House Bill 3491

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

        By Representative Boyd






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Florida Retirement

  3         System; amending s. 112.363, F.S.; increasing

  4         the retiree health insurance subsidy payment

  5         and the contribution rate; providing for

  6         retroactive payments under certain

  7         circumstances; amending s. 121.011, F.S.;

  8         clarifying benefits payable under existing

  9         systems; amending ss. 121.052, 121.055, and

10         121.071, F.S.; changing contribution rates for

11         specified classes and subclasses of the system

12         and for the retiree health insurance subsidy;

13         amending s. 121.091, F.S.; providing for

14         benefit computations using dual retirement ages

15         for service in the Senior Management Service

16         Class and the Elected State and County

17         Officer's Class; providing for nullification of

18         a joint annuitant designation in the event of

19         dissolution of marriage; providing for purchase

20         of additional service credit using a deceased

21         member's accumulated leave, out-of-state

22         service, or in-state service under certain

23         circumstances; specifying that a member's

24         spouse at the time of death shall be the

25         member's beneficiary  under certain

26         circumstances; amending s. 121.122, F.S.;

27         allowing members with renewed membership in the

28         Senior Management Service Class to purchase

29         additional retirement credit for certain

30         postretirement service; amending s. 121.40,

31         F.S.; changing contribution rates for the

                                  1

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

    590-121B-98






  1         supplemental retirement plan for the Institute

  2         of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the

  3         University of Florida; repealing ss. 121.0505

  4         and 121.0516, F.S.; relating to duplicative

  5         contribution rates; directing the Division of

  6         Statutory Revision to make described

  7         adjustments to the statutes with respect to

  8         contribution rates; providing a finding of

  9         important state interest; providing an

10         effective date.

11

12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

13

14         Section 1.  Paragraph (d) is added to subsection (3),

15  paragraph (e) is added to subsection (8), and subsection (9)

16  of section 112.363, Florida Statutes, is amended, to read:

17         112.363  Retiree health insurance subsidy.--

18         (3)  RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE SUBSIDY AMOUNT.--

19         (d)  Beginning January 1, 1999, each eligible retiree

20  or a beneficiary who is a spouse or financial dependent shall

21  receive a monthly retiree health insurance subsidy payment

22  equal to the number of years of creditable service, as defined

23  in s. 121.021(17), completed at the time of retirement

24  multiplied by $4; however, no retiree may receive a subsidy

25  payment of more than $120 or less than $40.

26         (8)  CONTRIBUTIONS.--For purposes of funding the

27  insurance subsidy provided by this section:

28         (e)  Beginning July 1, 1998, the employer of each

29  member of a state-administered retirement plan shall

30  contribute 0.80 percent of gross compensation each pay period.

31

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

    590-121B-98






  1  Such contributions shall be submitted to the Division of

  2  Retirement and deposited in the Retiree Health Insurance

  3  Subsidy Trust Fund.

  4         (9)  BENEFITS.--Subsidy payments shall be payable under

  5  the retiree health insurance subsidy program only to

  6  participants in the program or their beneficiaries. If the

  7  division receives certification of coverage for health

  8  insurance for the retiree or beneficiary within 6 months after

  9  retirement benefits commence, the Retiree Health Insurance

10  Subsidy shall be paid retroactive to the effective retirement

11  date.  However, if the division receives the certification of

12  insurance coverage 6 or more months after retirement benefits

13  commence, the member will be eligible to receive retroactive

14  payments for a maximum of 6 months only. Such subsidy payments

15  shall not be subject to assignment, execution, or attachment

16  or to any legal process whatsoever.

17         Section 2.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section

18  121.011, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

19         121.011  Florida Retirement System.--

20         (2)  CONSOLIDATION OF EXISTING SYSTEMS AND LAWS.--

21         (b)  The chapters or retirement system laws named in

22  paragraph (a) are hereby consolidated as separate instruments

23  appended to the "Florida Retirement System Act" established by

24  this chapter, and the administration of said chapters or

25  retirement systems shall be consolidated with the

26  administration of the Florida Retirement System established by

27  this chapter and the Florida Retirement System shall assume

28  all liabilities related to the payment of benefits to members

29  and their beneficiaries.

30         Section 3.  Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (7) of

31  section 121.052, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

                                  3

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

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  1         121.052  Membership class of elected state and county

  2  officers.--

  3         (7)  CONTRIBUTIONS.--

  4         (a)  The following table states the required retirement

  5  contribution rates for members of the Elected State and County

  6  Officers' Class and their employers in terms of a percentage

  7  of the member's gross compensation. A change in a contribution

  8  rate is effective with the first salary paid on or after the

  9  beginning date of the change. Contributions shall be made or

10  deducted as may be appropriate for each pay period and are in

11  addition to the contributions required for social security and

12  the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

13

14  Dates of Contribution

15    Rate Changes                             Members   Employers

16

17  July 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977

18    Legislators                                 8%           8%

19    All Other Members                           8%           8%

20

21  October 1, 1977, through September 30, 1978

22    Legislators                                 8%           8%

23    All Other Members                           4%          12%

24

25  October 1, 1978, through September 30, 1979

26    Legislators                                 8%       10.57%

27    All Other Members                           4%       16.78%

28

29  October 1, 1979, through September 30, 1981

30    Legislators                                 8%       10.57%

31    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

                                  4

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  1      Officers                                  4%       16.78%

  2    All Other Members                           0%       20.78%

  3

  4  July 1, 1981, through June 30, 1984

  5    County Elected Officers                     0%       19.30%

  6

  7  July 1, 1984, through September 30, 1984

  8    County Elected Officers                     0%       20.25%

  9

10  October 1, 1981, through September 30, 1984

11    Legislators                                 0%       19.30%

12    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

13      Officers                                  0%       21.03%

14    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       20.95%

15    Justices, Judges                            0%       22.55%

16

17  October 1, 1984, through September 30, 1986

18    Legislators                                 0%       10.98%

19    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

20      Officers                                  0%       10.98%

21    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       10.98%

22    Justices, Judges                            0%       21.79%

23    County Elected Officers                     0%       16.97%

24

25  October 1, 1986, through December 31, 1988

26    Legislators                                 0%       11.50%

27    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

28      Officers                                  0%       11.50%

29    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       11.50%

30    Justices, Judges                            0%       20.94%

31    County Elected Officers                     0%       17.19%

                                  5

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

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  1

  2  January 1, 1989, through December 31, 1989

  3    Legislators                                 0%       13.70%

  4    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

  5      Officers                                  0%       13.70%

  6    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       13.70%

  7    Justices, Judges                            0%       22.58%

  8    County Elected Officers                     0%       18.44%

  9

10  January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1990

11    Legislators                                 0%       15.91%

12    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

13      Officers                                  0%       15.91%

14    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       15.91%

15    Justices, Judges                            0%       24.22%

16    County Elected Officers                     0%       19.71%

17

18  January 1, 1991, through December 31, 1991

19    Legislators                                 0%       17.73%

20    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

21      Officers                                  0%       17.73%

22    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       17.73%

23    Justices, Judges                            0%       26.63%

24    County Elected Officers                     0%       23.32%

25

26  January 1, 1992, through December 31, 1992

27    Legislators                                 0%       19.94%

28    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

29      Officers                                  0%       19.94%

30    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       19.94%

31    Justices, Judges                            0%       28.27%

                                  6

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  1    County Elected Officers                     0%       24.59%

  2

  3  January 1, 1993, through December 31, 1993

  4    Legislators                                 0%       22.14%

  5    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

  6      Officers                                  0%       22.14%

  7    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       22.14%

  8    Justices, Judges                            0%       29.91%

  9    County Elected Officers                     0%       25.84%

10

11  January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994

12    Legislators                                 0%       22.65%

13    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

14      Officers                                  0%       22.65%

15    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       22.65%

16    Justices, Judges                            0%       30.52%

17    County Elected Officers                     0%       26.07%

18

19  January 1, 1995, through December 31, 1995

20    Legislators                                 0%       22.80%

21    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

22      Officers                                  0%       22.80%

23    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       22.80%

24    Justices, Judges                            0%       30.21%

25    County Elected Officers                     0%       27.48%

26

27  January 1, 1996, through June 30, 1996

28    Legislators                                 0%       22.90%

29    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

30      Officers                                  0%       22.90%

31    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       22.90%

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

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  1    Justices, Judges                            0%       30.15%

  2    County Elected Officers                     0%       27.54%

  3

  4  Effective July 1, 1996 through June 30, 1998

  5    Legislators                                 0%       23.07%

  6    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

  7      Officers                                  0%       23.07%

  8    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       23.07%

  9    Justices, Judges                            0%       29.55%

10    County Elected Officers                     0%       27.33%

11

12  Effective July 1, 1998

13  Legislators                                   0%       22.33%

14  Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet Officers      0%       22.33%

15  State Attorneys, Public Defenders             0%       22.33%

16  Justices, Judges                              0%       27.21%

17  County elected officers                       0%       26.99%

18

19         (c)  The following table states the required employer

20  contribution on behalf of each member of the Elected State and

21  County Officers' Class in terms of a percentage of the

22  member's gross compensation. Such contribution constitutes the

23  entire health insurance subsidy contribution with respect to

24  the member. A change in the contribution rate is effective

25  with the first salary paid on or after the beginning date of

26  the change. The retiree health insurance subsidy contribution

27  rate is as follows:

28

29  Dates of Contribution                             Contribution

30    Rate Changes                                        Rate

31

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

    590-121B-98






  1  October 1, 1987, through December 31, 1988             0.24%

  2  January 1, 1989, through December 31, 1993             0.48%

  3  January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994             0.56%

  4  Effective January 1, 1995 through June 30,

  5  1998                                                   0.66%

  6  Effective July 1, 1998                                 0.80%

  7

  8  Such contributions shall be deposited by the administrator in

  9  the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

10         Section 4.  Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (3) of

11  section 121.055, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

12         121.055  Senior Management Service Class.--There is

13  hereby established a separate class of membership within the

14  Florida Retirement System to be known as the "Senior

15  Management Service Class," which shall become effective

16  February 1, 1987.

17         (3)(a)  The following table states the required

18  retirement contribution rates for members of the Senior

19  Management Service Class and their employers in terms of a

20  percentage of the member's gross compensation.  A change in

21  the contribution rate is effective with the first salary paid

22  on or after the beginning date of the change.  Contributions

23  shall be made for each pay period and are in addition to the

24  contributions required for social security and the Retiree

25  Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

26

27  Dates of Contribution

28    Rate Changes                          Members   Employers

29

30  February 1, 1987, through

31    December 31, 1988                       0%       13.88%

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

    590-121B-98






  1  January 1, 1989, through

  2    December 31, 1989                       0%       14.95%

  3  January 1, 1990, through

  4    December 31, 1990                       0%       16.04%

  5  January 1, 1991, through

  6    December 31, 1991                       0%       18.39%

  7  January 1, 1992, through

  8    December 31, 1992                       0%       19.48%

  9  January 1, 1993, through

10    December 31, 1993                       0%       20.55%

11  January 1, 1994, through

12    December 31, 1994                       0%       23.07%

13  January 1, 1995, through

14    December 31, 1995                       0%       23.88%

15  January 1, 1996, through

16    June 30, 1996                           0%       24.14%

17  Effective July 1, 1996 through June 30,

18  1998                                      0%       21.58%

19  Effective July 1, 1998                    0%       23.10%

20

21         (c)  The following table states the required employer

22  contribution on behalf of each member of the Senior Management

23  Service Class in terms of a percentage of the member's gross

24  compensation.  Such contribution constitutes the entire health

25  insurance subsidy contribution with respect to the member. A

26  change in the contribution rate is effective with the first

27  salary paid on or after the beginning date of the change.  The

28  retiree health insurance subsidy contribution rate is as

29  follows:

30

31

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

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  1  Dates of Contribution                             Contribution

  2    Rate Changes                                        Rate

  3

  4  October 1, 1987, through December 31, 1988             0.24%

  5  January 1, 1989, through December 31, 1993             0.48%

  6  January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994             0.56%

  7  Effective January 1, 1995 through June 30,

  8  1998                                                   0.66%

  9  Effective July 1, 1998                                 0.80%

10

11  Such contributions shall be deposited by the administrator in

12  the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

13         Section 5.  Subsections (1) and (4) of section 121.071,

14  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         121.071  Contributions.--Contributions to the system

16  shall be made as follows:

17         (1)  The following tables state the required retirement

18  contribution rates for members of the Regular Class, Special

19  Risk Class, or Special Risk Administrative Support Class and

20  their employers in terms of a percentage of the member's gross

21  compensation.  A change in a contribution rate is effective

22  with the first salary paid on or after the beginning date of

23  the change. Contributions shall be made or deducted as may be

24  appropriate for each pay period and are in addition to the

25  contributions required for social security and the Retiree

26  Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

27         (a)  Retirement contributions for regular members are

28  as follows:

29

30  Dates of Contribution

31    Rate Changes                             Members   Employers

                                  11

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

    590-121B-98






  1

  2  December 1, 1970, through December

  3    31, 1974, for state agencies, state

  4    universities, community colleges,

  5    and district school boards                  4%           4%

  6

  7  December 1, 1970, through September

  8    30, 1975, for all other local

  9    government agencies                         4%           4%

10

11  January 1, 1975, through September

12    30, 1978, for state agencies and

13    state universities                          0%           9%

14

15  January 1, 1975, through July 31,

16    1978, for community colleges and

17    district school boards                      0%           9%

18

19  October 1, 1975, through September

20    30, 1978, for all other local

21    government agencies                         0%           9%

22

23  August 1, 1978, through September 30,

24    1981, for community colleges and

25    district school boards                      0%         9.1%

26

27  October 1, 1978, through September

28    30, 1981, for all other agencies            0%         9.1%

29

30  October 1, 1981, through

31    September 30, 1984                          0%       10.93%

                                  12

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

    590-121B-98






  1  October 1, 1984, through

  2    September 30, 1986                          0%       12.24%

  3  October 1, 1986, through

  4    December 31, 1988                           0%       13.14%

  5  January 1, 1989, through

  6    December 31, 1989                           0%       13.90%

  7  January 1, 1990, through

  8    December 31, 1990                           0%       14.66%

  9  January 1, 1991, through

10    December 31, 1991                           0%       15.72%

11  January 1, 1992, through

12    December 31, 1992                           0%       16.51%

13  January 1, 1993, through

14    December 31, 1993                           0%       17.27%

15  January 1, 1994, through

16    December 31, 1994                           0%       17.10%

17  January 1, 1995, through

18    December 31, 1995                           0%       16.91%

19  January 1, 1996, through

20    June 30, 1996                               0%       17.00%

21  Effective July 1, 1996 through June 30,

22  1998                                          0%       16.77%

23  Effective July 1, 1998                        0%       15.51%

24

25         (b)  Retirement contributions for special risk members

26  are as follows:

27

28  Dates of Contribution

29    Rate Changes                             Members   Employers

30

31  December 1, 1970, through

                                  13

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  1    September 30, 1974                          6%           6%

  2

  3  October 1, 1974, through December 31,

  4    1974, for state agencies, state

  5    universities, community colleges,

  6    and district school boards                  8%           8%

  7

  8  October 1, 1974, through September

  9    30, 1975, for all other local

10    government agencies                         8%           8%

11

12  January 1, 1975, through September

13    30, 1978, for state agencies, state

14    universities, community colleges,

15    and district school boards                  0%          13%

16

17  October 1, 1975, through September

18    30, 1978, for other local

19    government agencies                         0%          13%

20

21  October 1, 1978, through

22    September 30, 1981                          0%       13.95%

23  October 1, 1981, through

24    September 30, 1984                          0%       13.91%

25  October 1, 1984, through

26    September 30, 1986                          0%       14.67%

27  October 1, 1986, through

28    December 31, 1988                           0%       15.11%

29  January 1, 1989, through

30    December 31, 1989                           0%       17.50%

31  January 1, 1990, through

                                  14

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  1    December 31, 1990                           0%       19.90%

  2  January 1, 1991, through

  3    December 31, 1991                           0%       25.52%

  4  January 1, 1992, through

  5    December 31, 1992                           0%       26.35%

  6  January 1, 1993, through

  7    December 31, 1993                           0%       27.14%

  8  January 1, 1994, through

  9    December 31, 1994                           0%       27.03%

10  January 1, 1995, through

11    December 31, 1995                           0%       26.83%

12  January 1, 1996, through

13    June 30, 1996                               0%       26.84%

14  Effective July 1, 1996 through June 30,

15  1998                                          0%       26.44%

16  Effective July 1, 1998                        0%       24.38%

17

18         (c)  Retirement contributions for special risk

19  administrative support members are as follows:

20

21  Dates of Contribution

22    Rate Changes                             Members   Employers

23

24  July 1, 1982, through

25    September 30, 1984                          0%       11.14%

26  October 1, 1984, through

27    September 30, 1986                          0%       13.09%

28  October 1, 1986, through

29    December 31, 1988                           0%       15.44%

30  January 1, 1989, through

31    December 31, 1989                           0%       14.76%

                                  15

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  1  January 1, 1990, through

  2    December 31, 1990                           0%       14.09%

  3  January 1, 1991, through

  4    December 31, 1991                           0%       20.16%

  5  January 1, 1992, through

  6    December 31, 1992                           0%       19.51%

  7  January 1, 1993, through

  8    December 31, 1993                           0%       18.83%

  9  January 1, 1994, through

10    December 31, 1994                           0%       18.59%

11  January 1, 1995, through

12    December 31, 1995                           0%       17.81%

13  January 1, 1996, through

14    June 30, 1996                               0%       17.80%

15  Effective July 1, 1996 through June 30,

16  1998                                          0%       17.20%

17  Effective July 1, 1998                        0%       14.64%

18

19         (4)  The following table states the required employer

20  contribution on behalf of each member of the Regular Class,

21  Special Risk Class, or Special Risk Administrative Support

22  Class in terms of a percentage of the member's gross

23  compensation.  Such contribution constitutes the entire health

24  insurance subsidy contribution with respect to the member.  A

25  change in the contribution rate is effective with the first

26  salary paid on or after the beginning date of the change. The

27  retiree health insurance subsidy contribution rate is as

28  follows:

29

30  Dates of Contribution                             Contribution

31    Rate Changes                                        Rate

                                  16

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

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  1

  2  October 1, 1987, through December 31, 1988             0.24%

  3  January 1, 1989, through December 31, 1993             0.48%

  4  January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994             0.56%

  5  Effective January 1, 1995 through June 30.

  6  1998                                                   0.66%

  7  Effective July 1, 1998                                 0.80%

  8

  9  Such contributions shall be deposited by the administrator in

10  the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

11         Section 6.  Subsection (2), paragraph (d) of subsection

12  (6), paragraph (a) of subsection (7), and subsection (8) of

13  section 121.091, Florida Statutes, are amended, paragraphs (f)

14  and (g) of subsection (7) of said section are redesignated as

15  paragraphs (g) and (h), respectively, and a new paragraph (f)

16  is added to said subsection, to read:

17         121.091  Benefits payable under the system.--No

18  benefits shall be paid under this section unless the member

19  has terminated employment as provided in s. 121.021(39) and a

20  proper application has been filed in the manner prescribed by

21  the division.

22         (2)  BENEFITS PAYABLE FOR DUAL NORMAL RETIREMENT

23  AGES.--In the event a member accumulates retirement benefits

24  to commence at different normal retirement ages by virtue of

25  having performed duties for an employer which would entitle

26  him or her to benefits as both a regular member and special

27  risk member of the Special Risk Class and a member of either

28  the Regular Class, Senior Management Service Class, or Elected

29  State and County Officers' Class, the amount of benefits

30  payable shall be computed separately with respect to each such

31

                                  17

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    Florida House of Representatives - 1998                HB 3491

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  1  age and the sum of such computed amounts shall be paid as

  2  provided in this section.

  3         (6)  OPTIONAL FORMS OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND

  4  DISABILITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS.--

  5         (d)  A member who elects the option in subparagraph

  6  (a)3. or subparagraph (a)4. shall, on a form provided for that

  7  purpose, designate a joint annuitant to receive the benefits

  8  which continue to be payable upon the death of the member.

  9  After benefits have commenced under the option in subparagraph

10  (a)3. or subparagraph (a)4., the following shall apply:

11         1.  A retired member may change his or her designation

12  of a joint annuitant only twice.  If such a retired member

13  desires to change his or her designation of a joint annuitant,

14  he or she shall file with the division a notarized "change of

15  joint annuitant" form and shall notify the former joint

16  annuitant in writing of such change.  Upon receipt of a

17  completed change of joint annuitant form, the division shall

18  adjust the member's monthly benefit by the application of

19  actuarial tables and calculations developed to ensure that the

20  benefit paid is the actuarial equivalent of the present value

21  of the member's current benefit.  The consent of a retired

22  member's first designated joint annuitant to any such change

23  shall not be required.

24         2.  In the event of the dissolution of marriage of a

25  retired member and a joint annuitant, such member may make an

26  election to nullify the joint annuitant designation of the

27  former spouse, unless there is an existing qualified domestic

28  relations order preventing such action.  The member shall file

29  with the division a written, notarized nullification which

30  shall be effective on the first day of the next month

31  following receipt by the division.  Benefits shall be paid as

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  1  if the former spouse predeceased the member.  A member who

  2  makes such an election may not reverse the nullification but

  3  may designate a new joint annuitant in accordance with

  4  subparagraph 1.

  5         (7)  DEATH BENEFITS.--

  6         (a)  If the employment of a member is terminated by

  7  reason of his or her death prior to the completion of 10 years

  8  of creditable service, except as provided in paragraph (f),

  9  there shall be payable to his or her designated beneficiary

10  the member's accumulated contributions.

11         (f)  Notwithstanding any other provisions in this

12  chapter to the contrary and upon application to the

13  administrator, the surviving spouse, or other eligible joint

14  annuitant of a member, whose employment is terminated by death

15  within 1 year of such member satisfying the service

16  requirements for vesting and retirement eligibility shall be

17  permitted to purchase only the additional service credit

18  necessary to vest and qualify for retirement benefits by one

19  of the following methods:

20         1.  Such spouse or joint annuitant may use the deceased

21  member's accumulated hours of annual, sick, and compensatory

22  leave to purchase additional creditable service, on an hour by

23  hour basis, provided that such deceased member's accumulated

24  leave is sufficient to cover the additional months required.

25  For each month of service credit needed prior to the final

26  month, credit for the total number of work hours in that month

27  must be purchased, using an equal number of the deceased

28  member's accumulated leave hours.  Service credit required for

29  the final month in which the deceased member would have become

30  vested shall be awarded upon the purchase of 1 hour of credit.

31  The spouse or joint annuitant shall pay the contribution rate

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  1  in effect at the time of purchase of the deceased member's

  2  class of membership, multiplied by such member's monthly

  3  salary at the time of death.  The accumulated leave payment

  4  used in the average final compensation shall not include that

  5  portion of the payment that represents any leave hours used in

  6  the purchase of such creditable service.

  7         2.  Such spouse or joint annuitant may purchase

  8  additional months of creditable service, up to a maximum of 1

  9  year, for any periods of out-of-state service as provided in

10  s. 121.1115, or in-state service as provided in s. 121.1122,

11  that the deceased member would have been eligible to purchase

12  prior to his or her death.

13

14  Service purchased under this paragraph shall be added to the

15  creditable service of the member and used to vest for

16  retirement eligibility, and shall be used in the calculation

17  of any benefits which may be payable to the surviving spouse

18  or eligible joint annuitant.  Any benefits paid in accordance

19  with this paragraph shall only be made prospectively.

20         (8)  DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARIES.--Each member may, on

21  a form provided for that purpose, signed and filed with the

22  division, designate a choice of one or more persons, named

23  sequentially or jointly, as his or her beneficiary who shall

24  receive the benefits, if any, which may be payable in the

25  event of the member's death pursuant to the provisions of this

26  chapter. If no beneficiary is named in the manner provided

27  above, or if no beneficiary designated by the member survives

28  the member, the beneficiary shall be the spouse of the

29  deceased, if living. If the member's spouse is not alive at

30  his or her death, the beneficiary shall be the living children

31  of the member.  If no children survive, the beneficiary shall

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  1  be the member's father or mother, if living; otherwise, the

  2  beneficiary shall be the member's estate.  The beneficiary

  3  most recently designated by a member on a form or letter filed

  4  with the division shall be the beneficiary entitled to any

  5  benefits payable at the time of the member's death, except

  6  benefits shall be paid as provided in paragraph (7)(d) when

  7  death occurs in the line of duty. Notwithstanding any other

  8  provisions in this subsection to the contrary, for a member

  9  who dies prior to his or her effective date of retirement on

10  or after January 1, 1999, the spouse at the time of death

11  shall be the member's beneficiary unless such member

12  designates a different beneficiary as provided herein

13  subsequent to the member's most recent marriage.

14         Section 7.  Subsection (3) of section 121.122, Florida

15  Statutes, is amended to read:

16         121.122  Renewed membership in system.--Except as

17  provided in s. 121.053, effective July 1, 1991, any retiree of

18  a state-administered retirement system who is employed in a

19  regularly established position with a covered employer shall

20  be enrolled as a compulsory member of the Regular Class of the

21  Florida Retirement System or, effective July 1, 1997, any

22  retiree of a state-administered retirement system who is

23  employed in a position included in the Senior Management

24  Service Class shall be enrolled as a compulsory member of the

25  Senior Management Service Class of the Florida Retirement

26  System as provided in s. 121.055, and shall be entitled to

27  receive an additional retirement benefit, subject to the

28  following conditions:

29         (3)  Such member shall be entitled to purchase

30  additional retirement credit in the Regular Class or the

31  Senior Management Service Class, as applicable, for any

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  1  postretirement service performed in a regularly established

  2  position as follows:

  3         (a)  For regular class service prior to July 1, 1991,

  4  by paying the Regular Class applicable employee and employer

  5  contributions for the period being claimed, plus 4 percent

  6  interest compounded annually from first year of service

  7  claimed until July 1, 1975, and 6.5 percent interest

  8  compounded thereafter, until full payment is made to the

  9  Florida Retirement System Trust Fund; or

10         (b)  For Senior Management Service Class prior to June

11  1, 1997, as provided in s. 121.055(1)(h).

12

13  The contribution for postretirement service between July 1,

14  1985, and July 1, 1991, for which the reemployed retiree

15  contribution was paid, shall be the difference between such

16  contribution and the total applicable contribution for the

17  period being claimed, plus interest.  The employer of such

18  member may pay the applicable employer contribution in lieu of

19  the member.

20         Section 8.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (12) of section

21  121.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

22         121.40  Cooperative extension personnel at the

23  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; supplemental

24  retirement benefits.--

25         (12)  CONTRIBUTIONS.--

26         (b)  The monthly contributions required to be paid

27  pursuant to paragraph (a) on the gross monthly salaries, from

28  all sources with respect to such employment, paid to those

29  employees of the institute who hold both state and federal

30  appointments and who participate in the federal Civil Service

31  Retirement System shall be as follows:

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  1

  2  Dates of Contribution                              Percentage

  3    Rate Changes                                        Due

  4

  5  July 1, 1985, through December 31, 1988              6.68%

  6  January 1, 1989, through December 31, 1993           6.35%

  7  January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994           6.69%

  8  January 1, 1995, through June 30, 1996               6.82%

  9  Effective July 1, 1996 through June 30,

10  1998                                                 5.64%

11  Effective July 1, 1998                               7.17%

12

13         Section 9.  Sections 121.0505 and 121.0516, Florida

14  Statutes, are repealed.

15         Section 10.  (1)  The changes to the retirement

16  contribution rates for the Florida Retirement System included

17  in this act are the result of the 1997 Actuarial Valuation of

18  the Florida Retirement System as recommended by the consulting

19  actuaries. These changes shall remain in effect until such

20  rates are further amended, or until such rates are adjusted as

21  provided in subsection (2).

22         (2)  The rate adjustments set forth in this act are in

23  addition to all other changes to such contribution rates which

24  are separately enacted into law and applicable on July 1,

25  1998.  With respect to such other changes, the Division of

26  Statutory Revision of the Joint Legislative Management

27  Committee is directed to edit the statutes as necessary to

28  adjust the contribution rate percentages listed under ss.

29  121.052(7)(a), 121.055(3)(a), and 121.071(1), Florida

30  Statutes, as appropriate.  Pursuant to s. 11.242(5)(i),

31  Florida Statutes, the provisions of this section shall be

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  1  omitted from publication in the Florida Statutes or any

  2  revision or supplement thereof.

  3         Section 11.  The Legislature finds that a proper and

  4  legitimate state purpose is served when employees and retirees

  5  of the state and its political subdivisions, and the

  6  dependents, survivors, and beneficiaries of such employees and

  7  retirees, are extended the basic protections afforded by

  8  governmental retirement systems that provide fair and adequate

  9  benefits and are managed, administered, and funded in an

10  actuarially sound manner, as required by s. 14, Art. X of the

11  State Constitution and part VII of chapter 112, Florida

12  Statutes.  Therefore, the Legislature hereby determines and

13  declares that the provisions of this act fulfill an important

14  state interest.

15         Section 12.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

16  law.

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  1            *****************************************

  2                          HOUSE SUMMARY

  3
      Revises various provisions in the Florida Retirement
  4    System to:
           1.  Increase the retiree health insurance subsidy
  5    payment and the contribution rate and to provide for
      retroactive payments under described circumstances.
  6         2.  Provide clarifying language with respect to
      benefits payable under existing systems.
  7         3.  Revise contribution rates for described classes
      and subclasses of the system and for the retiree health
  8    insurance subsidy.
           4.  Provide for benefit computation using dual
  9    normal retirement ages for service in the Senior
      Management Service Class and the Elected State and County
10    Officer's Class.
           5.  Provide for nullification of a joint annuitant
11    designation in the event of dissolution of marriage and
      to provide for purchase of additional service credit
12    using a deceased member's accumulated leave, out-of-state
      service, or in-state service under described
13    circumstances.
           6.  Specify that a member's spouse at the time of
14    death shall be the member's beneficiary under described
      circumstances.
15         7.  Permit members with renewed membership in the
      Senior Management Service Class to purchase additional
16    retirement credit for described postretirement service.
           8.  Revise the contribution rates for the
17    supplemental retirement plan for the Institute of Food
      and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida.
18         9.  Repeal language which contains duplicative
      contribution rates.
19
      See bill for details.
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