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

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);

Prohibits DROP benefits for those on disability retirement. This provision is identical to TAT HB 152 (Section 86.251).

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 incentive 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).

PUBLIC SCHOOL AND NON TEACHER RETIREMENT SYSTEMS - The act:

Requires the state board of education to adopt rules to facilitate job-sharing by teachers. Job-sharing is defined as a certificated employee who is sharing a position with one other employee, is employed by the district for at least 50% of the workweek, and is spending at least 70% of his or her time in classroom instruction. Teachers in job-sharing positions will receive holidays and leave on a pro rata basis. Certain positions are excluded from job-sharing positions. SB 503 (Section 168.303)

Part-time teachers working 17 to 20 hours per week may receive retirement credit on a pro-rata basis (Section 169.712).

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 on or after February 1, 2003, and prior to September 1, 2003, or are eligible to retire by January 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. Benefits for those eligible to retire between September 1, 2003 and January 1, 2004, who elect to retire pursuant to these provisions will have their retirement benefits calculated based on their actual years of service.

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.

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.)

WORKER MEMORIAL FUND - This act creates a one-dollar check-off for the Workers Memorial fund to be put on each tax return filed after January 1, 2004. Taxpayers will be able to donate one or more dollars of a refund claimed to the fund. Taxpayers can also send a check or other negotiable instrument designated to the fund with their tax return. These provisions are identical to SB 236 (2002)(Section 3).
CINDY KADLEC