Retirement; persons convicted of certain felonies shall forfeit benefits from PERS, SLRP and MHSPRS.

HB 1046 would require public employees convicted of felonies involving $50,000 or more in public funds (after July 1, 2026) to forfeit retirement benefits from Mississippi’s state retirement systems (PERS, SLRP, or MHSPRS). It mandates a separate civil hearing to confirm the conviction and final appeals before benefits are terminated, with the state retirement system only acting after the Attorney General confirms all appeals are exhausted. The bill affects current or former state employees whose felony convictions relate to misuse of public funds, requiring them to lose retirement benefits but allowing refunds of their own contributions without interest. Note: This bill died in committee in 2026 and was never enacted.