School police departments could join Indiana's 1977 pension fund

A school or charter school with its own police department could choose to join the 1977 pension fund. This covers officers employed by a participating school or charter school police department. A school may keep an officer already on staff in the public employees' retirement fund instead. An officer entering despite the usual age limit must meet the required fitness, mental, and minimum standards. The bill names July 1, 2026, as its effective date. The rule for officers already on staff applies when their school joins.

School and charter school leaders could choose a local pension board for their police departments. One board may serve police departments from more than one school or charter school. Leaders could choose a listed existing board or set up a trustee board. A trustee board generally has seven to nine members, but may have three if there are too few school police members to fill a board of at least five. The bill names July 1, 2026, as this section's effective date.

Hiring officials would waive an age limit for eligible school resource officer applicants. The waiver covers veteran applicants no older than 40 years and six months. Applicants must have completed at least 20 years of military service, have received or qualify for a discharge outside the listed exclusions, and meet all other hiring requirements, including physical standards. A person who qualifies for the waiver could join the 1977 pension fund. The bill names July 1, 2026, as the waiver's effective date.

Schools and charter schools would make an agreement with a local law enforcement agency for pension reports and payments. This covers schools and charter schools employing school resource officers under these pension rules. The agreement must support reporting and payment duties for the 1977 pension fund. Officers employed by a school's own police department are excluded from the school resource officer definition used here. The bill names July 1, 2026, as the effective date for these provisions.