Oregon Statutes - Chapter 237 - Public Employee Retirement Generally - Section 237.620 - Membership of police officers and firefighters in Public Employees Retirement System.

(1) Except as provided in this section, all public employers of police officers or firefighters shall provide retirement benefits to those employees under the Public Employees Retirement System.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a public employer of police officers or firefighters need not provide retirement benefits to those employees under the Public Employees Retirement System if the Public Employees Retirement Board determines that the public employer provides retirement benefits to each of the following classes of employees that are equal to or better than the retirement benefits that would be provided to the equivalent classes of employees under the Public Employees Retirement System:

(a) Police officers or firefighters who are entitled to receive benefits only under ORS chapter 238 and who established membership in the system before January 1, 1996, as described in ORS 238.430 (2);

(b) Police officers or firefighters who are entitled to receive benefits only under ORS chapter 238 and who established membership in the system on or after January 1, 1996, and before August 29, 2003, as described in ORS 238A.025 (4); and

(c) Police officers or firefighters who establish membership in the system on or after August 29, 2003, and are entitled to benefits only under the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan.

(3) At such times as may be established by board rule, the Public Employees Retirement Board shall review the retirement benefits provided by a public employer of police officers or firefighters that does not provide retirement benefits for those employees under the Public Employees Retirement System. The review must be conducted at the expense of the public employer. Based on the review, the board shall determine whether the public employer complies with the requirements of subsection (2) of this section. If the board determines that the public employer does not comply with the requirements of subsection (2) of this section for any class of employees described in subsection (2) of this section, the public employer must provide that class of employees with retirement benefits adequate to meet the requirements of subsection (2) of this section. If the public employer fails to provide those benefits, any employee within the class may bring an action in circuit court to compel compliance with the requirements of this section. [1971 c.692 §3; 1973 c.704 §16; 1975 c.449 §13; 1989 c.888 §2; 1991 c.67 §56; 2001 c.945 §76; 2003 c.625 §33; 2007 c.622 §1]

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Last modified: August 7, 2008