Proposal blocks

certain pensions

MONTPELIER — A Vermont House committee is about to complete work on a proposal by Gov. Peter Shumlin to block public employees convicted of certain crimes from collecting their full pensions.

The House Government Operations Committee has been looking into the issue.

Shumlin made the proposal following revelations last year that a longtime Vermont State Police employee, Sgt. James Deeghan, had been padding his overtime reports.

Deeghan recently pleaded guilty and faces up to two years in prison and repayment of more than $200,000 from his pension over six years.

Pensions typically are based on a person’s last three years of income. The legislation would guard against pensions being paid out when that income was improperly inflated.