DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Montoucet HB No. 67
Abstract: Provides that the benefit accrual rate for members of the Firefighters Retirement
System (FRS) first hired on or after July 1, 2014, is based on length of service and
extends maximum DROP participation from three to five years for members with 30 or
more years of service.
ACCRUAL RATE
Present law provides that any person who has been a member of FRS for at least one year shall be
entitled to retire if he has attained the following age and service criteria:
Years of
ServiceAge
12 55
20 50
25 Any
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that, upon retirement, the member shall be paid an annual retirement allowance
equal to 3-1/3% of his average final compensation multiplied by his total years of creditable service.
Proposed law retains present law for all members hired on or before June 30, 2014.
Proposed law changes the accrual rate for members whose first employment occurred on or after July
1, 2014; ties the accrual rate for such members to length of service, as follows:
(1)3% for any member whose total years of creditable service is less than 30 years.
(2) 3-1/3% for any member whose total years of creditable service is equal to or greater than 30
years.
Proposed law applies the 3-1/3% accrual rate to new hires regardless of years of service if present
law requires a calculation of the applicable benefit based on a benefit accrual rate and either of the
following circumstances are met: (1)The member is approved for in-the-line of duty disability benefits
(2)The member is killed in the line of duty.
Present law provides that a member's annual retirement allowance shall not exceed 100% of his
average final compensation. Proposed law retains present law.
DROP
Present law provides that, in lieu of terminating employment and accepting retirement benefits, any
FRS member who has at least 20 years of creditable service and who is eligible to receive retirement
benefits may elect to participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) and defer the
receipt of benefits.
Present law provides that, upon commencement of DROP participation, membership in FRS ceases
and neither employee nor employer contributions are payable to FRS.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that a member's duration of participation in the DROP plan may not exceed
three years. Proposed law retains present law for members with less than 30 years of service.
Proposed law further provides that for members with 30 or more years of service, the period of
DROP participation may not exceed five years.
Proposed law authorizes any person who has 30 or more years of creditable service and who is
participating in the DROP plan on the effective date of this Act to extend his period of participation
to the five years provided for in proposed law. Further authorizes any person who has 30 or more
years of creditable service and who has completed participation in DROP but has maintained
employment to re-enter DROP for an additional period of up to two years.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 11:2256(A)(1), (2), and (4) and 2257(C))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Retirement to the original bill.
1. Adds provision making 3-1/3% accrual rate applicable to certain disability and survivor
benefits for new hires with less than 30 years of service.
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill.
1. Adds provision authorizing certain plan members to re-enter the DROP plan.