M. Wayne Huggins
VSPA Director of Government Relations

Email Wayne Huggins

 

 

M. Wayne Huggins

Government Relations Director

Legislative Update

February 26, 2010

 

All Members,

 

The names of the Budget Conferees and their contact information is as follows:

 

House of Delegates

 

     Delegate Lacey Putney (Bedford)  - DelLPutney@house.state.va.us

     Delegate Kirk Cox (Colonial Heights/Chesterfield) – DelKCox@house.virginia.gov

     Delegate Bev Sherwood (Frederick) – DelBSherwood@house.state.va.us

     Delegate Johnny Joannou  (Portsmouth) –DelJJoannou@house.virginia.gov

     Delegate Chris Jones (Suffolk) – DelCJones@house.virginia.gov

     Delegate Steve Landes (Augusta) – DelSLandes@house.virginia.gov

 

Senate

 

     Senator Dick Saslaw  (Fairfax) – district35@senate.virginia.gov

     Senator Charles Colgan (Prince William) -  district29@senate.virginia.gov

     Senator Janet Howell (Fairfax) – district32@senate.virginia.gov

     Senator Ed Houck (Culpeper, Louisa, Madison, Orange, Spotsylvania) – district17@senate.virginia.gov

     Senator William Wampler (Bristol) – district40@senate.virginia.gov

     Senator Walter Stosch (Henrico) – district12@senate.virginia.gov

 

The Conferees have begun meeting and will continue to meet over the next two weeks in the hopes of forging a consensus budget by the scheduled adjournment date of March 13.  I encourage you to review the “all member” we sent Monday (Legislative Update for February 22, 2010) that summarized what each House was proposing in their respective budgets and then contact the conferees to express your preferences as to what should be supported.  You may ask if your voice matters?  I was contacted yesterday by the legislative aide to one of the conferees listed above.  It seems that scores of you had contacted him thanking him for his support of the State Police.  The Aide was calling to tell me how much they appreciated your outpouring of appreciation.  So yes it works.  Finally, I can assure you that every “special interest” group in the State is inundating the Conferees with their views.  It is NOW time for us to do the same thing.  Please help!

 

M. Wayne Huggins
waynehuggins@vspa.org

 

M. Wayne Huggins

Government Relations Director

Legislative Update

February 12, 2010

Yesterday, was an extremely busy day.  Our last Bill of interest was heard at 8:30 last evening.  Here is a summary of yesterday’s actions:

SB95, introduced by Senator Quayle, is the companion Bill to HB71 introduced by Delegate Carrico and extends from 6 to 12 months the amount of time a State Police Officer has to return to work from a duty related injury passed the full Senate by a vote of 40-0.  HB71 was heard in the Compensation & Retirement Subcommittee yesterday afternoon.  The Subcommittee seems supportive but wants to know if there would be a fiscal impact and if so how much before taking action.  We have argued all along that given the cost to recruit, train and equip a new Trooper the Commonwealth would be money ahead not to force Troopers on long term disability if they don’t have to.  Almost nothing with a cost impact, even a negligible impact is passing.  The Department appeared in support of the Bill with us.  We will let you know what happens as soon as we are notified.

HB 1251, introduced by Delegate Lionel Spruill that addresses the “Optima” pilot in certain areas of the 5^th Division was heard last night in the House General Laws Committee.  Unfortunately, it appears that a legislative “fix” is not going to happen as the Attorney General’s Office has stated that the Commonwealth is contractually obligated for 2 years or until June 30, 2011.  Delegates Spruill and Cosgrove gave very passionate presentations about this issue and in fact Delegate Cosgrove mentioned he was “furious” about the way this was thrust upon state employees.  I spoke and displayed the large stack of emails I have received from state employees voicing their dissatisfaction with this “pilot”.  No other group spoke.  Delegate Jones, the Chair of General Laws, has met several times with the Director of  DHRM as well as Optima, to identify immediate actions that can be taken to ease the burden on those of you who have been affected.  First, all of the emails that he has received along with the emails I received have been copied and provided to DHRM and Optima.  He has asked that the many concerns identified in those emails be addressed.  Secondly, he announced last night that DHRM will be holding 5 meetings for all affected active and retired state employees in the Tidewater area within the next 3 weeks or so.  You will be receiving notice of these meetings to include date, time and locations.  (Please take the time to go to one of these meetings!) All of you are to be invited to voice your concerns and receive additional information.  Third, DHRM is authoring an informational document concerning your health care that is to be shared with the VSPA so we can distribute it in an “all member” email.  I am suppose to have something by the middle of next week.  Finally, following the presentations on this matter I was approached by the newly appointed Deputy Secretary of Administration, Mr. Charles James.  This Secretariat oversees DHRM.  He is very concerned about this issue and assured me that he and the new Secretary of Administration would be looking into this matter as well.  We were all hoping for an immediate resolution but the contract issue became an obstacle that apparently could not be overcome by legislative action.  Delegates Jones, Spruill and Cosgrove have worked very hard on this issue and will be monitoring the activities/actions described above to ensure your concerns are being heard and responded to.  I think they deserve our thanks and I invite you to thank them.  Their contact information is as follows:

 

Delegate Chris Jones (Dear Mr. Chairman) DelCJones@house.virginia.gov

Delegate Lionel Spruill, DelLSpruill@house.virginia.gov

Delegate John Cosgrove, DelJCosgrove@house.virginia.gov

HB1189, introduced by Delegate Lacey Putney was also heard in the Compensation and Retirement Subcommittee yesterday.  This Bill makes numerous changes to the retirement system.  The Bill is “prospective” in nature, meaning that it would only apply to state employees hired after July 1, 2010, and will NOT impact any current retiree or current state employee.  VRS presented testimony that suggested that if the changes proposed in 1189 were not made the current system would experience financial difficulties in the future.  I spoke during the hearing and expressed our appreciation for not impacting current retirees or employees but also reminded the committee why current employees do not pay into their retirement.  That being, that over 20 years ago when state employees were not receiving pay raises the General Assembly decided to begin paying the employees share in lieu of a pay raise.  I went onto say that here we are 25 years later, state employees are still not receiving pay raises and yet we are now going to make new employees begin paying into their retirement.  I also mentioned the fact that when the state adopted the “pay for performance” system we were promised regular raises for good work and yet it has only been funded, to my knowledge, once in the last 13 years.  I concluded by saying that if the State wants to continue attracting highly qualified and motivated state employees they could not continue eroding the benefits package and predicted that in 6-8 years, when a critical mass develops we would be right back there advocating for improvements to the retirement system.  At the conclusion of the hearing the subcommittee voted unanimously to report the Bill. 

Finally, on a more pleasant note I received confirmation that our new Secretary of Public Safety, Marla Decker, as well as our new Deputy Secretary of Public Safety, John Bukovich will be joining us at our annual conference in Norfolk, March 26^th – 28^th.  I also received tentative confirmation that our new Governor will be joining us on Saturday at the conference.  If you have not yet made your reservations please do so as soon as possible. 

As week 5 draws to a close and “crossover” occurs next week most of the Committees are concluding their work.  After crossover Committee activity will pick up again.  As soon as there is more to report I will let you know.

M. Wayne Huggins
waynehuggins@vspa.org

M. Wayne Huggins

Government Relations Director

Legislative Update

February 5, 2010

All Members,

 

Week 4 of the 2010 Session of the GA has ended on a rather historic note.  It is the first time anyone can remember all GA activities cancelled because of snow and yet that is exactly what has happened.  All Committee meetings and sessions of both the House and Senate were cancelled for today.

 

HB1346 was heard last evening in a subcommittee of House Commerce & Labor.  This Bill was sponsored by Delegate Bill Barlow of the Southampton, Franklin City, Surry area.  You might recall the case of Lt. Kurt Beach of the Smithfield Police Department who attempted to save the life of a small child in 1988 by administering mouth to mouth.  Unfortunately the child died but in the process of applying mouth to mouth Lt. Beach contracted Hepatitis.  It did not manifest itself until 8 years later.  Over the course of the next several years the disease began destroying his liver.  Lt. Beach almost died last year however at the last minute he received a liver transplant and in what can be considered an absolute miracle from God Kurt has recovered and is back at work with the Smithfield Police Department.  Last year the VSPA stood with Lt. Beach and advocated for a relief Bill that was ultimately passed by the General Assembly which provided $250,000 in relief to his family to aid with the payment of enormous medical bills that Worker’s Comp denied coverage on because the disease did not manifest itself until after the 2 year statute of limitations.  This year HB1346 sought to include Hepatitis as a disease presumed to have been caught from a documented “line of duty” exposure.  This is a cause that Lt. Beach has himself pursued in the hopes of providing protection to other “first responders” so they won't have to experience the financial hardships that he and his family have experienced.  We stood again with Lt. Beach last evening in support of 1346.  Delegate Barlow did a great job of presenting the Bill as did Lt. Beach.  We were the only law enforcement organization that was there to speak in favor of this Bill.  Representatives from the insurance industry spoke in opposition to the Bill claiming it would cause to much potential financial hardship for them.  In the end Delegate Ken Alexander from Norfolk made a motion to report the Bill, however Delegate Ben Cline from Rockbridge made a substitute motion to “table” the Bill, (this effectively kills the Bill for this session).  Delegate Cline’s motion passed on an unrecorded voice vote of 6-4, with absolutely no explanation from anyone as to why it should not be reported.  Because of the way voice votes occur and also because of the construction of this particular room it was impossible to say for sure who voted for or against the Bill.

 

Thanks to everyone who has provided information concerning the Optima “pilot” in 5^th Division.  Apparently word has been circulated widely in the Tidewater area among state employees that the VSPA is working hard to reverse this “pilot” because we have been inundated with emails from not only VSPA members, but also from Judges, clerks of courts, and other state employees from a variety of agencies all complaining of the service they have been receiving.  I made copies of all of the emails I have received to date and hand delivered them to both Delegate Chris Jones, Chairman of the House General Laws committee where HB1251 currently resides as well as the Bills Patron, Delegate Lionel Spruill.  It is important to point out that many of the Delegates and Senators from this area have been affected by this “pilot” and they are not happy either.  One of the Delegates was telling me about problems he was having as the result of knee surgery his daughter received.  I am cautiously optimistic that something is going to happen on this matter in the House next week.  I will keep you posted.  In the meantime keep those emails coming.  They are helping.

 

More to come.

Wayne

direct e-mail:  waynehuggins@vspa.org

M. Wayne Huggins

Government Relations Director

Legislative Update

February 2, 2010

 

All Members,

 

I am pleased to report that our Bill, SB95,  introduced by Senator Fred Quayle which extends from 6 months to 12 months the amount of time a state police officer has to return to work from a duty related injury was heard in the Senate Finance Committee. Senator Quayle did a wonderful job explaining the Bill.  I also testified in support of the Bill reinforcing the information Senator Quayle provided.  As a result the Committee “reported” (passed) the Bill by a vote of 15-0.  The Bill now goes to the full Senate and should be passed later this week.  Once thru the Senate it will go to the House after “crossover” which occurs on February 16.  HB71, the companion to SB95 and introduced by Delegate Bill Carrico, could be heard in a subcommittee of House Appropriations later this week. 

 

No further action on any of the previously discussed retirement Bills has occurred although they could also be heard later this week. 

 

Several of our 5^th Division members have provided information concerning the “Optima” Health care “pilot” they have been forced into.  A meeting on this matter was to be held this morning however the Chair of the Committee considering this issue had to reschedule the meeting until early next week.  I can use more information for this meeting so if you have not yet communicated your concerns to me please do so as soon as possible at waynehuggins@vspa.org.

 

Finally, please drop Senator Quayle a note thanking him for his support and the job he is doing with SB95.  Senator Quayle represents the 13^th Senatorial District which covers part of Chesapeake, Franklin City, Hopewell, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth, Prince George, Southampton and Suffolk.  His e-mail is district13@senate.virginia.gov.

 

Have a great day!

 

Wayne

M. Wayne Huggins

Government Relations Director

Legislative Update

January 21, 2010

All Members,

 

Week 2 of the 2010 Session of the GA is winding down.  No Committee action on the Bills I have previously discussed has been taken yet.  I have spent the week listening to budget presentations to various committees in both the House and Senate.  I have also met with the patrons of 2 of the 3 retirement Bills I summarized earlier this week voicing our strong objections to anything that will weaken our retirement, particularly for current employees.  I have met with Delegates Purkey and Brink.  I am scheduled to meet with Delegate Lacey Putney early next week.  The meeting with Delegate Brink was very positive and I am cautiously optimistic that the provisions of his Bill will not survive.  Thanks to all who have contacted these Delegates.  Your voice matters and they do listen to you.  It helps a great deal!

 

A message to our 5^th Division Members, particularly those of you who were forced to change to Optima Health Care last July.  I have spent a good deal of time talking to various Delegates and Senators about the problems this has created for you.  Yesterday afternoon, Sara Wilson, the Director of DHRM made her annual presentation to the House Appropriations Committee on the State Employee Health Care Program.  The “pilot” you were forced into was the subject of considerable debate and discussion.  Delegate Johnny Joannou (Portsmouth/Suffolk) was particularly pointed and direct in his questioning of Ms. Wilson and made it very clear he did not like this program nor did he think it was fair.  Additionally, Delegate Joannou stated that he has received many complaints from both active and retired state employees.  Ms. Wilson testified that this was the idea of former Governor Kaine and that she was merely doing what she was told.  She admitted there had been problems but DHRM was working to correct those problems.  Nonetheless, Delegate Lionel Spruill (Chesapeake/Suffolk) has introduced HB1251, which would allow a state employee to return to their old health care if they so desired.  The Bill has been Co-Sponsored by virtually every Delegate and Senator from the entire Tidewater region.  The Bill has been assigned to the House General Laws Committee, Chaired by Delegate Chris Jones, (Chesapeake/Suffolk) who is one of the Co-Sponsors of HB1251.  It could be heard as early as next Tuesday. I have let Delegate Spruill know we support this Bill and I will be appearing at the hearing when the Bill is heard.  Please continue to reach out to your Delegates and Senators thanking them for their support and providing them with anecdotal information that may be helpful to them. 

 

As always, I will let you keep you posted as things develop.

 

Wayne

Direct E-mail:  waynehuggins@vspa.org

 

 

 

 

M. Wayne Huggins

Government Relations Director

Legislative Update

January 18, 2010

Good Morning,

 

As I mentioned last week the Inauguration of our new Governor occupied much of the first couple of days of the 2010 Session of the General Assembly.  The real work of this Session begins today.  Additional Bills have been filed, a few of which are of critical interest to you.

 

Three retirement Bills have been introduced. A summary of each follows:

 

HB511 has been introduced by Delegate Bob Brink (Arlington) which mirrors Governor Kaine’s proposed changes presented in his budget proposal.  It would go into effect July 1, 2010, and effect all current and future state employees.  This Bill provides that all state employees would begin contributing 1% of your salary toward your retirement on 7/1/10 and an additional 1% on 7/1/11.  On those same dates the Commonwealth’s contribution toward your retirement account would decrease by the same amounts.  Additionally the “early” retirement date for all employees hired after 7/1/10 increases from age 50 to age 55.

 

HB610 has been introduced by Delegate Bob Purkey (Virginia Beach).  Effective 7/1/10 all new state employees would be required to participate in a “Defined Contribution Plan” and any contributions to the individuals plan by the Commonwealth shall be determined by the Commonwealth.  The VRS Board is required to create such a plan so the details of how it would work are not provided in the Bill.  Finally, it allows current State Employees to “opt in” to this new plan if they so desire.

 

HB1189 has been introduced by Delegate Lacey Putney, (Bedford) who is the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee.  It modifies the current Defined Benefit plans for employees hired after 7/1/10 as follows: (i) requires employee to contribute 5% of creditable compensation, (ii) reduces the portion of the increase in the Consumer Price Index uses for determining annual retirement allowance supplements (COLA) from 3 1/2 % of the additional increases up to 7%, to 2 ½% to 6%, The Bill also reduces the Commonwealth’s contribution by 1%.  Additionally, the multiplier for new state employees is decreased from 1.7% to 1.65%, however it does not appear to reduce the SPORS multiplier.  Also, it changes the number of months used to calculate average final compensation from 36 to 60. Finally it changes the unreduced early retirement benefits from 50 years of age and 30 years of service to one whereby the sum of age plus years of service equals 90.

 

We have been meeting with the sponsors voicing our concerns about any plan that will diminish retirement benefits, particularly for current employees.  I strongly suggest you communicate with these Delegates, as well as your own if different, voicing your concerns.  Their contact information is:

 

Delegate Bob Brink, 804-698-1048: e-mail – DelRBrink@house.state.va.us

Delegate Bob Purkey, 804-698-1082: e-mail – DelBPurkey@house.state.va.us

Delegate Lacey Putney, 804-698-1019: e-mail – DelLPutney@house.state.va.us

 

Committee hearings are beginning this week and some of these Bills as well as those I mentioned last week could come up this week.  As such it is important that you communicate your thoughts as soon as possible.  As more information becomes available I will let you know.

 

Wayne

Direct e-mail:  waynehuggins@vspa.org

January 13, 2010

All Members,

The 2010 Session of the General Assembly will be convened at noon today.  This is scheduled to be a 60 day Session.  Needless to say the single biggest topic of discussion is how to balance the Commonwealth’s budget for the next 2 years.  Estimates are that another $2 billion in reductions will have to be made as the new Governor and the House of Delegates has stated emphatically that there will be no tax increases.  There is no other way of saying it…………this is going to get really ugly. 

We have been meeting continually with members of both Houses and both parties explaining where we are and what the already sustained cuts have done to us.  We are also explaining what additional cuts could do to us.  It is way too early to make any kind of predictions however everyone is currently preoccupied with this various inaugural activities that are ongoing and will conclude this weekend with the swearing in of our new Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General.  I have had conversations with all three of them, as well as the new Secretary of Public Safety explaining our concerns. 

Prefiling of Bills has been uncharacteristically light so far.  It seems that everyone is preoccupied with the Budget and Bills that would require additional funding are simply not being introduced.  A Bill that we have asked to have reintroduced is the Bill that would extend short term disability benefits for duty related injuries from 6months to 1 year.  It has been introduced in the House by Delegate Bill Carrico and is HB71.  Senator Fred Quayle from Chesapeake has introduced the same Bill in the Senate and it is SB95.  I anticipate the filing of Bills to pick up now that the Legislators are back in town.  As we identify Bills of interest to you we will let you know.  Please continue to share your thoughts with your Delegates and Senators.

M. Wayne Huggins