HB 615 Summary

• Adds pilots and registered nurses employed by local governments to the Special Risk Class of the Florida Retirement System effective July 1, 2018, if they perform primary duties on air ambulance services licensed under Florida law.

• Allows special risk members who suffer qualifying injuries (physical loss or loss of use of at least two limbs) to transition to a new position within their agency while maintaining special risk membership status.

• Defines "qualifying injury" as a line-of-duty injury that does not result in total and permanent disability but causes significant physical impairment affecting the member's ability to perform essential job functions.

• Specifies that the new position for injured members does not need to have special risk job functions, and employers retain sole discretion on position availability under their hiring practices and applicable law.

• Provides that this provision does not create additional employment rights beyond those already granted by state law, the State Constitution, the Americans with Disabilities Act, or federal law.