Panel approves fixes to pensions

News Staff And Wire Reports

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

A plan to fix the state's pension plan won approval in the House Finance Committee on Tuesday. Senate Bill 235 asks employees to give up some of their raises and effectively increases the minimum retirement age from 50 to 55.

In other legislative action:

• Rep. Dave Schultheis called for a special session to address illegal immigration.

The Colorado Springs Republican wants lawmakers to look at four proposals, some of which already have died this year. Those proposals include making English the official language of Colorado's public entities and requiring employers to participate in the federal employment-verification pilot program to verify applicants' legal status.

It's unlikely that Schultheis will succeed in getting the special session because Democrats control the legislature.

• A Senate committee tried again to put the brakes on private toll roads, approving a measure that would put teeth in a new state law that requires toll-road companies to get approval from the state Department of Transportation before they can condemn land for their projects.

Backers said the new law signed last month by Republican Gov. Bill Owens did not go far enough and could have allowed companies to seize property to build railroads, hotels and housing subdivisions.

The Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee approved House Bill 1003, which would require work on a toll road to begin within three years after incorporation. It also would require that investors spend at least $500,000 or forfeit all rights.

• The House approved 60-5 a bill that would set a higher standard for communities that use eminent domain to claim property to remove blight. House Bill 1411 is now in the Senate.

• House Bill 1402, which calls for the state to sell off a portion of the tobacco tax settlement, pay off debts and put the rest into a savings account, won approval in the House and is on its way to the Senate.

• Anyone convicted of making fraudulent documents used by illegal immigrants would face a $50,000 fine under Senate Bill 110, which the House approved 63-2 and sent to the Senate.