The bill HB343 amends the General Retirement System for Employees of Jefferson County by revising eligibility criteria and membership requirements. It removes the previous stipulation that tied participation in the retirement plan to an employee's civil service classification with the Personnel Board of Jefferson County. Instead, it mandates that all eligible full-time employees hired on or after October 1, 2025, must become mandatory members of the retirement system and contribute to it, while part-time employees and those elected or appointed to full-time county offices will have the option to join. The bill also deletes language that included certain individuals affiliated with Jefferson County, clarifying that members of boards or commissions, temporary employees, independent contractors, and employees of educational or library boards are not eligible for participation.

Additionally, the bill introduces technical revisions to update definitions and provisions related to compensation and retirement benefits. It specifies that certain amounts, such as those earned but not paid due to timing issues, will not be included in the 415 compensation definition, while payments for back pay will only count if they represent qualifying wages. The bill also expands definitions related to the retirement system and introduces new classifications, such as "nonservice connected disability" and "unpaid membership time." Overall, HB343 aims to streamline the pension system's membership process and clarify the rules governing retirement benefits for Jefferson County employees.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45-37-123, 45-37-123
Enrolled: 45-37-123, 45-37-123