Signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes certain retired public safety employees to return to work in specific roles without losing their pension benefits in New Mexico.

Highlights:

• Specifies that a member may retire upon fulfilling the following requirements before the selected date of retirement (Sec. 1):

• A written application for normal retirement, in the form prescribed by the association, is filed with the association;

• Employment is terminated with all employers covered by any state system or the educational retirement system;

• The member selects an effective date of retirement that is the first day of a calendar month; and

• The member meets the age and service credit requirements for normal retirement specified in the coverage plan applicable to the member.

• Specifies that on or after July 1, 2010, a retired member may be subsequently employed by an affiliated public employer only under the following provisions (Sec. 1):

• The retired member has not been employed as an employee of an affiliated public employer or retained as an independent contractor by the affiliated public employer from which the retired member retired for at least twelve consecutive months from the date of retirement to the commencement of subsequent employment or reemployment with an affiliated public employer;

• The retired member's pension shall be suspended upon commencement of the subsequent employment;

• The retired member shall not become a member and shall not accrue service credit, and the retired member and that person's subsequent affiliated public employer shall not make contributions under any coverage plan under the Public Employees Retirement Act; and

• Upon termination of the subsequent employment, the retired member's pension shall resume.

Full Bill Text