- House Committee Substitute -

HCS/SS/SCS/SBs 248, 100, 118, 233, 247, 341 & 420 - This act revises various provisions regarding retirement systems and benefits.

PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS AND CIRCUIT ATTORNEYS RETIREMENT FUND - Adds a $6 surcharge to all criminal cases filed, including any county ordinance violation or traffic violation to be payable to the prosecuting attorneys and circuit attorneys' retirement fund. The amount of the county contribution to the retirement fund was restructured (Section 488.026 and 56.807).

These provisions are also contained in HS/HCS/SS/SCS/SB 5 (2003).

ST. LOUIS POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM - The act grants members with 30 years + service and who are eligible to participate in the deferred retirement option plan to receive an additional week of vacation (6 weeks rather than 5 weeks) (Section 84.140);

KANSAS CITY POLICE AND CIVILIANS RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - The act:

Provides active members of the system who are on the retirement board with up to 10 days paid leave to be able to attend meetings and educational seminars approved by the retirement board. SB 341 (Wheeler) (Section 86.394)

Allows the city to authorize an early retirement incentives offered to employees in addition to other benefits such members may be entitled to. However, the city shall agree to increase its contribution to provide for the full actuarial costs of the early retirement incentives. SB 341 (Sections 86.445 & 86.676)

Adds a funeral benefit of $1,000 for members as of August 28, 2003, who die in service or who die after retiring. SB 341 (Section 86.690)

MSEP, MSEP 2000 and HTEHPRS - The act:

Changes the eligibility age for retirement from 50 to 48 for the Missouri State Employees Retirement System and the Highway and Transportation Employees' and Highway Patrol Retirement System. SB 100 (Shields) and SB 118 (Caskey) (Sections 104.010, 104.271, 104.1003 & 104.1024)

Allows uniformed members of the Highway Patrol to purchase up to four years of service for public employment. SB 78 (Gross). (Section 104.040)

Revises provisions for retirement for members of the General Assembly. It provides an election for calculation of creditable service for any person who would otherwise accrue service both as a member of the General Assembly and as an employee or state officer (Section 104.370).

Clarifies language relating to affidavit filing for purchase of service, board member elections, contracting with outside providers for the provisions of optional life insurance and the designation of benefit recipients (Sections 104.110, 104.340, 104.460, 104.517, 104.1021, 104.1051, 104.1072, 104.1093).

Allows the Board for HEHPRS to contract with an outside provider for disability coverage and transfers the denial appeal process and liability to the outside provider (Section 104.110).

Provides for transferred personnel from the Division of Highway Safety to elect system coverage. (Section 104.806).

FORMER MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - The act allows any former member of the General Assembly who served at least 2 full biennial assemblies to be made a special consultant and allowed to retire at the normal annuity in effect. In no event would retroactive benefits be paid. (Section 104.1084)

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE AND LEGAL ADVISOR'S RETIREMENT PLAN - The provisions of the act will not alter or revise the ALJLAP retirement system (Section 287.845).

EARLY RETIREMENT INCENTIVE - The act:

Provides a medical insurance incentive for state employees to retire. Employees who retire after February 1, 2003, and prior to February 1, 2004, and who are eligible for medical coverage, will be eligible to continue at the same rate in effect for active employees. This rate will continue for five years or until becoming Medicare eligible, whichever occurs first. The retiree may elect to continue coverage for themselves and eligible dependents.

Allows the governing boards of Truman State University, Lincoln University, the educational institutions in Section 174.020, the Department of Transportation and the Highway Patrol and the Conservation Commission of the Department of Conservation to offer similar benefits to their employees.

Allows employees wh retire after February 1, 2003, and prior to February 1, 2004 the ability to purchase additional creditable service. Employees may purchase up to 3 years of creditable service which may be added to years of service, age, or a combination thereof, to meet normal eligibility requirements. Employees would purchase the service at the current contribution rate. Employees making the election to purchase service are prohibited from state employment for 3 years from the date of the election. Members are further prohibited from electing BackDROP participation. Provisions are made regarding payment for annual leave accruals.

The State may not rehire more than 25% of the positions vacated. Exceptions may be made for critical, seasonal, or federally funded positions. Certain monthly tracking and final reporting on the effect of the provisions is required.

The benefit does not apply to elected officials, members of the General Assembly or Administrative Law Judges.

The retirement systems and the Office of Administration is required to make certain reports on the impact of the offering of this benefit. SB 462 (Sections 1 & 2.)

CINDY KADLEC