The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend existing statutes to allow part-time municipal police officers, state highway patrol officers, and county sheriffs and deputies to participate in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) under specific conditions. Currently, only full-time employees are eligible for PSPRS benefits. The bill introduces new definitions and criteria for "credited service" to include compensated periods of part-time service, calculated on a pro-rata basis, for those who have made contributions to the PSPRS Fund. Additionally, it specifies that part-time employees must have at least five years of credited service before being hired in a part-time capacity and must work between 20 to 30 hours per week.

The bill also makes conforming changes to the definitions of "member" and "participant" within the PSPRS framework, ensuring that part-time employees who meet the outlined criteria are recognized as members of the system. It deletes outdated provisions regarding employees hired after July 1, 2017, who opted for a different retirement plan, thereby streamlining eligibility for part-time employees. Overall, the bill aims to enhance retirement benefits for part-time public safety personnel while maintaining the integrity of the PSPRS.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 38-842, 38-865, 38-865.01, 38-867.02, 38-846.01, 38-843, 38-844.01, 48-803, 48-804, 48-805.01, 28-8423, 28-8424, 28-8426, 9-951, 9-973, 9-911, 9-934, 38-848, 38-881, 38-842.01, 38-881.01, 38-843.04, 38-895.01