2007 Minnesota Statutes

353.64 MEMBERSHIP; QUALIFICATIONS; POLICE OFFICER, FIREFIGHTER.
    Subdivision 1. Police and fire plan membership; mandatory. A governmental subdivision
must report a public employee for membership in the police and fire plan if the employee is
employed full time as specified in clause (1), (2), or (3):
(1) a full-time police officer or a person in charge of a designated police or sheriff's
department, who by virtue of that employment is required by the employing governmental
subdivision to be and is licensed by the Minnesota peace officer standards and training board
under sections 626.84 to 626.863, who is charged with the prevention and detection of crime, who
has the full power of arrest, who is assigned to a designated police or sheriff's department, and
whose primary job is the enforcement of the general criminal laws of the state;
(2) a full-time firefighter or a person in charge of a designated fire company or companies
who is engaged in the hazards of fire fighting; or
(3) a full-time police officer or firefighter meeting all requirements of clause (1) or (2), as
applicable, who as part of the employment position is periodically assigned to employment duties
in the same department that are not within the scope of this subdivision.
An individual to which clause (3) applies must contribute as a member of the police and fire
plan for both the primary and secondary services that are provided to the employing governmental
subdivision.
    Subd. 1a. Police and fire plan; other members. (a) A person who prior to July 1, 1961, was
a member of the police and fire plan, by virtue of being a police officer or firefighter, shall, as long
as the person remains in either position, continue membership in the plan.
(b) A person who was employed by a governmental subdivision as a police officer and was a
member of the police and fire plan on July 1, 1978, by virtue of being a police officer as defined
by this section on that date, and if employed by the same governmental subdivision in a position
in the same department in which the person was employed on that date, continues to be a member
of the plan, whether or not that person has the power of arrest by warrant and is licensed by the
Peace Officers Standards and Training Board after that date.
(c) A person who was employed as a correctional officer by Rice county before July 1, 1998,
for the duration of employment in the correctional position held on July 1, 1998, continues to
be a member of the public employees police and fire plan, whether or not the person has the
power of arrest by warrant and is licensed by the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board
after that date.
(d) A person who was employed by a governmental subdivision as a police officer or a
firefighter, whichever applies, was an active member of the local police or salaried firefighters
relief association located in that governmental subdivision by virtue of that employment as of the
effective date of the consolidation as authorized by sections 353A.01 to 353A.10, and has elected
coverage by the public employees police and fire plan, shall become a member of the police and
fire plan after that date if employed by the same governmental subdivision in a position in the
same department in which the person was employed on that date.
(e) Any police officer or firefighter of a relief association that has consolidated with the
association for which the employee has not elected coverage by the public employees police and
fire plan as provided in sections 353A.01 to 353A.10, or any police officer or firefighter to whom
section 353.665 applies who has not elected coverage by the public employees police and fire plan
as provided in section 353.665, subdivision 4, must become a member of the public employees
police and fire plan, but is not subject to the provisions of sections 353.651 to 353.659 unless an
election for such coverage is made under section 353.665, subdivision 4.
    Subd. 2. Police and fire fund membership; part-time employment coverage option. (a)
The governing body of a governmental subdivision may adopt a resolution, subject to requirements
specified in paragraph (b), declaring that a public employee employed in a position on a part-time
basis by that governmental subdivision is covered by the police and fire plan for that employment.
(b) If the public employee's position is related to police service, the resolution is valid if
the conditions specified in paragraph (c) are met. If the public employee's position is related to
fire service, the resolution is valid if the conditions specified in paragraph (d) are met. If the
public employee in the applicable position is periodically assigned to employment duties not
within the scope of this subdivision, the resolution is considered valid if the governing body of
the governmental subdivision declares that the public employee's position, for primary services
provided, satisfies all of the requirements of subdivision 1, clause (3), other than the requirement
of full-time employment.
(c) For the governing body of the governmental subdivision to declare a position to be that
of a police officer, the duties and qualifications of the person so employed must, at a minimum,
satisfy all of the requirements of subdivision 1, clause (1), other than the requirement of full-time
employment.
(d) For the governing body of a governmental subdivision to declare a position to be that
of a firefighter, the duties and qualifications of the person so employed must, at a minimum,
satisfy all of the requirements of subdivision 1, clause (2), other than the requirement of full-time
employment.
    Subd. 3. Police and fire fund membership; exclusion. A police officer or firefighter
employed by a governmental subdivision who by virtue of that employment is required by law to
be a member of and to contribute to any police or firefighter relief association governed by section
69.77 which has not consolidated with the public employees police and fire plan is not eligible to
become a member of the public employees police and fire plan.
    Subd. 4. Resolution filing. (a) A copy of the resolution of the governing body declaring a
position to be that of police officer or firefighter shall be promptly filed with the board of trustees
and shall be irrevocable.
(b) Following the receipt of adequate notice from the association, if a valid resolution is not
filed with the public employees retirement association within six months following the date of
that notice, any contributions or deductions made to the police and fire fund for the applicable
employment are deemed to be contributions or deductions transmitted in error under section
353.27, subdivision 7a.
    Subd. 5.[Repealed, 1977 c 429 s 65]
    Subd. 5a. Transfers. A member of the police and fire fund continues to be a member of that
fund if transferred to a different position with associated police or fire department functions in
the same department or a related department in the same governmental subdivision provided the
governing body sends a copy of a resolution to that effect to the association. A police and fire
fund member who is elected or assumes an appointive position, including but not limited to, the
positions of city council member, city manager, and finance director is not eligible to retain
membership in the public employees police and fire fund.
    Subd. 6.[Repealed, 1987 c 284 art 5 s 18]
    Subd. 6a. University of Minnesota police officers; inclusions and exclusions. (a) Unless
paragraph (b) applies, a person who is employed as a peace officer by the University of Minnesota
at any campus or facility of the university, who is required by the university to be and is licensed
as a peace officer by the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board under sections
626.84 to 626.863, and who has the full power of arrest is a member of the public employees
police and fire retirement plan.
(b) A police officer employed by the University of Minnesota who is required by the Board
of Regents to contribute to the University of Minnesota faculty retirement plan is not eligible to
be a member of the public employees police and fire retirement plan.
    Subd. 7. Pension coverage for certain public safety employees of the Metropolitan
Airports Commission. Any person first employed as either a full-time firefighter or a full-time
police officer by the Metropolitan Airports Commission after June 30, 1978, who is not eligible
for coverage under the agreement signed between the state and the secretary of the federal
Department of Health and Human Services making the provisions of the federal Old Age,
Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act applicable to municipal employees because that position
is excluded from application pursuant to Title 42, United States Code, Sections 418 (d) (5) (A)
and 418 (d) (8) (D) and section 355.07, shall not be a member of the Minneapolis Employees
Retirement Fund but shall be a member of the public employees police and fire fund and shall be
deemed to be a firefighter or a police officer within the meaning of this section. The Metropolitan
Airports Commission shall make the employer contribution required pursuant to section 353.65,
subdivision 3 , with respect to each of its firefighters or police officers covered by the public
employees police and fire fund and shall meet the employers recording and reporting requirements
set forth in section 353.65, subdivision 4.
    Subd. 7a. Pension coverage for certain metropolitan transit police officers. A person
who is employed as a police officer on or after the first day of the first payroll period after July 1,
1993, by the Metropolitan Council and who is not eligible for coverage under the agreement with
the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services making the provisions
of the federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act because the person's position is
excluded from application under United States Code, sections 418(d)(5)(A) and 418(d)(8)(D),
and under section 355.07, is a member of the public employees police and fire fund and is
considered to be a police officer within the meaning of this section. The Metropolitan Council
shall deduct the employee contribution from the salary of each police officer as required by
section 353.65, subdivision 2, shall make the employer contribution for each police officer as
required by section 353.65, subdivision 3, and shall meet the employer recording and reporting
requirements in section 353.65, subdivision 4.
    Subd. 8. Pension coverage for certain state military affairs department firefighters. A
person who is employed as a full-time firefighter on or after the first day of the first payroll period
after June 10, 1987, by the Department of Military Affairs of the state of Minnesota and who
is not eligible for coverage under the agreement signed between the state and the secretary of
the federal Department of Health and Human Services making the provisions of the federal Old
Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act applicable to state employees because the person's
position is excluded from application under United States Code, title 42, sections 418(d)(5)(A)
and 418(d)(8)(D) and section 355.07, is a member of the public employees police and fire fund
and is considered to be a firefighter within the meaning of this section. The state Department
of Military Affairs shall make the employee contribution deduction from the salary of each
full-time Military Affairs Department firefighter as required by section 353.65, subdivision 2,
shall make the employer contribution with respect to each firefighter as required by section
353.65, subdivision 3, and shall meet the employer recording and reporting requirements in
section 353.65, subdivision 4.
    Subd. 9. Pension coverage for certain sheriffs' association employees. A former member
of the association who is an employee of the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association may elect to be a
police and fire fund member with respect to service with the sheriffs' association, if written
election to be covered is delivered to the board within 60 days after July 1, 1989, or within 60
days after commencement of employment, whichever is later.
Employee and employer contributions for past service are the obligation of the employee,
except that the Minnesota sheriffs' association may pay the employer contributions. The employer
shall, in any event, deduct necessary future contributions from the employee's salary and remit
all contributions to the association as required by this chapter.
Persons who become association members under this section shall not be eligible for election
to the board of trustees.
    Subd. 10. Pension coverage for Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc.; paramedics and
emergency medical technicians. An employee of Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc. who is:
(1) certified as a paramedic or emergency medical technician by the state under section
144E.28, subdivision 4;
(2) employed full time as a paramedic or emergency medical technician by Hennepin County
on or after the effective date specified in Laws 1994, chapter 499, section 2; and
(3) not eligible after the effective date under Laws 1994, chapter 499, section 2, for coverage
under the agreement signed between the state and the secretary of the federal Department of
Health and Human Services making the provisions of the federal Old Age, Survivors, and
Disability Insurance Act applicable to paramedics and emergency medical technicians because
the person's position is excluded after that date from application under United States Code, title
42, sections 418(d)(5)(A) and 418(d)(8)(D), and section 355.07;
is a member of the public employees police and fire fund under sections 353.63 to 353.68.
Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc. shall deduct the employee contribution from the salary of
each full-time paramedic and emergency medical technician it employs as required by section
353.65, subdivision 2, shall make the employer contribution for each full-time paramedic and
emergency medical technician it employs as required by section 353.65, subdivision 3, and shall
meet the employer recording and reporting requirements in section 353.65, subdivision 4.
    Subd. 11. Pension coverage for certain tribal police officers exercising state arrest
powers. (a) The governing body of a tribal police department which is exercising state arrest
powers under section 626.90, 626.91, 626.92, or 626.93 may request by resolution to the executive
director that its police officers be considered public employees under section 353.01, subdivision
2 , be considered a police officer under section 353.64, subdivision 1, and become members of
the public employees police and fire retirement plan and that the tribal police department be
considered a governmental subdivision under section 353.01, subdivision 6.
(b) The executive director of the association must approve the request by a tribal police
department under paragraph (a) if a ruling made by the federal Internal Revenue Service provides
that:
(1) the tribal police department is an agency or instrumentality of the state of Minnesota for
purposes of enforcing state law; and
(2) contributions made by the tribal police department to a retirement plan on behalf of
employees of the tribal police department are contributions to a governmental plan within the
meaning of section 414(d) of the federal Internal Revenue Code.
(c) Following the approval of the request by the executive director, the head of the police
department or that person's designee must immediately report for membership in the police and
fire fund a person who is employed as a full-time or part-time police officer in a position that meets
the conditions in sections 353.01, subdivision 2a, and 353.64, subdivisions 1 and 2. The police
department head or that person's designee must deduct the employee contributions from the salary
of each eligible police officer as required by section 353.65, subdivision 2, and make the employer
contributions required by section 353.65, subdivision 3. The head of the police department or that
person's designee must meet the reporting requirements in section 353.65, subdivision 4.
History: 1959 c 650 s 32; 1961 c 743 s 1; 1963 c 641 s 34; 1978 c 720 s 7; 1979 c 216 s 17;
1979 c 262 s 2; 1981 c 180 s 14,15; 1981 c 224 s 95; 1981 c 298 s 11; 1982 c 404 s 8; 1987 c 284
art 5 s 12,13; 1987 c 296 s 5; 1987 c 372 art 1 s 6; 1989 c 319 art 3 s 19-21; art 11 s 1; 1991 c
341 s 22; 1992 c 432 art 2 s 17; 1993 c 307 art 4 s 31-33; 1994 c 499 s 1; 1994 c 628 art 3 s 31;
1997 c 7 art 1 s 129; 1997 c 199 s 14; 1999 c 222 art 4 s 7; art 14 s 2; 1999 c 245 art 9 s 65; 2000
c 461 art 3 s 19-22; art 7 s 2; 2002 c 392 art 3 s 8; 2005 c 125 art 3 s 4; 1Sp2005 c 8 art 4 s 6

NOTE: The amendment to subdivision 10 by Laws 2005, chapter 125, article 3, section
4, is effective the day after the Hennepin County Board files a certificate of local approval in
compliance with section 645.021, subdivision 3. Laws 2005, chapter 125, article 1, section 29, as
amended by Laws 2005, First Special Session chapter 7, section 34; and Laws 2005, chapter 125,
article 3, section 7.