York County News

The Pennsylvania Senate has approved a bill that expands pension benefits for law enforcement officers who wish to buy back prior police service. Senator Mike Regan, representing Cumberland and York counties, announced the development.

Senate Bill 669, sponsored by Regan, offers municipal and regional police officers the opportunity to buy back up to five years of previous part-time or full-time service at another department. "This will serve as a recruitment tool at a time when police departments are struggling to fill positions," said Regan. "It will allow an officer who decides he is not in the right department the freedom to move without being penalized in his pension – or worse, simply leaving the profession altogether."

The bill is modeled after Act 600, which permits officers to buy back prior military service. According to Regan, under SB 669, the provision is capped at a combined five years for officers using both types of service to qualify.

Currently, more than 11,000 active members participate in a defined benefit police pension plan affected by this legislation. An analysis conducted by the Independent Fiscal Office assumed that at least 10% of these officers would purchase an average of three years of service credit under the new policy.

The legislation now moves forward to the House of Representatives for consideration.