Public safety officials including police, firefighters and corrections officers, work under more stressful conditions than other government workers and should get different consideration for their retirement plan. Senator Jose "Pedo" Terlaje has introduced a bill authorizing $75,000 to conduct a study on enhanced benefits.

The legislation states that public safety officers live an average of six years less, and one of its purposes is to allow them to retire at an earlier age. Fire Service Specialist A.T. San Nicolas testified in support of the bill.

"We have to take care of first and foremost law enforcement individuals, not undermining the other Government of Guam employees from different agencies. But because of the stress that's put on all law enforcement, we have to do something as far as retirement, because of the work we do," he said.

"We've seen people with medical ailments in this department also retire having heart conditions, diabetes, hypertension, and all other illnesses. Okay, but it has a factor when we start performing our duty. Regardless of what, we still have to respond."

The study will also review the fiscal impact to the retirement fund of allowing additional employee contributions by peace officers to allow for earlier retirement ages without penalty. The deadline for the study is within ten days of the end of fiscal year 2021, which would be by January 10.