UNIFORM OFFICER SERVICE CREDIT

SB 402 allows New Mexico public employees who served in the U.S. military to purchase retirement credit for that service. To qualify, they must pay a cost based on their salary and contribution rates, meet minimum service requirements, and cannot purchase more than five years of credit total. The bill also includes specific provisions for civilian prisoners of war and employees from certain organizations (like utilities or libraries) that later become public employers. It aims to help these workers count military or related service toward their pension benefits under the Public Employees Retirement Act.