Bill Calling for a Study of Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension Fund Signed by Governor

STATEHOUSE (March 23, 2018) – A bill authored by State Sen. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute) that urges the Legislative Council to study the 1977 Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension and Disability Fund was recently signed into law by Gov. Eric Holcomb.

Senate Enrolled Act 75 recommends the Interim Senate Study Committee on Pension Management Oversight study the following:

• Reducing the age at which an eligible police officer or firefighter may receive unreduced retirement benefits from 52 to 50.
• Increasing the amount a fund member would receive for each six months of active service over 20 years.
• Reducing the number of service years eligible for retirement benefits from 32 to 28 years.

“It’s important to study this topic in a committee because many police officers and firefighters are serving longer than they should in order to receive their full benefits,” Ford said. “We do not want those who devote their lives to the safety of our citizens and communities to risk their quality of life upon retirement because they are serving longer than they physically should. I look forward to the study of this issue and will continue to support legislation that ensures police and firefighters are receiving what they deserve when they retire.”

The 1977 Fund was established for eligible public safety officers and their survivors. The Fund pays pension, disability and survivor benefits.

SEA 75 will now be considered by the Interim Senate Study Committee on Pension Management Oversight, which oversees and studies all bills related to pension plans.

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Contact: Lauren Beatty, Press Secretary
lauren.beatty@iga.in.gov
317-234-9221