Retirees; may be employed full time in critical need or shortage positions with PERS employer and draw full benefits.

HB 946 allows retired members of Mississippi's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to work full-time in positions where their employer has a documented critical shortage of staff while still receiving their full retirement benefits. Employers must provide quantifiable evidence of the staffing shortage and verify the retiree's qualifications for the specific role before hiring. This amendment specifically overrides previous rules that limited retirees to part-time work or reduced benefits when reemployed. It directly affects retired state and local government workers in critical shortage roles who meet the employer's documented needs and qualifications. The policy change applies only to positions with verified shortages, excluding teaching roles already covered under separate provisions.