Jennifer Staman
Legislative Attorney
Controversy has arisen over the funded status of many state and local government pension plans. It has been reported that several of these plans have not fully funded their future obligations and they could face substantial future shortfalls. While there is considerable debate over the extent and the possible causes of these shortfalls, some estimates have placed the combined unfunded liabilities anywhere from hundreds of billions of dollars to over $3 trillion. Governments facing investment losses combined with lower revenues are looking at ways to address these shortfalls and protect their fiscal stability. State governors and legislators in several states have proposed and enacted various modifications to their pension plans. There have been calls for modification of federal, state, and local laws affecting these pension plans and the benefits provided to participants and beneficiaries. This report provides an overview of how public pension plans are regulated at the federal and state level, discusses selected legal issues that may arise in attempting to remedy or prevent public pension plan underfunding by modifying public pension plan benefits, and addresses possible federal regulation of state and local public pension plans.
Date of Report: March 31, 2011
Number of Pages: 14
Order Number: R41736
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Legislative Attorney
Controversy has arisen over the funded status of many state and local government pension plans. It has been reported that several of these plans have not fully funded their future obligations and they could face substantial future shortfalls. While there is considerable debate over the extent and the possible causes of these shortfalls, some estimates have placed the combined unfunded liabilities anywhere from hundreds of billions of dollars to over $3 trillion. Governments facing investment losses combined with lower revenues are looking at ways to address these shortfalls and protect their fiscal stability. State governors and legislators in several states have proposed and enacted various modifications to their pension plans. There have been calls for modification of federal, state, and local laws affecting these pension plans and the benefits provided to participants and beneficiaries. This report provides an overview of how public pension plans are regulated at the federal and state level, discusses selected legal issues that may arise in attempting to remedy or prevent public pension plan underfunding by modifying public pension plan benefits, and addresses possible federal regulation of state and local public pension plans.
Date of Report: March 31, 2011
Number of Pages: 14
Order Number: R41736
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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