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Council on Pensions backs bill to give state police retirement credit for temporary disability at no cost to members
Summary
The Council on Pensions voted to recommend HB 19‑06 / SB 20‑17, which would let state police officers claim retirement service credit for periods of temporary disability without paying the usual employee contribution and interest; the committee discussed scope and limits before a 12‑aye recommendation.
The Council on Pensions recommended passage of House Bill 19‑06 / Senate Bill 20‑17 after hearing from the bill sponsor and department staff.
Senator Reeves, the bill sponsor, said the measure "allows state police officers to receive retirement credits for periods of disability at no cost to the member." The treasurer brought the proposal to the council; department staff explained the change would let officers who are defined as state police under current law—including Department of Safety commission members and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents—establish temporary‑disability service credit without paying the usual 5% employee contribution plus interest required under the hybrid plan.
Committee members pressed staff on which employees are covered. The department said the bill focuses on groups subject to mandatory retirement and used existing statutory definitions to identify them. "General employees could also, if they're out on a period of temporary disability, establish this retirement credit," a department representative said, but the legislation as drafted targets mandatory‑retirement officers. Members asked specifically whether park rangers or TWRA officers were covered; the department responded that park rangers are not covered because they are not subject to mandatory retirement.
Treasurer and several members urged caution about selectively expanding the benefit. The treasurer noted the immediate cost "is relatively small" but warned that "selective inclusion becomes general inclusion" and that future amendments should consider the fiscal impact and which mandatory‑retirement groups might be included.
The council moved for a positive recommendation and, after roll call, the chair announced 12 ayes; the bill was recommended for passage and sent on to its standing committee with a positive recommendation. No formal amendments were adopted in the committee hearing.
Next steps: the bill was recommended to its standing committee with a positive recommendation and will continue through the legislation process.
