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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref to the Com on Pensions and Retirement, if favorable, Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House2025-04-07

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill allows certain law enforcement officers in North Carolina to receive retirement benefits while continuing to work. State and local law enforcement officers age 59.5 or older can elect to start receiving retirement payments while still employed, and retired officers can return to work and continue receiving their retirement benefits. The bill includes funding of $10 million per year and expires December 31, 2029.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill helps address law enforcement recruitment and retention by allowing experienced officers to continue working while receiving retirement benefits, creating financial incentives to stay on the job.
• •It also provides flexibility for retired officers who want to return to public safety work without losing their earned retirement benefits, potentially solving staffing shortages in police and sheriff departments across North Carolina.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may be concerned about the fiscal cost to state and local governments, as employers must now contribute both retirement system payments and employee contribution amounts for officers receiving benefits while working.
• •Critics might also question whether allowing officers to double-dip (earning both salary and retirement pay) is fiscally sustainable long-term, particularly since the bill's provisions expire in 2029, creating uncertainty about future policy.