summary
Introduced
02/06/2026
02/06/2026
In Committee
02/19/2026
02/19/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 95 to define "city" and "firefighter"; provide that cities may employ retired firefighters provided the firefighter participated in the Firefighters Foundation Program Fund or retired pursuant to KRS Chapter 95, retired with at least 20 years of service credit with no administrative charges pending, and met the separation of employment requirements so that retirement benefits from the systems administered by the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA) were not voided; provide that retired firefighters employed by a city shall continue to receive the benefits they were eligible to receive upon retirement, but shall not accrue any additional retirement or health benefits during reemployment except that a city may authorize health coverage by taking legislative action; provide that retirement and any health contributions shall not be paid by the city to the KPPA on a retired firefighter who is reemployed under the Act; provide that individuals employed under the Act may be employed for a term not to exceed 1 year, which may be renewed at the discretion and need of the city; establish limits on the number of reemployed firefighters a city may hire under the program; make technical corrections; amend KRS 61.637, 61.702, 78.5536, and 78.5540 to conform.
AI Summary
This bill allows cities to re-employ retired firefighters under specific conditions, ensuring they continue to receive their retirement benefits without accruing new ones, except for potential health coverage authorized by the city's legislative body. To be eligible, a retired firefighter must have participated in the Firefighters Foundation Program Fund or retired under KRS Chapter 95, possess at least 20 years of service credit, have no pending administrative charges, and have met separation requirements to avoid voiding their retirement benefits from systems managed by the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority (KPPA). These re-employed firefighters can work for a term of up to one year, renewable at the city's discretion, and their numbers are limited based on the city's size. The bill also makes technical adjustments to related statutes concerning retirement and health benefits for re-employed individuals.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Tuesday, February 24 2026 (on 02/23/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/26RS/hb589.html |
| Local Mandate to House Committee Substitute 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb589/HCS1LM.pdf |
| Actuarial Analysis to House Committee Substitute 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb589/HCS1AA.pdf |
| Local Mandate Fiscal Impact for HCS1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb589/HCS1LM.pdf |
| House Committee Substitute 1 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/HB589/HCS1.pdf |
| BillText | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/bill/26RS/hb589/orig_bill.pdf |
| Local Mandate Fiscal Impact | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/recorddocuments/note/26RS/hb589/LM.pdf |
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