Identical to H 37, filed 2/3/25.
Part I
Increases the monthly pension benefit for eligible firefighters or rescue squad workers under GS 58-86-55 from $175 per month to $180 per month. Changes the pension eligibility for members serving 20 years and who are 55 and older to those who are eligible firefighters or eligible rescue squad workers in the State, as provided in GS Chapter 58, Article 86 (currently, eligibility extends to eligible firefighters and eligible rescue squad workers in the State as provided in GS 58-86-25 and G.S. 58-86-30, respectively). Makes technical and conforming changes.
Adds new GS 58-86-41 (concerning amount due for membership and payments credited to separate member accounts).  Reorganizes $15 monthly Fund membership fee requirement into this new statute along with requirement that such payments cannot exceed a period of twenty years. Further reorganizes the following into new GS 58-86-41: (1) the March 31 payment deadline for all monthly fees for the prior calendar year; (2) directives to the Fund prohibiting it from fully crediting service based on payments received after March 31 unless the payment is applied; and (3) requirement that the Fund credit the monthly payments to the member’s separate account and be retained by the custodian. Makes conforming deletions in GS 58-86-35 and GS 58-86-40. Makes organizational, clarifying, technical, and conforming changes. Directs the Revisor of Statutes to make conforming changes to GS 58-86-2 (definitions for Article 86) to account for new GS 58-86-41.
Effective January 1, 2026. Applies to pension benefit amounts payable from the Fund due to a member or beneficiary on or after January 1, 2026. Specifies that if a member or beneficiary becomes eligible to receive a pension benefit from the Fund on or before December 31, 2025, but the pension benefit amount is paid from the Fund on or after January 1, 2026, then the pension benefit amount due to the member or beneficiary will be the amount applicable to the pension benefit amount that was effective for each respective month to which the benefit applies.
Part II
Changes the composition of the NC Emergency Services Advisory Council (Council) under GS 143-510 so that its twenty-one specified members include a representative of the NC State Firefighters Association and only five members (was, six members) that represent the general public, credentialed and practicing EMS personnel, EMS educators, local public health officials, and other EMS interest groups in North Carolina (the “public, public health, and EMS appointees”). Makes technical changes. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to not appoint a successor to the public, public health, and EMS appointee member of the Council whose term expires on December 31, 2025, and to instead replace that member with a representative of the NC State Firefighters' Association to succeed them.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 143-510
Edition 1: 143-510