DENVER -- The Denver Public Schools Retirement Fund will merge into the statewide Public Employees' Retirement Association on Friday as new laws passed this year take effect on New Year's Day.

One of the bills, SB 282, merged the assets, liabilities and obligations of the DPS retirement system into PERA. The merge would allow teachers to move between school systems without losing years of service.

“The fourth time’s the charm for this PERA merger bill, as both bride and groom have been jilted at the altar over the past few years,” said Representative Andy Kerr, who co-sponsored the merger bill. “This bill does not allow either PERA or DPS to back out of the merger this time, and will allow teachers the flexibility to find the district, school and community that can best use their particular talents.”

Some other laws that will take effect Friday:

HB 1119, Rural Substance Abuse Grants. The bill provides assistance to rural adults and youth struggling with alcohol and substance abuse problems. Services will include providing safe and alternative activities for youth, treatment and prevention.

HB 1151, Oversight School Building Inspections. The bill places the responsibility for school building inspections with one department, and makes the Department of Public Safety the oversight agency responsible for school building code inspections.

HB 1326, Integrity of Citizen Initiatives. This bill changes petition gathering rules. It will strengthen identity requirements; require petition circulators to provide specific forms of I.D. and provide them an option to enroll in training provided by the Secretary of State’s Office; strengthen laws against using third-party circulators; and require paid circulators to receive hourly wages or salaries instead of being paid per signature they gather.