HB 597 - 25-Year Retirement for First Responders

• Allows law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel to retire with unreduced benefits after 25 years of creditable service, regardless of age, effective January 1, 2024.

• Establishes new retirement benefit formulas for eligible first responders retiring on or after January 1, 2024: 1.82% of average final compensation per year of service for Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System members and 1.85% for Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System members.

• Permits first responders who complete 25 years of creditable service but change employment to a non-first responder position to retain the right to commence retirement under the 25-year provision.

• Reduces the special separation allowance eligibility requirement from 30 years to 25 years of creditable service for law enforcement officers retiring on or after January 1, 2024.

• Applies to both state and local government first responders and includes provisions for survivor benefits when first responders with 15 years of service are killed in the line of duty.