HB66 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe LovvornRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Retirement Systems of Alabama; to amend Section 36-27-59, Code of Alabama 1975, to remove the time limit for purchasing hazardous duty time for prior eligible service for certain firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers covered under the Employees' Retirement System or the Teachers' Retirement System as Tier I plan members.

Summary

HB66 removes the time limit for purchasing hazardous-duty time for prior eligible service for Tier I firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers in the Employees' Retirement System or Teachers' Retirement System.

What This Bill Does

The bill eliminates the deadline to purchase prior hazardous-duty service credit. Eligible Tier I members can receive credit for prior hazardous-duty service by paying 1% of their current (or previous year’s) earnable compensation for each year of credit, with purchases allowed in five-year increments (or in full if less than five years). Certification of each year of claimed service must be provided by the member’s employing agency. The changes apply to members in both the Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System and take effect on the law’s effective date.

Who It Affects

• Tier I firefighters, law enforcement officers, and correctional officers covered under the Employees' Retirement System or Teachers' Retirement System who want to purchase prior hazardous-duty service credit (no deadline).
• Employing agencies (state and local fire departments, police departments, sheriff offices, and correctional facilities) that must certify years of claimed service and support the required contributions/payments.

Key Provisions

• Amendment to Section 36-27-59 to remove the time limit for purchasing hazardous-duty time for prior eligible service for Tier I members.
• Purchase rate remains 1% of earnable compensation for each year of claimed credit, payable by the member (within current system rules).
• Purchases may be made in increments of five years (or in full if fewer than five years).
• Certification of each year of claimed service by each employing agency is required on prescribed forms.
• Applies to Tier I members in the Employees' Retirement System and Teachers' Retirement System; not applicable to Tier II.
• Effective date: first day of the third month following passage, i.e., July 1, 2023.

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