Bill Summaries: H278 (2019-2020 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: May 6 2019 - View summary

    House committee substitute deletes the provisions of the 1st edition and now provides the following.

    Establishes the ten-member Joint Study Committee on Parity for First Responders (Committee). Provides for membership, meetings, member expenses, staff, and powers and duties of the Committee. Authorizes the Committee to contract for professional, clerical, or consultant services pursuant to state law. Directs the Committee to study a special separation allowance for State and local firefighters and rescue squad workers. Sets out required components of the study, including working with municipalities and the State Treasurer to determine the cost to each municipality to provide a separation allowance to local firefighters and rescue squad workers with a plan implementation date of July 1, 2024. Directs the Committee to submit a final report to the 2019 General Assembly on or before the 2020 Regular Session, as specified. Terminates the Committee upon the earlier of either the filing of the report or May 15, 2020. Makes conforming changes to the act's titles.


  • Summary date: Mar 5 2019 - View summary

    Identical to S 179, filed 3/4/19.

    Enacts new Article 12I, Special Separation Allowance for State and Local Firefighters and Rescue Squad Workers, in GS Chapter 143, providing as follows. Gives firefighters and rescue squad workers who qualify under the new provisions, beginning in the month in which the firefighter or rescue squad worker retires on a basic service retirement under the provisions of GS 135-5(a), GS 128-27(a), or a locally sponsored retirement plan, an annual separation allowance. The allowance is equal 0.85% of the annual equivalent of the base rate of compensation most recently applicable to the firefighter or rescue squad worker for each year of creditable service. Defines creditable service as service for which credit is allowed under the retirement system of which the firefighter or rescue squad worker is a member, if at least 50% of the service is as a firefighter or rescue squad worker. Sets out three criteria that must be met to qualify for the allowance, including that the firefighter or rescue squad worker has completed 30 or more years of creditable service or attained 60 years of age and completed 25 or more years of creditable service, and that the firefighter or rescue squad worker has completed at least five years of continuous service rendered on or after July 1, 2019. Sets out conditions under which the payments will cease. Sets out additional requirements for determining eligibility, funding, and making the payments. 

    Applies to firefighters and rescue squad workers retiring on or after July 1, 2024, with at least five years of continuous service that was rendered on or after July 1, 2019.