A bill to limit "double dippers" — government retirees who return to work and collect both a salary and pension — was watered down Wednesday evening at the urging of Albuquerque's police chief.

House Bill 616, sponsored by state Rep. Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe, would put serious restrictions on just about all return-to-work government workers, but the Senate Finance Committee agreed to make exceptions for police officers and firefighters after Varela said he spoke with Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz.

The bill, seen as a way to save money and boost morale among younger workers seeking advancement, would allow retired workers in cities to return to work for up to two years and rural retired workers for up to five years — with local or state government approval. Officials from less populated areas have said they have a harder time filling crucial jobs.

Under Wednesday's changes, cops and firefighters would be allowed to return for a total of four or five years — up from two years in the bill's earlier draft.

The bill next goes to the Senate floor, its final stop before heading to Gov. Bill Richardson's desk.

The change raised the ire of union lobbyist Carter Bundy, who said in the hallway after the vote that Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, stabbed him in the back.

Smith said lawmakers have received endless "pushback" from unions seeking exceptions to any double-dipping law. He lumped into that category correctional officers, who are represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

But AFSCME political director Carter Bundy said his group has sacrificed a lot in trying to get HB616 passed and hasn't sought exceptions for correctional officers beyond what the police and firefighters would get. Police and firefighters have their own unions.

"I don't think Chairman Smith realizes who's on his side on this," Bundy said.

He said Albuquerque "by far" has the most double dippers in the state, more than 400, and that Wednesday's amendment would allow more.

Bundy didn't buy the argument that this was a public safety issue. "With unemployment what it is, you can get people to fill those positions," he said, acknowledging law enforcement is tough work. He said if cops and firefighters are allowed more return-to-work time, he would seek the same for correctional officers.

Albuquerque police spokesman Nadine Hamby said the chief was unavailable for comment but that he had been in Santa Fe in recent days lobbying on law enforcement-related bills.

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez earlier this month called double dipping "a policy gone awry" but wanted to make exceptions for public safety workers.

Contact Doug Mattson at 986-3087 or dmattson@sfnewmexican.com.