Subcommittee advances bill allowing Catawba Nation police to join state retirement system

The Retirement Subcommittee for Finance on a procedural voice vote advanced S.127, a bill from Sen. Johnson that would allow the Catawba Nation to join the state Police Officers Retirement System if the nation applies to the board and meets statutory and board requirements.

Senator Johnson said the change is meant to help the Catawba Nation recruit and retain law enforcement officers. "Imagine if you can for a second living in an area that every time you hire law enforcement because you can't give them benefits, because you they can't get in any retirement system," Johnson said, urging the committee to move the bill.

Staff summarized the bill’s key provisions: Section 1 would add the Catawba Nation to the system's definition of "employer" under existing law cited as 9-11-43. Section 2 would set qualifying language and require the nation to apply under the procedures in 9-11-40, comply with board rules and regulations, specify a…