The Regular Session of the 2003-2004 Connecticut General Assembly adjourned on May 5, 2004.  House Bill 5607, requested by the Teachers’ Retirement Board, failed to gain necessary legislative support and approval.

This proposed legislation sought to (1) provide progressive cost of living adjustments to retired teachers who retired prior to the enactment of the Education Enhancement Act, when teacher salaries were significantly lower than those of contemporary retirees and whose purchasing power has been eroded by the effects of inflation; (2) provide annual cost of living increases to survivors (spouses, minor children, guardians) in the same manner as to retired teachers and their beneficiaries. Under the current law, the benefits paid to survivors are fixed statutorily and are not subject to annual cost of living increases. This proposal would insure that survivors would receive the same cost of living increases as post 1992 retirees and eliminate the need to have remedial legislation enacted periodically to increase these benefits; (3) provide same sex domestic partners of retired teachers with the same opportunity to participate in health plans offered by the retired member’s local board of education or through the Teachers' Retirement System that is presently available to a retired member's spouse or surviving spouse.