SCS/HCS/HB 1249 - This act makes changes to the St. Louis City Police Retirement System and to the Retirement System of Civilian Employees of the Kansas City Police Department, and adds a provision to address potential Hancock issues.

ST. LOUIS CITY POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM. This act makes the following changes to the St. Louis City Police Retirement System:

1. Increases the service retirement allowance for members with more than 25 years of service.

2. Increases the ordinary disability retirement allowance for a member if the member has unmarried dependent children.

3. Increases the widow's pension and the amount for dependent children, effective October 1, 1996. This applies to current and future widows.

4. Would allow certain members who retire as the result of an accidental disability to be repaid the total amount of the member's contribution to the retirement system, without interest.

KANSAS CITY RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES. This act makes the following change to the Retirement System of Civilian Employees of the Kansas City Police Department:

Allows a surviving spouse of a member who died in the line of duty to continue to receive the same health insurance benefits for the surviving spouse and dependent children as the member received on the date of the member's death, and without an increase in premium from what the member pays, beginning August 28, 1996. This provision also applies to any spouse of a member who died prior to August 28, 1996.

HANCOCK. This act contains a provision to protect the state in the event that the act is challenged based on Hancock (Article X, Section 21). This provision delays the effective date of any benefit increase until a court finds that there is no Hancock problem with that particular increase (they are severable). If the court finds any part unconstitutional, that portion is void from the beginning and no benefits are payable. St. Louis City and the retirement system each have standing to file for declaratory judgment on the issue.
MARGARET TOALSON