130th Ohio General Assembly
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Sub. H. B. No. 157As Passed by the Senate
As Passed by the Senate

124th General Assembly
Regular Session
2001-2002
Sub. H. B. No. 157


REPRESENTATIVES Schuring, Hollister, Ogg, Barrett, D. Miller, Schneider, Boccieri, Key, DeWine, Lendrum, Hagan, Carmichael, Calvert, Fessler, Grendell, Schmidt, Coates, Hughes, Salerno, Manning, Seitz, Jolivette, Setzer, Driehaus, Ford, Distel, Carey, Metzger, Kilbane, Patton, Core, Rhine, G. Smith, Britton, Sulzer, Jones, Redfern, Collier, Aslanides, Young, Olman, Reidelbach, Clancy, Niehaus, Fedor, Strahorn, Peterson, Widowfield, Roman, Oakar, Allen, Latta, S. Smith

SENATORS Blessing, Mead, DiDonato, Fingerhut, McLin, Spada, Austria, Carnes, Coughlin, Espy, Furney, Randy Gardner, Robert Gardner, Hagan, Harris, Herington, Mallory, Mumper, Oelslager, Prentiss, Ryan, Shoemaker



A BILL
To amend sections 145.297, 145.323, 742.37, 742.3711, 742.3716, 742.3717, 742.3718, 742.63, 3307.67, 3309.374, and 5505.174 and to repeal section 742.3720 of the Revised Code to provide that the annual cost of living increase paid to retired members and beneficiaries of Ohio's state retirement systems will be three per cent, and to provide pension and death benefits to certain surviving spouses of former members of local police or firemen's pension funds established under former Chapter 741. of the Revised Code.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1.  That sections 145.297, 145.323, 742.37, 742.3711, 742.3716, 742.3717, 742.3718, 742.63, 3307.67, 3309.374, and 5505.174 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:
Sec. 145.297.  (A) As used in this section, "employing unit" means:
(1) A municipal corporation, agency of a municipal corporation designated by the legislative authority, park district, conservancy district, sanitary district, health district, township, department of a township designated by the board of township trustees, metropolitan housing authority, public library, county law library, union cemetery, joint hospital, or other political subdivision or unit of local government.
(2) With respect to state employees, any entity of the state including any department, agency, institution of higher education, board, bureau, commission, council, office, or administrative body or any part of such entity that is designated by the entity as an employing unit.
(3)(a) With respect to employees of a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services, that board.
(b) With respect to employees of a county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, that board.
(c) With respect to other county employees, the county or any county agency designated by the board of county commissioners.
(4) In the case of an employee whose employing unit is in question, the employing unit is the unit through whose payroll the employee is paid.
(B) An employing unit may establish a retirement incentive plan for its eligible employees. In the case of a county or county agency, decisions on whether to establish a retirement incentive plan for any employees other than employees of a board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services or county board of mental retardation and developmental disabilities and on the terms of the plan shall be made by the board of county commissioners. In the case of a municipal corporation or an agency of a municipal corporation, decisions on whether to establish a retirement incentive plan and on the terms of the plan shall be made by the legislative authority.
All terms of a retirement incentive plan shall be in writing.
A retirement incentive plan shall provide for purchase by the employing unit of service credit for eligible employees who elect to participate in the plan and for payment by the employing unit of the entire cost of the service credit purchased.
Every retirement incentive plan shall remain in effect for at least one year. The employing unit shall give employees at least thirty days' notice before terminating the plan.
Every retirement incentive plan shall include provisions for the timely and impartial resolution of grievances and disputes arising under the plan.
No employing unit shall have more than one retirement incentive plan in effect at any time.
(C) Any classified or unclassified employee of the employing unit who is a member of the public employees retirement system shall be eligible to participate in the retirement incentive plan established by the employee's employing unit if the employee meets the following criteria:
(1) The employee is not any of the following:
(a) An elected official;
(b) A member of a board or commission;
(c) A person elected to serve a term of fixed length;
(d) A person appointed to serve a term of fixed length, other than a person appointed and employed by the person's employing unit.
(2) The employee is or will be eligible to retire under section 145.32, 145.34, 145.37, or division (A) of section 145.33 of the Revised Code on or before the date of termination of the retirement incentive plan. Service credit to be purchased for the employee under the retirement incentive plan shall be included in making such determination.
(3) The employee agrees to retire under section 145.32, 145.34, 145.37, or division (A) of section 145.33 of the Revised Code within ninety days after receiving notice from the public employees retirement system that service credit has been purchased for the employee under this section.
Participation in the plan shall be available to all eligible employees except that the employing unit may limit the number of participants in the plan to a specified percentage of its employees who are members of the public employees retirement system on the date the plan goes into effect. The percentage shall not be less than five per cent of such employees. If participation is limited, employees with more total service credit have the right to elect to participate before employees with less total service credit. In the case of employees with the same total service credit, employees with a greater length of service with the employing unit have the right to elect to participate before employees with less service with the employing unit. Employees with less than eighteen months of service with the employing unit have the right to elect to participate only after all other eligible employees have been given the opportunity to elect to participate. For the purpose of determining which employees may participate in a plan, total service credit includes service credit purchased by the employee under this chapter after the date on which the plan is established.
A retirement incentive plan that limits participation may provide that an employee who does not notify the employing unit of the employee's decision to participate in the plan within a specified period of time will lose priority to participate in the plan ahead of other employees with less seniority. The time given to an employee to elect to participate ahead of other employees shall not be less than thirty days after the employee receives written notice that the employee may participate in the plan.
(D) A retirement incentive plan shall provide for purchase of the same amount of service credit for each participating employee, except that the employer may not purchase more service credit for any employee than the lesser of the following:
(1) Five years of service credit;
(2) An amount of service credit equal to one-fifth of the total service credited to the participant under this chapter, exclusive of service credit purchased under this section.
For each year of service credit purchased under this section, the employing unit shall pay an amount equal to the additional liability resulting from the purchase of that year of service credit, as determined by an actuary employed by the public employees retirement board.
(E) Upon the election by an eligible employee to participate in the retirement incentive plan, the employee and the employing unit shall agree upon a date for payment or contracting for payment in installments to the public employees retirement system of the cost of the service credit to be purchased. The employing unit shall submit to the public employees retirement system a written request for a determination of the cost of the service credit, and within forty-five days after receiving the request, the board shall give the employing unit written notice of the cost.
The employing unit shall pay or contract to pay in installments the cost of the service credit to be purchased to the public employees retirement system on the date agreed to by the employee and the employing unit. The payment shall be made in accordance with rules adopted by the public employees retirement board. The rules may provide for payment in installments and for crediting the purchased credit to the employee's account upon the employer's contracting to pay the cost in installments. The board shall notify the member when the member is credited with service purchased under this section. If the employee does not retire within ninety days after receiving notice that the employee has been credited with the purchased service credit, the system shall refund to the employing unit the amount paid for the service credit.
No payment made to the public employees retirement system under this section shall affect any payment required by section 145.48 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 145.323.  (A) Beginning April 1, 1971, and each year thereafter, the board of the The public employees retirement system shall determine the average percentage change in the consumer price index prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. City Average for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: "All Items 1982-84=100") for the twelve-calendar-month period prior to the first day of January over the next preceding twelve-calendar-month period, as reported by the bureau.
Upon a determination by the board in any year that the change in the consumer price index is an increase or that the change plus the accumulation described in division (B) of this section is an increase, the board shall annually increase each allowance, pension, or benefit payable under this chapter by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index or to that increase plus the accumulation, except that the increase shall not exceed three per cent and, except that no allowance, pension, or benefit shall 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 first increase is payable to all persons becoming eligible after June 30, 1971, upon such persons receiving an allowance for twelve months. The increased amount is payable for the ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later. Subsequent increases shall be determined from the date of the first increase paid to the former member in the case of an allowance being paid a beneficiary under an option, or from the date of the first increase to the survivor first receiving an allowance or benefit in the case of an allowance or benefit being paid to the subsequent survivors of the former member.
The date of the first increase under this section becomes the anniversary date for any future increases.
The allowance or benefit used in the first calculation of an increase under this section shall remain as the base for all future increases, unless a new base is established.
(B) Any percentage of change in the consumer price index in any year that is in excess of three per cent shall be accumulated and used to determine increases under this section in subsequent years. Any percentage of change in the consumer price index accumulated by an eligible person prior to the effective date of this amendment shall be used in determining any future increases under this section.
(C) The board shall make all rules necessary to carry out this section.
Sec. 742.37.  The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall adopt rules for the management of the fund and for the disbursement of benefits and pensions as set forth in this section and section 742.39 of the Revised Code. Any payment of a benefit or pension under this section is subject to the provisions of section 742.461 of the Revised Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no pension or benefit paid or determined under division (B) or (C) of this section or section 742.39 of the Revised Code shall 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.
(A) Persons who were receiving benefit or pension payments from a police relief and pension fund established under former section 741.32 of the Revised Code, or from a firemen's relief and pension fund established under former section 521.02 or 741.02 of the Revised Code, at the time the assets of the fund were transferred to the Ohio police and fire pension fund, known at that time as the police and firemen's disability and pension fund, shall receive benefit and pension payments from the Ohio police and fire pension fund in the same amount and subject to the same conditions as such payments were being made from the former fund on the date of the transfer.
(B) A member of the fund who, pursuant to law, elected to receive benefits and pensions from a police relief and pension fund established under former section 741.32 of the Revised Code, or from a firemen's relief and pension fund established under former section 741.02 of the Revised Code, in accordance with the rules of the fund governing the granting of benefits or pensions therefrom in force on April 1, 1947, shall receive benefits and pensions from the Ohio police and fire pension fund in accordance with such rules; provided, that any member of the fund who is not receiving a benefit or pension from the fund on August 12, 1975, may, upon application for a benefit or pension to be received on or after August 12, 1975, elect to receive a benefit or pension in accordance with division (C) of this section.
(C) Members of the fund who have not elected to receive benefits and pensions from a police relief and pension fund or a firemen's relief and pension fund in accordance with the rules of the fund in force on April 1, 1947, shall receive pensions and benefits in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) A member of the fund who has completed twenty-five years of active service in a police or fire department and has attained forty-eight years of age may, at the member's election, retire from the police or fire department, and upon notifying the board in writing of the election, shall receive an annual pension, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount equal to a percentage of the member's average annual salary. The percentage shall be the sum of two and one-half per cent for each of the first twenty years the member was in the active service of the department, plus two per cent for each of the twenty-first to twenty-fifth years the member was in the active service of the department, plus one and one-half per cent for each year in excess of twenty-five years the member was in the active service of the department. The annual pension shall not exceed seventy-two per cent of the member's average annual salary.
A member who completed twenty-five years of active service, has resigned or been discharged, and has left the sum deducted from the member's salary on deposit in the pension fund shall, upon attaining forty-eight years of age, be entitled to receive a normal service pension benefit computed and paid under division (C)(1) of this section.
(2) A member of the fund who has served fifteen or more years as an active member of a police or fire department and who voluntarily resigns or is discharged from the department for any reason other than dishonesty, cowardice, intemperate habits, or conviction of a felony, shall receive an annual pension, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount equal to one and one-half per cent of the member's average annual salary multiplied by the number of full years the member was in the active service of the department. The pension payments shall not commence until the member has attained the age of forty-eight years and until twenty-five years have elapsed from the date on which the member became a full-time regular police officer or firefighter in the department.
(3) A member of the fund who has completed fifteen or more years of active service in a police or fire department and who has attained sixty-two years of age, may retire from the department and, upon notifying the board in writing of the election to retire, shall receive an annual pension, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount equal to a percentage of the member's average annual salary. The percentage shall be the sum of two and one-half per cent for each of the first twenty years the member was in the active service of the department, plus two per cent for each of the twenty-first to twenty-fifth years the member was in the active service of the department, plus one and one-half per cent for each year in excess of twenty-five years the member was in the active service of the department. The annual pension shall not exceed seventy-two per cent of the member's average annual salary.
(4) With the exception of those persons who may make application for benefits as provided in section 742.26 of the Revised Code, no person receiving a pension or other benefit under division (C) of this section on or after July 24, 1986, shall be entitled to apply for any new, changed, or different benefit.
If a member covered by division (C) of this section or section 742.38 of the Revised Code dies prior to the time the member has received a payment and leaves a surviving spouse or dependent child, the surviving spouse or dependent child shall receive a pension under division (D) or (E) of this section.
(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, a surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund or a surviving spouse described in division (D)(4) of this section shall receive a monthly pension as follows:
(a) For the period beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000, five hundred fifty dollars;
(b) For the period beginning July 1, 2000, and the first day of July of each year thereafter and continuing for the following twelve months, an amount equal to the monthly amount paid during the prior twelve-month period plus an amount determined by multiplying five hundred fifty sixteen dollars by the average percentage change in the consumer price index, not exceeding three per cent, as determined each year by the board under section 742.3716 of the Revised Code and fifty cents.
(2) A surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund shall receive a monthly pension of four hundred ten dollars if the surviving spouse is eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code. If the surviving spouse ceases to be eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code, the pension shall be increased, effective the first day of the first month following the day on which the surviving spouse ceases to be eligible for the benefit, to the amount it would be under division (D)(1) of this section had the spouse never been eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code.
(3) A pension paid under this division shall continue during the natural life of the surviving spouse. Benefits to a deceased member's surviving spouse that were terminated under a former version of this section that required termination due to remarriage and were not resumed prior to September 16, 1998, shall resume on the first day of the month immediately following receipt by the board of an application on a form provided by the board.
(4) A surviving spouse of a deceased member of or contributor to a fund established under former Chapter 521. or 741. of the Revised Code whose benefit or pension was terminated or not paid due to remarriage shall receive a monthly pension under division (D)(1) of this section.
The pension shall commence on the first day of the month immediately following receipt by the board of a completed application on a form provided by the board and evidence acceptable to the board that at the time of death the deceased spouse was a member of or contributor to a police or firemen's relief and pension fund established under former Chapter 521. or 741. of the Revised Code and that the surviving spouse's benefits were terminated or not granted due to remarriage.
(E)(1) Each surviving child of a deceased member of the fund shall receive a monthly pension of one hundred fifty dollars until the child attains the age of eighteen years, or marries, whichever event occurs first. A pension under this division, however, shall continue to be payable to a child under age twenty-two who 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 board. If any surviving child, regardless of age at the time of the member's death, because of physical or mental disability, is totally dependent upon the deceased member for support at the time of death, the child shall receive a monthly pension under this division during the child's natural life or until the child has recovered from the disability.
(2) An eligible surviving child shall receive a monthly pension as follows:
(a) For the period beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003, one hundred sixty-three dollars and fifty cents;
(b) For the period beginning July 1, 2003, and the first day of each July thereafter and continuing for the following twelve months, an amount equal to the monthly amount paid during the prior twelve-month period plus four dollars and fifty cents.
(F)(1) If a deceased member of the fund leaves no surviving spouse or surviving children, but leaves one or two parents dependent upon the deceased member for support, each parent shall be paid a monthly pension of one hundred dollars. If there is only one parent dependent upon the member for support, the parent shall be paid a monthly pension of two hundred dollars. The pensions provided for in this division shall be paid during the natural life of the surviving parents, or until dependency ceases, or until remarriage, whichever event occurs first.
(2) Each eligible surviving parent shall be paid a monthly pension as follows:
(a) For the period ending June 30, 2002, one hundred six dollars for each parent or two hundred twelve dollars for a sole dependent parent;
(b) For the period beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003, one hundred nine dollars for each parent or two hundred eighteen dollars for a sole dependent parent;
(c) For the period beginning July 1, 2003, and the first day of each July thereafter and continuing for the following twelve months, an amount equal to the monthly amount paid during the prior twelve-month period plus three dollars for each parent or six dollars for a sole dependent parent.
(G) Subject to the provisions of section 742.461 of the Revised Code, a member of the fund who voluntarily resigns or is removed from active service in a police or fire department is entitled to receive an amount equal to the sums deducted from the member's salary and credited to the member's account in the fund, except that a member receiving a disability benefit or service pension is not entitled to receive any return of contributions to the fund.
(H) On and after January 1, 1970, all pensions shall be increased in accordance with the following provisions:
(1) A member of the fund who retired prior to January 1, 1967, has attained age sixty-five on January 1, 1970, and was receiving a pension on December 31, 1969, pursuant to division (B) or (C)(1) of this section or former division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section, shall have the pension increased by ten per cent.
(2) The monthly pension payable to eligible surviving spouses under division (D) of this section shall be increased by forty dollars for each surviving spouse receiving a pension on December 31, 1969.
(3) The monthly pension payable to each eligible child under division (E) of this section shall be increased by ten dollars for each child receiving a pension on December 31, 1969.
(4) The monthly pension payable to each eligible dependent parent under division (F) of this section shall be increased by thirty dollars for each parent receiving a pension on December 31, 1969.
(5) A member of the fund, including a survivor of a member, who is receiving a pension in accordance with the rules governing the granting of pensions and benefits in force on April 1, 1947, that provide an increase in the original pension from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members, shall not be eligible for the benefits provided in this division.
(I) On and after January 1, 1977, a member of the fund who was receiving a pension or benefit on December 31, 1973, under division (A), (B), (C)(1), or former division (C)(2) or (7) of this section shall have the pension or benefit increased as follows:
(1) If the member's annual pension or benefit is less than two thousand seven hundred dollars, it shall be increased to three thousand dollars.
(2) If the member's annual pension or benefit is two thousand seven hundred dollars or more, it shall be increased by three hundred dollars.
The following shall not be eligible to receive increased pensions or benefits as provided in this division:
(a) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with the rules in force on April 1, 1947, governing the granting of pensions and benefits, which provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members;
(b) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit under division (A) or (B) of this section, based on funded volunteer or funded part-time service, or off-duty disability, or partial on-duty disability, or early vested service;
(c) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension under division (C)(1) of this section, based on funded volunteer or funded part-time service.
(J) On and after July 1, 1977, a member of the fund who was receiving an annual pension or benefit on December 31, 1973, pursuant to division (B) of this section, based upon partial disability, off-duty disability, or early vested service, or pursuant to former division (C)(3), (5), or (6) of this section, shall have such annual pension or benefit increased by three hundred dollars.
The following are not eligible to receive the increase provided by this division:
(1) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with the rules in force on April 1, 1947, governing the granting of pensions and benefits, which provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members;
(2) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit under division (B) or (C)(2) of this section or former division (C)(3), (5), or (6) of this section based on volunteer or part-time service.
(K)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, every person who on July 24, 1986, is receiving an age and service or disability pension, allowance, or benefit pursuant to this chapter in an amount less than thirteen thousand dollars a year that is based upon an award made effective prior to February 28, 1984, shall receive an increase of six hundred dollars a year or the amount necessary to increase the pension or benefit to four thousand two hundred dollars after all adjustments required by this section, whichever is greater.
(2) Division (K)(1) of this section does not apply to the following:
(a) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with rules in force on April 1, 1947, that govern the granting of pensions and benefits and that provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members;
(b) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit based on funded volunteer or funded part-time service.
(L) On and after July 24, 1986:
(1) The pension of each person receiving a pension under division (D) of this section on July 24, 1986, shall be increased to three hundred ten dollars per month.
(2) The pension of each person receiving a pension under division (E) of this section on July 24, 1986, shall be increased to ninety-three dollars per month.
Sec. 742.3711.  (A) On application for retirement as provided in section 742.37 of the Revised Code, a member of the fund may elect to receive a retirement allowance payable throughout the member's life, or may elect, on the application for retirement, to receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for life and continuing after death to a surviving designated beneficiary under one of the following optional plans, provided the amount payable to the beneficiary shall not exceed the amount payable to the retiring member of the fund, and is certified by the actuary engaged by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund to be the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance and is approved by the board.
(1) Option 1. The member's lesser retirement allowance shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary designated at the time of the member's retirement.
(2) Option 2. One-half or some other portion of the member's lesser retirement allowance shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary designated at the time of the member's retirement.
(3) Option 3. Upon the member's death before the expiration of a certain period from the retirement date and elected by the member and approved by the retirement board, the member's lesser retirement allowance shall be continued for the remainder of that period to the beneficiary the member has nominated by written designation and filed with the retirement board.
Should the nominated beneficiary designated in writing become deceased prior to the expiration of the guarantee period, then for the purpose of completing payment for the remainder of the guarantee period, the present value of such payments shall be paid to the estate of the beneficiary last receiving.
(B)(1) On or after February 28, 1980, the death of a spouse nominated as beneficiary or the death of any other nominated beneficiary following retirement shall cancel any optional plan of payment to provide continuing lifetime benefits to such nominated beneficiary and return the member of the fund to the member's single lifetime benefit equivalent, as determined by the board, to be effective the month following receipt by the board of notice of the death.
(2) On divorce, annulment, or marriage dissolution, a member receiving a retirement allowance under a plan that provides for continuation of all or part of the allowance after death for the lifetime of the member's surviving spouse may, with the written consent of the spouse or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage, elect to cancel the plan and receive the member's single lifetime benefit equivalent as determined by the board. The election shall be made on a form provided by the board and shall be effective the month following its receipt by the board.
(C) Following marriage or remarriage, a member of the fund may elect not later than one year after the date of marriage or remarriage a new optional plan of payment based on the actuarial equivalent of the member's single lifetime benefit as determined by the board. The plan and the member's lesser retirement allowance shall become effective on the date the election is made on a form approved by the board.
(D)(1) Unless one of the following occurs, an application for retirement by a married person shall be considered an election of a benefit under option 2 as provided for in division (A)(2) of this section under which one-half of the lesser retirement allowance payable during the life of the retirant will be paid after death to the retirant's spouse for life as sole beneficiary:
(a) The retirant selects an optional plan under division (A) of this section providing for payment after death to the retirant's spouse for life as sole beneficiary of more than one-half of the lesser retirement allowance payable during the life of the retirant;
(b) The retirant submits to the retirement board a written statement signed by the spouse attesting that the spouse consents to the retirant's election to receive a single lifetime retirement allowance or a payment under an optional benefit plan under which after the death of the retirant the surviving spouse will receive less than one-half of the lesser retirement allowance payable during the life of the retirant.
(2) An application for retirement shall include an explanation of all of the following:
(a) That, if the member is married, unless the spouse consents to another plan of payment, the member's retirement allowance will be paid under "option 2" and consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half of the lesser allowance continuing after death to the surviving spouse for the life of the spouse;
(b) A description of the alternative plans of payment available with the consent of the spouse;
(c) That the spouse may consent to another plan of payment and the procedure for giving consent;
(d) That consent is irrevocable once notice of consent is filed with the board.
Consent shall be valid only if it is signed, in writing, and witnessed by an employee of the board or a notary public.
(3) If the retirant does not select an optional plan as described in division (D)(1)(a) of this section and the board does not receive the written statement provided for in division (D)(1)(b) of this section, it shall determine and pay the retirement allowance in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section, except that the board may provide by rule for waiver by the board of the statement and payment of the allowance other than in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section if the retirant is unable to obtain the statement due to absence or incapacity of the spouse or other cause specified by the board.
(E) A member of the fund who has elected an optional plan under this section or section 742.3715 of the Revised Code may, with the consent of the designated beneficiary, cancel the optional plan and receive the retirement allowance payable throughout life the member would have received had the member not elected the optional plan, if the member makes a request to cancel the optional plan not later than one year after the later of September 9, 1988, or the date on which the member first receives a payment under this section or section 742.3715 of the Revised Code. Cancellation of the optional plan shall be effective the month after acceptance of the request by the trustees of the fund. No payment or adjustment shall be made in the retirement allowance payable throughout the member's life to compensate for the lesser allowance the member received under the optional plan.
The request to cancel the optional plan shall be made on a form provided by the fund and shall be valid only if the completed form includes a signed statement of the designated beneficiary's understanding of and consent to the cancellation. The signature shall be verified by the trustees of the fund prior to their acceptance of the cancellation.
(F) Any option elected and payments made under this section shall be in addition to any benefit payable under divisions (D), (E), and (F) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code.
(G) A person is eligible to receive a benefit increase under this division if the person is receiving a retirement allowance or benefit under an optional plan elected under this section or section 742.3715 of the Revised Code based on an award made prior to July 24, 1986. A person is not eligible to receive an increase under this division if the person is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with rules in force on April 1, 1947, that govern the granting of pensions and benefits and that provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members.
On or before the fifteenth day of April of each year, the The board shall determine the average percentage change in the consumer price index prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers: "all items 1982-84=100") for the twelve-month period prior to the first day of January over the next preceding twelve-calendar-month period, as reported by the bureau. On a determination by the board that this change is an increase or that the change plus the accumulation described in this division is an increase, the board shall annually increase all benefits payable under this section or section 742.3715 of the Revised Code to eligible persons by the actuarial equivalent of an amount determined by multiplying twelve thousand three hundred sixty dollars by the percentage of the increase in the consumer price index, or that percentage plus the accumulation, except that the percentage shall not exceed three per cent and no benefit shall 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.
Any percentage of change in the consumer price index in any year that is in excess of three per cent shall be accumulated and used to determine increases under this section in succeeding years. Any percentage of change in the consumer price index accumulated by an eligible person prior to September 27, 1996, shall be used in determining any future increases under this section. The first increase is payable to all eligible persons on July 1, 1988. The increase is payable for the ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later.
The date of the first increase payable under this section shall be the anniversary date for future increases.
Sec. 742.3716.  (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible person" means a person who meets all of the following conditions:
(a) Has been receiving a pension or benefit under this chapter for one year or more based on an award made on or after July 24, 1986;
(b) Has not made the election provided for in division (B) of this section;
(c) Is not the spouse or survivor of a person who has made the election provided for in division (B) of this section;
(d) Is receiving a benefit in accordance with division (A), (B), or (C) of section 742.37, division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37, section 742.3711, or section 742.39 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Recalculated average annual salary" means the highest average annual compensation of a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund during any three years of contributions, including amounts included in terminal pay attributable to such three years, determined by dividing the member's total earnings as an employee during such years by three.
(B)(1) Notwithstanding section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, a member of the fund who is not receiving a pension or benefit under this chapter and who on January 1, 1989, has completed fifteen or more years of active service in a police or fire department may elect to have any future benefit or pension paid to the member or the member's spouse or survivors under this chapter calculated on the basis of the member's recalculated average annual salary rather than the member's average annual salary. The election shall be made by the member prior to or at the time of making an election under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code.
(2) If the member eligible to make the election under division (B)(1) of this section dies prior to making the election and at the time of death is eligible to retire and receive a pension or benefit under division (C)(1) or (3) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code, the person entitled to receive a benefit under section 742.3714 of the Revised Code may make the election provided for in division (B)(1) of this section.
(3) The election under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall be made on forms provided by the trustees of the fund. Once received by the fund, the election shall be irrevocable and shall bind the member and any other person who receives a pension or benefit based on the member's service. No person who receives a pension or benefit calculated in accordance with division (B) of this section is eligible to receive a cost-of-living allowance under this section. If the person making the election receives a benefit under section 742.3714 of the Revised Code, that person is not eligible to receive a cost-of-living allowance under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code.
(C)(1) On or before the fifteenth day of April of each year, the The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall determine the average percentage change in the consumer price index prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. City Average for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: "All Items 1982-84=100") for the twelve-month period prior to the first day of January over the next preceding twelve-calendar-month period, as reported by the bureau. Upon a determination by the board that such change is an increase or that the change plus the accumulation described in division (C)(2) of this section is an increase, the board shall annually increase all benefits payable to eligible persons by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index or to that increase plus the accumulation, except that the increase shall not exceed three per cent and, except that no benefit shall 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.
(2) Any percentage of change in the consumer price index in any year that is in excess of three per cent shall be accumulated and used to determine increases under this section in succeeding years. Any percentage of change in the consumer price index accumulated by an eligible person prior to September 27, 1996, shall be used in determining any future increases under this section. The first additional benefit increase is payable to all eligible persons who on July 1, 1988, have been receiving a pension or benefit for twelve months or longer. The additional benefit increase is payable for the ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later.
The date of the first additional benefit increase paid under this section shall be the anniversary date for future additional benefits increases. The pension or benefit used in the first calculation of an additional benefit increase under this section shall remain as the base for all future additional benefits increases paid under this section, unless a new base is established by law.
(3) Additional benefits (2) Increases paid in years subsequent to the year of the first additional benefit increase paid under this section shall be paid to all eligible persons who, on the date that the additional benefit increase is authorized by the board, have been receiving a pension or benefit for twelve months.
Sec. 742.3717.  (A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, as used in this section, "eligible person" means a person who meets both of the following conditions:
(a) The person is receiving an annual pension or benefit under division (A), (B), or (C) of section 742.37 or division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code based on an award made prior to July 24, 1986.
(b) The person has not elected under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code to receive a retirement allowance under an optional benefit plan.
(2) A person is not an eligible person if the person is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with rules in force on April 1, 1947, that govern the granting of pensions and benefits and that provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members.
(B)(1) On or before the fifteenth day of April of each year, the The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall determine the average percentage change in the consumer price index prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers: "all items 1982-84=100") for the twelve-month period prior to the first day of January over the next preceding twelve-calendar-month period, as reported by the bureau. Upon a determination by the board that this change is an increase or that the change plus the accumulation described in division (B)(2) of this section is an increase, the board shall annually increase all benefits payable to eligible persons by an amount determined by multiplying twelve thousand three hundred sixty dollars by the percentage of the increase in the consumer price index, or that percentage plus the accumulation, except that the percentage shall not exceed three per cent and no benefit shall 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.
(2) Any percentage of change in the consumer price index in any year that is in excess of three per cent shall be accumulated and used to determine increases under this section in succeeding years. Any percentage of change in the consumer price index accumulated by an eligible person prior to September 27, 1996, shall be used in determining any future increases under this section. The first increase is payable to all eligible persons on July 1, 1988. The increase is payable for the ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later.
The date of the first increase payable under this section shall be the anniversary date for future increases.
Sec. 742.3718.  (A) Except as otherwise provided in this division, each person who on September 9, 1988, is receiving a pension or benefit of less than five thousand dollars annually under division (A) or (B) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code on the basis of disability or service of twenty-five years or more, under division (C)(1) of that section, or under division (C)(2) or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall have the pension or benefit increased to five thousand dollars a year, effective July 1, 1988. This division does not apply to any person receiving a pension or benefit based on funded volunteer or funded part-time service.
(B) On and after July 1, 1988:
(1) The pension of each person receiving a pension or benefit under division (D) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased to four hundred ten dollars a month.
(2) The pension of each person receiving a pension or benefit under division (E) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased to one hundred eighteen dollars a month.
(C) Notwithstanding any average annual salary limitation in section 742.37 of the Revised Code, each person who on July 1, 1999, is receiving an annual pension or benefit described in division (A), (B), or (C)(1) or (3) of that section of less than six thousand six hundred dollars shall have the pension increased to that amount, effective July 1, 1999. The increase granted under this division shall be included in a person's base for the purpose of determining future increases under section 742.3716 of the Revised Code.
(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, the monthly pension of each person who is the surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund and on the effective date of this amendment March 17, 2000, is receiving a pension of less than the amount described in division (D)(1) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased as follows:
(a) For the period beginning on the first day of the first month following the effective date of this amendment March 17, 2000, and ending June 30, 2000, to five hundred fifty dollars;
(b) For the period beginning July 1, 2000, and the first day of July of each year thereafter and continuing for the following twelve months, to an amount equal to the greater of five hundred fifty dollars or the monthly amount paid during the prior twelve-month period plus an amount determined by multiplying five hundred fifty sixteen dollars by the average percentage change in the consumer price index, not exceeding three per cent, as determined each year by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund under section 742.3716 of the Revised Code and fifty cents.
(2) An increase under division (D)(1) of this section shall not be paid to a person who is receiving a pension under division (D)(2) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code and a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code until the person ceases to be eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code. The person's monthly pension shall be increased, effective the first day of the first month following the date on which the person ceases to be eligible for the benefit, to the amount it would be under division (D)(1) of this section had the person never been eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code.
(E) The monthly pension of each person receiving a pension under division (E) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased to one hundred fifty dollars effective July 1, 1999.
(F) Effective July 1, 1999, the monthly pension of each person receiving a pension under division (F) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased as follows:
(1) If there are two dependent parents, to one hundred dollars;
(2) If there is one dependent parent, to two hundred dollars.
Sec. 742.63.  The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall adopt rules for the management of the Ohio public safety officers death benefit fund and for disbursements of benefits as set forth in this section.
(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Member" means a all of the following:
(a) A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund or a member of or contributor to a police or firemen's relief and pension fund established under former Chapter 521. or 741. of the Revised Code;
(b) A member of the state highway patrol retirement system, or a;
(c) A member of the public employees retirement system who at the time of the member's death was a one of the following:
(i) A county sheriff or deputy sheriff, a;
(ii) A full-time regular police officer in a municipal corporation or township, a;
(iii) A full-time regular firefighter employed by the state, an instrumentality of the state, a municipal corporation, a township, a joint fire district, or another political subdivision, a;
(iv) A full-time park district ranger or patrol trooper, a;
(v) A full-time law enforcement officer of the department of natural resources, a;
(vi) A full-time department of public safety enforcement agent, a;
(vii) A full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of a municipal corporation, a;
(viii) A full-time law enforcement officer of a conservancy district, a;
(ix) A correction officer at an institution under the control of a county, a group of counties, a municipal corporation, or the department of rehabilitation and correction, a;
(x) A state university law enforcement officer, or a.
(d) A member of a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation who at the time of death was a full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of the municipal corporation.
(2) Notwithstanding section 742.01 of the Revised Code, "fire or police department" includes a fire department of the state or an instrumentality of the state or of a municipal corporation, township, joint fire district, or other political subdivision, the state highway patrol, a county sheriff's office, the security force of an institution under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the security force of a jail or workhouse under the control of a county, group of counties, or municipal corporation, the security force of a metropolitan, county, or township park district, the security force of lands under the control of the department of natural resources, department of public safety enforcement agents, the security force of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of a municipal corporation, the security force of a conservancy district, the police department of a township or municipal corporation, and the police force of a state university.
(3) "Firefighter or police officer" includes a state highway patrol trooper, a county sheriff or deputy sheriff, a correction officer at an institution under the control of a county, a group of counties, a municipal corporation, or the department of rehabilitation and correction, a police officer employed by a township or municipal corporation, a firefighter employed by the state, an instrumentality of the state, a municipal corporation, a township, a joint fire district, or another political subdivision, a full-time park district ranger or patrol trooper, a full-time law enforcement officer of the department of natural resources, a full-time department of public safety enforcement agent, a full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of a municipal corporation, a full-time law enforcement officer of a conservancy district, and a state university law enforcement officer.
(4) "Correction officer" includes, in addition to any correction officer, any correction corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, or captain, and the equivalents of all such persons.
(5) "A park district ranger or patrol trooper" means a peace officer commissioned to make arrests, execute warrants, and preserve the peace upon lands under the control of a board of park commissioners of a metropolitan, county, or township park district.
(6) "Metropolitan, county, or township park district" means a park district created under the authority of Chapter 511. or 1545. of the Revised Code.
(7) "Conservancy district" means a conservancy district created under the authority of Chapter 6101. of the Revised Code.
(8) "Law enforcement officer" means an officer commissioned to make arrests, execute warrants, and preserve the peace upon lands under the control of the governmental entity granting the commission.
(9) "Department of natural resources law enforcement officer" includes a forest officer designated pursuant to section 1503.29 of the Revised Code, a preserve officer designated pursuant to section 1517.10 of the Revised Code, a wildlife officer designated pursuant to section 1531.13 of the Revised Code, a park officer designated pursuant to section 1541.10 of the Revised Code, and a state watercraft officer designated pursuant to section 1547.521 of the Revised Code.
(10) "Retirement eligibility date" means the last day of the month in which a deceased member would have first become eligible, had the member lived, for the retirement pension provided under section 145.33, Chapter 521. or 741., division (C)(1) of section 742.37, or division (A)(1) of section 5505.17 of the Revised Code or provided by a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation.
(11) "Death benefit amount" means an amount equal to the full monthly salary received by a deceased member prior to death, minus an amount equal to the benefit received under section 145.45, 742.37, 742.3714, or 5505.17 of the Revised Code or the benefit received from a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation, plus any increases in salary that would have been granted the deceased member.
(12) "Killed in the line of duty" means either of the following:
(a) Death in the line of duty;
(b) Death from injury sustained in the line of duty, including heart attack or other fatal injury or illness caused while in the line of duty.
(B) A spouse of a deceased member shall receive a death benefit each month equal to the full death benefit amount, provided that the deceased member was a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty and there are no surviving children eligible for a benefit under this section. The spouse shall receive this benefit during the spouse's natural life until the deceased member's retirement eligibility date, on which date the benefit provided under this division shall terminate.
(C)(1) If a member killed in the line of duty as a firefighter or police officer is survived only by a child or children, the child or children shall receive a benefit each month equal to the full death benefit amount. If there is more than one surviving child, the benefit shall be divided equally among these children.
(2) If the death benefit paid under this division is divided among two or more surviving children and any of the children become ineligible to continue receiving a portion of the benefit as provided in division (H) of this section, the full death benefit amount shall be paid to the remaining eligible child or divided among the eligible children so that the benefit paid to the remaining eligible child or children equals the full death benefit amount.
(3) Notwithstanding divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section, all death benefits paid under this division shall terminate on the deceased member's retirement eligibility date.
(D) If a member killed in the line of duty as a firefighter or police officer is survived by both a spouse and a child or children, the monthly benefit provided shall be as follows:
(1)(a) If there is a surviving spouse and one surviving child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount and the child shall receive an amount equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount.
(b) If the surviving spouse dies or the child becomes ineligible as provided in division (H) of this section, the surviving spouse or child remaining eligible shall receive the full death benefit amount.
(2)(a) If there is a surviving spouse and more than one child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-third of the full death benefit amount and the children shall receive an amount, equally divided among them, equal to two-thirds of the full death benefit amount.
(b) If a spouse and more than one child each are receiving a death benefit under division (D)(2)(a) of this section and the spouse dies, the children shall receive an amount each month, equally divided among them, equal to the full death benefit amount.
(c) If a spouse and more than one child each are receiving a benefit under division (D)(2)(a) of this section and any of the children becomes ineligible to receive a benefit as provided in division (H) of this section, the spouse and remaining eligible child or children shall receive a death benefit as follows:
(i) If there are two or more remaining eligible children, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-third of the full death benefit amount and the children shall receive an amount each month, equally divided among them, equal to two-thirds of the full death benefit amount;
(ii) If there is one remaining eligible child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount, and the child shall receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount.
(d) If a spouse and more than one child each are receiving a benefit under division (D)(2)(a) of this section and all of the children become ineligible to receive a benefit as provided in division (H) of this section, the spouse shall receive the full death benefit amount.
(3) Notwithstanding divisions (D)(1) and (2) of this section, death benefits paid under this division to a surviving spouse shall terminate on the member's retirement eligibility date. Death benefits paid to a surviving child or children shall terminate on the deceased member's retirement eligibility date unless earlier terminated pursuant to division (H) of this section.
(E) If a member, on or after January 1, 1980, is killed in the line of duty as a firefighter or police officer and is survived by only a parent or parents dependent upon the member for support, the parent or parents shall receive an amount each month equal to the full death benefit amount. If there is more than one surviving parent dependent upon the deceased member for support, the death benefit amount shall be divided equally among the surviving parents. On the death of one of the surviving parents, the full death benefit amount shall be paid to the other parent.
(F)(1) The following shall receive a monthly death benefit under this division:
(a) A surviving spouse whose benefits are terminated in accordance with division (B) or (D)(3) of this section on the deceased member's retirement eligibility date, or who would qualify for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of this section except that the deceased member reached the member's retirement eligibility date prior to the member's death, shall receive a monthly death benefit under this division. The;
(b) A qualified surviving spouse of a deceased member of or contributor to a police or firemen's relief and pension fund established under former Chapter 521. or 741. of the Revised Code who was a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty.
(2) The monthly death benefit shall be one-half of an amount equal to the monthly salary received by the deceased member prior to the member's death, plus any salary increases the deceased member would have received prior to the member's retirement eligibility date. The benefit shall terminate on the surviving spouse's death. A death benefit payable under this division shall be reduced by an amount equal to any allowance or benefit payable to the surviving spouse under section 742.3714 of the Revised Code.
(3) A benefit granted to a surviving spouse under division (F)(1)(b) of this section shall commence on the first day of the month immediately following receipt by the board of a completed application on a form provided by the board and any evidence the board may require to establish that the deceased spouse was killed in the line of duty.
(G)(1) If there is not a surviving spouse eligible to receive a death benefit under division (F) of this section or the surviving spouse receiving a death benefit under that division dies, a surviving child or children whose benefits under division (C) or (D) of this section are or have been terminated pursuant to division (C)(3) or (D)(3) of this section or who would qualify for a benefit under division (C) or (D) of this section except that the deceased member reached the member's retirement eligibility date prior to the member's death shall receive a monthly death benefit under this division. The monthly death benefit shall be one-half of an amount equal to the monthly salary received by the deceased member prior to the member's death, plus any salary increases the member would have received prior to the member's retirement eligibility date. If there is more than one surviving child, the benefit shall be divided equally among the surviving children.
(2) If two or more surviving children each are receiving a benefit under this division and any of those children becomes ineligible to continue receiving a benefit as provided in division (H) of this section, the remaining eligible child or children shall receive an amount equal to one-half of the monthly salary received by the deceased member prior to death, plus any salary increases the deceased member would have received prior to the retirement eligibility date. If there is more than one remaining eligible child, the benefit shall be divided equally among the eligible children.
(3) A death benefit, or portion of a death benefit, payable to a surviving child under this division shall be reduced by an amount equal to any allowance or benefit payable to that child under section 742.3714 of the Revised Code, but the reduction in that child's benefit shall not affect the amount payable to any other surviving child entitled to a portion of the death benefit.
(H) A death benefit paid to a surviving child under division (C), (D), or (G) of this section shall terminate on the death of the child or, unless one of the following is the case, when the child reaches age eighteen:
(1) The child, because of physical or mental disability, is unable to provide the child's own support, in which case the death benefit shall terminate when the disability is removed;
(2) The child is unmarried, under age twenty-two, and 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 trustees of the fund.
(I) Acceptance of any death benefit under this section does not prohibit a spouse or child from receiving other benefits provided under the Ohio police and fire pension fund, the state highway patrol retirement system, the public employees retirement system, or a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation.
(J) No person shall receive a benefit under this section if any of the following occur:
(1) The person fails to exercise the right to a monthly survivor benefit under division (A) or (B) of section 145.45, division (D), (E), or (F) of section 742.37, or division (A)(3), (4), or (7) of section 5505.17 of the Revised Code; to a monthly survivor benefit from a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation; or to a retirement allowance under section 742.3714 of the Revised Code.
(2) The member's accumulated contributions under this chapter or Chapter 145. or 5505. of the Revised Code are refunded unless the member had been a member of the public employees retirement system and had fewer than eighteen months of total service credit at the time of death.
(3) In the case of a full-time park district ranger or patrol trooper, a full-time law enforcement officer of the department of natural resources, a full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of a municipal corporation, a full-time law enforcement officer of a conservancy district, a correction officer at an institution under the control of a county, group of counties, or municipal corporation, or a member of a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation who at the time of the member's death was a full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of the municipal corporation, the member died prior to April 9, 1981, in the case of a benefit under division (B), (C), or (D) of this section, or prior to January 1, 1980, in the case of a benefit under division (E) of this section.
(4) In the case of a full-time department of public safety enforcement agent who prior to June 30, 1999, was a liquor control investigator of the department of public safety, the member died prior to December 23, 1986;
(5) In the case of a full-time department of public safety enforcement agent other than an enforcement agent who, prior to June 30, 1999, was a liquor control investigator, the member died prior to June 30, 1999.
(K) A surviving spouse whose benefit was terminated prior to the effective date of this amendment June 30, 1999, due to remarriage shall receive a benefit under division (B), (D), or (F) of this section beginning on the first day of the month following receipt by the board of an application on a form provided by the board. The benefit amount shall be determined as of that date.
(1) If the benefit will begin prior to the deceased member's retirement eligibility date, it shall be paid under division (B) or (D) of this section and shall terminate as provided in those divisions. A benefit paid to a surviving spouse under division (D) of this section shall be determined in accordance with that division, even if benefits paid to surviving children are reduced as a result.
(2) If the benefit will begin on or after the deceased member's retirement eligibility date, it shall be paid under division (F) of this section and shall terminate as provided in that division. A benefit paid to a surviving spouse under division (F) of this section shall be determined in accordance with that division, even if benefits paid to surviving children are terminated as a result.
Sec. 3307.67.  (A) Beginning April 1, 1971, and each year thereafter, the The state teachers retirement board shall determine the average percentage change in the consumer price index prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. City Average for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: "All Items 1982-84=100") for the twelve-calendar-month period prior to the first day of January over the next preceding twelve-calendar-month period, as reported by the bureau.
Upon a determination by the board in any year that the change in the consumer price index is an increase or that the change plus the accumulation described in division (B) of this section is an increase, the board shall annually increase each allowance or benefit payable under sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index or to that increase plus the accumulation, except that the increase shall not exceed three per cent and, except that no allowance or benefit shall 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 first increase is payable to all persons becoming eligible after June 30, 1971, upon such persons receiving an allowance or benefit for twelve months. The increased amount is payable for the ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later. Subsequent increases shall be determined from the date of the first increase paid to the former member in the case of an allowance being paid a beneficiary under an option, or from the date of the first increase to the survivor first receiving an allowance or benefit in the case of an allowance or benefit being paid to the subsequent survivors of the former member.
The date of the first increase under this section becomes the anniversary date for any future increases.
The allowance or benefit used in the first calculation of an increase under this section shall remain as the base for all future increases, unless a new base is established.
(B) Any percentage of change in the consumer price index in any year that is in excess of three per cent shall be accumulated and used to determine increases under this section in subsequent years. Any percentage of change in the consumer price index accumulated by an eligible person prior to September 27, 1996, shall be used in determining any future increases under this section.
(C) The board shall make all rules necessary to carry out this section.
Sec. 3309.374.  (A) Beginning April 1, 1971, and each year thereafter, the board of the The school employees retirement system shall determine the average percentage change in the consumer price index prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. City Average for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: "All Items 1982-84=100") for the twelve-calendar-month period prior to the first day of January over the next preceding twelve-calendar-month period, as reported by the bureau.
Upon a determination by the board in any year that the change in the consumer price index is an increase or that the change plus the accumulation described in division (B) of this section is an increase, the board shall annually increase each allowance, pension, or benefit payable under this chapter by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index or to that increase plus the accumulation, except that the increase shall not exceed three per cent and, except that no allowance, pension, or benefit shall 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 first increase is payable to all persons becoming eligible after June 30, 1971, upon such persons receiving an allowance, pension, or benefit for twelve months.
The increased amount is payable for the ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later. Subsequent increases shall be determined from the date of the first increase paid to the former member in the case of an allowance being paid a beneficiary under an option, or from the date of the first increase to the survivor first receiving an allowance or benefit in the case of an allowance or benefit being paid to the subsequent survivors of the former member.
The date of the first increase under this section becomes the anniversary date for any future increases.
The allowance or benefit used in the first calculation of an increase under this section shall remain as the base for all future increases, unless a new base is established. Any increase resulting from payment of a recalculated benefit under Section 3 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 270 of the 123rd general assembly shall be included in the calculation of future increases under this section.
(B) Any percentage of change in the consumer price index in any year that is in excess of three per cent shall be accumulated and used to determine increases under this section in subsequent years. Any percentage of change in the consumer price index accumulated by an eligible person prior to September 27, 1996, shall be used in determining any future increases under this section.
(C) The board shall make all rules necessary to carry out this section.
Sec. 5505.174.  (A) The following persons are eligible to receive an additional benefit increase under this section:
(1) Persons fifty-three years old or older who have been receiving pensions pursuant to division (B) of section 5505.16, division (A)(1) of section 5505.17, or division (B) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code for not less than twelve months;
(2) Persons who have been receiving pensions pursuant to division (B) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code for not less than sixty months regardless of age;
(3) Persons who have been receiving pensions pursuant to section 5505.162 or division (A)(3), (4), (5), (6), or (7) of section 5505.17 of the Revised Code for not less than twelve months regardless of age.
(B) On the fifteenth day of September of each year, the The state highway patrol retirement board shall determine the average percentage change in the consumer price index prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. City Average for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers: "All Items 1982-84=100") for the twelve-month period prior to the first day of January over the next preceding twelve-calendar-month period, as reported by the bureau. Upon a determination by the board that the change is an increase or that the change plus the accumulation described in division (C) of this section is an increase, the board shall annually increase each benefit payable under this chapter by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index or to that increase plus the accumulation, except that the increase shall not exceed three per cent and, except that no benefit shall 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.
For each person eligible to receive the additional benefit under this section, the accumulation shall commence on the later of May 6, 1988, or the effective date of the pension the person receives.
The first additional benefit increase is payable to all persons becoming eligible on or after November 18, 1981. The additional benefit increase is payable for each ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later.
The date of the first additional benefit increase paid under this section shall be the anniversary date for future additional benefits increases. The pension used in the first calculation of an additional benefit increase under this section shall remain as the base for all future additional benefits increases paid under this section, unless a new base is established.
Additional benefits Increases paid in years subsequent to the year of the first additional benefit increase paid under this section shall be paid to all persons who, on the date that the additional benefit increase is authorized by the board, are eligible for the benefit as provided in this section.
(C) Any percentage of change in the consumer price index in any year that is in excess of three per cent shall be accumulated and used to determine increases under this section in subsequent years. Any percentage of change in the consumer price index accumulated by an eligible person prior to the effective date of this amendment shall be used in determining any future increases under this section.
(D) The board shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, any rule necessary to carry out this section.
The board shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, any rule necessary to carry out this section.
Section 2.  That existing sections 145.297, 145.323, 742.37, 742.3711, 742.3716, 742.3717, 742.3718, 742.63, 3307.67, 3309.374, and 5505.174 and section 742.3720 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
Section 3.  Section 742.63 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Sub. H.B. 222 and Am. Sub. H.B. 283 of the 123rd General Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section as presented in this act.
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