AN ACT TO PREVENT THE ELIMINATION OF RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS FIRST EARNING SERVICE UNDER THE TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE CONSOLIDATED JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE LEGISLATIVE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, OR THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT PROGRAMS, ESTABLISHED UNDER G.S. 135‑5.1 AND G.S. 135‑5.4, ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 2021.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Whereas, North Carolina's student population is growing by an estimated 20,000 students a year; and

Whereas, North Carolina will need to continue to recruit and hire teachers to meet the needs of our growing student population; and

Whereas, North Carolina must offer competitive benefits and salaries to teachers in order to recruit, hire, and retain teachers within the State; and

Whereas, State retirement benefits have proven both to be attractive to job seekers and to increase hiring competition between the State and private sector employers; and

Whereas, subsections (c) and (d) of Section 35.21 of S.L. 2017‑57 eliminated the retiree medical benefit for teachers and State employees first earning contributory service in the retirement system after January 1, 2021; Now, therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Subsections (c) and (d) of Section 35.21 of S.L. 2017‑57 are repealed.

SECTION 2.  This act is effective retroactively to December 31, 2020.