Is Public Employees Retirement System battle looming?

BISMARCK — Majority leaders in the North Dakota House and Senate say they're working to avoid a battle that prolonged the Legislature's work two years ago.

Disagreements over the Public Employees Retirement System budget forced lawmakers to reconvene in June 2015 after adjourning more than a month prior.

This session, House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, has proposed several PERS-related changes, including amending its governance structure, calling for the state to self-fund its health insurance plan and limiting the contract period to two years. But the Senate amended the PERS budget bill Tuesday, March 21, removing the governance changes and proposing a study of the ideas Carlson has put forward.

Carlson said the two chambers were seeking to work out their differences, but added the self-funded insurance plan is his most important proposal.

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