Iowa House Bill HF2535

Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/15/24
• Refer: 2/15/24

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the Iowa public employees' retirement system by modifying the retirement benefits of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs.

Impact

If enacted, HF2535 will adjust the monthly retirement allowances based on the new calculation for eligible sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. The bill also introduces a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for retirees, set to start on July 1, 2024, which will raise their monthly retirement allowance by one and one-half percent annually. However, this COLA is only available to those who have at least 22 years of service and are 50 years or older at the time of their retirement. This underscores a targeted effort to enhance the financial support for long-serving members of the law enforcement community.

Summary

House File 2535 is a legislative proposal aimed at modifying the retirement benefits specifically for sheriffs and deputy sheriffs under the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS). The bill proposes an increase in the percentage used to calculate the monthly retirement benefit for these officers who retire on or after July 1, 2024. This increase is set to be five-eighths of one percentage point for each additional calendar quarter of service beyond 22 years, up to a maximum increase of 20 percentage points. This change is significant as it alters the existing calculation, which only allowed for an increase of three-eighths of one percentage point, capped at 12 percentage points for the same period of service.

Contention

While the bill appears to provide enhanced retirement benefits for sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, there may be objections regarding its financial implications. Critics could argue that increasing pension expenses for specific groups may result in budgetary strains on state resources or could raise questions about equity when compared to other public employees. Additionally, there's potential contention on whether such benefits are justified, given the varying roles and compensation structures across state employees.