Tennessee House Bill HB0706

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/26/23
• Refer: 2/1/23
• Refer: 3/7/23
• Refer: 3/15/23
• Refer: 3/22/23
• Refer: 3/28/23
• Engrossed: 4/11/23
• Enrolled: 4/24/23
• Passed: 5/11/23
• Chaptered: 5/19/23

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 8, Chapter 36, Part 8, relative to reemployment after retirement.

Impact

The act amends existing legal frameworks regarding the rights of retired law enforcement officers in Tennessee. This change aims to address staffing shortages in law enforcement agencies by enabling retired officers to return to active duty more easily. It imposes a structure of limitations that ensures recalibrating the balance between maintaining retirement benefits and the employment of seasoned professionals in critical roles. Overall, the legislation seeks to ensure that retirees can be utilized effectively without compromising the integrity of retirement systems.

Summary

House Bill 0706 is legislation that modifies provisions related to the reemployment of retirees who are law enforcement officers under the Tennessee consolidated retirement system. The bill allows these retirees to return to work as law enforcement officers without losing their retirement benefits, provided they adhere to specific conditions. These include completing annual training, retiring for at least 60 days before reemployment, and limiting the duration of reemployment to one year, with potential for renewal under the same stipulations.

Sentiment

Discussions surrounding HB 0706 indicate a generally favorable sentiment among legislators regarding its potential to alleviate workforce shortages in law enforcement. Supporters argue that employing trained and experienced retirees is beneficial for public safety and operational continuity within agencies. However, concerns were raised about the implications of allowing retirees to return to work without jeopardizing their benefits, with some questioning the financial sustainability of the retirement fund in the long term.

Contention

While the bill passed unanimously in the legislative vote, some points of contention revolve around the fairness of allowing retirees to re-enter the workforce while still receiving benefits. Critics express worries that this could dissuade new recruits from entering the law enforcement field, potentially perpetuating existing workforce challenges. Further debate has emerged regarding the temporary nature of the reemployment and the safeguards included to address the retirement system's financial integrity.