Pension plans would cover eligible probation officers and telecommunicators

The proposal describes separate pension plans for eligible probation officers and public safety telecommunicators. The local plan covers qualifying county, community corrections, or state probation workers and public safety call workers employed by a public safety answering point. A separate state plan covers specified state probation workers and telecommunicators. Some workers age 60 or older with at least three years in the general plan on January 1, 2027, are excluded from the state subplan. The local government plan requires employee contributions of 8.82 percent of salary and employer contributions of 7.5 percent. A temporary provision lowers its employee rate to 8 percent through August 31, 2028. A separate state employee subplan requires additional contributions; its employee rate is temporarily reduced from 2.71 percent to 2 percent through August 31, 2028. The plans and related provisions are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027. Temporary employee contribution reductions end after August 31, 2028.

Covered employers would enroll workers in Minnesota Secure Choice and begin payroll deductions. These provisions cover workers and employers covered by the program, along with certain other people the board allows to participate. Workers may choose not to contribute, change their contribution rate, or stop contributing. Unless the board or worker sets another rate, contributions rise from 5 percent to 8 percent over four years. The board must send workers a notice within seven days after enrollment, including information about opting out and investment risks. These provisions are scheduled to take effect the day after final enactment.

Firefighters returning to active service may qualify for relief association pension benefits based on their service. These provisions cover firefighters returning after a break in service, whether or not they previously received a pension or disability benefit. The firefighter must return to the department connected to the relief association, and its bylaws must allow the return. A firefighter who received a pension or disability benefit must wait at least 60 days before returning. The bylaws may set a minimum period of resumed service. No firefighter may receive a pension more than once for the same service. These provisions are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027.