THE 2002 legislative session was more successful for Council 2 than many in recent years.

The success was largely a result of the one-vote Democratic majority in the State House of Representatives following the November elections.

A number of bills were passed and signed into law that were either drawn up or promoted by Council 2.
Among the major victories:

• Bid limit bill
  
  This legislation allows employees in City Public Works to perform more work before the remainder is shipped to outside contractors. The current limits of $50,000 for first-class cities and $30,000 for second-class cities were increased by 40 percent to $70,000 and $45,000. The new limits become effective June 14.
  
  The new bill also contained a proviso to increase these new limits again in 2010 to $90,000 and $60,000.
• Retiree health-care coverage
  
  This measure provides access to health-care coverage for local government retirees.
  
  The legislation, signed into law on April 2, is a significant step forward. Up to now local government had no obligations to provide access to health benefits for employees who had spent a career in public service. Retirees had to go without coverage or face the high premiums the individual market offered.
  
  Gaining access was the first and most important step. Now it is up to each local government to design its own group plans. “As a result, we still have our work cut out for us to create the plans and propose the rates for each city and county jurisdiction,” says Pat Thompson, Council 2 Director of Legislation/Political Action.
  
  Most jurisdictions already have some system in place for retirees; those that do not will have to offer a plan. But there is no mandate on what the plan has to be and who pays for it. Such details will be the subject of negotiations between the union and the relevant city or county.