New Train

Or at least a greatly revised web site. The first in a series of changes to the PERS web site went live today. Many of the changes are the result of input from a focus group PERS selected (yours truly is included). If you haven't been to the PERS website in awhile, you should find the new site much easier to navigate and important information more prominently displayed. I'm not much of a style maven, but the color scheme seems a bit garish to me. But that's my opinion and I have no room to quibble, especially after the color choices I've made in putting together blogs and websites.

In other news, a PERS-sponsored bill to eliminate the "Break In Service" statute enacted in 2003 has gotten its first hearing. This statute has created more havoc, more unintended consequences, and more headaches for PERS and for many employers and employees than anyone imagined when HB 3020 (formerly 2020) passed in 2003. The City of Portland has blessed PERS' efforts to eliminate the rule, as has the PERS Coalition. Our friendly Oregon School Boards Association is opposed to eliminating the rule, in part no doubt because they were instrumental in drafting it during 2003. Hopefully this statute is headed for the dustbin of history.