Councilmember Muriel Bowser, Chair of the Committee on Government Operations, has announced public hearings on proposed legislation to increase the maximum rate chargeable for Notary Public services as well as three bills related to retirement plans for District of Columbia Public School teachers, Metropolitan Police Department officers, and District firefighters. The public hearings will be held on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 beginning at 1:00 P.M., in Room 123, of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Bill 19-209 will be heard first. Afterwards, the three bills relating to retirement plans will be taken up together. Read summaries of the bills below:

• Bill 19-209: The Notary Public Fee Enhancement Amendment Act of 2011 would amend An Act to Establish a Code of Law for the District of Columbia to increase the maximum rate chargeable for Notary Public services.
• Bill  19-1017: The Retirement of Public-School Teachers Omnibus Amendment Act of 2012 would amend the Act for the Retirement of Public-School Teachers in the District of Columbia to comply with relevant tax qualification provisions of the Internal Revenue Code for governmental retirement plans.
• Bill 19-1018: The Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and Teachers Retirement Benefit Replacement Act of 1998 Amendment Act of 2012 would amend the Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and Teachers Retirement Benefit Replacement Act of 1998 to comply with relevant tax qualification provisions of the Internal Revenue Code for governmental retirement plans.
• Bill 19-1019: The Police and Firefighter’s Retirement and Disability Omnibus Act of 2012 would amend the Policemen and Firefighter’s Retirement and Disability Act to permit rollovers  to Roth IRAs as well as nontaxable distributions to be directly rolled over tax-free to another  qualified plan or a 403(b) plan. The Bill would also limit benefits and contributions as required  under the tax code and require the employer to pick-up pre-tax employee contributions.

Individuals and representatives of organizations who wish to testify at the public hearing are are asked to  contact Kate Kountzman, Legislative  Counsel to the Committee on Government Operations, at (202) 724-4902, or via e-mail at [email protected], and furnish his or her name, address, telephone number, and organizational affiliation, if any, by the close of business Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Persons presenting testimony may be limited to 3 minutes in order to permit each witness an opportunity to be heard.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record. Copies of written statements should be submitted to the Committee on Government Operations, Council of the District of Columbia, Suite 113 of the John A. Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004.

This notice has been abbreviated to give the public timely notice of the public hearing.