DiSanto Pension Forfeiture bill advances key committee vote

The Senate Finance Committee approved Tuesday legislation introduced by State Sen. John DiSanto (Dauphin/Perry) to ensure that public employees who commit job-related felonies are stripped of their taxpayer-funded pension.

“At a time when public pensions are wreaking havoc on state and school district budgets, it’s especially egregious that taxpayers are continuing to fund the pensions of public employees who commit felonies on the job,” Sen. DiSanto said. “I appreciate the Senate Finance Committee’s support and look forward to Senate passage soon.”

Currently, the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act, Senate Bill 113, only requires a public employee to forfeit their pension for certain crimes listed in the act. This enables public employees charged with a forfeiture crime to avoid forfeiting their pension by pleading guilty to a different non-forfeiture crime.

S.B. 113 would require pension forfeiture if a public official or public employee is convicted, pleads guilty or pleads no contest to any felony offense related to their employment.

It would also require that these criminal convictions be reported to state pension boards. Current law does not require the employee, courts or state agencies to send copies of court records to pension boards upon conviction.

The legislation now moves to the full Senate floor for further consideration.