04/29/2011 - 2011 Legislative Recap

NMSPA achieved overall success relative to our goals for what turned out to be a very difficult 2011 legislative session. Amid state budget shortfalls, concerns over PERA solvency, and a nationwide trend against public employees in general, NMSPA took both defensive and proactive postures. 

Defensively, we set out to prevent draconian changes to PERA for our membership and avoid decreases to member pay.  Our proactive goals were to gain hiring flexibility for State Police and reduce DWI while creating a dedicated funding source for police safety equipment.

Perhaps most importantly, NMSPA along with a coalition of other groups successfully staved off the most problematic issues dealing with PERA.  We stopped several bills that were introduced and amended throughout the legislative session that would have made various changes to PERA. Chief among the changes would have been:

• Increasing years of service and creating a minimum age for normal retirement;
• Permanently changing the employer/employee contribution ratio to place a higher rate on employees;
• Lessening the COLA for retirees.

There was a proposal to shift more of the employer contribution to employees and make the previous shift permanent.  That proposal was presented as a way to increase the solvency of PERA but ultimately was only to balance the state budget by decreasing your take home pay.  While the increased shift did occur, we were able to keep the entire swap temporary.

NMSPA pushed for the elimination of the college credit requirement for new hires.  This action was necessary in order to give the agency needed flexibility in recruitment and hiring.  Ultimately the college credit was left in statute but it can now be offset by military or prior police experience.  The chief may determine the time frame for completing the college credit for recruits lacking the military or police experience.

We very nearly succeeded in passage of an increase in DWI fines that would be used to fund safety equipment for officers.  Unfortunately, our bill fell victim to the clock.  It was set for final action before being sent to the Governor for a signature when time ran out on the legislative session.  NMSPA will make the passage of this proposal one of our top priorities for next session.

Your association worked diligently throughout the 2011 session to hold off numerous, vigorous attempts to lessen retirement benefits and member pay.  We also worked hard to bring critical funding to DPS and ease the hiring qualified police recruits.  Rest assured that we will continue our vigilance on these and other issues that affect you in the future.

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