House Bill No. by Representative Hilferty amends and reenacts sections R.S. 11:3384 and 3386 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, which pertain to the retirement provisions for firefighters in the New Orleans Firefighters' Pension and Relief Fund. The bill establishes eligibility criteria for retirement benefits based on the date of employment, requiring a minimum of twelve years of service. Specifically, firefighters hired between December 31, 1967, and December 31, 2014, can retire at age fifty; those hired between January 1, 2015, and August 15, 2016, at age fifty-two; and those hired after August 15, 2016, at the full retirement age as defined by federal law, minus ten years. The bill also outlines accrual rates for retirement benefits, which vary based on the date of hire and years of service.

In addition to clarifying eligibility and accrual rates, the bill includes provisions for survivor benefits and contributions, as well as stipulations for members who withdraw from service prior to retirement. Notably, the language of the bill replaces "enters the employ of" with "begins employment with" throughout the text, ensuring consistency in terminology. The proposed changes aim to streamline the retirement process for firefighters and ensure that benefits are clearly defined and accessible.

Statutes affected:
HB31 Original: