Posted: | January 11, 2021 03:02 PM |
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From: | Representative Mark M. Gillen |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Inclusion of Ft. Indiantown Gap Installation Police Officers under the definition of Enforcement Officer |
In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that seeks to amend the definition of “enforcement officer” in the State Employees Retirement Code to include PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Indiantown Gap Installation Police Officers. Currently, newly hired Installation Police Officers are classified as Class A-5 “exempt employees” under Chapter 51 of the State Employees' Retirement Code, Title 71. The change was approved on June 12, 2017, under Act 5 (Pension Reform). The change made law enforcement positions exempt from the Defined Contribution & Hybrid Plans. As a result, employees in those positions automatically enter the Defined Benefit Pension Plan. Due to the physically demanding and dangerous nature of their work, individuals included in the definition of enforcement officer attain their superannuation age (full retirement age) earlier than most other Commonwealth employees (age 50/55). For example, the current definition includes special agents and narcotic agents of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General and parole agents employed by the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole. In 1997, with the passage of Act 41 of 1997, waterways conservation officers employed by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission were added to the definition. A subsequent effort to add Game Commission officers to the definition was accomplished through Act 52 of 2019. Such a reduction in retirement age would affect the nineteen sworn police positions currently employed at Fort Indiantown Gap. Please consider joining me in sponsoring this very important legislation affecting our law enforcement officers at Fort Indiantown Gap. |
Introduced as HB1875