Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation that would amend the Public Employee Pension Forfeiture Act of 1978 (Act 140). Currently, Act 140 requires a public employee’s or public official’s pension to be forfeited only when he or she is convicted of certain crimes related to public office or public employment. In addition to the crimes related to public office or public employment, my legislation would require pension forfeiture if a public official or public employee is convicted of any felony offense, crime of violence, or any of the restricted activities contained in the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act.
 
To my mind, the list of offenses, which currently trigger pension forfeiture, is too restrictive. For example, there was a case of a police officer who was charged with sexually assaulting three girls over a period of nine years. Act 140 does not currently address this type of case, and the officer is not in jeopardy of losing his pension. I believe that any public employee or official, who violates the public trust by committing a violent crime, or any crime graded as a felony, should forfeit their pension.

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