Measure would extend retirement age to 66 for firemen, police.

By THE STAR STAFF

Police officers and firefighters in Puerto Rico could remain on active duty until the age of 66 under legislation currently under consideration in the island House of Representatives.

The House has placed the measure, House Bill (HB) 600, on its Special Orders Calendar. The proposal was introduced by Rep. Pedro “Pellé” Santiago Guzmán and would allow uniformed public safety personnel to extend their careers without needing special waivers, provided they meet regular medical and physical fitness requirements.

Under current law, high-risk public employees may retire at age 55 with 30 years of service, while retirement becomes mandatory at 58. Existing statutes allow extensions through special dispensations until age 62. The new proposal would raise that limit to 66 years old, eliminating the need for discretionary approvals.

The bill requires officers and firefighters who choose to remain beyond the current retirement age to undergo a medical examination and a physical fitness test every two years. Failure to pass either evaluation would result in immediate mandatory retirement.

HB 600 received a favorable report from the House Retirement Systems Committee, chaired by Rep. Lourdes Ramos Rivera. However, the legislative analysis notes that neither the Puerto Rico Police Bureau nor the Firefighters Bureau was consulted during the drafting of the measure.

Debate over the proposal comes at a time of ongoing complaints about the police retirement system, which critics have described as inadequate. Meanwhile, the proposed Police Retirement Trust Fund has yet to receive funding, as the Police Bureau continues to experience staffing shortages driven by a high number of annual retirements.

The legislation does not include any increases to pension benefits, which have been frozen since the enactment of Law 3-2013.