Louisiana Senate Bill SB9

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/26
• Refer: 1/23/26
• Refer: 3/9/26

Caption

SHERIFFS PEN/RELIEF FUND: Provides for membership of certain employees. (6/30/26) (OR SEE ACTUARIAL NOTE FC)

Summary

SB 9 amends Louisiana law governing membership in the Sheriffs’ Pension and Relief Fund. Under current law, certain Orleans Parish court criers are eligible for membership; this bill keeps that structure in place but expands eligibility to include criers of the Louisiana Supreme Court, provided they meet the existing age and salary requirements at the time they apply. The bill is narrowly focused on pension fund membership and does not otherwise change benefit formulas, contribution rates, or general fund administration. The measure also sets an effective date of June 30, 2026, with a special effective-date rule if the bill is vetoed and later approved by the legislature. In practical terms, the bill would extend retirement system participation to an additional category of court employees, which could affect payroll deductions, employer contributions, and fund membership records for those positions.

Impact

SB 9 would amend R.S. 11:2174(B)(1)(b), the statute governing membership in the Sheriffs’ Pension and Relief Fund, by adding Supreme Court criers to the list of employees eligible for membership. The bill preserves existing eligibility conditions, including age and salary thresholds, and would likely require affected employers and the retirement system to enroll qualifying employees and process related deductions and contributions. Because the bill concerns a public retirement system, it may have actuarial implications for the fund, as reflected in the caption’s reference to an actuarial note.

Sentiment

The available context suggests the bill is procedural and targeted rather than controversial, with no recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials. Its caption and digest indicate a straightforward expansion of pension membership to a small class of employees, which typically draws limited public attention unless actuarial costs or eligibility policy become an issue. The pending status in Senate Retirement indicates it was still under consideration at the time of the record.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is whether adding Supreme Court criers to the Sheriffs’ Pension and Relief Fund could create additional cost or long-term liability for the retirement system, especially given the caption’s reference to an actuarial note. Another possible issue is the policy choice to extend membership to a judicial branch employee category within a fund historically associated with sheriffs and certain Orleans Parish court personnel. No specific opposition, amendments, or competing viewpoints are included in the provided transcript or vote history.