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HB 1419

AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 54-52-01, 54-52-02.1, 54-52-02.15, 54-52-06.3, 54-52-06.4, and 54-52-17 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to the public employees retirement system public safety retirement plan.

69th Legislative Assembly (2025-26) Introduced by Michelle Axtman and 11 co-sponsors

Sets a 32-hour/week, 20-week/year minimum for certain public safety roles and bars new hires in those roles from concurrent PERS plan enrollment.

Filed with Secretary Of State 04/17
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Bill Summary · HB 1419

Summary — HB 1419 (North Dakota)

AN ACT to amend and reenact sections 54‑52‑01, 54‑52‑02.1, 54‑52‑02.15, 54‑52‑06.3, 54‑52‑06.4, and 54‑52‑17, North Dakota Century Code — Public Employees Retirement System: Public Safety Retirement Plan

Purpose / Intent

The bill updates definitions and eligibility rules in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) — Public Safety Retirement Plan. Its principal aims are to (1) standardize minimum employment thresholds for certain public‑safety classifications, (2) clarify which positions qualify for the public safety plan, and (3) prevent concurrent participation in other PERS plans for new hires in specified public‑safety roles.

Key provisions and changes

  • Amends multiple statutory sections that define terms and set eligibility under the public safety retirement plan (sections 54‑52‑01, 54‑52‑02.1, 54‑52‑02.15, 54‑52‑06.3, 54‑52‑06.4, 54‑52‑17).
  • Establishes a consistent minimum employment standard for several covered classifications for individuals hired on or after the bill’s effective date:
    • At least 32 hours per week and at least 20 weeks of employment each year.
    • This minimum is applied explicitly to: correctional officers, dispatchers (including public safety answering point dispatchers), emergency medical services personnel, firefighters, and peace officers (where applicable).
  • For those classifications noted above who begin employment on or after the effective date, the bill makes them ineligible to participate concurrently in any other retirement plan administered by the Public Employees Retirement System.
  • Clarifies inclusion/exclusion language for specific roles (examples in the text: employees enrolled in, but not yet completed, certain correctional officer courses; exclusion of North Dakota National Guard firefighter employees).
  • Technical and conforming edits across the cited sections to reflect the new definitions and eligibility rules.

Who is affected

  • Primary: current and prospective members of the PERS public safety retirement plan — specifically correctional officers, firefighters, dispatchers, EMS personnel, and peace officers (as defined).
  • Employers: state agencies and political subdivisions that employ public‑safety personnel and participate in PERS will be affected administratively (membership enrollment, contribution handling).
  • PERS administration: will need to implement the revised eligibility and enrollment rules and ensure compliance.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Bill amends and reenacts identified sections of Chapter 54‑52 of the North Dakota Century Code.
  • The statutory language frequently references “the effective date of this Act” as the trigger for the new hire standards; the precise effective date is not included in the excerpt and will be set in the final enacted act.
  • Sponsors (as included in the enrollment text): Representatives Porter, Dockter, Heinert, O’Brien, M. Ruby, Satrom, Schauer; Senators Axtman, Cleary, Lee, Meyer, Roers.
  • Status: introduced in the Sixty‑ninth Legislative Assembly (2025 regular session); referred to relevant committees per legislative process (see legislative records for current status).

Potential impacts / considerations

  • Newly hired public‑safety employees will face a single PERS plan enrollment (no concurrent enrollment in other PERS plans), which may affect retirement planning and portability for those employees.
  • Employers and PERS will need to update enrollment procedures and communications to reflect the standardized minimum hours/weeks threshold.
  • The bill’s fiscal impact is not shown in the provided excerpt; impacts would depend on changes in membership composition, contribution flows, and administrative costs.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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