State Patrol officers would retire at 60; eligible members could use DROP

The introduced text sets mandatory retirement at age 60 for officers covered by these retirement rules. The age applies to officers who qualify for retirement under the stated service rules, including officers with 10, 25, or 30 years of service. Officers may choose to retire earlier when they meet the stated age or service rules.

The introduced text describes a voluntary Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) for eligible members. A member must have joined before July 1, 2016, reached normal retirement age, and completed 25 years of service. Only members who joined before July 1, 2016, may participate; members who joined on or after that date are barred. Members choose an annuity option when they enter, and their benefit is fixed then, except for duty-related death or disability. Members bear account investment losses and fees, and the State Patrol does not make its usual fund payment during DROP. A member may leave DROP earlier, but must leave active employment by the end of five years.