This bill amends the Public Employees Retirement Act to include public safety telecommunicators as police members, thereby allowing them to participate in the retirement benefits associated with police member coverage plans. Specifically, it modifies the definitions within the act to recognize public safety telecommunicators as members eligible for retirement benefits, alongside traditional police officers. The bill introduces new legal language that defines public safety telecommunicators as members who are employed by an affiliated public employer and have taken the necessary oaths, thus ensuring they receive the same retirement benefits as other police members.

Additionally, the bill mandates that elections be held by the retirement board to allow current municipal and state police members to vote on the adoption of specific coverage plans that would include public safety telecommunicators. These elections are to be conducted by December 30, 2026, with results certified to the secretary of state by January 1, 2027. This provision aims to ensure that public safety telecommunicators are integrated into the retirement system in a manner that reflects their role and contributions to public safety.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 10-11-2