HB 1299 -- PUBLIC SCHOOL RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF KANSAS CITY

This bill makes several changes to disability retirement for the
Public School Retirement System of Kansas City.  The current
minimum disability retirement benefit is 25% of final average
compensation; the bill sets the minimum at the lesser of 25% or
the service retirement allowance calculated as though the member
had earned creditable service until the age of 60.  The bill
also removes a prohibition on the availability of retirement
benefit options for disability retirees.  Applications for
disability retirement can be made after a member ceases to be an
active member if the disability began while the member was
active and if the application is made no more than 6 months
after the disabled member ceases employment.  The bill clarifies
that benefits for disability retirants earning more than the
difference between disability pay plus social security and the
current rate of compensation for the position the person held at
retirement will be reduced for those who have not yet reached
normal retirement age.

Currently the board of trustees determines each year if benefits
can be increased for retirants of at least age 65 who have been
retired for 14 months.  This bill changes eligibility for
increases to persons receiving benefits on the fourth January
following the commencement of their retirement benefits.  The
bill also clarifies that the former members whose benefits will
be transferred to the general reserve fund when they cannot be
contacted to receive their accumulated contributions are
unvested former members.

HB 1299 -- PUBLIC SCHOOL RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF KANSAS CITY
(Skaggs)

This bill makes several changes to disability retirement for the
Public School Retirement System of Kansas City.  The current
minimum disability retirement benefit is 25% of final average
compensation; the bill sets the minimum at the lesser of 25% or
the service retirement allowance calculated as though the member
had earned creditable service until the age of 60.  The bill
also removes a prohibition on the availability of retirement
benefit options for disability retirees.  Applications for
disability retirement can be made after a member ceases to be an
active member if the disability began while the member was
active and if the application is made no more than 6 months
after the disabled member ceases employment.  The bill clarifies
that benefits for disability retirants earning more than the
difference between disability pay plus social security and the
current rate of compensation for the position the person held at
retirement will be reduced for those who have not yet reached
normal retirement age.

Currently the board of trustees determines each year if benefits
can be increased for retirants of at least age 65 who have been
retired for 14 months.  This bill changes eligibility for
increases to persons receiving benefits on the fourth January
following the commencement of their retirement benefits.  The
bill also clarifies that the former members whose benefits will
be transferred to the general reserve fund when they cannot be
contacted to receive their accumulated contributions are
unvested former members.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

HB 1299 -- PUBLIC SCHOOL RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF KANSAS CITY

SPONSOR:  Skaggs

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Retirement by a vote of 11 to 0.

This bill makes several changes to disability retirement for the
Public School Retirement System of Kansas City.  The current
minimum disability retirement benefit is 25% of final average
compensation; the bill sets the minimum at the lesser of 25% or
the service retirement allowance calculated as though the member
had earned creditable service until the age of 60.  The bill
also removes a prohibition on the availability of retirement
benefit options for disability retirees.  Applications for
disability retirement can be made after a member ceases to be an
active member if the disability began while the member was
active and if the application is made no more than 6 months
after the disabled member ceases employment.  The bill clarifies
that benefits for disability retirants earning more than the
difference between disability pay plus social security and the
current rate of compensation for the position the person held at
retirement will be reduced for those who have not yet reached
normal retirement age.

Currently the board of trustees determines each year if benefits
can be increased for retirants of at least age 65 who have been
retired for 14 months.  This bill changes eligibility for
increases to persons receiving benefits on the fourth January
following the commencement of their retirement benefits.  The
bill also clarifies that the former members whose benefits will
be transferred to the general reserve fund when they cannot be
contacted to receive their accumulated contributions are
unvested former members.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill clarifies several
provisions relating to disability retirement, bringing the
Kansas City school retirement system into compliance with
federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Skaggs; and Public
School Retirement System of Kansas City.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Becky DeNeve, Legislative Analyst

HB 1299 -- Public School Retirement System of Kansas City

Sponsor:  Skaggs

This bill makes several changes to disability retirement for the
Public School Retirement System of Kansas City.  The current
minimum disability retirement benefit is 25% of final average
compensation; the bill sets the minimum at the lesser of 25% or
the service retirement allowance calculated as though the member
had earned creditable service until the age of 60.  The bill
also removes a prohibition on the availability of retirement
benefit options for disability retirees.  Applications for
disability retirement can be made after a member ceases to be an
active member if the disability began while the member was
active and if the application is made no more than 6 months
after the disabled member ceases employment.  The bill clarifies
that benefits for disability retirants earning more than the
difference between disability pay plus social security and the
current rate of compensation for the position the person held at
retirement will be reduced for those who have not yet reached
normal retirement age.

Currently the board of trustees determines each year if benefits
can be increased for retirants of at least age 65 who have been
retired for 14 months.  This bill changes eligibility for
increases to persons receiving benefits on the fourth January
following the commencement of their retirement benefits.  The
bill also clarifies that the former members whose benefits will
be transferred to the general reserve fund when they cannot be
contacted to receive their accumulated contributions are
unvested former members.