The bill amends the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System by updating definitions and enhancing benefits for firefighters. Notably, it redefines "member" to explicitly include fire chiefs who meet certain eligibility criteria while excluding leased employees from membership. The calculation of retirement benefits is revised to introduce a tiered system for members who joined on or after November 1, 2013, with varying percentages based on years of credited service and retirement timing. The bill also ensures that the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement Board can retire firefighters who become disabled in the line of duty, aligning pension calculations with the new benefit structure. An emergency clause is included, allowing for immediate implementation upon passage.

Additionally, the bill addresses disability pensions, allowing firefighters with over twenty years of credited service to receive a disability pension for up to thirty years. It specifies that if a firefighter's disability ends within two years of retirement, they may return to active duty at their previous salary, provided they can perform their duties. The bill clarifies that no additional service time will accrue during the receipt of a disability pension and permits the election to waive all or part of monthly benefits. It also modifies the definition of a retirement bill and allows for the direct payment of health insurance premiums from disability benefits. References to the "Oklahoma State" Senate and House of Representatives are replaced with "the respective" legislative bodies, and effective dates for various sections are set for July 1, 2026, and June 1, 2026, with an emergency clause for immediate enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 62-3103