Bill > A2251

Introduced Session

This bill provides that a firefighter, employed on the effective date of the bill by a municipality, fire district or authority, who (1) was not eligible for membership in the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) at the time of appointment, (2) meets the PFRS definition of "fireman," and (3) is currently enrolled in the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), may transfer, subject to the approval of the municipal or other governing body, from PERS to PFRS, regardless of age. Current law provides that a person appointed as a firefighter after the age of 35 years is not eligible for PFRS membership. A municipality may not appoint as a firefighter a person over age 35, except that a municipal volunteer firefighter may be appointed to a paid position with that municipality after age 35 but before age 40. A fire district or authority may appoint firefighters without an age restriction. Persons with legal appointments as firefighters after age 35 are enrolled in PERS. Under the bill, a firefighter may receive full credit toward benefits under PFRS for the transferred PERS service credit upon the firefighter's payment of the full cost of the accrued liability associated with that transfer; otherwise, benefits will be apportioned between PERS and PFRS according to the ratios of PERS and PFRS service credit to the total amount of service credit. The bill provides that the State will not be liable for additional costs incurred by a local employer as a result of the transfers permitted by the bill.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Yvonne Lopez (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee (on 01/09/2024)

Official Document