Bill > H0519

This bill amends the Vermont State Employees' Retirement System to expand eligibility for "Group G membership," which refers to a specific category of state employees with distinct retirement benefits. The changes primarily involve including certain municipal law enforcement officers in Group G, alongside existing provisions for Department of Corrections facility employees, employees of youth justice facilities, and Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital employees. The bill updates the definitions of "Group G member" and "normal retirement date" to incorporate these new categories of employees, specifying different retirement age and service credit requirements based on when they first joined the system and their specific roles. It also adjusts the calculation of retirement allowances for certain Group G members and clarifies that elected municipal employees and sheriffs, along with qualifying deputy sheriffs, are considered Group G members. A new section outlines a one-time, irrevocable election process for eligible municipal law enforcement officers to join Group G, with specific deadlines and requirements for certification and employment, and sets an effective date of July 1, 2026.