The Alabama Senate today passed a bill that would end the payment of taxpayer-funded pension plans for public officials who are convicted of public corruption.
The bill, known as Senate bill 213 or SB213, provides that members of the Employees’ Retirement System, the Teachers’ Retirement System or the Judicial Retirement Fund who plead guilty to or are convicted of a felony forfeit any future benefits. A federal, Alabama or other state judge must determine that the felony involved the felon’s public position. The felons are also refunded the money they’ve invested into the system, plus any interest.
Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) sponsored the bill. “When a public official violates the trust of those they are intended to serve, the last thing we need to do is reward them with taxpayer-funded retirement benefits,” Orr said in a press release.
The bill passed with no opposition. It now needs consideration and approval by the Alabama House before becoming law.
