Law enforcement officers and firefighters; certain shall receive one additional year of creditable services in PERS for every 5 years of service.

HB 963 provides retirement benefits for Mississippi law enforcement officers and firefighters who joined the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) on or after July 1, 2011, and have at least four years of service. It grants these members one additional year of retirement credit for every five years of service (at no cost to them), accelerating their eligibility for full retirement benefits. The bill also allows retired PERS members in these roles to work full-time for departments facing critical staffing shortages while still receiving their full retirement pay and salary. These changes directly affect current and future first responders in Mississippi’s state and local public safety agencies.