Retirement Systems of Alabama, full retirement benefits for first responders permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty provided without regard to Tier or number of years of creditable service

HB 186 changes Alabama's retirement rules for first responders (firefighters and law enforcement officers) permanently disabled in the line of duty. It eliminates the current requirement that these individuals must meet specific service years or Tier status to receive full retirement benefits. Under this bill, eligible first responders would automatically qualify for full benefits regardless of their years of service or retirement Tier. The change applies retroactively to January 1, 2023, meaning affected individuals may receive back payments for the period since that date. This directly impacts disabled public safety workers who sustained service-related injuries.