00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 295                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to accrual of service in the public employees' retirement system by a                                  
02 peace officer or firefighter while the peace officer or firefighter is unable to work and is                            
03 receiving workers' compensation benefits; and requiring the state to make certain                                       
04 contributions under the defined contribution plan of the public employees' retirement                                   
05 system for a peace officer or firefighter who is unable to work and is receiving workers'                               
06 compensation benefits."                                                                                                 
07 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
08    * Section 1. AS 39.35.330 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                           
09            (e)  Notwithstanding (b) of this section, a peace officer or firefighter who takes                           
10       a leave of absence without pay because the peace officer or firefighter is unable to                              
11       work because of an on-the-job injury or occupational illness for which the peace                                  
12       officer or firefighter is receiving benefits under AS 23.30 is entitled to accrue credited                        
13       service without charge to the peace officer or firefighter for the time on leave of                               
01       absence without pay status. Entitlement to credited service under this subsection ends                            
02       when the peace officer or firefighter is eligible to receive benefits under                                       
03       AS 39.35.370(a) or 39.35.410(a). A peace officer or firefighter who receives credited                             
04       service under this subsection may not also elect to receive credited service under (c) of                         
05       this section.                                                                                                     
06    * Sec. 2. AS 39.35.750 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                              
07            (f)  The state shall make contributions under (a), (b), (d), and (e) of this section                         
08       for a peace officer or firefighter who is entitled to accrue membership service under                             
09       AS 39.35.974, regardless of whether the peace officer or firefighter is an employee of                            
10       the state. For the purpose of calculating the amount of a contribution required by this                           
11       subsection, a peace officer's or firefighter's compensation for the period from July 1 to                         
12       the following June 30 is the sum of                                                                               
13                 (1)  an amount equal to the compensation, as defined in AS 39.35.990,                                   
14       paid by the employer for that period; and                                                                         
15                 (2)  an amount equal to the peace officer's or firefighter's spendable                                  
16       weekly wages for that period as computed under AS 23.30.220.                                                      
17    * Sec. 3. AS 39.35 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                     
18            Sec. 39.35.974. Special rules for peace officer and firefighter membership                                 
19       service. Notwithstanding contrary provisions of AS 39.35.700 - 39.35.990, a peace                               
20       officer or firefighter who is on leave from work without pay because the peace officer                            
21       or firefighter is unable to work because of an on-the-job injury or occupational illness                          
22       for which the peace officer or firefighter is receiving benefits under AS 23.30 is                                
23       entitled to accrue membership service in the plan, without charge to the peace officer                            
24       or firefighter, for the purpose of eligibility for benefits under the plan that are based on                      
25       years of membership service. Entitlement to accrue membership service under this                                  
26       section ends when the peace officer or firefighter is eligible to retire under                                    
27       AS 39.35.870(a) or receive benefits under AS 39.35.890(a).                                                        
28    * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
29 read:                                                                                                                   
30       APPLICABILITY. AS 39.35.330(e), added by sec. 1 of this Act, AS 39.35.750(f),                                     
31 added by sec. 2 of this Act, and AS 39.35.974, added by sec. 3 of this Act, apply to credited                           
01 service for a leave of absence that begins on or after the effective date of this Act.