Bill would increase retirement benefits for volunteer firemen

Sen. Mike McGinness, R-Fallon, introduced a bill Thursday that would increase the maximum retirement benefits available to volunteer firefighters.

Existing law allows fire volunteers to join the Public Employee Retirement System. For those who do so, the local government must collect their half of the contribution and must pay the other half into PERS. The amount of that contribution is determined by the "assumed wage" of the volunteers, who aren't actually paid.

McGinness said SB46 would raise the maximum assumed wage from $750 a month to $2,000 a month. He said it wouldn't change the minimum assumed wage of $150 a month.

"It would enable the local governments that can afford it to raise the PERS benefit for volunteer firemen," he said.

SB46 was referred to the Senate Finance Committee for study.

Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or at 687-8750.