Mississippi Bill HB 946 authorizes full-time reemployment and full benefits for PERS retirees in critical shortage positions

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-127, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO BE EMPLOYED IN A POSITION FOR WHICH THE EMPLOYER HAS A CRITICAL NEED FOR OR SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYEES AND DRAW THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE RETIREE'S RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE, DURING WHICH TIME THE RETIREE MAY WORK THE FULL NUMBER OF NORMAL WORKING DAYS FOR THE POSITION AND RECEIVE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SALARY IN EFFECT FOR THE POSITION AT THE TIME OF EMPLOYMENT; TO PROVIDE THAT BEFORE A RETIREE MAY BE EMPLOYED IN SUCH A POSITION, THE EMPLOYER MUST PROVIDE SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE WITH QUANTIFIABLE NUMBERS TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF THE EXISTENCE OF A CRITICAL NEED FOR OR SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYEES IN THE EMPLOYER'S AGENCY, DEPARTMENT, INSTITUTION OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, AND SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE THAT THE EMPLOYEE HAS THE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE NECESSARY FOR THE POSITION FOR WHICH THERE IS A CRITICAL NEED OR SHORTAGE AND IN WHICH HE OR SHE WILL BE EMPLOYED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Public agencies facing severe staffing shortages gain statutory authority to rehire retired public servants for full-time duties without reducing their pension payouts, provided strict documentation standards are met.