HB276 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Allen TreadawayRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Law enforcement, authorizes state colleges to employ retired law enforcement officers without officers losing retirement allowance

Summary

HB276 would let certain retired Alabama law enforcement officers work as police at state colleges/universities without losing retirement pay (up to $52,000 a year), add rules for retired elected officials, set a sunset of 2026, and adjust related earning limits and compliance.

What This Bill Does

It expands post-retirement work for Employees' Retirement System retirees who were law enforcement officers to include police work at state colleges or universities (not just school resource officer or correctional roles) without suspending retirement benefits, up to $52,000 per year. It also introduces CPI-based increases to an earning limit for other ERS/TRS retirees who work in any capacity, starting with a $30,000 baseline in 2016. It allows retired elected officials to serve in public office without suspending retirement benefits, but not to collect both pension and salary, and not to accrue additional retirement benefits. The bill sets compliance rules (notice and certification) and includes a sunset to end these provisions after December 31, 2026, with an effective date of October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Retired Employees' Retirement System members who were law enforcement officers or state policemen and hold APOS&T certification; they could work as police officers at state colleges/universities or in related roles (SROs or correctional officers) without losing retirement benefits, up to $52,000 per year.
• Other ERS or Teachers' Retirement System retirees who work in any capacity for employers participating in those systems, subject to an earnings limit (starting at $30,000 in 2016 and CPI-based increases thereafter).
• State colleges, universities, and other employers required to monitor and report retirees' earnings and status under the new rules.
• Retired elected officials who take public office while retired, who may work without suspending retirement benefits but must not concurrently receive both pension and new salary or accrue additional retirement benefits.
• Correctional officers and school resource officers who are retirees may fall under expanded post-retirement roles for certain institutions.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 36-27-8.2 to allow ERS retirees who were law enforcement officers or state policemen to serve as a police officer at any state college or university without suspending retirement, with compensation not exceeding $52,000 per year.
• Also permits retirees to continue as school resource officers or correctional officers in related settings without suspension, under the same $52,000 cap.
• Imposes an earned-income limit for ERS/TRS retirees working in any capacity for participating employers, starting with $30,000 in calendar year 2016 and increasing annually by the CPI-based increase, rounded to the nearest $1,000; increases apply for subsequent years.
• Allows retired elected officials to serve in public office without suspension of retirement benefits, provided they do not accrue additional TRS/ERS benefits and do not receive both pension and salary, and that participation remains within the earning limits when applicable.
• Requires compliance steps: retirees must certify relevant information to the employer and the ERS, and provide written notice within 30 days if their employment plans change (full-time/permanent status or earnings exceed the limit).
• Sets a sunset: no individual may be employed under these provisions after December 31, 2026.
• Effective date of October 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

State & State Officers