The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6953, mandates that all municipalities provide pension benefits to their police officers and firefighters. This requirement can be fulfilled through participation in the municipal employees' retirement system or any other retirement system that offers comparable or superior benefits. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and aims to ensure that first responders receive adequate retirement benefits.

The bill introduces new legal language that specifies the obligation of municipalities to provide these pension benefits, while there are no deletions from existing law noted in the text. The intent of the bill is to enhance the financial security of police officers and firefighters upon retirement, recognizing their service and the risks associated with their professions.