Bill > HB1559

This bill amends Mississippi law to include certain first responders in Tier 4 membership of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) if they become members on or after March 1, 2026. First responders are defined as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services providers. The bill modifies various sections of the PERS code to reflect this change, including definitions of terms like "average compensation" and "member," and adjustments to rules regarding creditable service, retirement allowances, additional benefits, death benefits, and contribution rates. Specifically, it ensures that first responders hired after March 1, 2026, will be subject to the Tier 4 provisions, which may include different retirement age and service credit requirements compared to other members. The bill also clarifies that first responders joining PERS on or after March 1, 2026, will not have service credit for unused leave, and it makes other technical amendments to ensure consistency with the new provisions.

Government Affairs

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/HB/HB1559.xml