Firefighters-retirement plans, the official text

ORIGINAL House
Bill No. HB0034

ENROLLED ACT NO. 3, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2026 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to compensation and benefits; authorizing firefighters to participate in retirement system plans as specified; providing appropriations; requiring rulemaking; specifying implementation; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1. W.S. 9‑3‑402(a)(xviii) and (xxv) is amended to read:

9‑3‑402. Definitions.

(a) As used in this article:

(xviii) "Law enforcement officer" or "officer" means any member who is a county sheriff, deputy county sheriff, municipal police officer, duly authorized investigator of the Wyoming livestock board meeting the specifications of W.S. 7‑2‑101(a)(iv)(E), duly authorized personnel of the Wyoming gaming commission meeting the specifications of W.S. 7‑2‑101(a)(iv)(P), investigator employed by the Wyoming state board of outfitters and professional guides meeting the specifications of W.S. 7‑2‑101(a)(iv)(J), Wyoming correctional officer, probation and parole agent employed by the Wyoming department of corrections, Wyoming law enforcement academy instructor, full‑time state park ranger, University of Wyoming campus police officer, community college police officer, detention officer, or dispatcher for law enforcement agencies or any person employed on a full‑time basis as a correctional forestry crew supervisor, correctional crew supervisor or correctional forestry crew manager by the Wyoming state forestry division of the office of state lands and investments or any other agency;

(xxv) "Firefighter member" means:

(A) Any employee of a Wyoming national guard fire department crash and rescue unit employed on a full‑time basis for firefighting and rescue operations within the department; and

(B) Any person employed full‑time or temporary full-time in a wildland firefighting occupation by any state agency.

Section 2. There is appropriated four hundred eleven thousand dollars ($411,000.00) from the general fund to the office of state lands and investments for retirement contributions made pursuant to this act. This appropriation shall be for the period beginning July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2028. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose and any unexpended, unobligated funds remaining from this appropriation shall revert as provided by law on June 30, 2028. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation be included in the standard budget for the office of state lands and investments for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

Section 3.

(a) The Wyoming retirement board and the office of state lands and investments shall promulgate all rules necessary to implement this act.

(b) Coverage of persons employed on a full‑time basis as a correctional forestry crew supervisor, correctional crew supervisor, correctional forestry crew manager or in a wildland firefighting occupation by the Wyoming state forestry division of the office of state lands and investments or any other state agency, as required by section 1 of this act, shall commence on July 1, 2026, unless those persons elect to continue participation in the Wyoming Retirement Act as a general member. An election shall be made by providing notice to the Wyoming retirement board not later than April 30, 2026. Once an election is made it shall not be rescinded. Service credit in any other retirement plan administered by the Wyoming retirement board, other than previous credit as a firefighter member or law enforcement officer member, shall not be included as service credit as a firefighter member or law enforcement member under this act.

Section 4.

(a) Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective July 1, 2026.

(b) Sections 3 and 4 of this act are effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

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