I am re-introducing legislation from the last session that amends the Public School Employees’ Retirement System Act and the State Employees’ Retirement Code. It will permit retirees from the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) and the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) to return to service and work part-time as a state-certified emergency medical service, police or fire instructor without having their benefits stopped. This was Senate Bill 423, with amended language, from the 2023-24 session of the General Assembly.

I have been contacted by constituents who are SERS retirees. They desire to work part-time as a state-certified fire instructor. When they were active state employees, they were able to work at their full-time job and provide fire instruction at an Educational Training Agency (e.g., Harrisburg Area Community College, Bucks County Community College) or the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy. However, once retired they can no longer work part-time without having their pension benefits stopped. While the SERS Retirement Code provides limited exceptions (emergency hire, salaried member of independent board or commission, independent contractor) for when state retirees may return to work for a SERS-participating employer while continuing to receive their pension payments, these options are not really viable for a retired state employee who would like to work part-time as a state-certified fire instructor. I have similarly heard stories of those impacted who are PSERS retirees, desiring to work as part-time emergency medical service or police instructors.

There is a real need for emergency medical service, police and fire instructors across our Commonwealth. This legislation would help meet that need by allowing retired state employees who are state-certified emergency medical service, police or fire instructors to return to service part-time without having their pensions halted. The measure would prevent members returning to state service from joining another retirement system for which they’d be eligible to join based on their employment. I would also point out that this would not add to an individual’s current pension.

Co-sponsors of Senate Bill 423 were Senators Baker, Dush, Farry, Stefano and Yaw.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 844 (May 27, 2025): 24-8346(b.2), 24-1), 24-2)