House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes the establishment of a Back-Deferred Retirement Option Program (Back-DROP) within the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System (LASERS) specifically for certain judges. This program allows eligible judges—those who are set to have their judgeships abolished upon retirement, who voluntarily retire before their term ends, and who do not seek election to another judicial office—to participate in an optional retirement benefit program. The election to participate in Back-DROP is irrevocable, and the duration of participation is limited to the lesser of 36 months, the number of months of service credit accrued after becoming eligible for regular retirement, or the remaining months of the current elected term.

The bill outlines the calculation of benefits under the Back-DROP program, stipulating that employer and employee contributions during the Back-DROP period will remain with the retirement system and will not be refunded. The member's benefit accrual will be calculated based on specific conditions, including the exclusion of certain service credits and the requirement for additional employer contributions based on the selected Back-DROP period. Furthermore, judges who opt to retire under this program before July 1, 2027, will be allowed to do so regardless of their age or years of service, provided they meet the necessary criteria. The costs associated with this program will be funded through additional employer contributions as mandated by the state constitution.