HB397 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Allen TreadawayRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Birmingham, retired public safety officers, authorize to rehire under certain conditions, continuation of retirement benefits, Sec. 45-37A-51.237 am'd.
Summary: HB397 lets Birmingham rehire retired public safety officers during shortages and keep their retirement benefits while they are employed, under strict rules.
What This Bill Does
Allows the City of Birmingham to rehire retired police officers and firefighters during times of critical personnel shortages. Rehired officers may continue to receive retirement benefits during the period of reemployment, but they do not earn additional retirement service credit. Limits reemployment to a total of 10 years, requires at least 45 consecutive days of retirement before rehire, and caps the number of rehired personnel at 10% of the city's police and firefighter forces. Requires that both the retiree and the city make the required retirement contributions during reemployment, and that the retiree’s contributions are not refundable at termination.

Who It Affects
Retired public safety officers (police and firefighters) in Birmingham who could be rehired and would receive retirement benefits during reemployment.
The City of Birmingham and its retirement system administrators, who must manage eligibility, ensure caps and ranks, coordinate contributions, and certify cost neutrality before implementation.

Key Provisions
Authorizes Birmingham to rehire retired public safety officers during critical personnel shortages and allow them to continue retirement benefits during reemployment.
Rehired officers must be retired for at least 45 consecutive days prior to reemployment and will not accrue additional retirement service credit during reemployment.
Total reemployment period is capped at 10 years; contributions for both employee and employer must be made during reemployment, with nonrefundable participant contributions.
Limits: rehired police must serve below sergeant rank and cannot be promoted above sergeant; rehired firefighters must serve below apparatus operator rank and cannot be promoted above that level; selection by police/fire chiefs under Personnel Board guidelines; hiring cannot exceed 10% of each respective force.
A actuarial study must be conducted to ensure the act is cost neutral to the city’s retirement system before implementation.
Effective date: becomes law after governor approval and only upon passage of HB___ amending Section 36-25-13.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Police Officers