HB 636 -- KANSAS CITY POLICE AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT
SYSTEMS

CO-SPONSORS:  Rizzo, Hoppe, Boucher, Daniels (41), Skaggs, Bonner

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

KANSAS CITY POLICE RETIREMENT--BENEFITS.  Currently,
beneficiaries and survivors of members are not considered
members.  This bill makes surviving spouses members while they
are entitled to any benefit, and clarifies that beneficiaries
and other survivors are not members.  Similar provisions are
added to the civilian system.

Currently, the minimum pension for previously retired members
with 10 to 25 years of service is $900 annually.  The bill
repeals these provisions and substitutes for members retiring
after August 28, 1999, with 25 years of service or with a duty--
related accident or illness a minimum monthly benefit of $600.
Members who retired on or before that date are made special
consultants, with their benefit an amount that brings their
monthly amount to no less than $600.

The surviving spouse of a member retiring after August 28, 1999,
who dies after benefits begin will receive a base pension of 80%
of the member's pension, including cost-of-living adjustments
and excluding supplemental retirement benefits.  Surviving
spouses of members who retired on or before August 28, 1999, and
who die after that date are eligible to be special consultants
with benefits and conditions outlined above.  The surviving
spouse of a member with at least 25 years of service or one who
retired as a result of duty-related illness or accident who
retires after August 28, 1999, will receive a benefit of not
less than $600 monthly.  Surviving spouses of members retiring
before that date under the same conditions are eligible to be
special consultants with a benefit of not less than $600
monthly.  Benefits for surviving spouses will continue to
terminate upon remarriage.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND INVESTMENTS.  Firms in which board members
have an interest may not handle investment transactions, and
board members must not profit directly or indirectly from such
investments.  Several technical amendments concerning
depositories and investment in securities are made.

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES--BENEFITS.  Terminated members with 5 or more
years of service retiring after August 28, 1999, who allow their
contributions to remain in the fund are entitled to receive a
pension on their normal or early retirement date.  Conditions
are placed on the years of creditable service.  Such members who
retired on or before August 28, 1999, can become special
consultants under the same conditions.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND INVESTMENTS.  These provisions are amended
to make them parallel to the uniformed police board requirements.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that this bill provides important
benefits for surviving spouses and previously retired members,
and can be supported within the current city contribution rate.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Rizzo; and Kansas
City Police and Civilian Employee Retirement Systems.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Terry Finger, Senior Legislative Analyst

HB 636 -- Kansas City Police and Civilian Employee Retirement
Systems

Co-Sponsors:  Rizzo, Hoppe, Boucher, Daniels (41), Skaggs, Bonner

KANSAS CITY POLICE RETIREMENT--BENEFITS.  Currently,
beneficiaries and survivors of members are not considered
members.  This bill makes surviving spouses members while they
are entitled to any benefit, and clarifies that beneficiaries
and other survivors are not members.  Similar provisions are
added to the civilian system.

Currently, the minimum pension for previously retired members
with 10 to 25 years of service is $900 annually.  The bill
repeals these provisions and substitutes for members retiring
after August 28, 1999, with 25 years of service or with a duty--
related accident or illness a minimum monthly benefit of $600.
Members who retired on or before that date are made special
consultants, with their benefit an amount that brings their
monthly amount to no less than $600.

The surviving spouse of a member retiring after August 28, 1999,
who dies after benefits begin will receive a base pension of 80%
of the member's pension, including cost-of-living adjustments
and excluding supplemental retirement benefits.  Surviving
spouses of members who retired on or before August 28, 1999, and
who die after that date are eligible to be special consultants
with benefits and conditions outlined above.  The surviving
spouse of a member with at least 25 years of service or one who
retired as a result of duty-related illness or accident who
retires after August 28, 1999, will receive a benefit of not
less than $600 monthly.  Surviving spouses of members retiring
before that date under the same conditions are eligible to be
special consultants with a benefit of not less than $600
monthly.  Benefits for surviving spouses will continue to
terminate upon remarriage.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND INVESTMENTS.  Firms in which board members
have an interest may not handle investment transactions, and
board members must not profit directly or indirectly from such
investments.  Several technical amendments concerning
depositories and investment in securities are made.

CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES--BENEFITS.  Terminated members with 5 or more
years of service retiring after August 28, 1999, who allow their
contributions to remain in the fund are entitled to receive a
pension on their normal or early retirement date.  Conditions
are placed on the years of creditable service.  Such members who
retired on or before August 28, 1999, can become special
consultants under the same conditions.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND INVESTMENTS.  These provisions are amended
to make them parallel to the uniformed police board requirements.