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HB 4471

Retirement: county employees; employment of retirant in a county sheriff's office; allow without forfeiting retirement allowance. Amends sec. 12a of 1851 PA 156 (MCL 46.12a).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Aragona and 14 co-sponsors

Bill allows retired county employees to work in sheriff's offices while keeping their pensions, easing staffing pressures but potentially increasing county costs.

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Bill Summary · HB 4471

Legislative bill overview

HB 4471 would allow county employees who have retired and are receiving a pension to work again in a county sheriff's office without losing their retirement benefits. Currently, Michigan law may require retirees to forfeit or reduce their pension if they return to certain county employment. This bill removes that restriction specifically for sheriff's office positions.

Why is this important

Counties face staffing challenges in law enforcement, and this bill could make it easier to retain experienced former deputies and officers by allowing them to earn both a salary and their pension simultaneously. However, this also represents a potential cost to county budgets and pension systems, as it allows individuals to double-dip from both active employment and retirement funds at the same time.

Potential points of contention

  • Pension system costs: Paying both an active salary and a retirement allowance to the same person increases overall compensation costs and may strain county pension funds
  • Fairness concerns: Other county employees may not have similar dual-compensation opportunities, raising questions about equal treatment
  • Workforce equity: This benefit may apply unevenly depending on which county positions qualify, potentially creating disparities between sheriff's office workers and other county law enforcement or administrative staff

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

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