Bill S.295, introduced by Senator Vyhovsky, proposes various amendments to the Group membership within the State Employees Retirement System in Vermont. Key changes include the redefinition of "Employee" to clarify eligibility for retirement benefits, specifically including certain positions within the Vermont Historical Society and the Department of Public Safety, while excluding members of the General Assembly and those covered by the Vermont Teachers Retirement System. The bill also introduces a new Group G membership category, which encompasses specific employees in law enforcement and corrections, as well as additional roles in the Department for Children and Families and the Division of Fire Safety, with provisions for irrevocable elections to join this group.

Further amendments address the accidental and occupationally related disability retirement process, changing language to refer to "the members" instead of "his or her," and adjusting the criteria for retirement allowances. Notably, the bill establishes a new section allowing Group F members to elect to remain in their group when taking positions that would otherwise place them in Group G. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 3-455, 3-461, 3-16