Labor & Employment (Retirement Benefits)

SB 1597 changes rules for retirees who return to work for their former local government employer. Generally, retirees who rejoin their original employer must forfeit part of their monthly retirement benefit for each month they work. However, it creates an exception for small cities (under 25,000 population): retirees there can keep full retirement benefits while working, provided the salary matches comparable positions and the city covers the retirement contributions instead of the retiree. The bill also clarifies that retirees working for a different employer can keep their full retirement allowance.