Posted: | January 23, 2020 10:42 AM |
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From: | Senator Patrick J. Stefano |
To: | All Senate members |
Subject: | Military Service Credit for PSP Members under Act 5 |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation to clarify the language in Act 5 of 2017 regarding the treatment by the State Employees Retirement System (SERS) of military service credit for State Troopers. Following the passage of Act 120 in 2010, the Retirement Code was amended to reflect the provisions of the 1989 DiLauro Award, which provided for the superannuation retirement for members of the Pennsylvania State Police. Under Act 5, the only “service” that would count toward DiLauro requirements was “service” rendered as a state police officer. Non-intervening military time is available as a “credit” as it is not considered “service” for the purposes of the Retirement Code. According to SERS, the language of Act 5 needs to be clarified to distinguish between “credit” for non-intervening military time and “service” so that it does not prohibit DiLauro credit for non-intervening military time. Without this clarification, Pennsylvania is at a competitive disadvantage in regards to recruitment efforts for new state police officers when compared to other states. This legislation would provide that clarity, and would allow for state police officers who become an officer between January 1, 2019 and the effective date of the bill, ninety days to make an election as to how they wish to have their purchased non-intervening military service credited to their SERS account. According to the Independent Fiscal Office, in consultation with SERS, this would impact approximately 100 individuals which represent the two cadet classes of 2019. I sincerely hope that you will consider joining me in co-sponsoring this legislation. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Jake Gery in my office at jgery@pasen.gov. |
Introduced as SB997