate promptly and in good faith to that end.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 130th General Assembly of the State of Delaware, with the approval of the Governor, that there is hereby created a Committee to be known as the State Police Pension Reform Committee, with responsibility for recommending to each House of the General Assembly and to the Governor actuarially provident reforms in the nature of benefits payable to members of the State Police from the State Police Retirement Fund, and in the level and manner of contributions thereto by members of the State Police.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Police Pension Reform Committee shall consist of nine (9) members, two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the President Pro Tempore from the membership of the Senate; two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Speaker from the membership of the House of Representatives; two (2) of whom shall be appointed by the Superintendent of the State Police from the membership of the State Police, and three (3) of whom shall be appointed by the Governor. Among those appointed by the Governor shall be a member of the Board of Pension Trustees, and the Chairperson of said Board who shall also serve as Chairperson of the Committee.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Police Pension Reform Committee shall submit, in the form of draft legislation, its recommendations for reform of the State Police pension plan not later than June 20, 1979, to the Speaker of the House, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Superintendent of the State Police, and the Governor. Each such recommendation shall be accompanied by a written narrative explaining the basis therefor, and a statement of the actuarial implications thereof.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Pension Trustees shall provide such actuarial and other technical and administrative assistance to the Committee as the Committee may from time to time request.

NOTE: Passed by the General Assembly May 2, 1979. Not formally delivered to the Governor.