RETURN TO WORK FOR LIFEGUARDS

SB 165 amends New Mexico's Public Employees Retirement Act to allow certified lifeguards who have retired to return to work with public employers without permanently losing retirement benefits. The bill specifically permits lifeguards to resume employment after retirement, with their pension suspended during the reemployment period but automatically resuming upon termination. Lifeguards returning under this provision do not earn new retirement service credit during their reemployment. This change directly affects public-sector lifeguards who previously faced restrictions on returning to work after retirement under standard rules.