HB 296 passes Ohio House; on to the Senate

On Wednesday, Dec. 4, the Ohio House of Representatives passed Ohio Substituted House Bill 296 by a vote of 66-25. The proposal now moves to the Ohio Senate. In order for Governor Mike DeWine to sign it into law, the Senate would need to approve the bill in this session which ends at the end of the year. 

The proposal would increase the police employer contribution rate to 24 percent from the current 19.5 percent. The fire employer rate is already set at 24 percent. The bill calls for a six-year phase in for the increases. Also included is a 0.25 percent increase in employee contributions in the final year of the phase in. 

Time is short and we still need our members help! Please contact your state senators in Columbus to urge them to support this legislation. This is the closest we have come to passing this legislation. Act now and contact your elected officials.

 To find your representative or senator: 

Ohio Senate 

Both OP&F’s and the Ohio Retirement Study Council’s actuaries have noted the unequal police and fire employer contributions rates. Yet, the rates have remained unchanged since 1986. Despite not offering any real solutions, lobbying groups representing Ohio cities have been vocal opponents of the current bill and previous efforts to have OP&F employers pay their fair share. 

 When established in 1967, the funding was not equitable – OP&F started with $490 million of the liabilities from the cities and only 15 percent of the funds required. This is the unfunded mandate – the promise made to public safety officers was never properly funded.

 • It has been 3½ years since the pension funding legislation was initially introduced. Delay by cities during that time has increased OP&F’s unfunded liabilities by $24 million.

 • OP&F members accepted sacrifices in 2013-15 during previous pension reform legislation – including reduced COLAs, a higher retirement age, and increased contribution rates.

 • The only other comparable Ohio pension fund (public safety) is the Ohio Highway Patrol, which has a 26.5 percent employer contribution rate.

posted 12/05/2024