UPDATE:  May 11, 2012 @ 1530 Hours...

Oklahoma Firefighters:  We have learned the Municipal League has been encouraging the mayors and city managers to be at the Capitol Tuesday to try to stop our goal of getting our Pension Reform Bill, HB 2320, to the Governor this session!

THIS is an ALL-CALL!  We MUST have an overwhelming majority of firefighters present as compared to what is coming for the Municipal League!  THIS MAY BE THE MOST IMPORTANT MUSTER OF YOUR CAREER.

A 20 to 1 ratio is a good ratio to work toward.  We need every Oklahoma Firefighters that willing and able, to show up and stand up for their pension system in the East Parking lot of the Oklahoma State Capitol Tuesday!

RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL!  NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012 AT 10:00 A.M.  We will be meeting in the East parking lot.

Oklahoma Firefighters:

House Bill 2320 is being stalled in the Senate and it is our understanding from conversation with certain members of the Senate that pension reform will not be addressed in the Senate this year.

That is why we need to act now!

We have worked too long and too hard on presenting a plan that will significantly reduce the unfunded liability of our pension system in a spirit of shared sacrifice from active members, retired members, municipalities and the state. 

It is imperative that we act now in a show of unity and strength at the capitol to get our message heard.

Please make the effort to join together on Tuesday, May 15, 2012, to protect and preserve our pension system for the future.

UPDATE:  May 4, 2012

House Bill 2320, the Firefighters Pension Reform bill, has been sent to a joint conference committee of the Senate and the House.

We are being told that this legislative session could end as early as My 18, 2012, so we must act now to move this extremely important bill forward which only leaves 2 weeks left.

The Governor has indicated that if this bill gets to her desk she will sign the bill.

The House of Representatives has passed this bill once and is ready to send it to the Governor as soon as they can, so…

Call or e-mail your Senator ASAP and tell them to urge Senate leadership to move this bill forward because:

 1.  The bill increases active firefighter’s pension contributions by 1%.

2.  The bill increases employer pension contributions by 1%.

(Note:  Most cities in Oklahoma are currently paying a higher % of salary for retirement for non-uniformed employees than for firefighters.  Cities are paying 6.2% for social security plus as much as 10% for their municipal retirement plan (16.2% of salary) while only paying 13% for firefighter retirement.  OKLAHOMA FIREFIGHTERS HAVE NO SOCIAL SECURITY!

3.  The bill reduces the rate of return for firefighters leaving a DROP plan balance with the system.  This is unique in that this agreement affects all firefighters and retirees not just new hires.

4.  The bill increases the portion of the insurance premium tax, which has been dedicated to the firefighters pension since the early 1900’s, from 34% to 36%.

5.  The bill will not place a burden on the taxpayers of the cities.

6.  The bill has been endorsed by the Oklahoma State Firefighters Association, The Oklahoma Retired Firefighters Association, The Oklahoma Fire Chief’s Association and the Professional Firefighters of Oklahoma.

PLEASE INSIST THAT HOUSE BILL 2320 BE HEARD AND
PASSED ON TO THE GOVERNOR

UPDATE ON HOUSE BILL 2320

House Bill 2320, authored by Representative Randy McDaniel (R) and coauthored by Representative Anastasia Pittman (D) of the House of Representatives and Senator Patrick Anderson of the Senate, is moving through the legislative process. 

This bill is the result of a legislative plan of action that was endorsed by the executive boards of the OSFA, OFCA, ORFA and the PFFO and accepted by Representative McDaniel. 

The bill was heard in the Economic Development, Tourism and Financial Services Committee on 02/08/2012, and was passed with 17 members voting for the bill and 0 members against the bill. 

The bill then went to the floor of the House of Representatives on 02/16/2012, and was passed with 93 members voting for the bill and 1 member voting against the bill. 

The bill has been engrossed and has been assigned for first reading in the Senate.  This means that we have successfully completed step 1 of the process.

Based upon a review of the Senate Legislative Deadline Calendar, it would appear that the bill will be heard in committee the week of March 19, 2012.  At this time the bill has not been assigned to committee and the OSFA is beginning dialogue on the senate side.

March 12, 2012, is our scheduled “Firefighter Day at the Capitol” and it is imperative that we have a show of strength at the capitol so that you can have the opportunity to visit with your senator on the merits of House Bill 2320 and why it is important to firefighters and to visit with your representative to thank them for their support of House Bill 2320.

The executive board of the OSFA wishes to extend its appreciation to Representative McDaniel for his steadfast leadership in moving our bill through the House of Representatives.  The executive board of the OSFA would also like to thank the executive boards of the OFCA, ORFA, and the PFFO and the overwhelming support that has been received around the state as they have presented the legislative plan of action.