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Equable OriginalGeorgia teachers’, public safety officers’, and public workers’ pension benefits are entitled to certain protections under state law and affirmed by court rulings. At the same time, the state does have some legal precedent that allows them to change particular aspects of retirement benefits.
In other words, Georgia pension laws allow parts of public pension benefits to be changed by future state laws, but only certain parts of those benefits.
Equable Institute partnered with Columbia Law School’s Center for Public Research and Leadership to create infographics that map states’ pension governance. Understanding the legal environment for pension policies can be confusing for both lawmakers and public workers, but illuminating legally permissible policy pathways to improve funding sustainability and ensure adequate retirement income security for states’ workforces is essential.
Understanding Georgia Pension Laws
In the case of Georgia, state law allows the legislature to increase employee contributions. In 2011, the city of Atlanta did just that, and some public workers sued the state in an effort to have that part of the law overturned. The court, though, ruled the decision to increase contribution rates did not alter constitutionally-protected pension benefits. The Georgia Legislature in 2014 also increased contribution rates for many employees.
The legal environment is favorable for this shift – meaning that state law and legal precedent allows for changes to this aspect of pension policy.
Although there has been a change in benefit calculations, it’s unclear if there’s a legal environment for future changes for active workers and retirees unless’ there’s statutory language allowing the change.
What’s unclear is whether Georgia can decrease workers’ cost-of-living adjustments or change their vesting periods, because neither of those issues have been brought to court and there is no existing law explicitly prohibiting these changes.
It is important to note that current retirees’ benefits have greater legal protection than those of active employees. Apart from reduced or eliminated COLAs, current retirees’ benefits cannot be taken away or reduced under Georgia Pension law.
Disclaimer: The information here doesn’t constitute legal advice or representation. Equable is not necessarily recommending any of the policies discussed in the infographic. Some may not work for certain states, others may not be desirable policy. Ultimately, any pension policy change should honor promises made to public workers and put them on a path to retirement security, while ensuring sustainable funding measures.
