News Releases

Ford: Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension Fund Bill Passes Committee

STATEHOUSE (Jan. 17, 2018) – A bill authored by State Sen. Jon Ford (R-Terre Haute) that would reduce the age from 52 to 50 at which a member of the 1977 Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension and Disability Fund is eligible to receive full retirement benefits passed out of the Senate Committee on Pensions and Labor by a vote of 8-0.

Senate Bill 75, authored by Ford, would increase the amount a Fund member would receive for each six months of active service over 20 years. It would also reduce the maximum number of service years that may be used to compute a retirement benefit for a 1977 Fund member from 32 years to 28 years.

“This bill will help those who have devoted their lives to serving our communities and state,” Ford said. “After speaking with local police officers and firefighters, this is an issue they need addressed. Many are serving longer than they should in order to receive their full benefits, which might hurt their quality of life once they retire.”

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

SB 75 will now move to the full Senate.

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