Section 19.362. Subsequent to adjournment of General Assembly

December 30, 1984

I file herewith, in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, with my objections, House Bill No. 1784, Printer’s No. 3590, entitled ‘‘An act amending the act of June 1, 1959 (P. L. 392, No. 201), entitled ‘An act relating to the retirement of State employes; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the laws relating thereto,’ granting credit to certain State employes for certain employment by cities of the second class.’’

This bill would permit certain State employes, who were previously employed by the registration commission of a second class city, to receive service credit for such employment toward State retirement upon payment of back contributions.

This bill would mark a serious departure from the customary definition of State employe, for retirement purposes, and would open the door to any employe of a political subdivision rendering public service in any capacity. There is no justification in law or reason to permit the State retirement program to be a catch-all for any public employe not rendering service for or on behalf of the Commonwealth.

This bill would also confer special benefits on a very restricted class of city employe.

For these reasons, the bill is not approved.
DICK THORNBURGH