HB317 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Phillip PettusRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to county and municipal law enforcement officers; to amend Section 36-27-58.1, Code of Alabama 1975, to require a county or municipality using the services of a county or municipal law enforcement officer or firefighter to purchase a certain amount of service credit in the retirement system on behalf of the county or municipal law enforcement officer or firefighter under certain circumstances; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Summary

HB317 would require counties and municipalities to purchase retirement service credits for law enforcement officers and firefighters injured on duty and off work on workers’ compensation, with local funding and specific conditions.

What This Bill Does

Extends current law to let counties and municipalities fund up to two years of retirement service credit for officers and firefighters who are off work due to a work-related injury and on workers’ compensation. The employing locality must purchase the eligible service credit for the employee for the period of absence, with the employee paying the actuarially determined cost within two years after the disability ends and the employee returning to work within one year. It also clarifies this would be a new or increased local expenditure under the state constitution, triggering a requirement for a 2/3 vote, local approval, or legislative appropriation for it to take effect. The act would become effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s approval.

Who It Affects

• Counties and municipalities that employ a law enforcement officer or firefighter would incur the cost to purchase the eligible retirement service credit for the affected employee.
• Law enforcement officers and firefighters who are injured on duty and receive workers’ compensation would become eligible to have up to two years of retirement service credit purchased for the period they were absent, provided they return to work within one year after workers’ compensation ends.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 36-27-58.1 to allow active and contributing members of the Employees' Retirement System of Alabama or Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama to purchase up to two years of service credit for time receiving workers' compensation due to a work-related injury, with a requirement to return to work within one year after benefits end and with administration rules to verify service.
• Requires counties or municipalities employing such officers or firefighters to purchase the applicable service credit on behalf of the employee, with the employee paying the actuarially determined cost within two years after the disability period ends.
• Defines 'law enforcement officer' and 'firefighter' as those terms defined in 36-27-59 and ties the process to the same credit rules across the appropriate retirement systems.
• Provides that the bill constitutes a new or increased expenditure of local funds under Section 111.05 of the Alabama Constitution, requiring a 2/3 vote, local entity approval, or legislative appropriation for it to take effect; otherwise it may not become effective.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after the bill's passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.