The bill amends the North Dakota Century Code to enhance the public employees retirement system, particularly for public safety personnel. It introduces new definitions for "correctional officer," "dispatcher," and "emergency medical services personnel," establishing that these individuals must work at least thirty-two hours per week and twenty weeks each year to qualify for benefits. Additionally, it specifies that individuals hired on or after the effective date of the Act cannot participate in any other retirement plan administered by the public employees retirement system. The bill also announces the closure of the defined benefit main plan to new eligible employees starting January 1, 2025, requiring them to enroll in a defined contribution retirement plan instead.

Moreover, the bill revises contribution rates for various employee categories, including national guard security officers, and updates eligibility criteria for prior service benefits, necessitating continuous employment for at least two years before retirement eligibility. It outlines the distribution of retirement account balances upon a member's death, detailing the hierarchy of beneficiaries and options for surviving spouses. The bill also allows for automatic refunds for members with less than three years of service or low account balances and grants the board authority to adopt rules for optional retirement benefits and accept rollovers for additional service credit purchases. Overall, these amendments aim to modernize and clarify retirement benefits for public safety employees in North Dakota.

Statutes affected:
INTRODUCED: 54-52-01, 54-52-02.1, 54-52-02.15, 54-52-06.3, 54-52-06.4, 54-52-17
Adopted by the Senate State and Local Government Committee: 54-52-01, 54-52-02.1, 54-52-02.15, 54-52-06.3, 54-52-06.4, 54-52-17
Enrollment: 54-52-01, 54-52-02.1, 54-52-02.15, 54-52-06.3, 54-52-06.4, 54-52-17