House Bill No. 34, introduced by Representatives Wiley, Brass, and Taylor, amends the eligibility criteria for retirement benefits within the Sheriffs' Pension and Relief Fund (SPRF). The bill enacts a new provision under R.S. 11:2178(C)(3)(c), allowing members whose first employment making them eligible for membership in the system began on or after January 1, 2012, to opt for an actuarially reduced retirement benefit. Specifically, if these members are over 50 years of age and have at least 30 years of creditable service, they may choose to receive the actuarial equivalent of the benefit they would have received had they reached age 55, instead of waiting for deferred retirement.

The proposed law retains existing provisions that allow members with 12 or more years of creditable service to defer retirement until they reach the minimum retirement age. It also maintains the option for members with 20 years of service to take an actuarially reduced benefit at age 60. The bill is set to take effect upon the governor's signature or after the expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature.