Bill > HB1439

This bill revises the penalty structure for New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) retirees who exceed part-time employment hour limits by replacing full pension suspensions with more proportional and flexible penalties. Specifically, if a retired member works part-time and surpasses the maximum permitted hours, the retirement system's board will now calculate the excess earnings and reduce the retiree's state annuity (pension) by that amount, distributing the reduction equally over 12 monthly payments. The bill importantly prevents complete annuity suspension except in cases of knowingly and willfully violating hour limitations or failing to respond to system inquiries about worked hours. Moreover, the legislation allows retirees to demonstrate "just cause" for exceeding hour limits, such as relying on inaccurate employer time reporting, and permits the board to waive all or part of the annuity reduction if they determine the retiree acted in good faith and a reduction would create undue hardship. The bill will take effect 60 days after its passage, and while its precise fiscal impact is considered indeterminable, it aims to create a more nuanced approach to managing part-time employment for retired public employees.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_Status/billinfo.aspx?id=1856&inflect=2