SPECIAL SEPARATION ALLOWANCE FIREFIGHTERS/RSW.

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View NCGA Bill Details2017-2018 Session
House Bill 340 (Public) Filed Tuesday, March 14, 2017
AN ACT TO CREATE A SPECIAL SEPARATION ALLOWANCE FOR STATE AND LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS AND RESCUE SQUAD WORKERS.
Intro. by Dollar, Malone, Saine, Clampitt.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate Action) (Apr 10 2017)

SOG comments (2):

Identical bill

Identical to S 396, filed 3/27/17.

Short and Long Title Changes

House committee substitute to the 1st edition made changes to the short and long titles. The original titles are as follows:

SPECIAL SEPARATION ALLOWANCE FOR FIREFIGHTERS.

AN ACT TO CREATE A SPECIAL SEPARATION ALLOWANCE FOR STATE AND LOCAL FIREFIGHTERS.

H 340

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Apr 6 2017 - View Summary

    House amendment makes the following changes to the 2d edition.

    Makes technical changes to proposed GS 143-166.90 and proposed GS 143-166.92.

    Provides that the act is effective when it becomes law and applies to firefighters and rescue squad workers retiring on or after July 1, 2022, with at least 5 years of continuous service rendered on or after July 1, 2017.


  • Summary date: Mar 29 2017 - View Summary

    House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

    Renames proposed Article 12I of GS Chapter 143, as Special Separation Allowances for State and Local Firefighters and Rescue Squad Workers (previously, did not include Rescue Squad Workers).

    Makes changes throughout the proposed Article to make its provisions apply to rescue squad workers. Makes organizational changes, and amends the act's short and long titles.

    Amends proposed GS 143-166.90, concerning special separation allowances for State firefighters and rescue squad workers. Defines rescue squad worker to mean a full-time paid employee of any State department, agency, or institution who meets the definition of emergency medical services personnel under GS 131E-155. GS 131E-155 defines emergency medical service personnel to mean advanced emergency medical technician, emergency medical dispatcher, emergency medical responder, emergency medical services instructor, emergency medical services-nurse practitioner, emergency medical services-physician assistant, emergency medical technician, mobile intensive care nurse, or paramedic, as those terms are defined in GS 131E-155.

    Amends proposed GS 143-166.92, concerning special separation allowances for local firefighters and rescue squad workers. Defines rescue squad worker to mean a person (1) who is a full-time paid employee of an employer that participates in the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System and maintains a rescue squad or emergency medical services team certified by the NC Department of Insurance or the Department of Health and Human Services and (2) who is actively serving in a position with assigned primary duties and responsibilities for the alleviation of human suffering and assistance to persons who are in difficulty, who are injured, or who become suddenly ill, by providing proper and efficient care or emergency medical services. Amends the definition of firefighter to include a person (1) who is a full-time paid employee of an employer that participates in the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or an equivalent locally sponsored retirement plan, and maintains a fire department certified by the NC Department of Insurance or a County Fire Marshal's Office (previously did not provide the alternative for certification from a County Fire Marshal's Office) and (2) who is actively serving in a position with assigned primary duties and responsibilities for the prevention, detection, and suppression of fire.


  • Summary date: Mar 14 2017 - View Summary

    Enacts new GS Chapter 143, Article 12I (Special Separation Allowances for State and Local Firefighters).

    Applies to firefighters employed both by State departments, agencies, or institutions, and by employers participating in the Local governmental Employees' Retirement System.

    Provides firefighters who meet specified criteria with an annual separation allowance equal to .85% of the annual equivalent of the base rate of compensation most recently applicable to the firefighter for each year of creditable service, to be paid in equal installments on the payroll frequency used by the employer, beginning in the month in which the firefighter retires under basic service retirement. To qualify, the firefighter, must have either completed 30 or more years of creditable service or attained 60 years of age with 25 or more years of creditable service, must have not attained 62 years of age, and must have completed at least five years of continuous service rendered on or after July 1, 2017, as a firefighter immediately preceding a service retirement. Payment ceases upon either the death of the firefighter, the last day of the month in which the firefighter attains 62 years of age, or the first day of reemployment by any State department, agency or institution, or local government employer in any capacity, with certain exceptions required by other statutes. Does not affect other State, local, federal, or private retirement benefits. Directs the head of each state department, agency, or institution, or the governing body of a local employer, to determine the eligibility of employees for the benefits of this statute. Authorizes the Director of the Budget to authorize the transfer of funds within the budgets of each State department, agency, or institution to carry out the statute. Directs the head of each State department, agency, or institution, or governing body of a local employer, to make the payments described above.