Bill > S3088

Introduced Session

A law enacted in 1955 established the law enforcement officer (LEO) category as a special group of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). The members of the LEO group are eligible for enhanced retirement benefits not available to regular PERS members. Under current law, the category of individuals authorized to participate as LEO members is limited and is specifically defined in the law by the title of the eligible position. An individual who does not meet the age or medical requirements for entry into the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) as a result of employment in a title specifically named in that law is eligible to participate in the LEO category or as a regular member of the PERS. An individual employed in an eligible job title who meets the enrollment criteria is enrolled in the LEO category of PERS membership, unless the member specifically signs a waiver. A LEO-eligible individual who signs the waiver is enrolled as a non-law enforcement officer in the regular PERS retirement system; however, any member holding a LEO-eligible title is subject to the mandatory retirement provision of the current law. This bill provides that a county corrections officer, county corrections sergeant, county corrections lieutenant, county corrections captain, and an investigator in a county department of corrections, and an officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain of a county police department, and any permanent and fulltime firefighter employed by the State, a county, fire district, or a municipality, or agency thereof, who is enrolled in the PERS before or after the effective date of this bill will be enrolled in the law enforcement officer category of the PERS, unless the member signs a waiver of participation. Upon enrollment in the law enforcement officer category, these members will be eligible for the enhanced benefits provided to LEO group members.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Joe Cryan (D)*,  Patrick Diegnan (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee (on 10/29/2020)