This 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 bill outlines 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 retained as an independent contractor by the same employer. The positions eligible for reemployment include various law enforcement and emergency service roles, such as municipal police officer, firefighter, and state police officer.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that while reemployed, the retired member's pension will continue, but they will not accrue service credit or become a member of the retirement system during this period. The bill also mandates that contributions be made by both the retired member and the employer, which will not be refundable upon termination of employment. Furthermore, the bill requires affiliated public employers to track and document the employment details of reemployed retired members and prioritize them for layoffs if necessary. Overall, this legislation aims to facilitate the return of experienced retired peace officers to the workforce while maintaining the integrity of the public employees' retirement system.

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