LAGERS is pleased to report the expansion of the system’s public safety option has been truly agreed to and finally passed in Senate Bill 655 and House Bill 1606. The bills now head to the Governor’s desk.
LAGERS public safety classification option allows employers the local option to classify their emergency telecommunicators, jailers, and EMS personnel, which are normally considered General employees in LAGERS, as “public safety” personnel. This enables these public safety employees to retire with full LAGERS benefits at age 55 rather than age 60. This years’ legislation makes the public safety election available to all employers, regardless of county class. The public safety option was previously only available to employers in third class counties.
LAGERS is pleased to see the final passage of both Senate Bill 655 and House Bill 1606 and believes this provision will continue to be a valuable tool help local government employers attract and retain the best employees to serve their communities. We are grateful to all of our partners who have worked diligently on this issue, and especially our bill handlers Representative Patricia Pike and Senator Sandy Crawford.
Should the Governor sign either bill, the expansion of the provision will take effect on August 28, 2022.
