Oklahoma House Bill HB2167

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23
• Refer: 2/20/23

Caption

Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System; retirement pay; benefit calculations; members; effective date; emergency.

Impact

The enactment of HB 2167 is expected to have significant implications for state laws regarding retirement benefit calculations. By modifying the existing structure, the bill seeks to promote fairness and adequacy in benefits for law enforcement officers. This could encourage a more favorable retirement environment and potentially help in retaining experienced personnel within various law enforcement agencies. Additionally, the revisions may offer more robust financial support to disabled members who receive benefits linked to their service duration and final average salaries.

Summary

House Bill 2167 amends the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System regulations specifically to adjust how retirement pay benefits are calculated for members. This bill seeks to address the computation of these benefits by introducing new criteria on how salaries are measured, particularly for members who entered the system after November 1, 2012. The proposed changes create a mechanism whereby benefits for current members will be determined by the greater of the highest compensation of the highest non-supervisory position of their agency or their highest average compensation, which aims to enhance pension amounts for members approaching retirement while ensuring equity among current retirees.

Contention

Some points of contention exist surrounding the bill's intentions and potential economic impacts. Critics might argue that fiscal implications of increasing retirement benefits could necessitate adjustments in agency budgets or necessitate greater contributions from the state's general fund. Moreover, the bill’s effectiveness in addressing disparities among the ranks, especially related to salaried tax limits defined by federal acts, may be under scrutiny as members express concerns over how benefits will be adequately funded in the long term.