1999
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 99-006
BY SENATORS Tebedo, Feeley, Powers, Reeves, Arnold, Blickensderfer, Epps, Evans, Hillman, Lamborn, Powers, and Wham;
also REPRESENTATIVES Miller, Alexander, Berry, Dean,
Johnson, Saliman, Allen, Bacon, Chavez, Clarke, Coleman, Decker,
Fairbank, Gagliardi, George, Gordon, Gotlieb, Grossman, Hefley,
Hoppe, Kaufman, Larson, Lee, Leyba, Mace, May, McElhany, McKay,
McPherson, Nunez, Paschall, Pfiffner, Plant, Ragsdale, Sinclair,
Stengel, Takis, Tapia, Taylor, Tochtrop, Tool, Veiga, Vigil, S.
Williams, T. Williams, Windels, Witwer, Young, and Zimmerman.
CONCERNING THE COLORADO GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S OPPOSITION
TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MANDATE PARTICIPATION BY POLICE
OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS IN THE FEDERAL SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.
WHEREAS, Colorado fire and police pension plans have
been provided as a substitute to mandatory participation in the
federal social security system; and
WHEREAS, The Colorado General Assembly has previously
declared that the establishment of police officers' and firefighters'
pension plans is a matter of statewide concern that affects the
public safety and general welfare of the citizens of Colorado;
and
WHEREAS, Colorado's fire and police pension plans
have been carefully developed with the cooperation of the Colorado
General Assembly, employers, and employees to meet the unique
needs of public safety officers in Colorado; and
WHEREAS, Colorado fire and police pension plans are
funded on an actuarially sound basis and are appropriately and
successfully invested in diversified investments in accordance
with modern portfolio theory; and
WHEREAS, Colorado fire and police pension plans include
benefits which are designed to address the physical demands and
high risks inherent in public safety work and which are not available
through the federal social security system, including lower retirement
ages and comprehensive death and disability benefits; and
WHEREAS, There are many different, separate retirement
plans for firefighters and police officers in Colorado, including
statewide plans, local plans, defined benefit plans, and defined
contribution plans; and
WHEREAS, It is anticipated that federal legislation
will be introduced or amended in a manner that would require public
employees to participate in the federal social security system;
and
WHEREAS, If participation in federal social security
is mandated for Colorado firefighters and police officers, integration
with federal social security benefits would be an extremely complex
process which is likely to result in the loss of some benefits
for firefighters and police officers in Colorado; and
WHEREAS, A federal mandate that Colorado firefighters
and police officers participate in federal social security will
threaten not only the integrity of the Colorado fire and police
pension system, but also the public safety and general welfare
of the citizens of Colorado; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixtysecond
General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives
concurring herein:
That the Congress of the United States is urged to
oppose federal legislation that would mandate participation by
police officers and firefighters in the federal social security
system.
Be It Further Resolved, That
a copy of this Resolution be sent to each member of Colorado's
delegation to the United States Congress.
_________________________ _________________________
Ray Powers Russell George
PRESIDENT OF SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES
_________________________ _________________________
Patricia K. Dicks Judith M. Rodrigue
SECRETARY OF CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
THE SENATE OF REPRESENTATIVES