HB 1361 -- JUDGES' RETIREMENT

This bill allows cost-of-living adjustments to a judge's
retirement benefits to accumulate from the time the judge is
eligible to retire.  Current law allows such adjustments, but
only those provided after August 29, 1995.

HB 1361 -- JUDGE'S RETIREMENT (Gibbons)

This bill allows judges who were eligible to retire prior to
August 29, 1995, but who continued to serve as judges after that
date, to receive upon retirement all the annual cost-of-living
increases received by retired judges between the day the judge
first became eligible to retire and the day the judge actually
retired.  Current law only grants an active judge who was
eligible to retire prior to August 29, 1995, those COLA
increases received by retired judges since August 29, 1995.

FISCAL NOTE:  Net Effect on General Revenue Fund of Unknown* in
FY 97, FY 98, and FY 99.

*Expected to be less than $100,000 annually.

HB 1361, HCA 1 -- JUDGE'S RETIREMENT

CO-SPONSORS:  Gibbons, Treadway

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Judiciary
& Ethics by a vote of 12 to 1.

This bill allows judges who were eligible to retire prior to
August 29, 1995, but who continued to serve as judges after that
date, to receive upon retirement all the annual cost-of-living
increases received by retired judges between the day the judge
first became eligible to retire and the day the judge actually
retired.  Current law only grants an active judge who was
eligible to retire prior to August 29, 1995, those COLA
increases received by retired judges since August 29, 1995.

HCA 1 -- A technical amendment.

FISCAL NOTE:  Net Effect on General Revenue Fund of unknown* in
FY 97, FY 98, and FY 99.

*Expected to be less than $100,000 annually.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that last year's legislation had the
effect of treating 40 judges differently than the rest, based
upon when the judges could have retired.  The law was designed
to save the state money by encouraging judges to forestall their
retirement, but these 40 judges should not have to give up
retirement benefits in the bargain.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Gibbons; Judge
William Corrigan, St. Louis County; Judge Jack Gant, Jackson
County; and the Missouri Bar.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Richard Smreker, Research Analyst

HB 1361 -- Judges' Retirement

Co-Sponsors:  Gibbons, Treadway

This bill allows judges who were eligible to retire prior to
August 29, 1995, but who continued to serve as judges after that
date, to receive upon retirement all the annual cost-of-living
increases received by retired judges between the day the judge
first became eligible to retire and the day the judge actually
retired.  Current law only grants an active judge who was
eligible to retire prior to August 29, 1995, those COLA
increases received by retired judges since August 29, 1995.