130th Ohio General Assembly
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As Reported by House Health, Retirement and Aging Committee

123rd General Assembly
Regular Session
1999-2000
Am. Sub. S. B. No. 189

SENATORS SPADA-BLESSING-JOHNSON-MUMPER-DiDONATO-McLIN- ARMBRUSTER-DRAKE-GARDNER-HAGAN-LATELL-LATTA-NEIN-OELSLAGER- PRENTISS-SCHAFRATH-WATTS-WHITE-HORN-
REPRESENTATIVES OLMAN- VESPER-PATTON-OGG-DePIERO-BARNES-HOLLISTER-WILLAMOWSKI-SMITH- J. BEATTY


A BILL
To amend sections 5505.12, 5505.15, 5505.16, 5505.17, 5505.171, 5505.176, 5505.18, and 5505.30 and to enact sections 5505.163 and 5505.29 of the Revised Code to reduce the member contribution rate under the State Highway Patrol Retirement System (SHPRS), increase pensions and the lump-sum death benefit provided by the system, provide for refunds of purchased service credit that does not increase a pension, allow a person who retired prior to September 21, 1994, to choose a joint and survivor annuity, and require SHPRS to submit to the Ohio Retirement Study Council and legislative committees the system's annual actuarial valuation not later than the first day of July following the year for which the valuation was made.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:


Section 1. That sections 5505.12, 5505.15, 5505.16, 5505.17, 5505.171, 5505.176, 5505.18, and 5505.30 be amended and sections 5505.163 and 5505.29 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:


Sec. 5505.12. (A) The state highway patrol retirement board shall have prepared annually by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial valuation of the pension assets, liabilities, and funding requirements of the state highway patrol retirement system as established pursuant to this chapter. The actuary shall complete the valuation in accordance with actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries and prepare a report of the valuation. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of the benefit provisions evaluated;

(2) A summary of the census data and financial information used in the valuation;

(3) A description of the actuarial assumptions, actuarial cost method, and asset valuation method used in the valuation, including a statement of the assumed rate of payroll growth and assumed rate of growth or decline in the number of members contributing to the retirement system;

(4) A summary of findings that includes a statement of the actuarial accrued pension liabilities and unfunded actuarial accrued pension liabilities;

(5) A schedule showing the effect of any changes in the benefit provisions, actuarial assumptions, or cost methods since the last annual actuarial valuation;

(6) A statement of whether contributions to the retirement system are expected to be sufficient to satisfy the funding objectives established by the board.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study commission COUNCIL and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the first day of November JULY following the year for which the valuation was made.

(B) At such times as the state highway patrol retirement board determines, and at least once in each five-year period after January 1, 1966, the board shall have prepared by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial investigation of the mortality, service, and other experience of the members, retirants, and beneficiaries to update the actuarial assumptions used in the actuarial valuation required by division (A) of this section. The actuary shall prepare a report of the actuarial investigation. The report shall be prepared and any recommended changes in actuarial assumptions shall be made in accordance with the actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of relevant decrement and economic assumption experience observed over the period of the investigation;

(2) Recommended changes in actuarial assumptions to be used in subsequent actuarial valuations required by division (A) of this section;

(3) A measurement of the financial effect of the recommended changes in actuarial assumptions.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study commission COUNCIL and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the first day of November following the last fiscal year of the period the report covers.

(C) The board may at any time request the actuary to make any studies or actuarial valuations to determine the adequacy of the rates of contributions provided by section 5505.15 of the Revised Code.

(D) The board shall have prepared by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial analysis of any introduced legislation expected to have a measurable financial impact on the retirement system. The actuarial analysis shall be completed in accordance with the actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries. The actuary shall prepare a report of the actuarial analysis, which shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of the statutory changes that are being evaluated;

(2) A description of or reference to the actuarial assumptions and actuarial cost method used in the report;

(3) A description of the participant group or groups included in the report;

(4) A statement of the financial impact of the legislation, including the resulting increase, if any, in the employer normal cost percentage; the increase, if any, in actuarial accrued liabilities; and the per cent of payroll that would be required to amortize the increase in actuarial accrued liabilities as a level per cent of covered payroll for all active members over a period not to exceed thirty years;

(5) A statement of whether the scheduled contributions to the system after the proposed change is enacted are expected to be sufficient to satisfy the funding objectives established by the board.

Not later than sixty days from the date of introduction of the legislation, the board shall submit a copy of the actuarial analysis to the legislative budget office of the legislative service commission, the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation, and the Ohio retirement study commission COUNCIL.

(E) The board shall have prepared annually a report giving a full accounting of the revenues and costs relating to the provision of benefits under section 5505.28 of the Revised Code. The report shall be made as of December 31, 1997, and the thirty-first day of December of each year thereafter. The report shall include the following:

(1) A description of the statutory authority for the benefits provided;

(2) A summary of the benefits;

(3) A summary of the eligibility requirements for the benefits;

(4) A statement of the number of participants eligible for the benefits;

(5) A description of the accounting, asset valuation, and funding method used to provide the benefits;

(6) A statement of the net assets available for the provision of the benefits as of the last day of the fiscal year;

(7) A statement of any changes in the net assets available for the provision of benefits, including participant and employer contributions, net investment income, administrative expenses, and benefits provided to participants, as of the last day of the fiscal year;

(8) For the last six consecutive fiscal years, a schedule of the net assets available for the benefits, the annual cost of benefits, administrative expenses incurred, and annual employer contributions allocated for the provision of benefits;

(9) A description of any significant changes that affect the comparability of the report required under this division;

(10) A statement of the amount paid under division (C) of section 5505.28 of the Revised Code.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study commission COUNCIL and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the thirtieth day of June following the year for which the report was made.


Sec. 5505.12. (A) The state highway patrol retirement board shall have prepared annually by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial valuation of the pension assets, liabilities, and funding requirements of the state highway patrol retirement system as established pursuant to this chapter. The actuary shall complete the valuation in accordance with actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries and prepare a report of the valuation. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of the benefit provisions evaluated;

(2) A summary of the census data and financial information used in the valuation;

(3) A description of the actuarial assumptions, actuarial cost method, and asset valuation method used in the valuation, including a statement of the assumed rate of payroll growth and assumed rate of growth or decline in the number of members contributing to the retirement system;

(4) A summary of findings that includes a statement of the actuarial accrued pension liabilities and unfunded actuarial accrued pension liabilities;

(5) A schedule showing the effect of any changes in the benefit provisions, actuarial assumptions, or cost methods since the last annual actuarial valuation;

(6) A statement of whether contributions to the retirement system are expected to be sufficient to satisfy the funding objectives established by the board.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study commission COUNCIL and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the first day of November JULY following the year for which the valuation was made.

(B) At such times as the state highway patrol retirement board determines, and at least once in each five-year period after January 1, 1966, the board shall have prepared by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial investigation of the mortality, service, and other experience of the members, retirants, and beneficiaries to update the actuarial assumptions used in the actuarial valuation required by division (A) of this section. The actuary shall prepare a report of the actuarial investigation. The report shall be prepared and any recommended changes in actuarial assumptions shall be made in accordance with the actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of relevant decrement and economic assumption experience observed over the period of the investigation;

(2) Recommended changes in actuarial assumptions to be used in subsequent actuarial valuations required by division (A) of this section;

(3) A measurement of the financial effect of the recommended changes in actuarial assumptions.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study commission COUNCIL and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the first day of November following the last fiscal year of the period the report covers.

(C) The board may at any time request the actuary to make any studies or actuarial valuations to determine the adequacy of the rates of contributions provided by section 5505.15 of the Revised Code.

(D) The board shall have prepared by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial analysis of any introduced legislation expected to have a measurable financial impact on the retirement system. The actuarial analysis shall be completed in accordance with the actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries. The actuary shall prepare a report of the actuarial analysis, which shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of the statutory changes that are being evaluated;

(2) A description of or reference to the actuarial assumptions and actuarial cost method used in the report;

(3) A description of the participant group or groups included in the report;

(4) A statement of the financial impact of the legislation, including the resulting increase, if any, in the employer normal cost percentage; the increase, if any, in actuarial accrued liabilities; and the per cent of payroll that would be required to amortize the increase in actuarial accrued liabilities as a level per cent of covered payroll for all active members over a period not to exceed thirty years;

(5) A statement of whether the scheduled contributions to the system after the proposed change is enacted are expected to be sufficient to satisfy the funding objectives established by the board.

Not later than sixty days from the date of introduction of the legislation, the board shall submit a copy of the actuarial analysis to the legislative budget office of the legislative service commission, the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation, and the Ohio retirement study commission COUNCIL.

(E) The board shall have prepared annually a report giving a full accounting of the revenues and costs relating to the provision of benefits under section 5505.28 of the Revised Code. The report shall be made as of December 31, 1997, and the thirty-first day of December of each year thereafter. The report shall include the following:

(1) A description of the statutory authority for the benefits provided;

(2) A summary of the benefits;

(3) A summary of the eligibility requirements for the benefits;

(4) A statement of the number of participants eligible for the benefits;

(5) A description of the accounting, asset valuation, and funding method used to provide the benefits;

(6) A statement of the net assets available for the provision of the benefits as of the last day of the fiscal year;

(7) A statement of any changes in the net assets available for the provision of benefits, including participant and employer contributions, net investment income, administrative expenses, and benefits provided to participants, as of the last day of the fiscal year;

(8) For the last six consecutive fiscal years, a schedule of the net assets available for the benefits, the annual cost of benefits, administrative expenses incurred, and annual employer contributions allocated for the provision of benefits;

(9) A description of any significant changes that affect the comparability of the report required under this division;

(10) A statement of the amount paid under division (C) of section 5505.28 of the Revised Code.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study commission COUNCIL and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the thirtieth day of June following the year for which the report was made.

Sec. 5505.15. (A)(1) A member of the state highway patrol retirement system shall contribute ten NINE AND ONE-HALF per cent of the member's annual salary to the state highway patrol retirement fund. The amount shall be deducted by the employer from the employee's salary for each payroll period.

(2) The total contributions arising from deductions made prior to January 1, 1966, from the salaries of members in the employ of the state highway patrol and standing to the credit of their individual accounts in the retirement fund shall be transferred and credited to their respective individual accounts in the employees' savings fund.

(B) The state shall annually pay into the employer accumulation fund, in monthly or less frequent installments as the state highway patrol retirement board requires, an amount that shall be a certain percentage of the total salaries paid contributing members and shall be known as the "employer contribution." If a member severs connection with the patrol or is dismissed, the employer contribution shall remain in the retirement system.

The rate percentage of the employer contribution shall be certified by the board to the director of budget and management and shall not be lower than nine per cent of the total salaries paid contributing members and shall not exceed three times the rate percentage being deducted from the annual salaries of contributing members. The board shall prepare and submit to the director, on or before the first day of November of each even-numbered year, an estimate of the amounts necessary to pay the state's obligations accruing during the biennium beginning the first day of July of the following year. Such amounts shall be included in the budget and allocated as certified by the board.

Sec. 5505.16. (A) A member of the state highway patrol retirement system who has been in the service of the state highway patrol for a period of twenty-five years as an employee according to the rules adopted by the state highway patrol retirement board may make application for a pension which, if the member is under age forty-eight, shall be deferred until the member age forty-eight.

(B) A member of the retirement system who has been in the service of the highway patrol for a period of twenty years as an employee according to the rules adopted by the retirement board, may make application for a pension that, if the member is under age fifty-two, shall be deferred until the member age fifty-two, except that any such member who has attained twenty years of service may, on or after the member attaining age forty-eight but before the member attaining age fifty-two, elect to receive a reduced pension of the greater of eight NINE hundred fifty dollars or an amount computed as follows:
Attained AgeReduced Pension
4875% of normal service pension
4980% of normal service pension
5086% of normal service pension
5193% of normal service pension

In the case of a member who elects to receive a reduced pension on or after the member attaining age forty-eight but before the member attaining age forty-nine, the reduced pension is payable from the later of the date the member the member attains age forty-eight or the date the member becomes eligible to receive the reduced pension. In the case of a member who elects to receive a reduced pension on or after the member attaining age forty-nine but before the member attaining age fifty, the reduced pension is payable from the later of the date the member the member attains age forty-nine or the date the member becomes eligible to receive the reduced pension. In the case of a member who elects to receive a reduced pension on or after the member attaining age fifty but before the member attaining age fifty-one, the reduced pension is payable from the later of the date the member the member attains age fifty or the date the member becomes eligible to receive the reduced pension. In the case of a member who elects to receive a reduced pension on or after the member attaining age fifty-one but before the member attaining age fifty-two, the reduced pension is payable from the later of the date the member OF the member attains age fifty-one MEMBER'S MOST RECENT BIRTHDAY or the date the member becomes eligible to receive the reduced pension.

A member who has elected to receive a reduced pension in accordance with the schedule provided in this division and has received a payment in connection therewith the member may not change the election.

(C) Any member who attains the age of fifty-five years and has been in the service of the patrol for a period of twenty years as a uniformed patrol officer according to the rules adopted by the board, shall file application for retirement with the board, and if the member refuses or neglects to do so, the board may deem the member's application to have been filed on the member's fifty-fifth birthday. The member may, upon written application approved by the superintendent of the state highway patrol, be continued in service after attaining the age of fifty-five years, but only until the member has accumulated twenty years of service.

(D)(1) As used in this division:

(a) "Service in the uniformed services" means the performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in a uniformed service under competent authority and includes active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, inactive duty training, full-time national guard duty, and a period for which a person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the person to perform any such duty.

(b) "Uniformed services" of the United States includes both:

(i) Army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or any reserve components of these services; auxiliary corps as established by congress; army nurse corps; navy nurse corps; service as red cross nurse with the army, navy, air force, or hospital service of the United States, or serving full-time with the American red cross in a combat zone; and such other service as is designated by the congress as included therein;

(ii) Personnel of the Ohio national guard, the Ohio military reserve, the Ohio naval militia, and the reserve components of the armed forces enumerated in division (D)(1) of this section who are called to active duty pursuant to an executive order issued by the president of the United States or an act of congress.

(2) A member's total service credit may include periods not to exceed a total of seven years, while the member's employment with the state highway patrol is or was interrupted due to service the member in the uniformed services of the United States. Such military service shall be credited to the member towards total service as provided by this chapter and to the extent approved by the board, provided that:

(a) The member is or was honorably discharged from service in the uniformed services;

(b) The member is or was reemployed RE-EMPLOYED by the state highway patrol within ninety days immediately following termination of service in the uniformed services;

(c) The member, subject to board rules, pays into the retirement system to the member's credit in the employees' savings fund an amount equal to the total contributions the member would have paid had state highway patrol employment not been so interrupted. Such the member's payment may be made at any time prior to receipt of a pension.

(3) the member If the member meets the requirements of division (D)(2) of this section, on receipt of contributions from the member, the state highway patrol shall be billed for the employer contribution that would have been paid pursuant to section 5505.15 of the Revised Code if the member had not rendered service in the uniformed services, subject to board rules.

(4) If under division (D)(2)(c) of this section a member pays all or any portion of the contributions later than the lesser of five years or a period that is three times the member's period of service in the uniformed services beginning from the later of the member's date of re-employment or the effective date of this amendment OCTOBER 29, 1996, an amount equal to compound interest at a rate established by the board from the later of the member's date of re-employment or the effective date of this amendment OCTOBER 29, 1996, to the date of payment shall be added to the remaining amount to be paid by the member to purchase service credit under this section.

(5) Credit purchased by a member under division (D)(2) of this section shall be used to determine the member's eligibility for retirement under this section and section 5505.17 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5505.163. (A) A RETIRANT WHO RETIRED PRIOR TO SEPTEMBER 21, 1994, UNDER SECTION 5505.16 OF THE REVISED CODE MAY ELECT TO RECEIVE THE ACTUARIAL EQUIVALENT OF THE RETIRANT'S PENSION IN A LESSER AMOUNT PAYABLE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE RETIRANT'S LIFE AND CONTINUING AFTER DEATH TO THE RETIRANT'S SURVIVING DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY UNDER ONE OF THE OPTIONAL PLANS DESCRIBED IN DIVISION (A)(1), (2), OR (3) OF SECTION 5505.162 OF THE REVISED CODE, PROVIDED THE ANNUAL AMOUNT PAYABLE TO THE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE ANNUAL AMOUNT PAYABLE TO THE RETIRANT, THE AMOUNT IS CERTIFIED BY THE ACTUARY EMPLOYED BY THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL RETIREMENT SYSTEM TO BE THE ACTUARIAL EQUIVALENT OF THE RETIRANT'S PENSION, AND THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL RETIREMENT BOARD APPROVES THE AMOUNT.

(B) A RETIRANT INTERESTED IN MAKING THE ELECTION AUTHORIZED BY DIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHALL FILE A NOTICE OF INTEREST WITH THE BOARD NOT LATER THAN SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. THE BOARD SHALL ADVISE THE RETIRANT WITH RESPECT TO THE CHOICES AVAILABLE UNDER THE OPTIONAL PLANS AND HAVE A DETERMINATION MADE OF THE MONTHLY PENSION PAYABLE UNDER THE OPTIONAL PLAN ELECTED BY THE MEMBER FOR INCLUSION IN THE STATEMENT TO BE FILED UNDER DIVISION (C) OF THIS SECTION.

(C) TO MAKE THE ELECTION AUTHORIZED BY DIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION, A RETIRANT SHALL FILE A STATEMENT, ON A FORM PROVIDED BY THE BOARD, INDICATING THAT THE RETIRANT ELECTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE OPTIONAL PLAN SPECIFIED IN THE STATEMENT. THE FORM MUST BE FILED WITH THE BOARD NOT LATER THAN ONE HUNDRED TWENTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.

(D) A NOTICE OR STATEMENT MAILED TO THE BOARD SHALL BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN FILED ON ITS POSTMARK DATE.

(E) ANY OPTION ELECTED AND PAYMENTS MADE UNDER THIS SECTION SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ANY PENSION PAYABLE TO THE RETIRANT'S SURVIVING SPOUSE, CHILDREN, OR PARENTS UNDER SECTION 5505.17 OF THE REVISED CODE.

Sec. 5505.17. (A)(1) Upon retirement as provided in section 5505.16 of the Revised Code, a member of the state highway patrol retirement system shall receive a life pension, without guaranty or refund, equal to THE GREATER OF ONE THOUSAND FIFTY DOLLARS OR the sum of two and one-half per cent of the member's final average salary multiplied by the first twenty years of total service credit, plus two AND ONE-QUARTER per cent of the member's final average salary multiplied by the number of years, and fraction of a year, of total service credit in excess of twenty years BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, PLUS TWO PER CENT OF THE MEMBER'S FINAL AVERAGE SALARY MULTIPLIED BY THE NUMBER OF YEARS, AND FRACTION OF A YEAR, IN EXCESS OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS; provided that in no case shall the pension exceed the lesser of seventy-eight SEVENTY-NINE AND ONE-QUARTER per cent of the member's final average salary or the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended.

(2) A member with fifteen or more years of total service credit, who voluntarily resigns or who is discharged from the state highway patrol for any reason except retirement under this chapter, death, dishonesty, cowardice, intemperate habits, or conviction of a felony, shall receive a pension equal to one and one-half per cent of the member's final average salary multiplied by the number of years, and fraction of a year, of total service credit, except that the pension shall not exceed the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended. The pension shall commence at the end of the calendar month in which the application is filed with the retirement board on or after the attainment of age fifty-five years by the applicant. A member who withdraws any part or all of the accumulated contributions from the employees' savings fund shall thereupon forfeit all rights to a pension provided for in this division.

(3)(a) A surviving spouse of a deceased member shall receive a monthly pension, determined as follows, during the spouse's life:

(i) If at the time of death the member was not eligible to be granted a pension payable under this section or to elect to receive a reduced pension payable under section 5505.16 of the Revised Code, eight NINE hundred fifty dollars;

(ii) If at the time of death the member was eligible to be granted a pension payable under this section or to elect to receive a reduced pension payable under section 5505.16 of the Revised Code, the greater of eight NINE hundred fifty dollars or fifty per cent of the computed monthly pension the member would have received had the member been granted a pension under this section or elected to receive a reduced pension under section 5505.16 of the Revised Code.

(b) The surviving spouse of a retirant shall receive a monthly pension, determined as follows, during the spouse's life:

(i) If the retirant had applied for a pension payable under section 5505.16 of the Revised Code, but at the time of death had not attained the age of eligibility for the pension, eight NINE hundred fifty dollars;

(ii) If the retirant had applied for a pension payable under section 5505.16 of the Revised Code and had attained the age of eligibility for the pension, but at the time of death had not elected to begin receiving the pension, the greater of eight NINE hundred fifty dollars or fifty per cent of the computed monthly pension the retirant was eligible to receive under section 5505.16 of the Revised Code;

(iii) If the retirant was receiving a pension under this section or section 5505.16 or 5505.18 of the Revised Code, or, regardless of whether or not the retirant had actually received any payment, if the retirant was eligible to receive a pension under this section or section 5505.16 or 5505.18 of the Revised Code and had elected to begin receiving it, the greater of eight NINE hundred fifty dollars or fifty per cent of the computed monthly pension awarded the retirant.

(c) If a monthly pension to a surviving spouse was terminated due to a remarriage, the surviving spouse is eligible to receive a monthly pension under division (A)(3) of this section effective the first day of the first month following June 5, 1996. The pension shall be computed under division (A)(3) of this section as of June 5, 1996. The pension payable to a person who is the surviving spouse of more than one state highway patrol retirement system member or retirant shall be computed on the basis of the service of the member or retirant to whom the surviving spouse was most recently married.

(4) A pension of one hundred fifty dollars per month shall be paid by the system to or for the benefit of each child of a deceased member or retirant until the child attains the age of eighteen years or marries, whichever event occurs first, or until the child attains twenty-three years of age if the child is a student in and attending an institution of learning or training pursuant to a program designed to complete in each school year the equivalent of at least two-thirds of the full-time curriculum requirements of the institution, as determined by the retirement board. If any surviving child, regardless of age at the time of the member's or retirant's death, because of physical or mental disability, was totally dependent upon the deceased member or retirant for support at the time of death, a pension of one hundred fifty dollars per month shall be paid by the system to or for the benefit of the child during the child's natural life or until the child recovers from the disability.

(5)(a) If a retirant died prior to June 6, 1988, and the surviving spouse was not married to the retirant while the retirant was in the active service of the patrol, the surviving spouse shall receive a pension of the greater of four hundred twenty-five dollars per month or fifty per cent of the computed monthly pension the retirant was receiving.

(b) If the pension payable to a person receiving a pension under division (A)(5)(a) of this section on November 2, 1989, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT is less than six NINE hundred dollars per month, the pension shall be increased to six NINE hundred dollars per month.

(c) If the pension payable to a person receiving a pension under division (A)(5)(a) of this section on June 5, 1996, is less than eight hundred fifty dollars per month, the pension shall be increased to eight hundred fifty dollars per month.

(6)(a) If a surviving spouse, child, or children of a deceased member or retirant has been granted benefits prior to November 18, 1981, such benefits shall be adjusted to comply thereafter with the benefit provision of this section, except that the adjusted benefits under division (A)(3) of this section shall not exceed four hundred twenty-five dollars per month.

(b) If the pension payable to the surviving spouse of a deceased member or retirant under division (A)(3) of this section is less than six hundred dollars per month, the pension shall be increased to six hundred dollars per month.

(c) If the pension payable to the surviving spouse of a deceased member or retirant under division (A)(3) of this section on June 5, 1996, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT is less than eight NINE hundred fifty dollars per month, the pension shall be increased to eight NINE hundred fifty dollars per month.

(d)(b) The pension payable to a child of a deceased member or retirant who is receiving a pension under division (A)(4) of this section on June 5, 1996, shall be increased to one hundred fifty dollars per month.

(7) If a deceased member or retirant leaves no spouse or surviving children, but leaves two parents depending solely upon the deceased member or retirant for support, each parent shall be paid a monthly pension of one hundred fifty-four dollars. If in such case there is only one parent dependent solely upon the deceased member or retirant for support, such parent shall be paid a monthly pension of one hundred fifty-four dollars. Such pension shall be paid during the life of the surviving parents, or until dependency ceases, or until remarriage, whichever event occurs first.

(8) Any amount remaining as accumulated contributions at the time of death of a member or retirant who leaves no surviving spouse or dependent children or parents shall be paid to the estate of the member or retirant.

(9) The increases provided for by divisions (A)(5)(b) and (c) and (A)(6)(b) and (c)(a) of this section shall be included in the calculation of the additional benefit paid under section 5505.174 of the Revised Code.

(B) The board shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, the necessary rules for the administration of this section and all decisions of the board shall be final. Any payment of a pension or benefit under this section is subject to the provisions of section 5505.26 of the Revised Code.

(C) A member's total service credit may include periods during which the member's employment with the state highway patrol is interrupted by a leave of absence, when requested by the governor, to accept employment with another agency of the state, provided that:

(1) The member is reemployed by the state highway patrol within thirty days following termination of such other employment;

(2) The member pays into the retirement system, to the credit of the employees' savings fund, an amount equal to the total contributions the member would have paid had the state highway patrol employment not been so interrupted. Such repayment shall begin within ninety days after the member's return to duty with the state highway patrol and be completed within a period equal to that of the leave of absence.

(D) Service credits granted under division (C) of this section shall not include any duplications of credits for which a pension is payable by the public employees retirement system.

Sec. 5505.171. (A) All persons who retired and were eligible to receive a pension that was payable prior to July 1, 1968, pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 5505.17 or division (B)(1) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code, shall receive an additional monthly payment of two dollars for each year between the member's effective date of retirement or disability and December 31, 1971, or an additional fifty dollars, whichever is less.

On or before the first day of August in 1981 and on or before the first day of August in each year thereafter, the state highway patrol retirement board shall certify to the treasurer of state the amount required to be paid in the preceding fiscal year under this division. Upon receipt of such certification, the treasurer of state shall pay to the state highway patrol retirement system the amount certified.

(B) All persons who retired and were eligible to receive a pension that was payable prior to July 1, 1981, pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 5505.17 or division (B)(1) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code shall have that pension recalculated by the board so that each such person receives a monthly pension of not less than four hundred twenty-five dollars.

(C) Each person who retired and was eligible to receive a pension that was payable prior to November 2, 1989, pursuant to division (A)(1) of section 5505.17 or division (B)(1) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code shall have the pension recalculated by the board so that the person receives a monthly pension of not less than six hundred dollars. Any pension increase resulting from a recalculation made under this division shall be included in the calculation of the additional benefit paid under section 5505.174 of the Revised Code.

(D) Each person who retired and was eligible to receive a pension, other than a reduced pension, that was payable prior to September 21, 1994, THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT pursuant to division (A) or (B) of section 5505.16 or division (B) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code shall have the pension recalculated by the board so that the person receives a monthly pension of not less than one thousand FIFTY dollars. Any pension increase resulting from a recalculation made under this division shall be included in the calculation of the additional benefit paid under section 5505.174 of the Revised Code.

(E)(C) The pension of each person who is receiving a pension pursuant to division (B) of section 5505.16 of the Revised Code on the effective date of this amendment of less than eight NINE hundred fifty dollars per month shall be increased to eight NINE hundred fifty dollars per month. Any increase under this division shall be included in the calculation of the additional benefit paid under section 5505.174 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 5505.176. (A) The state highway patrol retirement system shall increase the pension payable to each person receiving a pension granted prior to the effective date of this section SEPTEMBER 16, 1998, that was calculated under division (A)(1) of section 5505.17 of the Revised Code on the basis of total service credit of more than twenty-five years. The increase shall be an amount determined by multiplying the pension payable to the member on the effective date of this section SEPTEMBER 16, 1998, by the product obtained by multiplying by one-half of one per cent the member's years and fraction of a year of service in excess of twenty-five years, except that the increased pension shall not exceed the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended. The increased pension shall be effective on the first day of the first month following the effective date of this section OCTOBER 1, 1998, and shall be used in determining the amount of the additional benefit paid under section 5505.174 of the Revised Code.

(B) THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL RETIREMENT SYSTEM SHALL INCREASE THE PENSION PAYABLE TO EACH PERSON RECEIVING A PENSION GRANTED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT THAT WAS CALCULATED UNDER DIVISION (A)(1) OF SECTION 5505.17 OF THE REVISED CODE ON THE BASIS OF TOTAL SERVICE CREDIT OF MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS. THE INCREASE SHALL BE AN AMOUNT DETERMINED BY MULTIPLYING THE PENSION PAYABLE TO THE MEMBER ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT BY THE PRODUCT OBTAINED BY MULTIPLYING BY ONE-QUARTER OF ONE PER CENT THE MEMBER'S YEARS AND FRACTION OF A YEAR OF SERVICE IN EXCESS OF TWENTY YEARS BUT NOT IN EXCESS OF TWENTY-FIVE YEARS, EXCEPT THAT THE INCREASED PENSION SHALL NOT EXCEED THE LIMIT ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 415 OF THE "INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986," 100 STAT. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, AS AMENDED. THE INCREASED PENSION SHALL BE EFFECTIVE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AMENDMENT AND SHALL BE USED IN DETERMINING THE AMOUNT OF THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT PAID UNDER SECTION 5505.174 OF THE REVISED CODE.

Sec. 5505.18. As used in this section, "member" does not include state highway patrol cadets attending training schools pursuant to section 5503.05 of the Revised Code.

(A) Upon the application of a member of the state highway patrol retirement system, a person acting on behalf of a member, or the superintendent of the state highway patrol on behalf of a member, a member who becomes totally and permanently incapacitated for duty in the employ of the state highway patrol may be retired by the board.

The medical examination of a member who has applied for disability retirement shall be conducted by a competent physician or physicians appointed by the board. The physician or physicians shall file a written report with the board containing the following information:

(1) Whether the member is totally incapacitated for duty in the employ of the patrol;

(2) Whether the incapacity is expected to be permanent;

(3) The cause of the member's incapacity.

The board shall determine whether the member qualifies for disability retirement and its decision shall be final. The board shall consider the written medical report, opinions, statements, and other competent evidence in making its determination. If the incapacity is a result of heart disease or any cardiovascular disease of a chronic nature, which disease or any evidence of which was not revealed by the physical examination passed by the member on entry into the patrol, the member is presumed to have incurred the disease in the line of duty as a member of the patrol, unless the contrary is shown by competent evidence.

(B)(1) A member whose retirement on account of disability incurred in the line of duty shall receive the applicable pension provided for in section 5505.17 of the Revised Code, except that if the member has less than twenty-five years of contributing service, the member's service credit shall be deemed to be twenty-five years for the purpose of this provision. In no case shall the member's disability pension be less than sixty SIXTY-ONE AND ONE-QUARTER per cent or exceed the lesser of seventy-eight SEVENTY-NINE AND ONE-QUARTER per cent of the member's final average salary or the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended.

(2) A member whose retirement on account of disability incurred not in the line of duty shall receive the applicable pension provided for in section 5505.17 of the Revised Code, except that if the member has less than twenty years of contributing service, the member's service credit shall be deemed to be twenty years for the purpose of this provision. In no case shall the member's disability pension exceed the lesser of seventy-eight SEVENTY-NINE AND ONE-QUARTER per cent of the member's final average salary or the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended.

(C) The state highway patrol retirement board shall adopt rules requiring a disability pension recipient, as a condition of continuing to receive a disability pension, to agree in writing to obtain any medical treatment recommended by the board's physician and submit medical reports regarding the treatment. If the board determines that a disability pension recipient is not obtaining the medical treatment or the board does not receive a required medical report, the disability pension shall be suspended until the treatment is obtained, the report is received by the board, or the board's physician certifies that the treatment is no longer helpful or advisable. Should the recipient's failure to obtain treatment or submit a medical report continue for one year, the recipient's right to the disability benefit shall be terminated as of the effective date of the original suspension.

(D) A member placed on a disability pension who has not attained the age of fifty-five years shall be subject to an annual medical re-examination by physicians appointed by the board, except that the board may waive the medical re-examination if the board's physicians certify that the member's disability is ongoing. If any member placed on a disability pension refuses to submit to a medical re-examination, the member's disability pension shall be suspended until the member withdraws the refusal. If the refusal continues for one year, all the member's rights under and to the disability pension shall be terminated as of the effective date of the original suspension.

(E) Each recipient of a disability pension who has not attained the age of fifty-five years shall file with the board an annual statement of earnings, current medical information on the recipient's condition, and any other information required in rules adopted by the board. The board may waive the requirement that a disability benefit recipient file an annual statement of earnings or current medical information if the board's physician certifies that the recipient's disability is ongoing.

The board shall annually examine the information submitted by the recipient. If a recipient refuses to file the statement or information, the disability pension shall be suspended until the statement and information are filed. If the refusal continues for one year, the right to the pension shall be terminated as of the effective date of the original suspension.

(F)(1) Except as provided in division (F)(2) of this section, a retirant who has been on disability pension, and who has been physically examined and found no longer incapable of performing the retirant's duties, shall be restored to the rank the retirant held at the time the retirant was pensioned and all previous rights shall be restored, including the retirant's civil service status, and the disability pension shall terminate. Upon return to employment in the patrol, the retirant shall again become a contributing member of the retirement system, the total service at the time of the retirant's retirement shall be restored to the retirant's credit, and the retirant shall be given service credit for the period the retirant was in receipt of a disability pension. The provisions of division (F)(1) of this section shall be retroactive to September 5, 1941.

(2) The state highway patrol is not required to take action under division (F)(1) of this section if the retirant was dismissed or resigned in lieu of dismissal for dishonesty, misfeasance, malfeasance, or conviction of a felony.

(G) The board may adopt rules to carry out this section.

Sec. 5505.29. THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL RETIREMENT BOARD SHALL REFUND THE COST OF SERVICE CREDIT RESTORED UNDER SECTION 5505.20 OR PURCHASED UNDER DIVISION (D) OF SECTION 5505.16, DIVISION (C) OF SECTION 5505.17, OR SECTION 5505.201, 5505.202, OR 5505.25 OF THE REVISED CODE TO THE EXTENT THE CREDIT DOES NOT, OR, IN THE CASE OF A PERSON WHO RETIRED OR DIED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, DID NOT, INCREASE THE PENSION PROVIDED TO THE RETIRANT OR SURVIVING SPOUSE UNDER SECTION 5505.16, 5505.162, 5505.17, OR 5505.18 OF THE REVISED CODE. THE BOARD SHALL PROVIDE THE REFUND TO THE RETIRANT OR SURVIVING SPOUSE. THE REFUND CANCELS AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF SERVICE CREDIT.

Sec. 5505.30. On the death of a person who at the time of death is receiving a pension from the state highway patrol retirement system under division (A)(1) or (2) of section 5505.17 or section 5505.18 of the Revised Code, a lump-sum payment of one FIVE thousand dollars shall be paid to the retirant's surviving spouse. If there is no surviving spouse, the payment shall be made to the retirant's estate.

Application for the payment shall be made on a form provided by the state highway patrol retirement board.


Section 2. That existing sections 5505.12, 5505.15, 5505.16, 5505.17, 5505.171, 5505.176, 5505.18, and 5505.30 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.


Section 3. Section 5505.16 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Am. Sub. H.B. 308 and Am. Sub. H.B. 450 of the 121st General Assembly, with the new language of neither of the acts shown in capital letters. This is in recognition of the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that such amendments are to be harmonized where not substantively irreconcilable and constitutes a legislative finding that such is the resulting version in effect prior to the effective date of this act.
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