FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2008

Contact: Rep. Mary Jane Wallner, (603) 271-2136

House Passes Legislation to Prevent Retirement of

Critical Employees

CONCORD – The New Hampshire House voted today to address an immediate need to stem the retirement of critical educators and municipal and county workers by extending the retirement deadline under which eligible employees can receive a medical subsidy.

Under current law, eligible teachers and municipal and county employees will only receive a medical subsidy if they retire by July 1, 2008. This medical subsidy is an amount paid on behalf of the employee toward their health insurance in retirement.  HB 1643 will extend the retirement deadline until July 1, 2009. However, only those employees who would have been eligible for the 2008 deadline will be able to collect the subsidy if they retire by 2009.

“We were very concerned about the possibility of losing a large number of teachers and municipal and county employees, who provide a great wealth of knowledge to our schools and local communities,” said Rep. Mary Jane Wallner (D-Concord), a sponsor of the bill. “These people play critical roles in the effective functioning of our state. This bill will extend new options to eligible employees who are concerned about losing their medical benefits.”

This bill now goes to the Senate.