Senate Bill 379 Summary

• Clarifies and modernizes creditable service purchase provisions for North Carolina's state retirement systems (Teachers' and State Employees', Local Governmental Employees', Consolidated Judicial, and Legislative Retirement Systems), with different deadlines for pre-January 1, 2022 versus post-January 1, 2022 purchases.

• Extends service purchase options to include out-of-state government employment, federal employment, part-time service, probationary employment, temporary employment, parental/medical leave, and other previously uncreditable service, with full actuarial cost calculations.

• Modifies contribution repayment provisions for members who previously withdrew contributions, allowing restoration of service credits upon return to employment with five years of service completion.

• Authorizes the Legislative Services Commission to obtain criminal record checks for prospective employees, volunteers, and contractors of the General Assembly, and authorizes the Department of State Treasurer to conduct similar criminal background checks.

• Makes technical administrative changes including adjusting sick leave crediting timelines (from five years to 365 days for Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System), extending LEIA funding deadlines to November 1, 2026, and clarifying employer contribution payment procedures.