House Bill No. 2348 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 whose judgeships are set to be abolished upon their 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 participation in Back-DROP is irrevocable and can last for a maximum of 36 months or until the end of the judge's current term, whichever is shorter. During this period, contributions made by both the employer and employee will remain with the retirement system and will not be refunded.

Additionally, the bill outlines the calculation of benefits for judges who opt for Back-DROP, specifying that their accrued service will be reduced by the duration of the Back-DROP period. It also mandates that additional employer contributions will be required based on the selected Back-DROP months. Furthermore, judges who choose 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 do not seek another judicial position. The costs associated with this program will be funded through additional employer contributions, ensuring compliance with existing constitutional provisions.