SB 542 - This act revises the compensation rates and retirement benefits for Administrative Law Judges and Legal Advisors. The act removes the 80% of the Associate Division Circuit Judge Compensation rate for Legal Advisors. The rate for the Chief Legal Advisor is also removed.

This act provides that any Administrative Law Judge or Legal Advisor who is originally employed as such on or after January 1, 2004, are no longer eligible to participate in the Administrative Law Judge and Legal Advisor's Retirement System but rather are covered under the judicial retirement system. However, no Administrative Law Judge or Legal Advisor who is employed before January 1, 2004, or who has retired before that date will be affected by this act.

The liabilities and assets of the Administrative Law Judge's and Legal Advisor's retirement system are transferred and combined with the judicial retirement system. The contribution rate certified by the Board shall include amounts necessary to cover the costs of Administrative Law Judge's and Legal Advisor's retirement system.

This act adds Administrative Law Judges from the Division of Workers' Compensation to the "The Judicial Conference of the State of Missouri".

The act also allows administrative law judges from the Division of Workers' Compensation to make an election to transfer their membership service in the ALJ and Legal Advisor's Retirement Plan to the Judicial Plan. Such an election must be made in writing to MOSERS and the State Courts Administrator. The retirement, age and service requirements under the ALJ retirement system shall continue to apply.
CINDY KADLEC