The Florida Senate

121.055  Senior Management Service Class.--There is hereby established a separate class of membership within the Florida Retirement System to be known as the "Senior Management Service Class," which shall become effective February 1, 1987.

(1)

(a)  Participation in the Senior Management Service Class shall be limited to and compulsory for any member of the Florida Retirement System who holds a position in the Senior Management Service of the State of Florida, established by part III of chapter 110, unless such member elects, within the time specified herein, to participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as established in subsection (6).

(b)

1.  Except as provided in subparagraph 2., effective January 1, 1990, participation in the Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for the president of each community college, the manager of each participating city or county, and all appointed district school superintendents. Effective January 1, 1994, additional positions may be designated for inclusion in the Senior Management Service Class of the Florida Retirement System, provided that:

a.  Positions to be included in the class shall be designated by the local agency employer. Notice of intent to designate positions for inclusion in the class shall be published once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county or counties affected, as provided in chapter 50.

b.  One nonelective full-time position may be designated for each local agency employer reporting to the Division of Retirement; for local agencies with 200 or more regularly established positions, additional nonelective full-time positions may be designated, not to exceed 0.5 percent of the regularly established positions within the agency.

c.  Each position added to the class must be a managerial or policymaking position filled by an employee who is not subject to continuing contract and serves at the pleasure of the local agency employer without civil service protection, and who:

(I)  Heads an organizational unit; or

(II)  Has responsibility to effect or recommend personnel, budget, expenditure, or policy decisions in his or her areas of responsibility.

2.  In lieu of participation in the Senior Management Service Class, members of the Senior Management Service Class pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph 1. may withdraw from the Florida Retirement System altogether and participate in a lifetime monthly annuity program which may be provided by the employing agency. The cost to the employer for such annuity shall equal the normal cost portion of the contributions required in the Senior Management Service Class. The employer providing such annuity shall contribute an additional amount to the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund equal to the unfunded actuarial accrued liability portion of the Senior Management Service Class contribution rate. The decision to participate in such local government annuity shall be irrevocable for as long as the employee holds a position eligible for the annuity. Any service creditable under the Senior Management Service Class shall be retained after the member withdraws from the Florida Retirement System; however, additional service credit in the Senior Management Service Class shall not be earned after such withdrawal. Such members shall not be eligible to participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program.

(c)

1.  Effective January 1, 1990, participation in the Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for up to 75 nonelective positions at the level of committee staff director or higher or equivalent managerial or policymaking positions within the House of Representatives, as selected by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, up to 50 nonelective positions at the level of committee staff director or higher or equivalent managerial or policymaking positions within the Senate, as selected by the President of the Senate, all staff directors of Joint Committees of the Legislature, the Auditor General and up to 9 managerial or policymaking positions within his or her office as selected by the Auditor General, and the executive director of the Commission on Ethics.

2.  Participation in this class shall be compulsory, except as provided in subparagraph 3., for any legislative employee who holds a position designated for coverage in the Senior Management Service Class, and such participation shall continue until the employee terminates employment in a covered position.

3.  In lieu of participation in the Senior Management Service Class, in the discretion of the Joint Legislative Management Committee, such members may participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as established in subsection (6).

(d)  Effective January 1, 1991, participation in the Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for any member of the Florida Retirement System in a position that has been designated eligible for inclusion in the Executive Service of the State University System or who holds a position as president of a state university, unless such member elects, pursuant to s. 121.35, to participate in the optional retirement program.

(e)  Effective January 1, 1991, participation in the Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for the number of senior managers who have policymaking authority with the State Board of Administration, as determined by the Governor, Treasurer, and Comptroller acting as the State Board of Administration, unless such member elects to participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as established in subsection (6) in lieu of participation in the Senior Management Service Class. Such election shall be made in writing and filed with the division and the personnel officer of the State Board of Administration within 90 days after becoming eligible for membership in the Senior Management Service Class.

(f)  Effective July 1, 1997:

1.  Any elected state officer eligible for membership in the Elected State and County Officers' Class under s. 121.052(2)(a), (b), or (c) who elects membership in the Senior Management Service Class under s. 121.052(3)(c) may, within 6 months after assuming office or within 6 months after this act becomes a law for serving elected state officers, elect to participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program, as provided in subsection (6), in lieu of membership in the Senior Management Service Class.

2.  Any elected county officer eligible for membership in the Elected State and County Officers' Class under s. 121.052(2)(d) who elects membership in the Senior Management Service Class under s. 121.052(3)(c) may, within 6 months after assuming office, or within 6 months after this act becomes a law for serving elected county officers, elect to participate in a lifetime monthly annuity program, as provided in subparagraph (b)2., in lieu of membership in the Senior Management Service Class.

(g)  Effective July 1, 1996, participation in the Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for any member of the Florida Retirement System employed with the Department of Military Affairs in the positions of the Adjutant General, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Assistant Adjutant General-Air, State Quartermaster, Director of Military Personnel, Director of Administration, and additional directors as designated by the agency head, not to exceed a total of 10 positions. In lieu of participation in the Senior Management Service Class, such members may participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as established in subsection (6).

(h)

1.  Except as provided in subparagraph 3., effective January 1, 1994, participation in the Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for the State Courts Administrator and the Deputy State Courts Administrators, the Clerk of the Supreme Court, the Marshal of the Supreme Court, the Executive Director of the Justice Administrative Commission, the Capital Collateral Representative, the clerks of the district courts of appeals, the marshals of the district courts of appeals, and the trial court administrator in each judicial circuit. Effective January 1, 1994, additional positions in the offices of the state attorney and public defender in each judicial circuit may be designated for inclusion in the Senior Management Service Class of the Florida Retirement System, provided that:

a.  Positions to be included in the class shall be designated by the state attorney or public defender, as appropriate. Notice of intent to designate positions for inclusion in the class shall be published once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation published in the county or counties affected, as provided in chapter 50.

b.  One nonelective full-time position may be designated for each state attorney and public defender reporting to the Division of Retirement; for agencies with 200 or more regularly established positions under the state attorney or public defender, additional nonelective full-time positions may be designated, not to exceed 0.5 percent of the regularly established positions within the agency.

c.  Each position added to the class must be a managerial or policymaking position filled by an employee who serves at the pleasure of the state attorney or public defender without civil service protection, and who:

(I)  Heads an organizational unit; or

(II)  Has responsibility to effect or recommend personnel, budget, expenditure, or policy decisions in his or her areas of responsibility.

2.  Participation in this class shall be compulsory, except as provided in subparagraph 3., for any judicial employee who holds a position designated for coverage in the Senior Management Service Class and such participation shall continue until the employee terminates employment in a covered position.

3.  In lieu of participation in the Senior Management Service Class, such members may participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as established in subsection (6).

(i)  Except as may otherwise be provided, any member of the Senior Management Service Class may purchase additional retirement credit in such class for creditable service within the purview of the Senior Management Service Class retroactive to February 1, 1987, and may upgrade retirement credit for such service, to the extent of 2 percent of the member's average monthly compensation as specified in paragraph (4)(d) for such service. Contributions for upgrading the additional Senior Management Service credit pursuant to this paragraph shall be equal to the difference in the contributions paid and the Senior Management Service Class contribution rate as a percentage of gross salary in effect for the period being claimed, plus interest thereon at the rate of 6.5 percent a year, compounded annually until the date of payment. This service credit may be purchased by the employer on behalf of the member.

(2)

(a)  Participation in this class shall cease when the member terminates employment in an eligible position. Once a position is designated as eligible for inclusion in the class, that position shall not be removed from the class unless the duties and responsibilities of the position change substantially and therefore no longer meet the requirements provided in this section for participation in the class, except as provided in paragraph (b).

(b)  Effective July 1, 1997, each local agency employer may between July 1, 1997, and December 31, 1997, reassess its designation of positions for inclusion in the Senior Management Service Class as provided in paragraph (1)(b), and may request removal from the class of any such positions that it deems appropriate. Such removal of any previously designated positions shall be effective on the first day of the month following written notification of removal to the division prior to January 1, 1998.

(3)

(a)  The following table states the required retirement contribution rates for members of the Senior Management Service Class and their employers in terms of a percentage of the member's gross compensation. A change in the contribution rate is effective with the first salary paid on or after the beginning date of the change. Contributions shall be made for each pay period and are in addition to the contributions required for social security and the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

(b)  The employer paying the salary of a member of the Senior Management Service Class shall contribute an amount as specified in this section which shall constitute the entire employer retirement contribution with respect to such member. The employer shall also withhold one-half of the entire contribution of the member required for social security coverage.

(c)  The following table states the required employer contribution on behalf of each member of the Senior Management Service Class in terms of a percentage of the member's gross compensation. Such contribution constitutes the entire health insurance subsidy contribution with respect to the member. A change in the contribution rate is effective with the first salary paid on or after the beginning date of the change. The retiree health insurance subsidy contribution rate is as follows:

(4)

(a)  The definitions set forth in s. 121.021 and all other provisions of this chapter shall apply to the Senior Management Service Class, except the definitions and provisions in conflict with, or superseded or modified by, the provisions of this section.

(b)  Service in an eligible position prior to February 1, 1987, or after January 31, 1987, shall satisfy the requirement of attaining the normal retirement date as defined in s. 121.021(29) for a Senior Management Service Class member, provided the employee is a member of the Senior Management Service Class after January 31, 1987. A member of this class who fails to complete 7 years of creditable service in an eligible position shall be required to satisfy the requirements for the normal retirement date for a regular member as provided in s. 121.021(29).

(c)  The average final compensation of a member of this class shall be as defined in s. 121.021(24).

(d)  A member of the Senior Management Service Class shall receive retirement credit at the rate of 2 percent of average final compensation for each year of service in such class after January 31, 1987.

(5)  A member of the Senior Management Service Class shall retain all rights and creditable service accumulated in the Florida Retirement System prior to membership in the Senior Management Service Class.

(6)

(a)  The Department of Management Services shall establish a Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program under which contracts providing retirement, death, and disability benefits may be purchased for those employees who elect to participate in the optional annuity program. The benefits to be provided for or on behalf of participants in such optional annuity program shall be provided through individual contracts or individual certificates issued for group annuity contracts, which may be fixed, variable, or a combination thereof. Any such individual contract or certificate shall state the annuity plan on its face page, and shall include, but not be limited to, a statement of ownership, the contract benefits, annuity income options, limitations, expense charges, and surrender charges, if any. The employing agency shall contribute, as provided in this section, toward the purchase of such optional benefits which shall be fully and immediately vested in the participants.

(b)  An eligible employee who is a member of the Florida Retirement System or an existing retirement system at the time of his or her election to participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program shall retain all retirement service credit earned under the retirement system from which he or she transferred; however, no additional service credit in the Florida Retirement System or existing retirement system shall be earned while the employee participates in the optional annuity program, nor shall the employee be eligible for disability retirement under the Florida Retirement System or existing retirement system.

(c)

1.  Any eligible employee who is employed on or before February 1, 1987, may elect to participate in the optional annuity program in lieu of participation in the Senior Management Service Class. Such election shall be made in writing and filed with the department and the personnel officer of the employer on or before May 1, 1987. Any eligible employee who is employed on or before February 1, 1987, and who fails to make an election to participate in the optional annuity program by May 1, 1987, shall be deemed to have elected membership in the Senior Management Service Class.

2.  Any employee who becomes eligible to participate in the optional annuity program by reason of initial employment commencing after February 1, 1987, may, within 90 days after the date of commencement of employment, elect to participate in the optional annuity program. Such election shall be made in writing and filed with the personnel officer of the employer. Any eligible employee who does not within 90 days after commencement of such employment elect to participate in the optional annuity program shall be deemed to have elected membership in the Senior Management Service Class.

3.  A person who is appointed to a position in the Senior Management Service Class and who is a member of an existing retirement system or the Special Risk or Special Risk Administrative Support Classes of the Florida Retirement System may elect to remain in such system or class in lieu of participation in the Senior Management Service Class or optional annuity program. Such election shall be made in writing and filed with the department and the personnel officer of the employer within 90 days of such appointment. Any eligible employee who fails to make an election to participate in the existing system, the Special Risk Class of the Florida Retirement System, the Special Risk Administrative Support Class of the Florida Retirement System, or the optional annuity program shall be deemed to have elected membership in the Senior Management Service Class.

(d)

1.  Each employer shall contribute on behalf of each participant in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program an amount equal to the normal cost portion of the employer retirement contribution which would be required if the participant were a Senior Management Service Class member of the Florida Retirement System, plus the portion of the contribution rate required in s. 112.363(8) that would otherwise be assigned to the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund, less an amount approved by the Legislature which shall be deducted by the division to provide for the administration of this program. The payment of the contributions to the optional program which is required by this subparagraph for each participant shall be made by the employer to the division which shall forward the contributions to the designated company or companies contracting for payment of benefits for the participant under the program.

2.  Each employer shall contribute on behalf of each participant in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program an amount equal to the unfunded actuarial accrued liability portion of the employer contribution which would be required for members of the Senior Management Service Class in the Florida Retirement System. This contribution shall be paid to the division for transfer to the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund.

3.  Contributions required for social security by each employer and each participant, in the amount required for social security coverage as now or hereafter may be provided by the federal Social Security Act shall be maintained for each participant in the Senior Management Service retirement program and shall be in addition to the retirement contributions specified in this paragraph.

4.  Each participant in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program may contribute by way of salary reduction or deduction a percentage amount of the participant's gross compensation not to exceed the percentage amount contributed by the employer to the optional annuity program. Payment of the participant's contributions shall be made by the employer to the division which shall forward the contributions to the designated company or companies contracting for payment of benefits for the participant under the program.

(e)

1.  Benefits shall be payable under the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program only to participants in the program or their beneficiaries, and such benefits shall be paid by the designated company in accordance with the terms of the annuity contract or contracts applicable to the participant. Benefits funded by employer contributions shall be payable only as a lifetime annuity to the participant, his beneficiary, or his estate, except for:

a.  A lump-sum payment to the beneficiary upon the death of the participant; or

b.  A cash-out of a de minimis account upon the request of a former participant who has been terminated for a minimum of 6 months from the employment that entitled him to Optional Retirement Program participation. A de minimis account is an account with a provider company containing employer contributions and accumulated earnings of not more than $3,500 made under the provisions of this chapter. Such cash-out must be a complete liquidation of the account balance with that company and is subject to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

2.  The benefits payable to any person under the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program, and any contribution accumulated under such program, shall not be subject to assignment, execution, or attachment or to any legal process whatsoever.

(f)

1.  The Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program authorized by this section shall be administered by the Division of Retirement. The division shall designate one or more provider companies from which annuity contracts may be purchased under the program and shall approve the form and content of the contracts.

2.  Effective July 1, 1997, the State Board of Administration shall review and make recommendations to the division on the acceptability of all investment products proposed by provider companies of the optional annuity program before such products are offered through annuity contracts to the participants and may advise the division of any changes deemed necessary to ensure that the optional annuity program offers an acceptable mix of investment products. The division shall make the final determination as to whether an investment product will be approved for the program.

3.  The provisions of each contract applicable to a participant in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program shall be contained in a written program description which shall include a report of pertinent financial and actuarial information on the solvency and actuarial soundness of the program and the benefits applicable to the participant. Such description shall be furnished by the company or companies to each participant in the program and to the division upon commencement of participation in the program and annually thereafter.

4.  The division shall ensure that each participant in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program is provided an accounting of the total contribution and the annual contribution made by and on behalf of such participants.

History.--s. 14, ch. 86-149; s. 7, ch. 87-373; s. 10, ch. 88-382; s. 2, ch. 89-126; s. 35, ch. 89-207; s. 11, ch. 90-274; s. 19, ch. 90-365; s. 56, ch. 92-279; s. 55, ch. 92-326; s. 6, ch. 93-193; s. 3, ch. 93-285; s. 7, ch. 94-259; s. 1425, ch. 95-147; s. 2, ch. 96-278; s. 6, ch. 96-368; s. 5, ch. 96-423; s. 5, ch. 97-180.