Permits municipality, fire district or authority to approve transfer of certain firefighters from PERS to PFRS.

Bill A 3456 allows firefighters employed by municipalities, fire districts, or authorities (who were not eligible for the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) at hire due to age and are currently enrolled in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS)) to transfer to PFRS with their employer’s approval. To transfer, eligible firefighters must waive PERS benefits within 90 days of the bill’s effective date, and their accrued PERS service credit will transfer to PFRS. Firefighters may choose to pay for full credit toward PFRS benefits (like purchasing military service credit), or benefits will be split based on the ratio of PERS to total service credit. The bill ensures no additional state costs for local employers and maintains existing death/disability benefits under PFRS.