Radio Update Report 6:30pm (Audio)
Air Date:01/26/2010
A bill passed today on the House floor concerning aid given to special education teachers. Representative Oran Sorenson from Garretson is a member of the education committee. He says that the bill ensures that money spent on equipment will benefit both teachers and students.
The bill allows school district to have more flexibility on the equipment and resources purchased with their special ed. funds.
The Senate passed two bills aimed at correcting funding issues in the South Dakota Retirement System. South Dakota Senator Corey Brown from Gettysburg says that currently, members can utilize the optional spouse protection program by increasing their contribution one point two percent. Brown says Senate bill 19 raises the contribution to one point five percent, and eliminates any new enrollments.
Senator Brown says citizens in the system are currently guaranteed a cost of living adjustment of just over three percent every year regardless of how well the system or the market is doing. Senate bill 20 changes that.
"When the system is not funded well, it will take that COLA adjustment down to 2.1 percent per year," Brown says. "And then, as the system becomes better funded it will return to the original 3.1 percent."
Both bills now move to House Committees.
Member stations can download the audio file here.
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