Subd. 1. Police and fire fund membership.

1. (a) A person who prior to July 1, 1961, was a member of the police and fire fund, by virtue of being a police officer or firefighter, shall, as long as the person remains in either position, continue membership in the fund.
2. (b) A person who was employed by a governmental subdivision as a police officer and was a member of the police and fire fund on July 1, 1978, by virtue of being a police officer as defined by this section on that date, and if employed by the same governmental subdivision in a position in the same department in which the person was employed on that date, shall continue membership in the fund whether or not that person has the power of arrest by warrant after that date.
3. (c) A person who was employed by a governmental subdivision as a police officer or a firefighter, whichever applies, was an active member of the local police or salaried firefighters relief association located in that governmental subdivision by virtue of that employment as of the effective date of the consolidation as authorized by sections 353A.01 to 353A.10, and has elected coverage by the public employees police and fire fund benefit plan, shall become a member of the police and fire fund after that date if employed by the same governmental subdivision in a position in the same department in which the person was employed on that date.
4. (d) Any other employee serving on a full-time basis as a police officer or firefighter on or after July 1, 1961, shall become a member of the public employees police and fire fund.
5. (e) An employee serving on less than a full-time basis as a police officer shall become a member of the public employees police and fire fund only after a resolution stating that the employee should be covered by the police and fire fund is adopted by the governing body of the governmental subdivision employing the person declaring that the position which the person holds is that of a police officer.
6. (f) An employee serving on less than a full-time basis as a firefighter shall become a member of the public employees police and fire fund only after a resolution stating that the employee should be covered by the police and fire fund is adopted by the governing body of the governmental subdivision employing the person declaring that the position which the person holds is that of a firefighter.
7. (g) A police officer or firefighter employed by a governmental subdivision who by virtue of that employment is required by law to be a member of and to contribute to any police or firefighter relief association governed by section 69.77 which has not consolidated with the public employees police and fire fund and any police officer or firefighter of a relief association that has consolidated with the association for which the employee has not elected coverage by the public employees police and fire fund benefit plan as provided in sections 353A.01 to 353A.10 shall not become a member of the public employees police and fire fund.

Subd. 2.

Before a governing body may declare a position to be that of a police officer, the duties of the person so employed must, as a minimum, include employment as an officer of a designated police department or sheriff's office or person in charge of a designated police department or sheriff's office whose primary job it is to enforce the law, who is licensed by the Minnesota board of peace officer standards and training under sections 626.84 to 626.863, who is engaged in the hazards of protecting the safety and property of others, and who has the power to arrest by warrant. A police officer who is periodically assigned to employment duties not within the scope of this subdivision may contribute to the public employees police and fire fund for all service, if a resolution declaring that the primary position held by the person is that of a police officer, is adopted by the governing body of the department, and is promptly submitted to the executive director.

Subd. 3.

Before a governing body may declare a position to be that of a firefighter, the duties of the person so employed must, as a minimum, include services as an employee of a designated fire company or person in charge of a designated fire company or companies who is engaged in the hazards of fire fighting. A firefighter who is periodically assigned to employment duties outside the scope of firefighting may contribute to the public employees police and fire fund for all service, if a resolution declaring that the primary position held by the person is that of a firefighter, is adopted by the governing body of the company or companies, and is promptly submitted to the executive director.

Subd. 4.

A copy of the resolution of the governing body declaring a position to be that of police officer or firefighter shall be filed with the board of trustees and shall be irrevocable.

Subd. 5.

Repealed, 1977 c 429 s 65

Subd. 5a.

A member of the police and fire fund continues to be a member of that fund if transferred to a different position with associated police or fire department functions in the same department or a related department in the same governmental subdivision provided the governing body sends a copy of a resolution to that effect to the association. A police and fire fund member who is elected or assumes an appointive position, including but not limited to, the positions of city council member, city manager, and finance director is not eligible to retain membership in the public employees police and fire fund.

Subd. 6.

Repealed, 1987 c 284 art 5 s 18

Subd. 7. Pension coverage for certain public safety employees of the metropolitan airports commission.

Any person first employed as either a full-time firefighter or a full-time police officer by the metropolitan airports commission after June 30, 1978, who is not eligible for coverage under the agreement signed between the state and the secretary of the federal department of health and human services making the provisions of the federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act applicable to municipal employees because that position is excluded from application pursuant to Title 42, United States Code, Sections 418 (d) (5) (A) and 418 (d) (8) (D) and section 355.07, shall not be a member of the Minneapolis employees retirement fund but shall be a member of the public employees police and fire fund and shall be deemed to be a firefighter or a police officer within the meaning of this section. The metropolitan airports commission shall make the employer contribution required pursuant to section 353.65, subdivision 3, with respect to each of its firefighters or police officers covered by the public employees police and fire fund and shall meet the employers recording and reporting requirements set forth in section 353.65, subdivision 4.

Subd. 7a. Pension coverage for certain metropolitan transit police officers.

A person who is employed as a full-time police officer on or after the first day of the first payroll period after July 1, 1993, by the metropolitan council and who is not eligible for coverage under the agreement with the Secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services making the provisions of the federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act because the person's position is excluded from application under United States Code, sections 418(d)(5)(A) and 418(d)(8)(D), and under section 355.07, is a member of the public employees police and fire fund and is considered to be a police officer within the meaning of this section. The metropolitan council shall deduct the employee contribution from the salary of each full-time police officer as required by section 353.65, subdivision 2, shall make the employer contribution for each full-time police officer as required by section 353.65, subdivision 3, and shall meet the employer recording and reporting requirements in section 353.65, subdivision 4.

Subd. 8. Pension coverage for certain state military affairs department firefighters.

A person who is employed as a full-time firefighter on or after the first day of the first payroll period after June 10, 1987, by the department of military affairs of the state of Minnesota and who is not eligible for coverage under the agreement signed between the state and the secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services making the provisions of the federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act applicable to state employees because the person's position is excluded from application under United States Code, title 42, sections 418(d)(5)(A) and 418(d)(8)(D) and section 355.07, is a member of the public employees police and fire fund and is considered to be a firefighter within the meaning of this section. The state department of military affairs shall make the employee contribution deduction from the salary of each full-time military affairs department firefighter as required by section 353.65, subdivision 2, shall make the employer contribution with respect to each firefighter as required by section 353.65, subdivision 3, and shall meet the employer recording and reporting requirements in section 353.65, subdivision 4.

Subd. 9. Pension coverage for certain sheriffs' association employees.

A former member of the association who is an employee of the Minnesota sheriffs' association may elect to be a police and fire fund member with respect to service with the sheriffs' association, if written election to be covered is delivered to the board within 60 days after July 1, 1989, or within 60 days after commencement of employment, whichever is later.

Employee and employer contributions for past service are the obligation of the employee, except that the Minnesota sheriffs' association may pay the employer contributions. The employer shall, in any event, deduct necessary future contributions from the employee's salary and remit all contributions to the association as required by this chapter.

Persons who become association members under this section shall not be eligible for election to the board of trustees.

Subd. 10. Pension coverage for Hennepin county paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

An employee of Hennepin county who is:

1. (1) certified as a paramedic or emergency medical technician by the state under section 144E.16, subdivision 4;
2. (2) employed full time as a paramedic or emergency medical technician by Hennepin county on or after the effective date specified in Laws 1994, chapter 499, section 2; and

3. (3) not eligible after the effective date under Laws 1994, chapter 499, section 2, for coverage under the agreement signed between the state and the secretary of the federal Department of Health and Human Services making the provisions of the federal Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance Act applicable to paramedics and emergency medical technicians because the person's position is excluded after that date from application under United States Code, title 42, sections 418(d)(5)(A) and 418(d)(8)(D), and section 355.07;

   is a member of the public employees police and fire fund under sections 353.63 to 353.68.

   Hennepin county shall deduct the employee contribution from the salary of each full-time Hennepin county paramedic and emergency medical technician as required by section 353.65, subdivision 2, shall make the employer contribution for each full-time Hennepin county paramedic and emergency medical technician as required by section 353.65, subdivision 3, and shall meet the employer recording and reporting requirements in section 353.65, subdivision 4.