TO ALLOW A PUBLIC TRANSIT AUTHORITY TO BECOME A PARTICIPATING PUBLIC EMPLOYER AND FOR ITS EMPLOYEES TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE ARKANSAS PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

HB 1268 allows public transit authorities in Arkansas to become official participants in the Arkansas Public Employees' Retirement System (APERS), enabling their employees to join this state retirement program. This bill directly affects employees of public transit authorities who previously might not have had access to APERS. The key provision expands retirement coverage to transit workers by treating transit authorities as eligible public employers under existing APERS rules. The bill passed as Act 450 on April 3, 2025.