RETIREMENT/FIREFIGHTERS: Requests the actuary for the legislative auditor, in consultation with the actuaries of the two retirement systems, to study the cost and feasibility of merging firefighter members of the Baton Rouge City Parish Employees' Retirement System into the Firefighters' Retirement System

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Paul Sawyer

Actuary study to assess cost and feasibility of merging Baton Rouge CPERS firefighter members into the Firefighters’ Retirement System, due Jan 15, 2027.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.

Summary of HR 319 (2026) – Louisiana

Purpose and intent

HR 319 is a House resolution that urges and requests a formal actuarial study to evaluate the cost and feasibility of merging firefighter members of the Baton Rouge City Parish Employees' Retirement System (CPERS) into the Firefighters' Retirement System (FRS).

The study is to be conducted by the actuary for the legislative auditor, in consultation with the actuaries of CPERS and FRS, as required by Louisiana law (R.S. 11:2260(A)(11)(d)).

Key provisions and changes proposed

Commission of actuarial investigation: The legislative auditor’s actuary, working with CPERS and FRS actuaries, is directed to perform the mandated actuarial investigation.

Scope of investigation: Assess the cost and feasibility of merging CPERS firefighter members into the FRS.

Reporting requirement: The actuary must report findings on cost and feasibility to the House Committee on Retirement.

Timeline: The report must be submitted no later than January 15, 2027.

Who would be affected

Primary subjects: Firefighters who are members of CPERS (Baton Rouge City Parish Employees' Retirement System).

Potential beneficiaries or impacts: Firefighters currently in CPERS who might be merged into FRS, along with the two retirement systems (FRS and CPERS) and their respective beneficiaries (active members, retirees, and survivors) depending on the actuarial findings and any eventual legislative action.

Context and supporting details

Background relevance:

FRS was established in 1980 to provide retirement benefits to firefighters employed by municipalities, parishes, or fire protection districts in Louisiana.
As of the most recent valuation cited (June 30, 2025), FRS had a funding ratio above 86%, indicating a relatively strong actuarial funding status.
CPERS, by comparison, had a funding ratio around 64% in its most recent valuation, indicating a weaker funding status.

Rationale suggested by the resolution:

A merger could potentially align eligibility rules and accrual rates with FRS, which currently has uniform retirement eligibility and accrual rates for all members, unlike CPERS where eligibility and accrual can vary based on hire date.
The resolution notes a priority on ensuring actuarially funded pensions for firefighters and their beneficiaries.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Legislative action: The measure is a request to initiate an actuarial study, not a directive to enact a merger.

Reporting deadline: The actuarial investigation results must be reported to the House Committee on Retirement by January 15, 2027.

Status: As of the latest action, the bill was read by title and referred to the Committee on Retirement (May 25, 2026).

Potential implications (informational)

If the actuarial findings show that a merger is cost-feasible and sustainable, it could lead to future legislative proposals to merge CPERS firefighters into FRS, potentially affecting funding obligations, benefit accruals, eligibility rules, and overall long-term costs for both systems.

Any merger would require careful consideration of actuarial soundness, transition rules, impact on current and future retirees, and statutory changes to align with FRS governance and benefits.

This summary presents the essential elements: purpose, provisions, affected parties, and procedural timeline. If you’d like, I can provide a quick comparative outline of CPERS vs. FRS current rules to contextualize potential impacts.