Legislative efforts aimed at plugging a $360 million hole in the current fiscal year budget have occupied center stage during recent days at the capitol. In spite of this distraction, we have been able to get more of our association legislation shaped up, drafted, sometimes redrafted and filed as legislation.

One of those bills, HB456, would allow MoDOT employees to convert eight hours of unused accumulated sick leave for one day of retirement credit. Existing law allows the conversion in increments of 168 hours of unused sick leave for one month of retirement credit. HB456 was introduced Wednesday (February 12) by Rep. Esther Haywood and co-sponsored by 19 other house members. Rep. Haywood is a member of the House Retirement Committee.

More options for the conversion of unused annual leave (vacation time) are found in HB443 and SB479. MoDOT employees with accrued annual leave in excess of his or her maximum leave balance could apply the hours to (1) a "shared leave" program, (2) the purchase of additional retirement credits, and (3) for deposit in the employees deferred compensation plan. Rep. Jerry King and Rep. B.J. Davis, both members of the House Retirement Committee, sponsor HB443. Sen. Chuck Gross sponsors SB479. The two annual leave conversion bills were filed on Feb. 11 in their respective chambers.

Rep. Tom Green of St. Charles has introduced HB383, The "Public Service Accountability Act", which would place restrictions on "out-sourcing" or contracting work that is currently being performed by state employees. HB383 would require state agencies to analyze costs and benefits before privatizing their contracts. A contract would only be granted if the cost differential were more than a 10% savings. Contracts could be granted for no more than five years. The bill was referred to the House Transportation and Motor Vehicles Committee.

Committee hearings, while taking a "back seat" to budgetary issues this year should to be held on our legislative priorities including the above-mentioned bills within a week or two.

You can get copies and information of our proposed bills from the web by going to "Missouri Legislature" and reading and printing the material you need.