BREAKING NEWS (4/6/2018)  Retired Correctional Officer will be added to the Maryland Public Safety Hometown Heroes Act. Beginning with tax year 2018, retired correctional officers who are 55 years old or older can subtract up to $15,000 of their public safety eligible pensions/retirement from their Maryland Taxable Income. This brings retired correctional officer equal to their other public safety (police, fire, and EMS) brothers and sisters for qualified Maryland income tax subtraction modification benefits. This legislation is past due and well deserved! The legislation now goes to Governor Hogan for signing and becomes law.

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My name is Douglas Ley, and I am one of the members from Cheshire County, District 9, representing the towns of Dublin, Harrisville, Jaffrey, and Roxbury.  I am also president of American Federation of Teachers-NH, and I have filed all the requisite paperwork with the Legislative Ethics office and intend to participate in the discussion of HB1415.   

As we know, NH Statutes currently authorize a death benefit of $100,000 for families of police officers and firefighters killed in the performance of their duties.  That is a good thing, and I am proud to have helped pass that legislation.  Today, we consider establishing a similar death benefit for the families of school employees killed in the line of duty, and on behalf of AFT-NH I am here to voice our support for this proposed statutory addition.

Kick the year off right by reading this month's SABEA Newsletter.

http://sabea.ny.aft.org/sites/default/files/article_pdf_files/2018-01/sabea_nwsltr_jan18_final.pdf

Happy Holidays.  Here is the December SABEA Newsletter.

http://sabea.ny.aft.org/sites/default/files/article_pdf_files/2018-01/sabea_nwsltr_dec17.pdf

Access field tested strategies and resources from AFT members throughout the country.

[Note: The entire written testimony is provided but actual testimony was abbreviated due to time constraints and to avoid duplicate testimony. Per President Ley, many school boards, school board members, superintendents and policy experts tore into the bill in great and meticulous detail. AFT-NH applauds their efforts.]

Let me begin by offering my thanks to the Committee Chair and to the Finance Committee for taking the time to hear my testimony. 

For the record:  Douglas Ley, representing District 9-Cheshire County, towns of Dublin, Harrisville, Jaffrey, & Roxbury. In addition, I am here as president of American Federation of Teachers-NH, and have filed the requisite paperwork with the Legislative Ethics Office.

Speaking on behalf of myself and the 4,000 members of AFT-NH, I come before you in opposition to SB193.  The written report provided to you focuses upon financial aspects of SB193 and places the proposed program into a broader national context by looking at its financial provisions as compared to those in other states with similar Education Savings Accounts (ESAs).  Please read the report by clicking the link Following the Wrong Path.

Here is the file of comments from our contract planning survey:

http://cccft.wa.aft.org/sites/default/files/article_pdf_files/2018-01/contractplanningsurveycomments.pdf

Welcome Back CUB-R Members! 
Meeting to be held
Friday, January 19, 2018
10:30 a.m.
2117 N Howard St.
Witness the Posting of Our Charter!

January 12, 2018

Bow, NH

The New Hampshire legislature is beginning to return to its accustomed rhythms and routines as both the House and the Senate met in session.  More important, committees began holding hearings on this year’s avalanche of proposed bills and these hearings will continue unabated for the next six or seven weeks.  It is in committees where the majority of the work of the Legislature is done, through listening to testimony, considering bills and amendments, and shaping recommendations for action on the floor of the House or the Senate.  If you have never done so and if you have the time, look at the House or Senate calendars, find a hearing that might be of interest, and consider attending to observe or even testify.  Testimony from members of the public is always welcomed, especially as it brings a perspective different from that of the usual lobbyists and fellow legislators.  You might even conclude that you too can be a citizen legislator—believe me, there are no prerequisites other than a willingness to put in a lot of time for virtually no pay.  But it can be satisfying and is certainly interesting.