SB312 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Employees' Retirement System, retirement benefits for Tier II plan members modified to provide 30-year service retirement, conversion of sick leave, and hazardous duty time for firefighters, law enforcement, and correctional officers, contribution rate increased, Secs. 36-26-36.1, 36-27-16, 36-27-24, 36-27-59 am'd.

Summary

SB312 would add a 30-year service retirement option for Tier II members, adjust sick leave credit and hazardous-duty provisions for public-safety workers, and raise Tier II member contributions.

What This Bill Does

It would allow Tier II plan members to retire after 30 years of creditable service with a retirement calculation based on a percentage of average final compensation, capped at 80% (with higher rates for state policemen). It would also grant hazardous-duty time to certain public-safety workers if they pay the required additional contributions, and it would increase Tier II member contribution rates over time (with higher rates for those in specific hazardous roles). Additionally, the bill contemplates sick-leave credit for service retirement, but the conversion provision explicitly does not apply to Tier II members. The changes would become effective promptly after passage and approval.

Who It Affects

• Tier II plan members of the Employees' Retirement System (general and public-safety-related) who would be eligible for a 30-year service retirement and would face higher contribution rates.
• Tier II members in certain public-safety roles (firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers) who would pay higher employee contributions (6.75% baseline, with 8% for those in hazardous roles).
• Tier I plan members who are firefighters, law enforcement officers, or correctional officers may benefit from hazardous-duty time credits (subject to paying the required additional contributions).
• Employers who administer and withhold contributions for Members would need to implement the increased contribution rates for Tier II members.

Key Provisions

• Adds a 30-year service retirement option for Tier II plan members and outlines a retirement calculation based on a percentage of average final compensation times years of creditable service, capped at 80% for non-police Tier II members and with higher rates for state policemen.
• Provides hazardous-duty time for eligible firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers (Tier I plan members), awarding one hazardous-duty year for every five years of service, contingent on paying the required additional contributions.
• Increases Tier II member contributions over time: 6% of earnable compensation (existing baseline), rising to 6.75% for pay periods starting after Oct 1, 2020, with 8% applying to Tier II members in certain hazardous roles; employers may adopt additional increases as permitted.
• Clarifies sick-leave credit mechanisms: allows conversion of unused sick leave to creditable service for some members, but the conversion provision does not apply to Tier II plan members.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Employees' Retirement System