State Employee Benefit Bill A 'Work In Progress'

Rep. Ron Peterson, author of a bill involving the state employee benefit allowance, stressed today that the bill is still a work in progress as lawmakers look for ways to replace the lost allowance with other compensation.

“We are working with the Oklahoma Public Employees Association to ensure that any money taken out of the benefit allowance is replaced with other compensation,” said Peterson, R-Broken Arrow. “We don’t want to short our state employees, but the formula is unsustainable in its current form.”

Sterling Zearley, executive director of the association, said he appreciates Peterson’s willingness to work with state employees to ensure they are not out any salary with this proposed change.

“The issue is complex and is going to require some time for us to be able to come up with a comprehensive reform package that will include long-term market compensation in addition to any health care allowance change,” said Zearley.

The bill will now go to the House floor for consideration.

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