HB 337: State Law Enforcement Officer Plan' or 'SLEO Plan'; enact

Georgia's state retirement law currently treats most state law enforcement officers under the same general pension rules as other state employees. This bill would add a new chapter to that law, the State Law Enforcement Officer Plan or 'SLEO Plan,' for officers in agencies like the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Natural Resources' game wardens, Department of Revenue alcohol and tobacco agents, Motor Carrier Compliance officers, and Capitol Police. Starting July 1, 2026, an eligible officer could make a one-time, irrevocable choice to join the SLEO Plan instead of their regular retirement plan. Officers who join would pay 5 percent of their pay into the system and earn benefits on a step-up schedule that grows with years of service, capped at 25 years. After 25 years, contributions stop and any continued monthly benefits get deposited into a personal Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) account that earns interest until the officer actually retires. No one could retire under this plan before July 1, 2031. The whole law only takes effect if state actuaries certify it is properly funded; otherwise it repeals itself automatically on July 1, 2026.

• Creates a new optional pension track, the SLEO Plan, for specific categories of state law enforcement officers named in the bill.
• Requires officers who join to make an irrevocable election within 90 days of becoming eligible or by July 1, 2026, whichever is later.
• Sets officer contributions at 5 percent of pay and defines a tiered monthly benefit formula that increases with years of service up to 25 years.
• Creates individual Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP) accounts that hold monthly benefits, with interest, for officers who keep working past 25 years instead of retiring.
• Bars anyone from retiring under the new plan before July 1, 2031, and voids the enhanced benefits for anyone who tries to retire earlier.
• Makes the entire law's effective date conditional on certification that it is funded under Georgia's Public Retirement Systems Standards Law, with automatic repeal if not.

State law enforcement officers in the Uniform Division of the Department of Public Safety, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Department of Natural Resources game wardens, Department of Revenue alcohol and tobacco or Special Investigations Unit agents, Motor Carrier Compliance officers, and Capitol Police, along with the Employees' Retirement System of Georgia's board of trustees.

Eligible officers would gain a choice between their current retirement plan and a new one with higher personal contributions but a benefit formula and DROP account that could pay out more over a long career, while facing a firm rule that they cannot retire early under the new plan before mid-2031.

• Code Section 47-2-1 is amended to define 'state law enforcement officer' by listing specific job categories across six state agencies eligible for the new plan.
• New Code Section 47-2-400 names the plan the 'State Law Enforcement Officer Plan' or 'SLEO Plan.'
• Code Section 47-2-401 requires an irrevocable written election within 90 days of eligibility or by July 1, 2026, and bars retirement benefits under the plan before July 1, 2031.
• Code Section 47-2-402 sets officer contributions at 5 percent of pay and lays out a benefit schedule rising from 10 percent of average final compensation at 10 years to added percentages through 25 years of service.
• Code Section 47-2-403 creates individual DROP accounts that hold monthly benefits with market-rate interest until the officer retires, payable as a lump sum, partial lump sum, or annuity.
• Section 3 makes the whole Act's effective date and continued existence contingent on funding certification under the Public Retirement Systems Standards Law (O.C.G.A. Chapter 20 of Title 47), with automatic repeal on July 1, 2026 if not certified.

1. 2025-02-11House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-10House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-06House Hopper (House)

• John Carson (R, HD-046)Primary sponsor
• Bill Hitchens (R, HD-161)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
• Eddie Lumsden (R, HD-012)
• Martin Momtahan (R, HD-017)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)

• law enforcement retirement
• state pensions
• public safety officers
• Employees' Retirement System of Georgia