Sec. 3. (a) If a town establishes a board of metropolitan police commissioners, or if a town becomes a city, the municipality shall participate in the 1977 fund and shall enroll all full-time police officers and firefighters in the 1977 fund. However, if a police officer or former marshal is a member of the public employees’ retirement fund, the police officer or former marshal may continue as a member of that fund instead of the 1977 fund. Notwithstanding the age requirements under section 7(a) of this chapter, a police officer or former marshal employed by a municipality at the time the municipality enters the 1977 fund under this section shall be a member of the 1977 fund unless the police officer or former marshal elects to continue as a member of the public employees’ retirement fund. A person may become a member of the 1977 fund under this subsection without meeting the age limitation under section 7(a) of this chapter only if the person satisfies:

(1) any aptitude, physical agility, or physical and mental standards established by a local board under IC 36-8-3.2; and

(2) the minimum standards that are:

(A) adopted by the system board under section 19 of this chapter; and

(B) in effect on the date the person becomes a member of the 1977 fund.

Credit for prior service of a person who becomes a member of the 1977 fund under this subsection shall be determined under section 18 or 18.1 of this chapter. No service credit beyond that allowed under section 18 or 18.1 of this chapter may be recognized under the 1977 fund.

     (b) If a unit did not establish a 1937 fund for its firefighters, the unit may participate in the public employees’ retirement fund or it may participate in the 1977 fund. If a unit established a 1937 fund for its firefighters, the unit is and shall remain a participant in the 1977 fund.

     (c) A unit that:

(1) has not established a pension fund for its firefighters; or

(2) is participating in the public employees’ retirement fund under subsection (b);

may participate in the 1977 fund upon approval by the fiscal body, notwithstanding IC 5-10.3-6-8. A unit that participates in the 1977 fund under this subsection must comply with section 21 of this chapter. However, if a police officer or firefighter is a member of the public employees’ retirement fund, the police officer or firefighter may continue as a member of that fund instead of the 1977 fund.

     (d) If a unit that participates in the 1977 fund provides longevity increases, the amount of the longevity increase provided in a year must be greater than or equal to the amount of the longevity increase provided in the previous year.

     (e) An airport authority may participate in the 1977 fund. An airport authority that participates in the 1977 fund under this subsection must comply with section 21 of this chapter. However, if a police officer or firefighter is a member of the public employees’ retirement fund, the police officer or firefighter may continue as a member of that fund instead of the 1977 fund.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: subsection (a) formerly 19-1-17.8-16 part; subsection (b) formerly 19-1-36.5-16 part.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.59. Amended by P.L.313-1989, SEC.1; P.L.213-1995, SEC.6; P.L.236-1996, SEC.6; P.L.101-1998, SEC.1; P.L.195-1999, SEC.32; P.L.35-2012, SEC.115; P.L.130-2015, SEC.2; P.L.103-2021, SEC.4; P.L.85-2022, SEC.4; P.L.102-2023, SEC.8.