House Bill 3491e1

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  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 s. 121.021, F.S.; revising

10         and adding definitions; amending ss. 121.052,

11         121.055, and 121.071, F.S.; modifying the

12         statutory limit on the number of nonelective

13         full-time positions that may be designated by a

14         local agency employer for inclusion in the

15         Senior Management Service Class; providing that

16         judges of compensation claims under the

17         Worker's Compensation Law shall be compulsory

18         members of the Senior Management Service Class

19         and may elect to participate in the Senior

20         Management Service Optional Annuity Program in

21         lieu thereof; changing contribution rates for

22         specified classes and subclasses of the system

23         and for the retiree health insurance subsidy;

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

25         benefit computations using dual retirement ages

26         for service in the Senior Management Service

27         Class and the Elected Officer's Class;

28         providing for nullification of a joint

29         annuitant designation in the event of

30         dissolution of marriage; providing for purchase

31         of additional service credit using a deceased


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



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

  2         service, or in-state service under certain

  3         circumstances; specifying that a member's

  4         spouse at the time of death shall be the

  5         member's beneficiary under certain

  6         circumstances; providing a directive to statute

  7         editors; amending s. 121.1122, F.S.; deleting

  8         reference to nonsectarian schools and colleges;

  9         amending s. 121.121, F.S.; providing for

10         eligibility to purchase retirement credit for

11         certain leaves of absence; amending s. 121.122,

12         F.S.; allowing members with renewed membership

13         in the Senior Management Service Class to

14         purchase additional retirement credit for

15         certain postretirement service; amending s.

16         121.30, F.S.; conforming to the Internal

17         Revenue Code; creating s. 121.133, F.S.;

18         providing intent; requiring the Comptroller to

19         cancel any benefit warrant issued from the

20         Florida Retirement System Trust Fund, or from

21         certain other pension trust funds, if such

22         warrants are not presented within a specified

23         timeframe; providing that such funds shall be

24         transferred and recredited to specified trust

25         funds; providing for issuance of replacement

26         warrants; amending s. 121.40, F.S.; changing

27         contribution rates for the supplemental

28         retirement plan for the Institute of Food and

29         Agricultural Sciences at the University of

30         Florida; repealing ss. 121.0505 and 121.0516,

31         F.S.; relating to duplicative contribution


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         rates; directing the Division of Statutory

  2         Revision to make described adjustments to the

  3         statutes with respect to contribution rates;

  4         providing a finding of important state

  5         interest; providing effective dates.

  6

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

  8

  9         Section 1.  Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) and

10  paragraph (e) of subsection (8) of section 112.363, Florida

11  Statutes, are added to read:

12         112.363  Retiree health insurance subsidy.--

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

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

15  or, if the retiree is deceased, his or her beneficiary who is

16  receiving a monthly benefit from such retiree's account and

17  who is a spouse, or a person who meets the definition of joint

18  annuitant in s. 121.021(28), shall receive a monthly retiree

19  health insurance subsidy payment equal to the number of years

20  of creditable service, as defined in s. 121.021(17), completed

21  at the time of retirement multiplied by $5; however, no

22  eligible retiree or such beneficiary may receive a subsidy

23  payment of more than $150 or less than $50.  If there are

24  multiple beneficiaries, the total payment must not be greater

25  than the payment to which the retiree was entitled.

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 0.94 percent of gross compensation each pay period.

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  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, beginning

  7  with the month the division receives certification of coverage

  8  for health insurance for the eligible retiree or beneficiary.

  9  If the division receives such certification at any time during

10  the 6 months after retirement benefits commence, the retiree

11  health insurance subsidy shall be paid retroactive to the

12  effective retirement date. If, however, the division receives

13  such certification 7 or more months after commencement of

14  benefits, the retroactive retiree health insurance subsidy

15  payment will cover a maximum of 6 months. Such subsidy

16  payments shall not be subject to assignment, execution, or

17  attachment or to any legal process whatsoever.

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

19  121.011, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

20         121.011  Florida Retirement System.--

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

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

23  paragraph (a) are hereby consolidated as separate instruments

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

25  this chapter, and the administration of said chapters or

26  retirement systems shall be consolidated with the

27  administration of the Florida Retirement System established by

28  this chapter and the Florida Retirement System shall assume

29  all liabilities related to the payment of benefits to members

30  and their beneficiaries.

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         Section 3.  Effective July 1, 1998, subsections (22),

  2  (24), (28), (29), and (30) of section 121.021, Florida

  3  Statutes, are amended, and subsections (45) through (54) are

  4  added to said section, to read:

  5         121.021  Definitions.--The following words and phrases

  6  as used in this chapter have the respective meanings set forth

  7  unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

  8         (22)  "Compensation" means the monthly salary paid a

  9  member by his or her employer for work performed arising from

10  that employment., including

11         (a)  Compensation shall include:

12         1.  Overtime payments paid from a salary fund., except

13  that:

14         2.  Accumulated annual leave payments.

15         3.  Payments in addition to the employee's base rate of

16  pay if all the following apply:

17         a.  The payments are paid according to a formal written

18  policy that applies to all eligible employees equally;

19         b.  The policy provides that payments shall commence no

20  later than the 11th year of employment;

21         c.  The payments are paid for as long as the employee

22  continues his or her employment; and

23         d.  The payments are paid at least annually.

24         4.  Amounts withheld for tax sheltered annuities or

25  deferred compensation programs, or any other type of salary

26  reduction plan authorized under the Internal Revenue Code.

27         5.  Payments made in lieu of a permanent increase in

28  the base rate of pay, whether made annually or in 12 or 26

29  equal payments within a 12-month period, when the member's

30  base pay is at the maximum of his or her pay range. When a

31  portion of a member's annual increase raises his or her pay


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  range and the excess is paid as a lump sum payment, such lump

  2  sum payment shall be compensation for retirement purposes.

  3         (b)(a)  Under no circumstances shall compensation

  4  include:

  5         1.  Fees paid professional persons for special or

  6  particular services or include salary payments made from a

  7  faculty practice plan operated by rule of the Board of Regents

  8  for eligible clinical faculty at the University of Florida and

  9  the University of South Florida; or.

10         2. Any bonuses or other payments prohibited from

11  inclusion in the member's average final compensation and

12  defined in subsection (47).

13         (c)(b)  For all purposes under this chapter, the

14  member's compensation or gross compensation contributed as

15  employee-elective salary reductions or deferrals to any salary

16  reduction, deferred compensation, or tax-sheltered annuity

17  program authorized under the Internal Revenue Code shall be

18  deemed to be the compensation or gross compensation which the

19  member would receive if he or she were not participating in

20  such program and shall be treated as compensation for

21  retirement purposes under this chapter. Any public funds

22  otherwise paid by an employer into an employee's salary

23  reduction, deferred compensation, or tax-sheltered annuity

24  program on or after July 1, 1990 (the date as of which all

25  employers were notified in writing by the division to cease

26  making contributions to the System Trust Fund based on such

27  amounts), shall be considered a fringe benefit and shall not

28  be treated as compensation for retirement purposes under this

29  chapter.  However, if an employer was notified in writing by

30  the division to cease making such contributions as of a

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  different date, that employer shall be subject to the

  2  requirements of said written notice.

  3         (d)(c)  For any person who first becomes a member on or

  4  after July 1, 1996, compensation for any plan year shall not

  5  include any amounts in excess of the s. 401(a)(17), Internal

  6  Revenue Code limitation (as amended by the Omnibus Budget

  7  Reconciliation Act of 1993), which limitation of $150,000

  8  effective July 1, 1996, shall be adjusted as required by

  9  federal law for qualified government plans and shall be

10  further adjusted for changes in the cost of living in the

11  manner provided by s. 401(a)(17)(B), Internal Revenue Code.

12  For any person who first became a member prior to July 1,

13  1996, compensation for all plan years beginning on or after

14  July 1, 1990, shall not include any amounts in excess of the

15  compensation limitation (originally $200,000) established by

16  s. 401(a)(17), Internal Revenue Code prior to the Omnibus

17  Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, which limitation shall be

18  adjusted for changes in the cost of living since 1989, in the

19  manner provided by s. 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code

20  of 1991.  This limitation, which has been part of the Florida

21  Retirement System since plan years beginning on or after July

22  1, 1990, shall be adjusted as required by federal law for

23  qualified government plans.

24         (24)  "Average final compensation" means the average of

25  the 5 highest fiscal years of compensation for creditable

26  service prior to retirement, termination, or death.  For

27  in-line-of-duty disability benefits, if less than 5 years of

28  creditable service have been completed, the term "average

29  final compensation" means the average annual compensation of

30  the total number of years of creditable service.  Each year

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  used in the calculation of average final compensation shall

  2  commence on July 1.

  3         (a)  The average final compensation shall include:

  4         1.  Accumulated annual leave payments, not to exceed

  5  500 hours; and

  6         2.  All payments defined as compensation in subsection

  7  (22).

  8         (b)  The average final compensation shall not include:

  9         1.  Compensation paid to professional persons for

10  special or particular services;

11         2.  Payments for accumulated sick leave made due to

12  retirement or termination;

13         3.  Payments for accumulated annual leave in excess of

14  500 hours;

15         4.  Bonuses as defined in subsection (47);

16         5.  Third party payments made on and after July 1,

17  1990; or

18         6.  Fringe benefits (for example, automobile allowances

19  or housing allowances). The payment for accumulated sick

20  leave, accumulated annual leave in excess of 500 hours, and

21  bonuses, whether paid as salary or otherwise, shall not be

22  used in the calculation of the average final compensation.

23         (28)  "Joint annuitant" or "dependent beneficiary"

24  means any person designated by the member to receive a

25  retirement benefit upon the member's death who is either:

26         (a)  The spouse of the member;

27         (b)  The member's natural or adopted child who is under

28  age 25, or is physically or mentally disabled and incapable of

29  self-support, regardless of age; or any person other than the

30  spouse for whom the member is the legal guardian, provided

31  that such person is under age 25 and is financially dependent


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  for no less than one-half of his or her support from the

  2  member at retirement or at the time of death of such member,

  3  whichever occurs first; or

  4         (c)  A parent or grandparent, or a person age 25 or

  5  older for whom the member is the legal guardian, provided that

  6  such parent, grandparent, or other person is financially

  7  dependent for no less than one-half of his or her support from

  8  the member at retirement or at time of the death of such

  9  member, whichever occurs first.

10         (29)  "Normal retirement date" means the first day of

11  any month following the date a member attains one of the

12  following statuses:

13         (a)  If a Regular Class member, the member:

14         1.  Completes 10 or more years of creditable service

15  and attains age 62; or

16         2.(b)  Completes 30 years of creditable service,

17  regardless of age, which may include a maximum of 4 years of

18  military service credit as, so long as such credit is not

19  claimed under any other system., regardless of age;

20         (b)(c)  If a Special Risk Class member, the member:

21         1.  Completes 10 or more years of creditable service in

22  the Special Risk Class and attains age 55;

23         2.  Completes 25 years of creditable service in the

24  Special Risk Class, regardless of age; or

25         3.  Completes 25 years of creditable service and

26  attains age 52, which service may include a maximum of 4 years

27  of military service credit as long as such credit is not

28  claimed under any other system and the remaining years are in

29  the Special Risk Class., and attains age 52; or

30         (c)(d)  If a Senior Management Service Class member,

31  the member:


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         1.  Completes 7 years of creditable service in the

  2  Senior Management Service Class and attains age 62; or

  3         2.  Completes 30 years of any creditable service,

  4  regardless of age, which may include a maximum of 4 years of

  5  military service credit as long as such credit is not claimed

  6  under any other system; or, regardless of age.

  7         (d)  If an Elected State County Officers' Class member,

  8  the member:

  9         1.  Completes 8 years of creditable service in the

10  Elected State and County Officers' Class and attains age 62;

11  or

12         2.  Completes 30 years of any creditable service,

13  regardless of age, which may include a maximum of 4 years of

14  military service credit as long as such credit is not claimed

15  under any other system.

16

17  "Normal retirement age" is attained on the "normal retirement

18  date."

19         (30)  "Early retirement date" means the first day of

20  the month following the date a member becomes vested completes

21  10 years of creditable service and elects to receive

22  retirement benefits in accordance with this chapter. Such

23  benefits shall be based on average monthly compensation and

24  creditable service as of the member's early retirement date,

25  and the benefit so computed shall be reduced by five-twelfths

26  of 1 percent for each complete month by which the early

27  retirement date precedes his or her normal retirement date as

28  provided in s. 121.091(3).

29         (45)  "Vested" or "vesting" means the guarantee that a

30  member is eligible to receive a future retirement benefit upon

31  completion of the required years of creditable service for the


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  employee's class of membership even though the member may have

  2  terminated covered employment before reaching normal or early

  3  retirement date. Being vested does not entitle a member to a

  4  disability benefit based on a disability caused by an injury

  5  or disease that occurs after termination of covered

  6  employment.

  7         (46)  "Beneficiary" means the joint annuitant or any

  8  other person, organization, estate, or trust fund designated

  9  by the member to receive a retirement benefit, if any, which

10  may be payable upon the member's death.

11         (47)  "Bonus" means a payment made in addition to an

12  employee's regular or overtime salary. A bonus is usually

13  nonrecurring, does not increase the employee's base rate of

14  pay, and includes no commitment for payment in a subsequent

15  year. Such payments are not considered compensation. Effective

16  July 1, 1989, employers may not report such payments to the

17  division as salary, and may not make retirement contributions

18  on such payments.

19         (a)  A payment is a bonus if any of the following

20  circumstances apply:

21         1.  The payment is not made according to a formal

22  written policy that applies to all eligible employees equally.

23         2.  The payment commences later than the 11th year of

24  employment.

25         3.  The payment is not based on permanent eligibility.

26         4.  The payment is made less frequently than annually.

27         (b)  Bonuses shall include, but not be limited to, the

28  following:

29         1.  Exit bonus or severance pay.

30         2.  Longevity payments in conformance with the

31  provisions of paragraph (a).


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         3.  Salary increases granted pursuant to an employee's

  2  agreement to retire, including increases paid over several

  3  months or years prior to retirement.

  4         4.  Payments for accumulated overtime or compensatory

  5  time, reserve time, or holiday time worked, if not made within

  6  11 months of the month in which the work was performed.

  7         5.  Quality Instruction Incentives Program (QUIIP)

  8  Payments.

  9         6.  Lump sum payments in recognition of employees'

10  accomplishments.

11         (48)  "Accumulated annual leave payment" means any

12  payment, made either during an employee's employment or at

13  termination or retirement, for leave accrued during such

14  employee's career, which leave was intended for, but never

15  utilized by the employee for, his or her personal use. General

16  leave, which may be used for both sickness and vacation, is

17  considered accumulated annual leave. When leave is initially

18  accrued separately as annual leave or sick leave and is later

19  combined into a consolidated leave account, only the payment

20  for that portion of the account which represents annual leave

21  shall be considered as compensation. If any single lump-sum

22  annual leave payment, made at anytime during a member's

23  employment, exceeds 500 hours, only a maximum of 500 hours of

24  such annual leave payment shall be considered as compensation.

25         (49)  "Accumulated sick leave payment" means leave

26  accrued during an employee's career which was intended for use

27  in the event of sickness, injury, or other health problems of

28  a member or his or her family. General leave which may be used

29  for both sickness and vacation is not considered sick leave.

30  When leave is initially accrued separately as annual leave or

31  sick leave and is later combined into a consolidated leave


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  account, the payment for that portion of the account which

  2  represents sick leave shall not be considered compensation.

  3         (50)  "Independent contractor" means an individual who

  4  is not subject to the control and direction of the employer

  5  for whom work is being performed, with respect not only to

  6  what shall be done but to how it shall be done. If the

  7  employer has the right to exert such control, an

  8  employee-employer relationship exists, and, for purposes of

  9  this chapter, the person is an employee and not an independent

10  contractor. The division shall adopt rules providing criteria

11  for determining whether an individual is an employee or an

12  independent contractor.

13         (51)  "Previous service" means the number of years,

14  complete months, and any fractional part of a month, as

15  recognized and credited by an employer and approved by the

16  administrator, of service under one of the retirement systems

17  established by this chapter, chapter 122, former chapter 123,

18  chapter 238, or chapter 321, on which the required

19  contributions were paid at the member's termination of

20  employment, and for which the member has received no refund of

21  contributions.

22         (52)  "Regularly established position" is defined as

23  follows:

24         (a)  In a state agency, the term means a position which

25  is authorized and established pursuant to law and is

26  compensated from a salaries appropriation pursuant to s.

27  216.011(1)(x)1. and 2., or an established position which is

28  authorized pursuant to s. 216.262(1)(a) and (b) and is

29  compensated from a salaries account as provided by rule.

30         (b)  In a local agency (district school board, county

31  agency, community college, city, or special district), the


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  term means a regularly established position which will be in

  2  existence for a period beyond 6 consecutive months, except as

  3  provided by rule.

  4         (53)  "Temporary position" is defined as follows:

  5         (a)  In a state agency, the term means an employment

  6  position which is compensated from an other personal services

  7  (OPS) account, as provided for in s. 216.011(1)(x).

  8         (b)  In a local agency, the term means an employment

  9  position which will exist for less than 6 consecutive months,

10  or other employment position as determined by rule of the

11  division, regardless of whether it will exist for 6

12  consecutive months or longer.

13         (54)  "Work year" means the period of time an employee

14  is required to work to receive a full year of retirement

15  credit, as provided by rule.

16         Section 4.  Paragraphs (a) and (c) of subsection (7) of

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

18         121.052  Membership class of elected state and county

19  officers.--

20         (7)  CONTRIBUTIONS.--

21         (a)  The following table states the required retirement

22  contribution rates for members of the Elected State and County

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

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

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

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

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

28  addition to the contributions required for social security and

29  the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

30

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  Dates of Contribution

  2    Rate Changes                             Members   Employers

  3

  4  July 1, 1972, through September 30, 1977

  5    Legislators                                 8%           8%

  6    All Other Members                           8%           8%

  7

  8  October 1, 1977, through September 30, 1978

  9    Legislators                                 8%           8%

10    All Other Members                           4%          12%

11

12  October 1, 1978, through September 30, 1979

13    Legislators                                 8%       10.57%

14    All Other Members                           4%       16.78%

15

16  October 1, 1979, through September 30, 1981

17    Legislators                                 8%       10.57%

18    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

19      Officers                                  4%       16.78%

20    All Other Members                           0%       20.78%

21

22  July 1, 1981, through June 30, 1984

23    County Elected Officers                     0%       19.30%

24

25  July 1, 1984, through September 30, 1984

26    County Elected Officers                     0%       20.25%

27

28  October 1, 1981, through September 30, 1984

29    Legislators                                 0%       19.30%

30    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

31      Officers                                  0%       21.03%


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       20.95%

  2    Justices, Judges                            0%       22.55%

  3

  4  October 1, 1984, through September 30, 1986

  5    Legislators                                 0%       10.98%

  6    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

  7      Officers                                  0%       10.98%

  8    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       10.98%

  9    Justices, Judges                            0%       21.79%

10    County Elected Officers                     0%       16.97%

11

12  October 1, 1986, through December 31, 1988

13    Legislators                                 0%       11.50%

14    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

15      Officers                                  0%       11.50%

16    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       11.50%

17    Justices, Judges                            0%       20.94%

18    County Elected Officers                     0%       17.19%

19

20  January 1, 1989, through December 31, 1989

21    Legislators                                 0%       13.70%

22    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

23      Officers                                  0%       13.70%

24    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       13.70%

25    Justices, Judges                            0%       22.58%

26    County Elected Officers                     0%       18.44%

27

28  January 1, 1990, through December 31, 1990

29    Legislators                                 0%       15.91%

30    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

31      Officers                                  0%       15.91%


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       15.91%

  2    Justices, Judges                            0%       24.22%

  3    County Elected Officers                     0%       19.71%

  4

  5  January 1, 1991, through December 31, 1991

  6    Legislators                                 0%       17.73%

  7    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

  8      Officers                                  0%       17.73%

  9    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       17.73%

10    Justices, Judges                            0%       26.63%

11    County Elected Officers                     0%       23.32%

12

13  January 1, 1992, through December 31, 1992

14    Legislators                                 0%       19.94%

15    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

16      Officers                                  0%       19.94%

17    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       19.94%

18    Justices, Judges                            0%       28.27%

19    County Elected Officers                     0%       24.59%

20

21  January 1, 1993, through December 31, 1993

22    Legislators                                 0%       22.14%

23    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

24      Officers                                  0%       22.14%

25    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       22.14%

26    Justices, Judges                            0%       29.91%

27    County Elected Officers                     0%       25.84%

28

29  January 1, 1994, through December 31, 1994

30    Legislators                                 0%       22.65%

31    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet


                                  17

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1      Officers                                  0%       22.65%

  2    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       22.65%

  3    Justices, Judges                            0%       30.52%

  4    County Elected Officers                     0%       26.07%

  5

  6  January 1, 1995, through December 31, 1995

  7    Legislators                                 0%       22.80%

  8    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

  9      Officers                                  0%       22.80%

10    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       22.80%

11    Justices, Judges                            0%       30.21%

12    County Elected Officers                     0%       27.48%

13

14  January 1, 1996, through June 30, 1996

15    Legislators                                 0%       22.90%

16    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

17      Officers                                  0%       22.90%

18    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       22.90%

19    Justices, Judges                            0%       30.15%

20    County Elected Officers                     0%       27.54%

21

22  Effective July 1, 1996, through June 30, 1998

23    Legislators                                 0%       23.07%

24    Governor, Lt. Governor, Cabinet

25      Officers                                  0%       23.07%

26    State Attorneys, Public Defenders           0%       23.07%

27    Justices, Judges                            0%       29.55%

28    County Elected Officers                     0%       27.33%

29

30  Effective July 1, 1998

31  Legislators                                   0%       22.33%


                                  18

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



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

  2  State Attorneys, Public Defenders             0%       22.33%

  3  Justices, Judges                              0%       27.21%

  4  County elected officers                       0%       26.99%

  5

  6         (c)  The following table states the required employer

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

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

  9  member's gross compensation. Such contribution constitutes the

10  entire health insurance subsidy contribution with respect to

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

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

13  the change. The retiree health insurance subsidy contribution

14  rate is as follows:

15

16  Dates of Contribution                             Contribution

17    Rate Changes                                        Rate

18

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

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

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

22  Effective January 1, 1995, through June 30,

23  1998                                                   0.66%

24  Effective July 1, 1998                                 0.80%

25

26  Such contributions shall be deposited by the administrator in

27  the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

28         Section 5.  Subsection (1) and paragraphs (a) and (c)

29  of subsection (3) of section 121.055, Florida Statutes, are

30  amended to read:

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         121.055  Senior Management Service Class.--There is

  2  hereby established a separate class of membership within the

  3  Florida Retirement System to be known as the "Senior

  4  Management Service Class," which shall become effective

  5  February 1, 1987.

  6         (1)(a)  Participation in the Senior Management Service

  7  Class shall be limited to and compulsory for any member of the

  8  Florida Retirement System who holds a position in the Senior

  9  Management Service of the State of Florida, established by

10  part III of chapter 110, unless such member elects, within the

11  time specified herein, to participate in the Senior Management

12  Service Optional Annuity Program as established in subsection

13  (6).

14         (b)1.  Except as provided in subparagraph 2., effective

15  January 1, 1990, participation in the Senior Management

16  Service Class shall be compulsory for the president of each

17  community college, the manager of each participating city or

18  county, and all appointed district school superintendents.

19  Effective January 1, 1994, additional positions may be

20  designated for inclusion in the Senior Management Service

21  Class of the Florida Retirement System, provided that:

22         a.  Positions to be included in the class shall be

23  designated by the local agency employer.  Notice of intent to

24  designate positions for inclusion in the class shall be

25  published once a week for 2 consecutive weeks in a newspaper

26  of general circulation published in the county or counties

27  affected, as provided in chapter 50.

28         b.  One nonelective full-time position may be

29  designated for each local agency employer reporting to the

30  Division of Retirement; for local agencies with 100 200 or

31  more regularly established positions, additional nonelective


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  full-time positions may be designated, not to exceed 1 0.5

  2  percent of the regularly established positions within the

  3  agency.

  4         c.  Each position added to the class must be a

  5  managerial or policymaking position filled by an employee who

  6  is not subject to continuing contract and serves at the

  7  pleasure of the local agency employer without civil service

  8  protection, and who:

  9         (I)  Heads an organizational unit; or

10         (II)  Has responsibility to effect or recommend

11  personnel, budget, expenditure, or policy decisions in his or

12  her areas of responsibility.

13         2.  In lieu of participation in the Senior Management

14  Service Class, members of the Senior Management Service Class

15  pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph 1. may withdraw

16  from the Florida Retirement System altogether and participate

17  in a lifetime monthly annuity program which may be provided by

18  the employing agency.  The cost to the employer for such

19  annuity shall equal the normal cost portion of the

20  contributions required in the Senior Management Service Class.

21  The employer providing such annuity shall contribute an

22  additional amount to the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund

23  equal to the unfunded actuarial accrued liability portion of

24  the Senior Management Service Class contribution rate. The

25  decision to participate in such local government annuity shall

26  be irrevocable for as long as the employee holds a position

27  eligible for the annuity.  Any service creditable under the

28  Senior Management Service Class shall be retained after the

29  member withdraws from the Florida Retirement System; however,

30  additional service credit in the Senior Management Service

31  Class shall not be earned after such withdrawal.  Such members


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  shall not be eligible to participate in the Senior Management

  2  Service Optional Annuity Program.

  3         (c)1.  Effective January 1, 1990, participation in the

  4  Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for up to

  5  75 nonelective positions at the level of committee staff

  6  director or higher or equivalent managerial or policymaking

  7  positions within the House of Representatives, as selected by

  8  the Speaker of the House of Representatives, up to 50

  9  nonelective positions at the level of committee staff director

10  or higher or equivalent managerial or policymaking positions

11  within the Senate, as selected by the President of the Senate,

12  all staff directors of Joint Committees of the Legislature,

13  the Auditor General and up to 9 managerial or policymaking

14  positions within his or her office as selected by the Auditor

15  General, and the executive director of the Commission on

16  Ethics.

17         2.  Participation in this class shall be compulsory,

18  except as provided in subparagraph 3., for any legislative

19  employee who holds a position designated for coverage in the

20  Senior Management Service Class, and such participation shall

21  continue until the employee terminates employment in a covered

22  position.

23         3.  In lieu of participation in the Senior Management

24  Service Class, in the discretion of the Joint Legislative

25  Management Committee, such members may participate in the

26  Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as

27  established in subsection (6).

28         (d)  Effective January 1, 1991, participation in the

29  Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for any

30  member of the Florida Retirement System in a position that has

31  been designated eligible for inclusion in the Executive


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  Service of the State University System or who holds a position

  2  as president of a state university, unless such member elects,

  3  pursuant to s. 121.35, to participate in the optional

  4  retirement program.

  5         (e)  Effective January 1, 1991, participation in the

  6  Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for the

  7  number of senior managers who have policymaking authority with

  8  the State Board of Administration, as determined by the

  9  Governor, Treasurer, and Comptroller acting as the State Board

10  of Administration, unless such member elects to participate in

11  the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as

12  established in subsection (6) in lieu of participation in the

13  Senior Management Service Class. Such election shall be made

14  in writing and filed with the division and the personnel

15  officer of the State Board of Administration within 90 days

16  after becoming eligible for membership in the Senior

17  Management Service Class.

18         (f)  Effective July 1, 1997:

19         1.  Any elected state officer eligible for membership

20  in the Elected State and County Officers' Class under s.

21  121.052(2)(a), (b), or (c) who elects membership in the Senior

22  Management Service Class under s. 121.052(3)(c) may, within 6

23  months after assuming office or within 6 months after this act

24  becomes a law for serving elected state officers, elect to

25  participate in the Senior Management Service Optional Annuity

26  Program, as provided in subsection (6), in lieu of membership

27  in the Senior Management Service Class.

28         2.  Any elected county officer eligible for membership

29  in the Elected State and County Officers' Class under s.

30  121.052(2)(d) who elects membership in the Senior Management

31  Service Class under s. 121.052(3)(c) may, within 6 months


                                  23

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  after assuming office, or within 6 months after this act

  2  becomes a law for serving elected county officers, elect to

  3  participate in a lifetime monthly annuity program, as provided

  4  in subparagraph (b)2., in lieu of membership in the Senior

  5  Management Service Class.

  6         (g)  Effective July 1, 1996, participation in the

  7  Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for any

  8  member of the Florida Retirement System employed with the

  9  Department of Military Affairs in the positions of the

10  Adjutant General, Assistant Adjutant General-Army, Assistant

11  Adjutant General-Air, State Quartermaster, Director of

12  Military Personnel, Director of Administration, and additional

13  directors as designated by the agency head, not to exceed a

14  total of 10 positions.  In lieu of participation in the Senior

15  Management Service Class, such members may participate in the

16  Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as

17  established in subsection (6).

18         (h)1.  Except as provided in subparagraph 3., effective

19  January 1, 1994, participation in the Senior Management

20  Service Class shall be compulsory for the State Courts

21  Administrator and the Deputy State Courts Administrators, the

22  Clerk of the Supreme Court, the Marshal of the Supreme Court,

23  the Executive Director of the Justice Administrative

24  Commission, the Capital Collateral Representative, the clerks

25  of the district courts of appeals, the marshals of the

26  district courts of appeals, and the trial court administrator

27  in each judicial circuit. Effective January 1, 1994,

28  additional positions in the offices of the state attorney and

29  public defender in each judicial circuit may be designated for

30  inclusion in the Senior Management Service Class of the

31  Florida Retirement System, provided that:


                                  24

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         a.  Positions to be included in the class shall be

  2  designated by the state attorney or public defender, as

  3  appropriate.  Notice of intent to designate positions for

  4  inclusion in the class shall be published once a week for 2

  5  consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation

  6  published in the county or counties affected, as provided in

  7  chapter 50.

  8         b.  One nonelective full-time position may be

  9  designated for each state attorney and public defender

10  reporting to the Division of Retirement; for agencies with 200

11  or more regularly established positions under the state

12  attorney or public defender, additional nonelective full-time

13  positions may be designated, not to exceed 0.5 percent of the

14  regularly established positions within the agency.

15         c.  Each position added to the class must be a

16  managerial or policymaking position filled by an employee who

17  serves at the pleasure of the state attorney or public

18  defender without civil service protection, and who:

19         (I)  Heads an organizational unit; or

20         (II)  Has responsibility to effect or recommend

21  personnel, budget, expenditure, or policy decisions in his or

22  her areas of responsibility.

23         2.  Participation in this class shall be compulsory,

24  except as provided in subparagraph 3., for any judicial

25  employee who holds a position designated for coverage in the

26  Senior Management Service Class and such participation shall

27  continue until the employee terminates employment in a covered

28  position.

29         3.  In lieu of participation in the Senior Management

30  Service Class, such members may participate in the Senior

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  Management Service Optional Annuity Program as established in

  2  subsection (6).

  3         (i)  Effective July 1, 1998, participation in the

  4  Senior Management Service Class shall be compulsory for any

  5  member of the Florida Retirement System employed as a judge of

  6  compensation claims with the Office of the Judges of

  7  Compensation Claims within the Department of Labor and

  8  Employment Security. In lieu of participation in the Senior

  9  Management Service Class, such members may participate in the

10  Senior Management Service Optional Annuity Program as

11  established in subsection (6).

12         (j)(i)  Employment Except as may otherwise be provided,

13  any member of the Senior Management Service Class may purchase

14  additional retirement credit in such class for creditable

15  service within the purview of the Senior Management Service

16  Class retroactive to February 1, 1987, and may upgrade

17  retirement credit for such service, to the extent of 2 percent

18  of the member's average monthly compensation as specified in

19  paragraph (4)(d) for such service. Contributions for upgrading

20  the additional Senior Management Service credit pursuant to

21  this paragraph shall be equal to the difference in the

22  contributions paid and the Senior Management Service Class

23  contribution rate as a percentage of gross salary in effect

24  for the period being claimed, plus interest thereon at the

25  rate of 6.5 percent a year, compounded annually until the date

26  of payment. This service credit may be purchased by the

27  employer on behalf of the member.

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

29  retirement contribution rates for members of the Senior

30  Management Service Class and their employers in terms of a

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


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  the contribution rate is effective with the first salary paid

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

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

  4  contributions required for social security and the Retiree

  5  Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

  6

  7  Dates of Contribution

  8    Rate Changes                          Members   Employers

  9

10  February 1, 1987, through

11    December 31, 1988                       0%       13.88%

12  January 1, 1989, through

13    December 31, 1989                       0%       14.95%

14  January 1, 1990, through

15    December 31, 1990                       0%       16.04%

16  January 1, 1991, through

17    December 31, 1991                       0%       18.39%

18  January 1, 1992, through

19    December 31, 1992                       0%       19.48%

20  January 1, 1993, through

21    December 31, 1993                       0%       20.55%

22  January 1, 1994, through

23    December 31, 1994                       0%       23.07%

24  January 1, 1995, through

25    December 31, 1995                       0%       23.88%

26  January 1, 1996, through

27    June 30, 1996                           0%       24.14%

28  Effective July 1, 1996, through June 30,

29  1998                                      0%       21.58%

30  Effective July 1, 1998                    0%       23.10%

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1

  2         (c)  The following table states the required employer

  3  contribution on behalf of each member of the Senior Management

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

  5  compensation.  Such contribution constitutes the entire health

  6  insurance subsidy contribution with respect to the member. A

  7  change in the contribution rate is effective with the first

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

  9  retiree health insurance subsidy contribution rate is as

10  follows:

11

12  Dates of Contribution                             Contribution

13    Rate Changes                                        Rate

14

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

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

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

18  Effective January 1, 1995, through June 30,

19  1998                                                   0.66%

20  Effective July 1, 1998                                 0.94%

21

22  Such contributions shall be deposited by the administrator in

23  the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

24         Section 6.  Subsections (1) and (4) of section 121.071,

25  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

26         121.071  Contributions.--Contributions to the system

27  shall be made as follows:

28         (1)  The following tables state the required retirement

29  contribution rates for members of the Regular Class, Special

30  Risk Class, or Special Risk Administrative Support Class and

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


                                  28

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  compensation.  A change in a contribution rate is effective

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

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

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

  5  contributions required for social security and the Retiree

  6  Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

  7         (a)  Retirement contributions for regular members are

  8  as follows:

  9

10  Dates of Contribution

11    Rate Changes                             Members   Employers

12

13  December 1, 1970, through December

14    31, 1974, for state agencies, state

15    universities, community colleges,

16    and district school boards                  4%           4%

17

18  December 1, 1970, through September

19    30, 1975, for all other local

20    government agencies                         4%           4%

21

22  January 1, 1975, through September

23    30, 1978, for state agencies and

24    state universities                          0%           9%

25

26  January 1, 1975, through July 31,

27    1978, for community colleges and

28    district school boards                      0%           9%

29

30

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1

  2  October 1, 1975, through September

  3    30, 1978, for all other local

  4    government agencies                         0%           9%

  5

  6  August 1, 1978, through September 30,

  7    1981, for community colleges and

  8    district school boards                      0%         9.1%

  9

10  October 1, 1978, through September

11    30, 1981, for all other agencies            0%         9.1%

12

13  October 1, 1981, through

14    September 30, 1984                          0%       10.93%

15  October 1, 1984, through

16    September 30, 1986                          0%       12.24%

17  October 1, 1986, through

18    December 31, 1988                           0%       13.14%

19  January 1, 1989, through

20    December 31, 1989                           0%       13.90%

21  January 1, 1990, through

22    December 31, 1990                           0%       14.66%

23  January 1, 1991, through

24    December 31, 1991                           0%       15.72%

25  January 1, 1992, through

26    December 31, 1992                           0%       16.51%

27  January 1, 1993, through

28    December 31, 1993                           0%       17.27%

29  January 1, 1994, through

30    December 31, 1994                           0%       17.10%

31  January 1, 1995, through


                                  30

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1    December 31, 1995                           0%       16.91%

  2  January 1, 1996, through

  3    June 30, 1996                               0%       17.00%

  4  Effective July 1, 1996, through June 30,

  5  1998                                          0%       16.77%

  6  Effective July 1, 1998                        0%       15.51%

  7

  8         (b)  Retirement contributions for special risk members

  9  are as follows:

10

11  Dates of Contribution

12    Rate Changes                             Members   Employers

13

14  December 1, 1970, through

15    September 30, 1974                          6%           6%

16

17  October 1, 1974, through December 31,

18    1974, for state agencies, state

19    universities, community colleges,

20    and district school boards                  8%           8%

21

22  October 1, 1974, through September

23    30, 1975, for all other local

24    government agencies                         8%           8%

25

26  January 1, 1975, through September

27    30, 1978, for state agencies, state

28    universities, community colleges,

29    and district school boards                  0%          13%

30

31


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1

  2  October 1, 1975, through September

  3    30, 1978, for other local

  4    government agencies                         0%          13%

  5

  6  October 1, 1978, through

  7    September 30, 1981                          0%       13.95%

  8  October 1, 1981, through

  9    September 30, 1984                          0%       13.91%

10  October 1, 1984, through

11    September 30, 1986                          0%       14.67%

12  October 1, 1986, through

13    December 31, 1988                           0%       15.11%

14  January 1, 1989, through

15    December 31, 1989                           0%       17.50%

16  January 1, 1990, through

17    December 31, 1990                           0%       19.90%

18  January 1, 1991, through

19    December 31, 1991                           0%       25.52%

20  January 1, 1992, through

21    December 31, 1992                           0%       26.35%

22  January 1, 1993, through

23    December 31, 1993                           0%       27.14%

24  January 1, 1994, through

25    December 31, 1994                           0%       27.03%

26  January 1, 1995, through

27    December 31, 1995                           0%       26.83%

28  January 1, 1996, through

29    June 30, 1996                               0%       26.84%

30  Effective July 1, 1996, through June 30,

31  1998                                          0%       26.44%


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  Effective July 1, 1998                        0%       24.38%

  2

  3         (c)  Retirement contributions for special risk

  4  administrative support members are as follows:

  5

  6  Dates of Contribution

  7    Rate Changes                             Members   Employers

  8

  9  July 1, 1982, through

10    September 30, 1984                          0%       11.14%

11  October 1, 1984, through

12    September 30, 1986                          0%       13.09%

13  October 1, 1986, through

14    December 31, 1988                           0%       15.44%

15  January 1, 1989, through

16    December 31, 1989                           0%       14.76%

17  January 1, 1990, through

18    December 31, 1990                           0%       14.09%

19  January 1, 1991, through

20    December 31, 1991                           0%       20.16%

21  January 1, 1992, through

22    December 31, 1992                           0%       19.51%

23  January 1, 1993, through

24    December 31, 1993                           0%       18.83%

25  January 1, 1994, through

26    December 31, 1994                           0%       18.59%

27  January 1, 1995, through

28    December 31, 1995                           0%       17.81%

29  January 1, 1996, through

30    June 30, 1996                               0%       17.80%

31  Effective July 1, 1996, through June 30,


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  1998                                          0%       17.20%

  2  Effective July 1, 1998                        0%       14.64%

  3

  4         (4)  The following table states the required employer

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

  6  Special Risk Class, or Special Risk Administrative Support

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

  8  compensation.  Such contribution constitutes the entire health

  9  insurance subsidy contribution with respect to the member.  A

10  change in the contribution rate is effective with the first

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

12  retiree health insurance subsidy contribution rate is as

13  follows:

14

15  Dates of Contribution                             Contribution

16    Rate Changes                                        Rate

17

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

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

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

21  Effective January 1, 1995, through June 30,

22  1998                                                   0.66%

23  Effective July 1, 1998                                 0.94%

24

25  Such contributions shall be deposited by the administrator in

26  the Retiree Health Insurance Subsidy Trust Fund.

27         Section 7.  Subsections (2) and (3), paragraph (d) of

28  subsection (6), paragraph (a) of subsection (7), and

29  subsection (8) of section 121.091, Florida Statutes, are

30  amended, paragraphs (f) and (g) of subsection (7) of said

31  section are redesignated as paragraphs (g) and (h),


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  respectively, and a new paragraph (f) is added to said

  2  subsection, to read:

  3         121.091  Benefits payable under the system.--No

  4  benefits shall be paid under this section unless the member

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

  6  proper application has been filed in the manner prescribed by

  7  the division.

  8         (2)  BENEFITS PAYABLE FOR DUAL NORMAL RETIREMENT

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

10  to commence at different normal retirement ages by virtue of

11  having performed duties for an employer which would entitle

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

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

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

15  Officers' Class, the amount of benefits payable shall be

16  computed separately with respect to each such age and the sum

17  of such computed amounts shall be paid as provided in this

18  section.

19         (6)  OPTIONAL FORMS OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND

20  DISABILITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS.--

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

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

23  purpose, designate a joint annuitant to receive the benefits

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

25  After benefits have commenced under the option in subparagraph

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

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

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

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

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

31  joint annuitant" form and shall notify the former joint


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



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

  2  completed change of joint annuitant form, the division shall

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

  4  actuarial tables and calculations developed to ensure that the

  5  benefit paid is the actuarial equivalent of the present value

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

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

  8  shall not be required.

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

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

11  election to nullify the joint annuitant designation of the

12  former spouse, unless there is an existing qualified domestic

13  relations order preventing such action.  The member shall file

14  with the division a written, notarized nullification which

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

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

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

18  makes such an election may not reverse the nullification but

19  may designate a new joint annuitant in accordance with

20  subparagraph 1.

21         (7)  DEATH BENEFITS.--

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

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

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

25  there shall be payable to his or her designated beneficiary

26  the member's accumulated contributions.

27         (f)  Notwithstanding any other provisions in this

28  chapter to the contrary and upon application to the

29  administrator, an eligible joint annuitant, of a member whose

30  employment is terminated by death within 1 year of such member

31  satisfying the service requirements for vesting and retirement


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  eligibility, shall be permitted to purchase only the

  2  additional service credit necessary to vest and qualify for

  3  retirement benefits by one of the following methods:

  4         1.  Such eligible joint annuitant may use the deceased

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

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

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

  8  leave is sufficient to cover the additional months required.

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

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

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

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

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

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

15  Such eligible joint annuitant shall pay the contribution rate

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

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

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

19  used in the average final compensation shall not include that

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

21  the purchase of such creditable service.

22         2.  Such eligible joint annuitant may purchase

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

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

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

26  that the deceased member would have been eligible to purchase

27  prior to his or her death.

28

29  Service purchased under this paragraph shall be added to the

30  creditable service of the member and used to vest for

31  retirement eligibility, and shall be used in the calculation


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  of any benefits which may be payable to the eligible joint

  2  annuitant.  Any benefits paid in accordance with this

  3  paragraph shall only be made prospectively.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

19  with the division shall be the beneficiary entitled to any

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

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

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

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

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

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

26  shall be the member's beneficiary unless such member

27  designates a different beneficiary as provided herein

28  subsequent to the member's most recent marriage.

29         Section 8.  Subsection (1) of section 121.1122, Florida

30  Statutes, is amended to read:

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         121.1122  Purchase of retirement credit for in-state

  2  public service and in-state service in accredited nonpublic,

  3  nonsectarian schools and colleges, including charter

  4  schools.--Effective January 1, 1998, a member of the Florida

  5  Retirement System may purchase creditable service for periods

  6  of certain public or nonpublic, nonsectarian employment

  7  performed in this state, as provided in this section.

  8         (1)  PURCHASE OF RETIREMENT CREDIT AUTHORIZED.--Subject

  9  to the provisions of subsections (2) and (3), a member of the

10  Florida Retirement System may purchase up to 5 years of

11  retirement credit for:

12         (a)  Periods of public employment in this state; or

13         (b)  Periods of employment in charter schools or in any

14  nonpublic, nonsectarian school or college in this state that

15  is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and

16  Schools.

17

18  Credit for 1 year of such service may be purchased for each

19  year of creditable service a member completes under the

20  Florida Retirement System.

21         Section 9.  Section 121.121, Florida Statutes, is

22  amended to read:

23         121.121  Future service to include Authorized leaves of

24  absence.--

25         (1)  A member may purchase creditable service for

26  Future service of any member as defined in s. 121.021(21)

27  shall also include up to 2 work years of creditable service

28  for authorized leaves of absence if:

29         (a)(1)  The member has completed a minimum of 10 years

30  of creditable service, excluding periods of leave of absence;

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         (b)(2)  The leave of absence is authorized in writing

  2  by the employer of the member and approved by the

  3  administrator;

  4         (c)(3)  The member returns to active employment

  5  performing service with a Florida Retirement System employer

  6  in a regularly established position immediately upon

  7  termination of the leave of absence and remains on the

  8  employer's payroll for 1 calendar month, except that a member

  9  who retires on disability while on a medical leave of absence

10  shall not be required to return to employment; and

11         (d)(4)  The member makes the required contributions for

12  service credit during the leave of absence, which shall be 8

13  percent until January 1, 1975, and 9 percent thereafter of his

14  or her rate of monthly compensation in effect immediately

15  prior to the commencement of such leave for each month of such

16  period, plus 4 percent interest until July 1, 1975, and 6.5

17  percent interest thereafter on such contributions, compounded

18  annually each June 30 from the due date of the contribution to

19  date of payment. Effective July 1, 1980, any leave of absence

20  purchased pursuant to this section shall be at the

21  contribution rates specified in s. 121.071 in effect at the

22  time the leave is granted for the class of membership from

23  which the leave of absence was granted; however, any member

24  who purchased leave-of-absence credit prior to July 1, 1980,

25  for a leave of absence from a position in a class other than

26  the regular membership class, may pay the appropriate

27  additional contributions plus compound interest thereon and

28  receive creditable service for such leave of absence in the

29  membership class from which the member was granted the leave

30  of absence.

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1         (2)  A member who is required to resign his or her

  2  office as a subordinate officer, deputy sheriff, or police

  3  officer because he or she is a candidate for a public office

  4  which is currently held by his or her superior officer who is

  5  also a candidate for reelection to the same office, in

  6  accordance with s. 99.012(5), shall, upon return to covered

  7  employment, be eligible to purchase retirement credit for the

  8  period between his or her date of resignation and the

  9  beginning of the term of office for which he or she was a

10  candidate as a leave of absence without pay, as provided in

11  subsection (1).

12         Section 10.  Subsection (3) of section 121.122, Florida

13  Statutes, is amended to read:

14         121.122  Renewed membership in system.--Except as

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

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

17  regularly established position with a covered employer shall

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

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

20  retiree of a state-administered retirement system who is

21  employed in a position included in the Senior Management

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

23  Senior Management Service Class of the Florida Retirement

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

25  receive an additional retirement benefit, subject to the

26  following conditions:

27         (3)  Such member shall be entitled to purchase

28  additional retirement credit in the Regular Class or the

29  Senior Management Service Class, as applicable, for any

30  postretirement service performed in a regularly established

31  position as follows:


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



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

  2  by paying the Regular Class applicable employee and employer

  3  contributions for the period being claimed, plus 4 percent

  4  interest compounded annually from first year of service

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

  6  compounded thereafter, until full payment is made to the

  7  Florida Retirement System Trust Fund; or

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

  9  1, 1997, as provided in s. 121.055(1)(h).

10

11  The contribution for postretirement service between July 1,

12  1985, and July 1, 1991, for which the reemployed retiree

13  contribution was paid, shall be the difference between such

14  contribution and the total applicable contribution for the

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

16  member may pay the applicable employer contribution in lieu of

17  the member.

18         Section 11.  Subsection (5) of section 121.30, Florida

19  Statutes, is amended to read:

20         121.30  Statements of purpose and intent and other

21  provisions required for qualification under the Internal

22  Revenue Code of the United States.--Any other provisions in

23  this chapter to the contrary notwithstanding, it is

24  specifically provided that:

25         (5)  No benefit payable hereunder for any limitation

26  year shall exceed the maximum amount, including cost-of-living

27  adjustments, allowable by law for qualified pension plans

28  under applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of

29  the United States. In the event of any participation of a

30  Florida Retirement System member in any other plan that is

31  maintained by the participating employer, benefits that accrue


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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  under the Florida Retirement System shall be considered

  2  primary for any aggregate limitation applicable under s. 415

  3  of the Internal Revenue Code.

  4         Section 12.  Section 121.133, Florida Statutes, is

  5  created to read:

  6         121.133  Cancellation of uncashed

  7  warrants.--Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 17.26 or s.

  8  717.123 to the contrary, effective July 1, 1998, if any state

  9  warrant issued by the Comptroller for the payment of

10  retirement benefits from the Florida Retirement System Trust

11  Fund, or any other pension trust fund administered by the

12  division, is not presented for payment within 1 year after the

13  last day of the month in which it was originally issued, the

14  Comptroller shall cancel the benefit warrant and credit the

15  amount of the warrant to the Florida Retirement System Trust

16  Fund or other pension trust fund administered by the division,

17  as appropriate.  The Division of Retirement may provide for

18  issuance of a replacement warrant when deemed appropriate.

19         Section 13.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (12) of

20  section 121.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

21         121.40  Cooperative extension personnel at the

22  Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; supplemental

23  retirement benefits.--

24         (12)  CONTRIBUTIONS.--

25         (b)  The monthly contributions required to be paid

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

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

28  employees of the institute who hold both state and federal

29  appointments and who participate in the federal Civil Service

30  Retirement System shall be as follows:

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  Dates of Contribution                              Percentage

  2    Rate Changes                                        Due

  3

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

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

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

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

  8  Effective July 1, 1996, through June 30,

  9  1998                                                 5.64%

10  Effective July 1, 1998                               7.17%

11

12         Section 14.  Sections 121.0505 and 121.0516, Florida

13  Statutes, are repealed.

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

15  contribution rates for the Florida Retirement System included

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

17  the Florida Retirement System as recommended by the consulting

18  actuaries. These changes shall remain in effect until such

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

20  provided in subsection (2).

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

22  addition to all other changes to such contribution rates which

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

24  1998.  With respect to such other changes, the Division of

25  Statutory Revision of the Joint Legislative Management

26  Committee is directed to edit the statutes as necessary to

27  adjust the contribution rate percentages listed under ss.

28  121.052(7)(a), 121.055(3)(a), and 121.071(1), Florida

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

30  Florida Statutes, the provisions of this section shall be

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                                    CS/CS/HB 3491, First Engrossed



  1  omitted from publication in the Florida Statutes or any

  2  revision or supplement thereof.

  3         Section 16.  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 17.  In editing manuscript for the next edition

16  of the official Florida Statutes, the Statutory Revision

17  Division of the Joint Legislative Management Committee, or its

18  successor, shall change "Elected State and County Officers'

19  Class" to "Elected Officers' Class" wherever the same appears

20  in chapter 121.

21         Section 18.  Except as otherwise provided herein, this

22  act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

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