Ohio House Panel Prepares Changes To Pension Bills

The chairman of an Ohio House panel studying the state's five public retirement funds says he's expecting to have updated drafts of pension legislation by the end of this week. State Rep. Kirk Schuring says the panel is working with the funds on changes. He wants to discuss the tweaks at next week's hearings. The pending pension bills include requests by the funds to raise premiums, lower payouts and tighten eligibility requirements for affected teachers, police and other public workers in order to keep funds serving 1.7 million Ohioans solvent. Schuring said the panel could vote on the proposals on Sept. 10, with the full House also taking them up that week. The state Senate would have to agree to any changes. Senators are to be in session Sept. 18.