The bill amends Section 36-27-59 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to allow certain emergency medical services personnel to purchase hazardous duty time in the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama, similar to the provisions already available for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers. The new legal language defines "emergency medical services personnel" as full-time individuals employed by a local unit of the Employees' Retirement System and certified by the State Board of Health. Additionally, the bill specifies that these personnel will contribute either six percent or eight and one-half percent of their earnable compensation to the retirement system, depending on whether their employer has opted to increase employee contributions.

The bill also includes several deletions and modifications to existing language, such as the removal of specific percentages for contributions that were previously set at six percent, eight and one-quarter percent, and eight and one-half percent for firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers. The effective date for the new provisions is set for October 1, 2024. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that the designation of the Commissioner of Corrections and deputy commissioner of corrections as correctional officers or law enforcement officers will be applied retroactively to March 1, 2022.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-27-59
Engrossed: 36-27-59
Enrolled: 36-27-59