Florida Senate - 2010                                    SB 2468
       
       
       
       By Senator Lawson
       
       
       
       
       6-01874-10                                            20102468__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Florida Retirement System;
    3         amending s. 121.021, F.S.; redefining the term
    4         “average final compensation” to reduce the number of
    5         years of creditable service used to calculate such
    6         compensation; amending s. 121.091, F.S.; conforming a
    7         provision relating to the calculation of the monthly
    8         normal retirement benefit; providing an effective
    9         date.
   10  
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Subsection (24) of section 121.021, Florida
   14  Statutes, is amended to read:
   15         121.021 Definitions.—The following words and phrases as
   16  used in this chapter have the respective meanings set forth
   17  unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:
   18         (24) “Average final compensation” means the average of the
   19  3 5 highest fiscal years of compensation for creditable service
   20  prior to retirement, termination, or death. For in-line-of-duty
   21  disability benefits, if less than 3 5 years of creditable
   22  service have been completed, the term “average final
   23  compensation” means the average annual compensation of the total
   24  number of years of creditable service. Each year used in the
   25  calculation of average final compensation commences shall
   26  commence on July 1.
   27         (a) The average final compensation includes shall include:
   28         1. Accumulated annual leave payments, up to not to exceed
   29  500 hours; and
   30         2. All payments defined as compensation in subsection (22).
   31         (b) The average final compensation does shall not include:
   32         1. Compensation paid to professional persons for special or
   33  particular services;
   34         2. Payments for accumulated sick leave made due to
   35  retirement or termination;
   36         3. Payments for accumulated annual leave greater than in
   37  excess of 500 hours;
   38         4. Bonuses as defined in subsection (47);
   39         5. Third-party Third party payments made on and after July
   40  1, 1990; or
   41         6. Fringe benefits, such as (for example, automobile
   42  allowances or housing allowances).
   43         Section 2. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
   44  121.091, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   45         121.091 Benefits payable under the system.—Benefits may not
   46  be paid under this section unless the member has terminated
   47  employment as provided in s. 121.021(39)(a) or begun
   48  participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Program as
   49  provided in subsection (13), and a proper application has been
   50  filed in the manner prescribed by the department. The department
   51  may cancel an application for retirement benefits when the
   52  member or beneficiary fails to timely provide the information
   53  and documents required by this chapter and the department’s
   54  rules. The department shall adopt rules establishing procedures
   55  for application for retirement benefits and for the cancellation
   56  of such application when the required information or documents
   57  are not received.
   58         (1) NORMAL RETIREMENT BENEFIT.—Upon attaining his or her
   59  normal retirement date, the member, upon application to the
   60  administrator, shall receive a monthly benefit which shall begin
   61  to accrue on the first day of the month of retirement and be
   62  payable on the last day of that month and each month thereafter
   63  during his or her lifetime. The normal retirement benefit,
   64  including any past or additional retirement credit, may not
   65  exceed 100 percent of the average final compensation. The amount
   66  of monthly benefit shall be calculated as the product of A and
   67  B, subject to the adjustment of C, if applicable, as set forth
   68  below:
   69         (d) A member’s average final compensation shall be
   70  determined by formula to obtain the coverage for the 3 5 highest
   71  fiscal years’ salaries, calculated as provided by rule.
   72         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.