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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
| State Rep. Josh Shapiro State Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
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Shapiro, DePasquale strengthen pension reform bill
HARRISBURG, June 9 – State Reps. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, and Eugene DePasquale, D-York, this week successfully strengthened pension-reform legislation that would strip public officials and employees of their pension benefits if they are found or plead guilty or no contest to a crime related to their office.
Currently, a public official or employee may receive benefits after being found guilty until they are
sentenced.
Shapiro and DePasquale's amendments to House Bill 1567 would expand the list of crimes under which public officials and employees would be required to forfeit their pensions. Shapiro's measure would add institutional sexual assault, which covers those workers in state or county youth facilities or programs who have sexual contact with children. Shapiro is a lead cosponsor of a House-passed bill (H.B. 924) that would expand the crime of institutional sexual assault to include school employees and volunteers. That bill is currently awaiting Senate action. DePasquale's measures would add endangering the welfare of a child, neglect of a care dependent person, and bringing contraband into an institution.
"These amendments ensure that those who prey on our children no longer receive the benefit of a taxpayer-funded pension," Shapiro said. "Under no circumstance should anyone who violates the public's trust by engaging in sexual contact with a child be able to enjoy their pension benefits."
"I’m pleased we were able to work together in a bipartisan way for this critical pension reform. No one convicted of these clear abuses of the public’s trust should get their public pension," DePasquale said. "If you prey on children, sneak drugs to prisoners or fail in your duties to protect seniors, you will not get a pension when the governor signs this bill into law."
Shapiro represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro. DePasquale represents the 95th Legislative District in York County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/DePasquale.
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