Bill introduced to let retired public employees volunteer without losing pension benefits

A sponsor introduced RS 31,989 to clarify when a retired public employee may perform volunteer service without risking retirement-benefit penalties. The sponsor said the proposal responds to situations where retirees with significant institutional knowledge want to offer limited help without being treated as employees under pension rules.

The measure defines a “bona fide volunteer” as an individual who performs service without promise, expectation, or receipt of compensation and who is not performing work that would normally be compensated by the employer. The sponsor said the language is intended to permit occasional volunteer assistance from retirees while preventing retirees from filling paid positions or receiving compensation for duties that would otherwise be paid.

The sponsor thanked Michael Hampton (identified as assisting on drafting) and said the RS does not change compensation or impose new duties on retirees. The sponsor acknowledged a risk: if a complaint triggers an investigation, the agency administering retirement benefits (PERSI, the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho) would be obliged to follow up, and that could affect benefits in specific cases. The RS does not change enforcement obligations; it clarifies the volunteer exception.

The committee voted to introduce RS 31,989 and the motion passed.

Ending: Sponsors said the bill aims to preserve a resource of experienced retirees for occasional volunteer assistance while protecting the integrity of retirement benefits; the RS was introduced and will be scheduled for hearings.