Retirement: county employees; employment of retirant in a county sheriff’s office; allow without forfeiting retirement allowance. Amends sec. 12a of 1851 PA 156 (MCL 46.12a).
Key claim: Michigan amended county employee retirement law so retirants may be employed in a county sheriff’s office without forfeiting their retirement allowance.
Abstract
(HB4471 · 103rd Legislature) Retirement: county employees; employment of retirant in a county sheriff’s office; allow without forfeiting retirement allowance. Amends sec. 12a of 1851 PA 156 (MCL 46.12a). Sponsor: Rep. Mike Harris ® + 14 co-sponsors Latest vote: Senate Third Reading: Given Immediate Effect Roll Call # 178 — 26-10 (passed, 2026-07-03) Latest action (2026-07-29): Assigned Pa 67’2026 With Immediate Effect
Why this matters
The amendment lets counties rehire retired employees into sheriff’s office positions without those retirants losing their pension allowance, easing staffing pressure on county law enforcement while preserving accrued retirement benefits. For taxpayers and employers (counties), it expands the labor pool for sheriff operations; for retirees, it removes a financial barrier to returning to work in that specific setting.