Working group begins statutory definitions for probation officers and 911 telecommunicators, flags special‑case dispatch centers

After the actuarial discussion, staff turned to statutory language and definitions needed to implement a new plan.

Staff said they had circulated draft definitions and asked the group to comment on three administration questions: whether part‑time employees should be eligible and, if so, what percentage‑of‑time threshold to use; how supervisory duties should be handled; and whether employer certification should be required. The presenter said sample language was taken from the 403 chapter where practicable so the pension chapter can reference a consistent definition.

Participants raised multiple edge cases. Metro Transit, university dispatch centers and airport security were discussed as examples where job classifications and dispatch responsibilities vary across employers. One speaker noted that some Metro Transit telecommunicators function within a transit police department and argued those positions should be evaluated as primary public‑safety positions; another said some institutions determine participation locally and urged staff to check those practices before finalizing statutory text.

MSRS staff and PAR support staff said they would reconcile the draft definition with current chapter 403 language and administrative practice and return a single recommended definition for telecommunicators and a probation‑officer definition for the Oct. 2 meeting. The chair closed the session by asking staff to lead with the actuarial numbers at the next meeting and then move to definition language.

The group did not take a final position on any definition at this meeting; staff were asked to return revised drafts and a short memo clarifying how part‑time and supervisory roles would be handled by administrators.