MS HB1253

Creates new provisions in Mississippi Code allowing courts to terminate membership and forfeit retirement benefits for members of three retirement systems (Public Employees' Retirement System, Supplemental Legislative Retirement Plan, and Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System) convicted of felonies involving $50,000 or more in public funds committed on or after July 1, 2022.

Requires separate civil proceedings where courts determine if conviction conditions are met, with notice provided to the member and beneficiaries; termination does not occur until all appeals are exhausted or appeal time expires, as determined by the Attorney General.

Terminated members receive refunds of their accumulated contributions without interest within 90 days, lose all retirement benefits and creditable service, and cannot repurchase service credit; however, they may rejoin and earn benefits if rehired or reelected.

Specifies that members belonging to multiple retirement systems are terminated only from the system covering their employment at the time of the crime, and clarifies that forfeiture is not an "attachment" for purposes of benefit protection laws.

Effective July 1, 2022, with conforming amendments to existing statutes governing membership termination, retirement allowances, refunds, and benefit protections across all three systems.