The bill amends Section 10-11-8 NMSA 1978 to expand the definition of "peace officer" to include retired members who are employed by the state and possess peace officer powers, allowing them to return to work under specific conditions. The new provisions stipulate that retired members can be subsequently employed by an affiliated public employer after a minimum of ninety consecutive days from their retirement date, provided they have not been employed or contracted by the same employer from which they retired. The bill outlines various positions eligible for reemployment, including adult correctional officers, municipal police officers, and state police officers, among others.

Additionally, the bill specifies that during the period of subsequent employment, the retired member's pension will continue to be paid, but they will not accrue service credit or become a member of the retirement system. The affiliated public employer is required to track and document the employment details of reemployed retired members and must prioritize laying off these members before any active employees in case of budgetary restrictions. The bill aims to address staffing shortages in critical public safety roles while ensuring that retired members can return to work without losing their retirement benefits.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 10-11-8
Final Version: 10-11-8