Legislative Update as Follows: Senate Bill (SB) 179- To increase the multiplier used by the Local Police and Firefighter Retirement system and to fund the increased multiplier by an increase in the members contribution. - Senator Jeffress has agreed to contact the actuaries and ask them to expedite the costing and language on SB 179. The bill has yet to be filed due to no language in the bill because the numbers have not been produced. No Bill Number – Firefighter Bill of Rights To allow for a Bill of Rights for Firefighters in the State of Arkansas. - Representative John Burris has agreed to sponsor our Firefighter Bill of Rights and will be receiving the draft information. No Bill Number – Fairness in Civil Service Testing To provide for fairness in Civil Service testing for Police and Firefighters. (The Department administering the test would have to announce how long the final results list will last and not to extend the time for any reason.) - It looks like there is enough support to move this bill to the House- City, County, Local Committee and the bill should be filed soon. House Bill 1326- Awarding of Attorney Fees To allow for the awarding of attorney fees in circuit court for civil service appeal hearings. - Representative Jonathan Barnett is interested on sponsoring this bill. House Bill 1052- PREVENT RETALIATION AGAINST PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR REQUESTING RECORDS UNDER THE FREEDOM OF infromation ACT OF 1967. There is also an amendment to a previous act that states that union members can talk to elected officials about union business, but the bill does not state locally elected officials. Representative Lindsley Smith has agreed to take on our Public Employee Freedom of Speech language and try to amend the law to read “elected and appointed municipal and county officials” to the current statue. All of this was provided by Ed Jaros the APFF Legislative Chairman. When new information comes available I will pass it along.
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