Retirement; county board attorneys and city attorneys shall be members of PERS regardless of hours/week worked.
If enacted, HB 1481 would effectively standardize retirement benefit eligibility among county and municipal attorneys within the state. This change is intended to provide more equitable treatment for these professionals who serve public interests but may have previously been excluded from retirement benefits due to their unique compensation arrangements. By including them in the PERS, the bill reinforces the government's commitment to providing adequate retirement support to all public employees, thereby enhancing workforce stability and retention in critical legal roles.
House Bill 1481 is a legislative proposal that aims to amend Section 25-11-105 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to ensure that individuals employed or retained as county board attorneys and municipal attorneys are included as members of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). This amendment is significant as it expands the scope of the system to encompass attorneys regardless of their payment structure, whether receiving regular periodic compensation or retainer fees. Furthermore, the bill asserts that membership in the retirement system should not be determined by the number of hours worked on a weekly or monthly basis.
While support for HB 1481 is expected, there is potential for contention around its fiscal implications. Opponents may raise concerns about the additional financial burdens that could be placed on the PERS funding due to an increased number of beneficiaries. There may be debates over how the bill could affect budget allocations for local governments and whether it may necessitate adjustments to the existing insurance and compensation structures for these attorneys, especially in smaller municipalities where funds may be more constrained.