About STRS Ohio

News Items & Reports
Originally posted December 15, 2006

House Bill 700 Could Impact STRS Ohio’s Existing Defined Benefit Plan and Place Additional Burdens on Employers

During this lame-duck session of the Ohio General Assembly, a bill has been introduced by Rep. Chuck Blasdel (R-East Liverpool) that would require school boards to offer private vendor alternative retirement plans (ARPs) to new employees and those with less than five years of service credit as of the effective date of the bill. This is an expansion to all K-12 employees of the defined contribution plans currently available to full-time university faculty.

On Dec. 14, 2006, STRS Ohio provided testimony on this legislation, House Bill 700, before the House Financial Institutions, Real Estate and Securities Committee. (A copy of this testimony can be accessed here.) STRS Ohio urged the Legislature to not rush this bill through, but, instead, do a thorough analysis of the impact of the bill on the majority of Ohio educators who are enrolled in STRS Ohio’s Defined Benefit Plan, the employers who will have to administer multiple retirement plans, and the State of Ohio.

STRS Ohio members who would like to express their opinion about H.B. 700 are encouraged to send their comments to the legislators listed in the table below. Some of these individuals are members of the Ohio Retirement Study Council, which is the legislative oversight committee for Ohio’s public pension plans. Others are members of the Senate Health and Human Services and Aging Committee. They have been included on the list because H.B. 700 may become attached to another bill that is currently being reviewed by this committee. At this time, there appears to be an effort to have some resolution on this bill before the Legislature adjourns next Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Senate Members
Jeff Armbruster (614) 644-7613
Patricia Clancy (614) 466-8068

Kevin Coughlin
(chair, Senate Health and Human Services Committee)

(614) 466-4823
Randy Gardner (614) 466-8060
David Goodman (614) 466-8064
Jeff Jacobson (614) 466-4538
Jim Jordan (614) 466-7584
Larry Mumper (614) 466-8049
Kirk Schuring  (614) 466-0626
Lynn Wachtmann (614) 466-8150
Teresa Fedor (614) 466-5204
Eric Fingerhut (614) 466-4583
Bob Hagan (614) 466-8285
Ray Miller (614) 466-5131
Charlie Wilson (614) 466-6508
House Members
Chuck Blasdel
(bill sponsor)
(614) 466-8022
Todd Book (614) 466-2124
Clyde Evans (614) 466-1366
Michelle Schneider (614) 644-6023

  

Personal Account Information
SSN 
Password 
  Login

Forgot Your Password?

Problems Logging In?

Quick Links
State Teachers Retirement Board Rules
Newsletters
Benefit Calculators
Contact STRS Ohio
Counseling & Seminars