Committee backs reinstating out‑of‑state service credit for Louisiana State Police recruits

The Senate Committee on Retirement on April 22 voted to report Senate Bill 1 favorably. The bill, presented by committee staff on behalf of the Louisiana State Police, would allow members to receive credit for full‑time law‑enforcement service performed out of state by purchasing that service at actuarial cost.

Margaret Corley Michel, executive director of the State Police Retirement System, told the committee the measure restores a law that sunset in February 2008 and is structured so the purchase is actuarially neutral. "It is completely actuarially neutral bill and allows for the member to be able to get a computation of that time and to be able to pay that back," Michel said. She explained the provision is not a direct transfer of funds from another state but rather a purchase of service time because other states may not transfer retirement funds.

Committee members and representatives of law enforcement organizations signaled support. The transcript records supporters including the Louisiana State Troopers Association and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. Senator Talbot moved the bill favorably; the chair announced the bill would be moved favorable with no opposition recorded.

The committee noted the bill is intended to aid recruitment by enabling officers with prior out‑of‑state service to receive credit for that time if they pay the actuarial cost. Michel said recent academies included recruits with out‑of‑state service and the change would help recognize that prior work for retirement computation purposes.

The committee took no recorded roll‑call vote during the meeting; the action was recorded as a favorable report to the full Senate.