Bill > HB640

This bill revises the Firefighters' Unified Retirement System (FURS) to include airport authority public safety employees as eligible participants. Specifically, the bill adds a new definition for "public safety officer" as a person employed both as a full-paid firefighter and a sworn peace officer by an airport authority employer. The changes allow airport authorities with public safety officers who are currently covered by the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to elect to join the firefighters' retirement system. This election would follow a similar process to that used by rural fire districts, requiring the governing body to adopt a resolution specifying the effective date of joining the system. Existing employees would have 90 days to make a one-time, irrevocable choice to either remain in PERS or join FURS, while new employees hired after the election would automatically be covered by the firefighters' retirement system. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, providing airport authorities with a new option for managing their public safety employees' retirement benefits.

Budget and Finance, Government Affairs

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3722