FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2008

Contact: Speaker Terie Norelli’s Office, (603) 271-3664

NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE ADDRESSES RETIREMENT AND EDUCATION ISSUES

CONCORD – The very young and the state’s retirees will benefit most from actions taken by the New Hampshire House of Representatives today during its final regular session.

House members approved the bill that overhauls the state retirement system and the bill that makes New Hampshire the 50th state to mandate public kindergarten.

The retirement bill creates an independent investment committee which will make financial recommendations to the State Retirement Board, ensuring the security of pensions in the future.

“The challenges and problems in the retirement system were decades in the making, and in just one legislative session we have gone a long way to making sure the system is viable,” said Terie Norelli (D-Portsmouth), Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. “With this legislation we will protect the future of state retirees and protect the taxpayers from significant increases.”

Included in the measure were provisions to stabilize medical subsidies and provide a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees.

The kindergarten aid bill provides help for districts to pay for the start-up costs for adding public kindergarten.

 “This legislation will allow the 12 school districts not yet offering public kindergarten to ensure the permanent opportunity for a public kindergarten education for every New Hampshire 5-year-old,” said Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord), Majority Leader of the New Hampshire House.

The House also voted on the following legislation today:

·         Regulating charity gaming by tracking cash and protecting charities (HB 1509/SB310)

·         Addressing shortages in workforce housing by clarifying local ordinances. New Hampshire’s shortage of affordable housing poses a threat to the state’s economic growth, presents a barrier to the expansion of the state’s labor force, and affects the ability of many communities to host new businesses (HB1442)

·         Establishing a commission to study the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury suffered by New Hampshire soldiers and veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. (HB1335)