HARRISBURG - A bill to prevent state government retirees who return to work for short periods of time from eventually collecting unemployment benefits could face a Senate vote this week, chamber officials say.

House lawmakers approved the measure last spring aimed at state "annuitants" - retired state employees called back to work for an agency on an emergency basis. Annuitants are allowed to work up to 95 days a year, and can't collect pension payments during that period.

But annuitants have collected unemployment benefits even though they voluntarily left the job before the 95-day limit to maintain their pension eligibility.

The bill sponsor, Rep. Adam Harris, R-82, Mifflintown, calls this a "triple-dip."

"My legislation will prevent retirees from collecting money from three separate pots," he said. "Unemployment compensation is not meant to merely fund a person who has a separation of employment, but is there as a safety net for people who are searching for a job and without other means of self-support."

Mr. Harris' bill would apply to any retiree who voluntarily leaves employment in the public or private sector for the purpose of maintaining eligibility for retirement benefits.

Enactment of this legislation would save state taxpayers about $925,000 annually, according to a Senate Appropriations Committee fiscal analysis.

The state paid a total of $712,000 in unemployment benefits to 179 annuitants in 2012, $1.1 million to 239 annuitants in 2011 and $942,000 to 220 annuitants in 2010, according to the analysis. Local governments will realize savings, too, if they have annuitants facing the same situation.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com