To amend sections 145.46, 3307.01, 3307.39, 3307.51, 3307.56, 3307.561, 3307.563, 3307.58, 3307.60, 3307.761, 3307.763, 3307.764, 3307.87, 3309.45, and 3309.46 of the Revised Code to create in the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS), School Employees Retirement System, and Public Employees Retirement System the option of receiving retirement benefits as a partial lump sum followed by a reduced monthly allowance and to make other changes to the law governing STRS.

Section 1. That sections 145.46, 3307.01, 3307.39, 3307.51, 3307.56, 3307.561, 3307.563, 3307.58, 3307.60, 3307.761, 3307.763, 3307.764, 3307.87, 3309.45, and 3309.46 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 145.46.  (A) A retirement allowance calculated under section 145.33, 145.331, or 145.34 of the Revised Code shall be paid as provided in this section. If the member is eligible to elect a plan of payment under this section, the election shall be made on a form provided by the public employees retirement board. A plan of payment elected under this section shall be effective only if approved by the board, which shall approve it only if it is certified by an actuary engaged by the board to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement allowance calculated under section 145.33, 145.331, or 145.34 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) Unless the member is eligible to elect another plan of payment, a member who retires under section 145.32, 145.331, or 145.34 of the Revised Code shall receive a retirement allowance under "plan A," which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance determined under section 145.33, 145.331, or 145.34 of the Revised Code in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half of such allowance continuing after death to the member's surviving spouse for the life of the spouse.

A member may elect to receive the member's retirement allowance under a plan of payment other than "plan A" if the member is not married or either the member's spouse consents in writing to the member's election of a plan of payment other than "plan A" or the board waives the requirement that the spouse consent. 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 "plan A," which consists of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half of the allowance continuing after death to the surviving spouse for the life of the spouse;

(b) A description of the alternative plans of payment, including all plans described in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section, 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 a notary public. The board may waive the requirement of consent if the spouse is incapacitated or cannot be located or for any other reason specified by the board. Consent or waiver is effective only with regard to the spouse who is the subject of the consent or waiver.

(2) A member eligible to elect to receive the member's retirement allowance under a plan of payment other than "plan A" shall receive the member's retirement allowance under the plan described in division (B)(3) of this section or one of the following plans elected at the time the member makes application for retirement:

(a) "Plan B," which shall consist of an allowance determined under section 145.33, 145.331, or 145.34 of the Revised Code;

(b) "Plan C," which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance determined under section 145.33, 145.331, or 145.34 of the Revised Code in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half or some other portion of the allowance continuing after death to the member's sole surviving beneficiary designated at the time of the member's retirement, provided that the amount payable to the beneficiary does not exceed the amount payable to the member;

(c) "Plan D," which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance determined under section 145.33, 145.331, or 145.34 of the Revised Code in a lesser amount payable for life and continuing after death to a surviving beneficiary designated at the time of the member's retirement;

(d) "Plan E," which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance determined under section 145.33, 145.331, or 145.34 of the Revised Code in a lesser amount payable for a certain period from the member's retirement date as elected by the member and approved by the retirement board, and on the member's death before the expiration of that certain period the member's lesser retirement allowance payable for the remainder of that period to the member's surviving designated beneficiary nominated by written designation filed with the retirement board.

Should the nominated beneficiary designated in writing die 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.

(3)(a) A member may elect to receive a retirement allowance under a plan of payment consisting of both a lump sum in an amount the member designates that constitutes a portion of the member's retirement allowance under a plan described in division (B) of this section and the remainder as a monthly allowance under that plan.

The total amount paid as a lump sum and a monthly benefit shall be the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would have been paid had the lump sum not been selected.

(b) The lump sum designated by a member shall be not less than six times the monthly amount that would be payable to the member under the plan of payment elected under division (B)(3)(a) of this section had the lump sum not been elected and not more than thirty-six times that amount.

(4) An election under division (B)(2) or (3) of this section shall be made at the time the member makes application for retirement.

(5) A member eligible to elect to receive the member's retirement allowance under a plan of payment other than "plan A" because the member is unmarried who fails to make an election on retirement shall receive the member's retirement allowance under "plan B."

(C) If the retirement allowances, as a single life annuity or payment plan as provided in this section, due and paid are in a total amount less than (1) the accumulated contributions, and (2) other deposits made by the member as provided by this chapter, standing to the credit of the member at the time of retirement, then the difference between the total amount of the allowances paid and the accumulated contributions and other deposits shall be paid to the beneficiary provided under division (D) of section 145.43 of the Revised Code.

(D)(1) The death of a spouse or any designated beneficiary following retirement shall cancel any plan of payment to provide continuing lifetime benefits to the spouse or beneficiary and return the retirant to the retirant'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 retirant 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 retirant'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 retirement 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.

(E) Following a marriage or remarriage, a retirant who is receiving the retirant's retirement allowance under "plan B" may elect a new plan of payment under division (B)(1), (2)(b), or (2)(c) of this section based on the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's single lifetime benefit as determined by the board. The plan shall become effective the first day of the month following receipt by the board of an application on a form approved by the board.

(F) Any person who, prior to July 24, 1990, selected an optional plan of payment at retirement that provided for a return to the single life benefit after the designated beneficiary's death shall have the retirant's benefit adjusted to the optional plan equivalent without such provision.

(G) A retirant's receipt of the first month's retirement allowance constitutes the retirant's final acceptance of the plan of payment and may be changed only as provided in this chapter.

Sec. 3307.01.  As used in this chapter:

(A) "Employer" means the board of education, school district, governing authority of any community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, college, university, institution, or other agency within the state by which a teacher is employed and paid.

(B) "Teacher" means all of the following:

(1) Any person paid from public funds and employed in the public schools of the state under any type of contract described in section 3319.08 of the Revised Code in a position for which the person is required to have a license issued pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code;

(2) Any person employed as a teacher by a community school pursuant to Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code;

(3) Any person holding an internship certificate issued under section 3319.28 of the Revised Code and employed in a public school in this state;

(4) Any person having a license issued pursuant to sections 3319.22 to 3319.31 of the Revised Code and employed in a public school in this state in an educational position, as determined by the state board of education, under programs provided for by federal acts or regulations and financed in whole or in part from federal funds, but for which no licensure requirements for the position can be made under the provisions of such federal acts or regulations;

(5) Any other teacher or faculty member employed in any school, college, university, institution, or other agency wholly controlled and managed, and supported in whole or in part, by the state or any political subdivision thereof, including Central state university, Cleveland state university, the university of Toledo, and the medical college of Ohio at Toledo;

(6) The educational employees of the department of education, as determined by the state superintendent of public instruction.

In all cases of doubt, the state teachers retirement board shall determine whether any person is a teacher, and its decision shall be final.

"Teacher" does not include any academic or administrative employee of a public institution of higher education, as defined in section 3305.01 of the Revised Code, who participates in an alternative retirement plan established under Chapter 3305. of the Revised Code.

(C) "Member" means any person included in the membership of the state teachers retirement system, which shall consist of all teachers and contributors as defined in divisions (B) and (D) of this section and all disability benefit recipients, as defined in section 3307.50 of the Revised Code. However, for purposes of this chapter, the following persons shall not be considered members:

(1) A student, intern, or resident who is not a member while employed part-time by a school, college, or university at which the student, intern, or resident is regularly attending classes;

(2) A person denied membership pursuant to section 3307.24 of the Revised Code;

(3) An other system retirant, as defined in section 3307.35 of the Revised Code, or a superannuate;

(4) An individual employed in a program established pursuant to the "Job Training Partnership Act," 96 Stat. 1322 (1982), 29 U.S.C.A. 1501.

(D) "Contributor" means any person who has an account in the teachers' savings fund or defined contribution fund.

(E) "Beneficiary" means any person eligible to receive, or in receipt of, a retirement allowance or other benefit provided by this chapter.

(F) "Year" means the year beginning the first day of July and ending with the thirtieth day of June next following, except that for the purpose of determining final average salary under the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code, "year" may mean the contract year.

(G) "Local district pension system" means any school teachers pension fund created in any school district of the state in accordance with the laws of the state prior to September 1, 1920.

(H) "Employer contribution" means the amount paid by an employer, as determined by the employer rate, including the normal and deficiency rates, contributions, and funds wherever used in this chapter.

(I) "Five years of service credit" means employment covered under this chapter and employment covered under a former retirement plan operated, recognized, or endorsed by a college, institute, university, or political subdivision of this state prior to coverage under this chapter.

(J) "Actuary" means the actuarial consultant to the state teachers retirement board, who shall be either of the following:

(1) A member of the American academy of actuaries;

(2) A firm, partnership, or corporation of which at least one person is a member of the American academy of actuaries.

(K) "Fiduciary" means a person who does any of the following:

(1) Exercises any discretionary authority or control with respect to the management of the system, or with respect to the management or disposition of its assets;

(2) Renders investment advice for a fee, direct or indirect, with respect to money or property of the system;

(3) Has any discretionary authority or responsibility in the administration of the system.

(L)(1) Except as provided in this division, "compensation" means all salary, wages, and other earnings paid to a teacher by reason of the teacher's employment, including compensation paid pursuant to a supplemental contract. The salary, wages, and other earnings shall be determined prior to determination of the amount required to be contributed to the teachers' savings fund or defined contribution fund under section 3307.26 of the Revised Code and without regard to whether any of the salary, wages, or other earnings are treated as deferred income for federal income tax purposes.

(2) Compensation does not include any of the following:

(a) Payments for accrued but unused sick leave or personal leave, including payments made under a plan established pursuant to section 124.39 of the Revised Code or any other plan established by the employer;

(b) Payments made for accrued but unused vacation leave, including payments made pursuant to section 124.13 of the Revised Code or a plan established by the employer;

(c) Payments made for vacation pay covering concurrent periods for which other salary, compensation, or benefits under this chapter are paid;

(d) Amounts paid by the employer to provide life insurance, sickness, accident, endowment, health, medical, hospital, dental, or surgical coverage, or other insurance for the teacher or the teacher's family, or amounts paid by the employer to the teacher in lieu of providing the insurance;

(e) Incidental benefits, including lodging, food, laundry, parking, or services furnished by the employer, use of the employer's property or equipment, and reimbursement for job-related expenses authorized by the employer, including moving and travel expenses and expenses related to professional development;

(f) Payments made by the employer in exchange for a member's waiver of a right to receive any payment, amount, or benefit described in division (L)(2) of this section;

(g) Payments by the employer for services not actually rendered;

(h) Any amount paid by the employer as a retroactive increase in salary, wages, or other earnings, unless the increase is one of the following:

(i) A retroactive increase paid to a member employed by a school district board of education in a position that requires a license designated for teaching and not designated for being an administrator issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code that is paid in accordance with uniform criteria applicable to all members employed by the board in positions requiring the licenses;

(ii) A retroactive increase paid to a member employed by a school district board of education in a position that requires a license designated for being an administrator issued under section 3319.22 of the Revised Code that is paid in accordance with uniform criteria applicable to all members employed by the board in positions requiring the licenses;

(iii) A retroactive increase paid to a member employed by a school district board of education as a superintendent that is also paid as described in division (L)(2)(h)(i) of this section;

(iv) A retroactive increase paid to a member employed by an employer other than a school district board of education in accordance with uniform criteria applicable to all members employed by the employer.

(i) Payments made to or on behalf of a teacher that are in excess of the annual compensation that may be taken into account by the retirement system under division (a)(17) of section 401 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 401(a)(17), as amended. For a teacher who first establishes membership before July 1, 1996, the annual compensation that may be taken into account by the retirement system shall be determined under division (d)(3) of section 13212 of the "Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993," Pub. L. No. 103-66, 107 Stat. 472.

(j) Payments made under division (B), (C), or (E) of section 5923.05 of the Revised Code, Section 4 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 3 of the 119th general assembly, Section 3 of Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 164 of the 124th general assembly, or Amended Substitute House Bill No. 405 of the 124th general assembly;

(k) Anything of value received by the teacher that is based on or attributable to retirement or an agreement to retire.

(3) The retirement board shall determine by rule both of the following:

(a) Whether particular forms of earnings are included in any of the categories enumerated in this division;

(b) Whether any form of earnings not enumerated in this division is to be included in compensation.

Decisions of the board made under this division shall be final.

(M) "Superannuate" means both of the following:

(1) A former teacher receiving from the system a retirement allowance under section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code;

(2) A former teacher receiving any a benefit from the system under a plan established under section 3307.81 of the Revised Code, except that "superannuate" does not include a former teacher who is receiving a benefit based on disability under a plan established under section 3307.81 of the Revised Code.

For purposes of section 3307.35 of the Revised Code, "superannuate" also means a former teacher receiving from the system a combined service retirement benefit paid in accordance with section 3307.57 of the Revised Code, regardless of which retirement system is paying the benefit.

Sec. 3307.39.  (A) The state teachers retirement board may enter into an agreement with insurance companies, health insuring corporations, or government agencies authorized to do business in the state for issuance of a policy or contract of health, medical, hospital, or surgical benefits, or any combination thereof, for those individuals receiving, under the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code, service retirement or a disability or survivor benefit who subscribe to the plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the policy or contract may also include coverage for any eligible individual's spouse and dependent children and for any of the individual's sponsored dependents as the board considers appropriate. If all or any portion of the policy or contract premium is to be paid by any individual receiving service retirement or a disability or survivor benefit, the individual shall, by written authorization, instruct the board to deduct the premium agreed to be paid by the individual to the companies, corporations, or agencies.

The board may contract for coverage on the basis of part or all of the cost of the coverage to be paid from appropriate funds of the state teachers retirement system. The cost paid from the funds of the system shall be included in the employer's contribution rate provided by section 3307.28 of the Revised Code.

The board may enter into an agreement under this division for coverage of recipients of benefits under a plan established under section 3307.81 of the Revised Code if the plan selected includes health, medical, hospital, or surgical benefits, or any combination thereof. The board may contract for coverage on the basis that the cost of the coverage will be paid by the recipient or by the plan to which the recipient contributed under this chapter. The board may offer to recipients plans that provide for different levels of coverage or for prepayment of the cost of coverage.

The board may provide for self-insurance of risk or level of risk as set forth in the contract with the companies, corporations, or agencies, and may provide through the self-insurance method specific benefits as authorized by the rules of the board.

(B) If the board provides health, medical, hospital, or surgical benefits through any means other than a health insuring corporation, it shall offer to each individual eligible for the benefits the alternative of receiving benefits through enrollment in a health insuring corporation, if all of the following apply:

(1) The health insuring corporation provides health care services in the geographical area in which the individual lives;

(2) The eligible individual was receiving health care benefits through a health maintenance organization or a health insuring corporation before retirement;

(3) The rate and coverage provided by the health insuring corporation to eligible individuals is comparable to that currently provided by the board under division (A) of this section. If the rate or coverage provided by the health insuring corporation is not comparable to that currently provided by the board under division (A) of this section, the board may deduct the additional cost from the eligible individual's monthly benefit.

The health insuring corporation shall accept as an enrollee any eligible individual who requests enrollment.

The board shall permit each eligible individual to change from one plan to another at least once a year at a time determined by the board.

(C) The board shall make a monthly payment to each recipient of service retirement, or a disability or survivor benefit under the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code who is eligible for insurance coverage under part B of "The Social Security Amendments of 1965," 79 Stat. 301, 42 U.S.C.A. 1395j, as amended, and may make a monthly payment to a recipient of benefits under a plan established under section 3307.81 of the Revised Code who is eligible for that insurance coverage if the monthly payments are funded through the plan selected by the recipient. The payment shall be the greater of the following:

(1) Twenty-nine dollars and ninety cents;

(2) An amount determined by multiplying the basic premium for the coverage by a percentage, not exceeding ninety per cent, determined by multiplying the years of service used in calculating the service retirement or benefit or, in the case of a recipient of benefits under a plan established under section 3307.81 of the Revised Code, the participant's years of service by a percentage determined by the board not exceeding three per cent.

The board shall make all payments under this division beginning the month following receipt of satisfactory evidence of the payment for the coverage.

(D)(C) The board shall establish by rule requirements for the coordination of any coverage, payment, or benefit provided under this section or section 3307.61 of the Revised Code with any similar coverage, payment, or benefit made available to the same individual by the public employees retirement system, Ohio police and fire pension fund, school employees retirement system, or state highway patrol retirement system.

(E)(D) The board shall make all other necessary rules pursuant to the purpose and intent of this section.

Sec. 3307.51.  (A) The state teachers 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 plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code. 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 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 January following the year for which the valuation was made.

(B) At such times as the state teachers retirement board determines, and at least once in each quinquennial period, 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 of the system, and other system retirants as defined in section 3307.35 of the Revised Code 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 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 May following the last fiscal year of the period the report covers.

(C) The board may at any time request the actuary to make any other studies or actuarial valuations to determine the adequacy of the normal and deficiency rates of contribution provided by section 3307.28 of the Revised Code, and those rates may be adjusted by the board, as recommended by the actuary, effective as of the first of any year thereafter.

(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 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 sections 3307.39 and 3307.61 of the Revised Code. The report shall be made as of June 30, 1997, and the thirtieth day of June 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 provisions of 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)(B) of section 3307.39 of the Revised Code.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study council and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the thirty-first day of December following the year for which the report was made.

Sec. 3307.56.  (A)(1) Subject to sections 3307.37 and 3307.561 of the Revised Code and except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, a member participating in the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code who ceases to be a teacher for any cause other than death, retirement, receipt of a disability benefit, or current employment in a position in which the member has elected to participate in an alternative retirement plan under section 3305.05 of the Revised Code, upon application, shall be paid the accumulated contributions standing to the credit of the member's individual account in the teachers' savings fund plus an amount calculated in accordance with section 3307.563 of the Revised Code. If the member or the member's legal representative cannot be found within ten years after the member ceased making contributions pursuant to section 3307.26 of the Revised Code, the accumulated contributions may be transferred to the guarantee fund and thereafter paid to the member, to the member's beneficiaries, or to the member's estate, upon proper application.

(2) A member described in division (A)(1) of this section who is married at the time of application for payment and is eligible for age and service retirement under section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code shall submit with the application a written statement by the member's spouse attesting that the spouse consents to the payment of the member's accumulated contributions. Consent shall be valid only if it is signed and witnessed by a notary public. If the statement is not submitted under this division, the application shall be considered an application for service retirement and shall be subject to division (F) (G)(1) of section 3307.60 of the Revised Code.

The state teachers retirement board may waive the requirement of consent if the spouse is incapacitated or cannot be located, or for any other reason specified by the board. Consent or waiver is effective only with regard to the spouse who is the subject of the consent or waiver.

(B) This division applies to any member who is employed in a position in which the member has elected under section 3305.05 of the Revised Code to participate in an alternative retirement plan and due to the election ceases to be a teacher for the purposes of that position.

Subject to sections 3307.37 and 3307.561 of the Revised Code, the state teachers retirement system shall do the following:

(1) On receipt of a certified copy of an election under section 3305.05 of the Revised Code, pay, in accordance with section 3305.051 of the Revised Code, the amount described in that section to the appropriate provider;

(2) If a member has accumulated contributions, in addition to those subject to division (B)(1) of this section, standing to the credit of a member's individual account and is not otherwise in a position in which the member is considered a teacher for the purposes of that position, pay, to the provider the member selected pursuant to section 3305.05 of the Revised Code, the accumulated contributions standing to the credit of the member's individual account in the teachers' saving fund plus an amount calculated in accordance with section 3307.80 of the Revised Code. The payment shall be made on the member's application.

(C) Payment of a member's accumulated contributions under division (B) of this section cancels the member's total service credit in the state teachers retirement system. A member whose accumulated contributions are paid to a provider pursuant to division (B) of this section is forever barred from claiming or purchasing service credit under the state teachers retirement system for the period of employment attributable to those contributions.

Sec. 3307.561.  A (A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, a member of the state teachers retirement system participating in the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code who has ceased to be a teacher, and who is also a member of either the public employees retirement system or school employees retirement system, or both, may not withdraw the member's accumulated contributions unless the.

(B) On application, the state teachers retirement board shall pay a member described in division (A) of this section the member's accumulated contributions if either of the following applies:

(1) The member also withdraws the member's contributions from the other systems.

(2) The member is a participant in a plan established under section 145.81 or 3309.81 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3307.563.  For the purposes of this section, "service credit" includes only service credit obtained pursuant to sections 3307.53, 3307.71, 3307.72, and 3307.77 of the Revised Code.

(A) The state teachers retirement system shall add to a member's accumulated contributions to be paid under section 3307.56 or 3307.562 of the Revised Code an amount paid from the employers' trust fund equal to one of the following:

(1) If the member has less than three full years of service credit, an amount equal to interest on the member's accumulated contributions, compounded annually, at a rate not greater than four per cent established by the board;

(2) If the member has three or more full years of service credit, but less than five full years, an amount equal to interest on the member's accumulated contributions, compounded annually, at a rate not greater than six per cent established by the board;

(3) If the member has five or more full years of service credit, the sum of the following amounts:

(a) An amount equal to interest on the member's accumulated contributions, compounded annually, at a rate not greater than six per cent established by the board;

(b) An amount equal to fifty per cent of the sum of the member's contributions under section 3307.26 and division (C) of section 3307.77 of the Revised Code plus interest on that amount at a rate not greater than six per cent established by the board.

Interest for each year included in the calculation under this section shall be calculated from the first day of the following year to the last day of the month preceding payment under section 3307.56 or 3307.562 of the Revised Code.

(B) Notwithstanding sections 3307.56 and 3307.562 of the Revised Code, neither the beneficiaries, survivors, nor estate of a deceased member who was granted disability benefits prior to death is eligible for the payment of any amount calculated under this section.

Sec. 3307.58.  Any member participating in the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code who has five years of service credit and has attained age sixty, or who has twenty-five years of service credit and has attained age fifty-five, or who has thirty years of service credit shall be granted service retirement after filing with the state teachers retirement board a completed application on a form approved by the board.

(A) Service retirement shall be effective on the first day of the month next following the later of:

(1) The last day for which compensation was paid; or

(2) The attainment of minimum age or service credit eligibility for benefits provided under this section.

Except as provided in division (E) of this section, the service retirement benefit shall be the greater of the benefits provided in divisions (B) and (D) of this section.

(B) Subject to any adjustment made under division (C) of this section, the annual single lifetime benefit of a member shall be the greater of the amounts determined by the member's Ohio service credit multiplied by one of the following:

(1) Eighty-six dollars;

(2)(a) The sum of the following amounts:

(i) For each of the first thirty years of Ohio service credit, two and two-tenths per cent of the member's final average salary or, subject to the limitation described in division (B)(2)(b) of this section, two and five-tenths per cent of the member's final average salary if the member has thirty-five or more years of service credit under section 3307.53, 3307.57, 3307.75, 3307.751, 3307.752, 3307.761, 3307.763, 3307.77, or 3307.771 of the Revised Code, division (A)(2) or (B) of former section 3307.513 of the Revised Code, former section 3307.514 of the Revised Code, section 3307.72 of the Revised Code earned after July 1, 1978, or any combination of service credit under those sections;

(ii) For each year or fraction of a year of Ohio service credit in excess of thirty years, two and two-tenths per cent of the member's final average salary or, subject to the limitation described in division (B)(2)(b) of this section, if the member has more than thirty years service credit under section 3307.53, 3307.57, 3307.75, 3307.751, 3307.752, 3307.761, 3307.763, 3307.77, or 3307.771 of the Revised Code, division (A)(2) or (B) of former section 3307.513 of the Revised Code, former section 3307.514 of the Revised Code, section 3307.72 of the Revised Code earned after July 1, 1978, or any combination of service credit under those sections, the per cent of final average salary shown in the following schedule for each corresponding year or fraction of a year of service credit under those sections that is in excess of thirty years:

For purposes of this schedule, years of service credit shall be rounded to the nearest one-hundredth of a year.

(b) For purposes of division (B)(2)(a) of this section, a percentage of final average salary in excess of two and two-tenths per cent shall be applied to service credit under section 3307.57 of the Revised Code only if the service credit was established under section 145.30, 145.301, 145.302, 145.47, 145.483, 3309.02, 3309.021, 3309.022, or 3309.47, or of the Revised Code or restored under section 145.31 or 3309.26 of the Revised Code.

(C) The annual single lifetime benefit of a member determined under division (B) of this section shall be adjusted by the greater per cent shown in the following schedule opposite the member's attained age or Ohio service credit.

Members shall vest the right to a benefit in accordance with the following schedule, based on the member's attained age by September 1, 1976:

The annual single lifetime benefit determined under division (B) of this section shall not exceed the lesser of one hundred per cent of the 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.

(D) The annual single lifetime benefit of a member shall not exceed the lesser of the sum of the following amounts 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:

(1) An annuity with a reserve equal to the member's accumulated contributions;

(2) A pension equal to the amount in division (D)(1) of this section;

(3) An additional pension of forty dollars annually multiplied by the number of years of prior and military service credit, except years of credit purchased under section 3307.751 or 3307.752 of the Revised Code;

(4) An additional basic annual pension of one hundred eighty dollars, provided the member had ten or more years of Ohio service credit as of October 1, 1956, except that the additional basic annual pension shall not exceed the sum of the annual benefits provided by divisions (D)(1), (2), and (3) of this section.

(E) Benefits determined under this section shall be paid as provided in section 3307.60 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3307.60.  (A) Upon application for retirement as provided in section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code, the retirant may elect a plan of payment under this division or, on and after the date specified in division (B) of this section, a plan of payment under that division. Under this division, the retirant may elect to receive a single lifetime benefit, or may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's benefit in a lesser amount, payable for life, and continuing after death to a beneficiary under one of the following optional plans:

(1) Option 1. The retirant's lesser benefit shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary named at retirement.

(2) Option 2. Some other portion of the retirant's benefit shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary named at retirement. The beneficiary's monthly amount shall not exceed the monthly amount payable to the retirant during the retirant's lifetime.

(3) Option 3. The retirant's lesser benefit established as provided under option 1 or option 2 shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary named at retirement, except that in the event of the death of the sole beneficiary or termination of a marital relationship between the retirant and the sole beneficiary the retirant may elect to return to a single lifetime benefit equivalent as determined by the state teachers retirement board, if, in the case of termination of a marital relationship, the election is made with the written consent of the beneficiary or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over termination of the marital relationship.

(4) Option 4. Upon the retirant's death before the expiration of a certain period from the retirement date and elected by the retirant, and approved by the board, the retirant's benefit shall be continued for the remainder of such period to the beneficiary. Monthly benefits shall not be paid to joint beneficiaries, but they may receive the present value of any remaining payments in a lump sum settlement. If all beneficiaries die before the expiration of the certain period, the present value of all payments yet remaining in such period shall be paid to the estate of the beneficiary last receiving.

(5) Option 5. A plan of payment established by the state teachers retirement board combining any of the features of options 1, 2, and 4.

(B) Beginning on a date selected by the state teachers retirement board, which shall be not later than July 1, 2004, a retirant may elect, in lieu of a plan of payment under division (A) of this section, a plan consisting of both of the following:

(1) A lump sum in an amount the member designates that constitutes a portion of the member's single lifetime benefit;

(2) Either of the following:

(a) The remainder of the retirant's single lifetime benefit;

(b) The actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the retirant's benefit in a lesser amount, payable for life, and continuing after death to a beneficiary under one of the options described in divisions (A)(1) to (5) of this section.

In the event of the death of the sole beneficiary or termination of a marital relationship between the retirant and the sole beneficiary, the retirant may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the retirant's single lifetime benefit except that, in the case of termination of a marital relationship, the election may be made only with the written consent of the beneficiary or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over termination of the marital relationship.

The amount designated by the member under division (B)(1) of this section shall be not less than six times the monthly amount that would be payable to the member as a single lifetime benefit and not more than thirty-six times that amount.

(C) Until the first payment is made to a former member under section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code, the former member may change the selection of a plan of payment. If death occurs prior to an election of a plan of payment before the first payment is made to a former member under section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code, option 1 as provided for in division (A)(1) of this section shall be paid to the spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary.

Beginning on a date selected by the board, which shall be not later than July 1, 2004, the spouse or sole beneficiary of a former member whose death occurred prior to the receipt of the first payment under section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code may elect, in lieu of option 1, a plan of payment consisting of both of the following:

(1) A lump sum in an amount the spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary designates that constitutes a portion of the retirant's single life annuity;

(2) The actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the retirant's single life annuity paid in a lesser amount for life to the spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary.

The amount designated by the spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary under division (C)(1) of this section shall be not less than six times the monthly amount that would be payable as the retirant's single life annuity and not more than thirty-six times that amount.

(C)(D) If the total benefit paid under this section is less than the balance in the teachers' savings fund, the difference shall be paid to the beneficiary provided under division (D) of section 3307.562 of the Revised Code.

(D)(E) In the case of a retirant who elected an optional plan prior to September 15, 1989:

(1) The death of the spouse or other designated beneficiary following retirement shall, at the election of the retirant, cancel any optional plan selected at retirement to provide continuing lifetime benefits to the spouse or other beneficiary and return the retirant to a single lifetime benefit equivalent as determined by the board.

(2) A divorce, annulment, or marriage dissolution shall, at the election of the retirant, cancel any optional plan selected at retirement to provide continuing lifetime benefits to the spouse as designated beneficiary and return the retirant to a single lifetime benefit equivalent as determined by the board if the election is made with the written consent of the beneficiary or pursuant to an order of a court of common pleas or the court of another state with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage.

(E)(F) Following marriage or remarriage, a retirant may elect a new optional plan of payment based on the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's single lifetime benefit, as determined by the board, except that if the retirant is receiving a retirement allowance under an optional plan that provides for continuation of benefits after death to a former spouse, the retirant may elect a new optional plan of payment only with the written consent of the former spouse or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage. Such plan shall become effective the first of the month following an application on a form approved by the board.

(F)(G)(1) Unless one of the following occurs, an application for service retirement made pursuant to section 3307.58 or 3307.59 of the Revised Code 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 benefit 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 benefit 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 annuity 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 benefit 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" as provided for in division (A)(2) of this section 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 a notary public.

(3) If the retirant does not select an optional plan of payment as described in division (F) (G)(1)(a) of this section and the board does not receive the written statement provided for in division (F) (G)(1)(b) of this section, it shall determine and pay the retirement allowance in accordance with this division, except that the board may provide by rule for waiver by the board of the statement and payment of the benefits other than in accordance with this division or payment under section 3307.56 of the Revised Code if the retirant is unable to obtain the statement due to absence or incapacity of the spouse or other cause specified by the board.

(G)(H) For the purpose of determining actuarial equivalence under this section, on the advice of an actuary employed by the board, the board shall adopt mortality tables that may take into consideration the membership experience of the state teachers retirement system and may also include the membership experience of the public employees retirement system and the school employees retirement system.

Sec. 3307.761.  (A) As used in this section and section 3307.765 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Uniform retirement system" or "uniform system" means the Ohio police and fire pension fund or state highway patrol retirement system.

(2) "Military service credit" means credit purchased or obtained under this chapter or Chapter 742. or 5505. of the Revised Code for service in the armed forces of the United States.

(B) A member of the state teachers retirement system participating in the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code who has contributions on deposit with a uniform retirement system shall, in computing years of total service, be given full credit for service credit earned under Chapter 742. or 5505. of the Revised Code or for military service credit if a transfer to the state teachers retirement system is made under this division. At the request of the member, the uniform system shall transfer to the state teachers retirement system, for each year of service, the sum of the following:

(1) An amount equal to the member's accumulated contributions to the uniform system and any payments by the member for military service credit;

(2) An amount equal to the lesser of the employer's contributions to the uniform system or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the service had the member been a member of the state teachers retirement system at the time the credit was earned;

(3) Interest, determined as provided in division (F) of this section, on the amounts specified in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section from the last day of the year for which the service credit in the uniform system was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit was purchased or obtained to the date the transfer is made.

(C) A member participating in the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code who has at least eighteen months one and one-half years of contributing service with the state teachers retirement system, is a former member of a uniform retirement system, and has received a refund of contributions to that uniform system shall, in computing years of total service, be given full credit for service credit earned under Chapter 742. or 5505. of the Revised Code or for military service credit if, for each year of service, the state teachers retirement system receives the sum of the following:

(1) An amount, which shall be paid by the member, equal to the amount refunded by the uniform system to the member for that year for accumulated contributions and payments for military service credit, with interest at a rate established by the state teachers retirement board on that amount from the date of the refund to the date of the payment;

(2) Interest, which shall be transferred by the uniform system, on the amount refunded to the member that is attributable to the year of service from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the refund was made;

(3) An amount, which shall be transferred by the uniform system, equal to the lesser of the employer's contributions to the uniform system or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the service had the member been a member of the state teachers retirement system at the time the credit was earned, with interest on that amount from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service to the date of the transfer.

On receipt of payment from the member, the state teachers retirement system shall notify the uniform system, which, on receipt of the notice, shall make the transfer required by this division. Interest shall be determined as provided in division (F) of this section.

A member may choose to purchase only part of the credit the member is eligible to purchase under this division in any one payment, subject to rules of the state teachers retirement board.

(D) A member is ineligible to obtain credit under this section for service that is used in the calculation of any retirement benefit currently being paid or payable in the future under any other retirement program or for service credit that may be transferred under section 3307.765 of the Revised Code.

(E) If a member of the state teachers retirement system who is not a current contributor elects to obtain credit under section 742.21 or 5505.40 of the Revised Code for service for which the member contributed to the system or purchased for military service credit, the system shall transfer to the uniform retirement system, as applicable, the amount specified in division (D) of section 742.21 or division (B)(2) of section 5505.40 of the Revised Code.

(F) Interest charged under this section shall be calculated separately for each year of service credit. Unless otherwise specified in this section it shall be calculated at the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate for that year of the state teachers retirement system or of the uniform retirement system in which the credit was earned. The interest shall be compounded annually.

(G) The state teachers retirement board shall credit to a member's account in the teachers' savings fund the amounts described in divisions (B)(1) and (C)(1) of this section, except that the interest paid by the member under division (C)(1) of this section shall be credited to the employers' trust fund. The board shall credit to the employers' trust fund the amounts described in divisions (B)(2) and (3) and (C)(2) and (3) of this section.

(H) At the request of the state teachers retirement system, the Ohio police and fire pension fund or state highway patrol retirement system shall certify to the state teachers retirement system a copy of the records of the service and contributions of a state teachers retirement system member who seeks service credit under this section.

Sec. 3307.763.  (A) If the conditions described in division (B) of section 3307.762 of the Revised Code are met, a member of the state teachers retirement system who is not receiving a pension or benefit from the state teachers retirement system is eligible to obtain credit for service as a member of the Cincinnati retirement system under this section.

(B) A member of the state teachers retirement system participating in the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code who has contributions on deposit with, but is no longer contributing to, the Cincinnati retirement system shall, in computing years of service credit, be given credit for service credit earned under the Cincinnati retirement system or purchased or obtained as military service credit if, for each year of service, the Cincinnati retirement system transfers to the state teachers retirement system the sum of the following:

(1) The amount contributed by the member, or, in the case of military service credit, paid by the member, that is attributable to the year of service;

(2) An amount equal to the lesser of the employer's contributions to the Cincinnati retirement system or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the service had the member been a member of the state teachers retirement system at the time the credit was earned;

(3) Interest on the amounts specified in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section from the last day of the year for which service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the transfer is made.

(C) A member of the state teachers retirement system with at least eighteen months one and one-half years of contributing service credit with the state teachers retirement system who has received a refund of the member's contributions to the Cincinnati retirement system shall, in computing years of service, be given credit for service credit earned under the Cincinnati retirement system or purchased or obtained as military service credit if, for each year of service, the state teachers retirement system receives the sum of the following:

(1) An amount, paid by the member, equal to the sum of the following:

(a) The amount refunded by the Cincinnati retirement system to the member for that year for contributions and payments for military service credit, with interest at a rate established by the state teachers retirement board on that amount from the date of the refund to the date of payment;

(b) The amount of interest, if any, the member received when the refund was made that is attributable to the year of service.

(2) An amount, transferred by the Cincinnati retirement system to the state teachers retirement system, equal to the sum of the following:

(a) Interest on the amount refunded to the member that is attributable to the year of service from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the refund was made;

(b) An amount equal to the lesser of the employer's contributions to the Cincinnati retirement system or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the service had the member been a member of the state teachers retirement system at the time the credit was earned, with interest on that amount from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned to the date of the transfer.

(D) The amount transferred under division (C)(2)(a) of this section shall not include any amount of interest the Cincinnati retirement system paid to the person when it made the refund.

(E) On receipt of payment from the member under division (C)(1) of this section, the state teachers retirement system shall notify the Cincinnati retirement system. On receipt of the notice, the Cincinnati retirement system shall transfer the amount described in division (C)(2) of this section.

(F) Interest charged under this section shall be calculated separately for each year of service credit. Unless otherwise specified in this section, it shall be calculated at the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate for that year of the state teachers retirement system or the Cincinnati retirement system. The interest shall be compounded annually.

(G) At the request of the state teachers retirement system, the Cincinnati retirement system shall certify to the state teachers retirement system a copy of the records of the service and contributions of a state teachers retirement system member who seeks service credit under this section.

(H) A member may choose to purchase only part of the credit the member is eligible to purchase under division (C) of this section in any one payment, subject to rules of the state teachers retirement board.

(I) A member is ineligible to obtain credit under this section for service that is used in the calculation of any retirement benefit currently being paid or payable in the future.

(J) The state teachers retirement board shall credit to the member's account in the teachers' savings fund the amounts described in divisions (B)(1) and (C)(1)(a) of this section, except that interest paid by the member under division (C)(1)(a) of this section shall be credited to the employers' trust fund. The board shall credit to the employers' trust fund the amounts described in divisions (B)(2), (B)(3), (C)(1)(b), and (C)(2) of this section.

Sec. 3307.764.  (A) If the conditions described in division (B) of section 3307.762 of the Revised Code are met and a person who is a member or former member of the state teachers retirement system through participation in the plan described in sections 3307.50 to 3307.79 of the Revised Code, but is not a current contributor and who is not receiving a pension or benefit from the state teachers retirement system elects to receive credit under the Cincinnati retirement system for service for which the person contributed to the state teachers retirement system or purchased or obtained as military service credit, the state teachers retirement system shall transfer the amounts specified in division (B) or (C) of this section to the Cincinnati retirement system.

(B) If the person has contributions on deposit with the state teachers retirement system, the retirement system shall, for each year of service credit, transfer to the Cincinnati retirement system the sum of the following:

(1) An amount equal to the person's contributions to the state teachers retirement system and payments made by the member for military service credit;

(2) An amount equal to the lesser of the employer's contributions to the state teachers retirement system or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the service had the person been a member of the Cincinnati retirement system at the time the credit was earned;

(3) Interest on the amounts specified in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section for the period from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the transfer was made.

(C)(1) If the person has received a refund of accumulated contributions to the state teachers retirement system, the state teachers retirement system shall, for each year of service credit, transfer to the Cincinnati retirement system the sum of the following:

(a) Interest on the amount refunded to the former member that is attributable to the year of service from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the refund was made;

(b) An amount equal to the lesser of the employer's contributions to the state teachers retirement system or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the service had the person been a member of the Cincinnati retirement system at the time the credit was earned, with interest on that amount from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned to the date of the transfer.

(2) The amount transferred under division (C)(1) of this section shall not include any amount added to the member's accumulated contributions under section 3307.563 of the Revised Code and paid under section 3307.56 or 3307.562 of the Revised Code.

(3) On receipt of notice from the Cincinnati retirement system that the Cincinnati retirement system has received payment from a person described in division (C)(1) of this section, the state teachers retirement system shall transfer the amount described in that division.

(D) Interest charged under this section shall be calculated separately for each year of service credit. Unless otherwise specified in this section, it shall be calculated at the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate for that year of the state teachers retirement system or the Cincinnati retirement system. The interest shall be compounded annually.

(E) The transfer of any amount under this section cancels an equivalent amount of service credit.

(F) At the request of the Cincinnati retirement system, the state teachers retirement system shall certify to the Cincinnati retirement system a copy of the records of the service and contributions of a member or former member of the state teachers retirement system who elects to receive service credit under the Cincinnati retirement system.

Sec. 3307.87.  (A)(1) If a member participating in a plan established under section 3307.81 of the Revised Code is married at the time any benefits under the plan commence, benefits shall be paid in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section, unless the spouse has consented under division (C) of this section to a different form of payment.

(2) The benefits described in division (A)(1) of this section shall be paid in the form of an annuity, which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's benefits, in an amount that is payable for the life of the member and one-half of the amount continuing after the member's death to the spouse for the life of the spouse.

(B) If a member participating in a plan established under section 3307.81 of the Revised Code is married at the time of the member's death, any benefits that are payable to the member shall be paid to the member's spouse, unless the spouse has consented under division (C) of this section to the designation of a different beneficiary.

(C) A plan established under section 3307.81 of the Revised Code shall include requirements for consent under this section that are the same as the requirements specified in division (a)(2) of section 417 of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C.A. 417(a)(2), as amended. Consent is valid only if it is evidenced by a signed statement that is witnessed by a notary public. Each plan may waive the requirement of consent if the spouse is incapacitated or cannot be located or for any other reason specified by the plan or in the regulations adopted under that section rules adopted by the state teachers retirement board.

Consent or waiver is effective only with regard to the spouse who is the subject of the consent or waiver.

Sec. 3309.45.  Except as provided in division (C)(1) of this section, in lieu of accepting the payment of the accumulated account of a member who dies before service retirement, the beneficiary, as determined in section 3309.44 of the Revised Code, may elect to forfeit the accumulated account and to substitute certain other benefits either under division (A) or (B) of this section.

(A)(1) If a deceased member was eligible for a service retirement allowance as provided in section 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code, a surviving spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary may elect to receive a monthly benefit computed as the joint-survivor allowance designated as "plan D" in section 3309.46 of the Revised Code, which the member would have received had the member retired on the last day of the month of death and had the member at that time selected such joint-survivor plan. Payment shall begin with the month subsequent to the member's death.

(2) Beginning on a date selected by the school employees retirement board, which shall be not later than July 1, 2004, a surviving spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary may elect, in lieu of a monthly payment under division (A)(1) of this section, a plan of payment consisting of both of the following:

(a) A lump sum in an amount the surviving spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary designates that constitutes a portion of the allowance that would be payable under division (A)(1) of this section;

(b) The remainder of that allowance in monthly payments.

The total amount paid as a lump sum and a monthly benefit shall be the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would have been paid had the lump sum not been selected.

The lump sum amount designated by the surviving spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary under division (A)(2)(a) of this section shall be not less than six times the monthly amount that would be payable to the surviving spouse or other sole dependent beneficiary under division (A)(1) of this section and not more than thirty-six times that amount.

(B) If the deceased member had completed at least one and one-half years of credit for Ohio service, with at least one-quarter year of Ohio contributing service credit within the two and one-half years prior to the date of death, or was receiving at the time of death a disability benefit as provided in section 3309.40 or 3309.401 of the Revised Code, qualified survivors who elect to receive monthly benefits shall receive the greater of the benefits provided in division (B)(1)(a) or (b) as allocated in accordance with division (B)(5) of this section.

(2) Benefits shall begin as qualified survivors meet eligibility requirements as follows:

(a) A qualified spouse is the surviving spouse of the deceased member who is age sixty-two, or regardless of age if the deceased member had ten or more years of Ohio service credit, or regardless of age if caring for a surviving child, or regardless of age if adjudged physically or mentally incompetent.

(b) A qualified child is any child of the deceased member who has never been married and to whom one of the following applies:

(i) Is under age eighteen, or under age twenty-two if the child is 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 such institution and as further determined by board policy;

(ii) Regardless of age, is adjudged physically or mentally incompetent if the incompetence existed prior to the member's death and prior to the child attaining age eighteen, or age twenty-two if attending an institution described in division (B)(2)(b)(i) of this section.

(c) A qualified parent is a dependent parent aged sixty-five or older.

(3) "Physically or mentally incompetent" as used in this section may be determined by a court of jurisdiction, or by a physician appointed by the retirement board. Incapability of earning a living because of a physically or mentally disabling condition shall meet the qualifications of this division.

(4) Benefits to a qualified survivor shall terminate upon a first marriage, abandonment, adoption, or during active military service. 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.

Upon the death of any subsequent spouse who was a member of the public employees retirement system, state teachers retirement system, or school employees retirement system, the surviving spouse of such member may elect to continue receiving benefits under this division, or to receive survivor's benefits, based upon the subsequent spouse's membership in one or more of the systems, for which such surviving spouse is eligible under this section or section 145.45 or 3307.66 of the Revised Code. If the surviving spouse elects to continue receiving benefits under this division, such election shall not preclude the payment of benefits under this division to any other qualified survivor.

Benefits shall begin or resume on the first day of the month following the attainment of eligibility and shall terminate on the first day of the month following loss of eligibility.

(5)(a) If a benefit is payable under division (B)(1)(a) of this section, benefits to a qualified spouse shall be paid in the amount determined for the first qualifying survivor in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, but shall not be less than one hundred six dollars per month if the deceased member had ten or more years of Ohio service credit. All other qualifying survivors shall share equally in the benefit or remaining portion thereof.

(b) All qualifying survivors shall share equally in a benefit payable under division (B)(1)(b) of this section, except that if there is a surviving spouse, the surviving spouse shall receive no less than the greater of the amount determined for the first qualifying survivor in division (B)(1)(a) of this section or one hundred six dollars per month.

(6) The beneficiary of a member who is also a member of the public employees retirement system, or of the state teachers retirement system, must forfeit the member's accumulated contributions in those systems, if the beneficiary takes a survivor benefit. Such benefit shall be exclusively governed by section 3309.35 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) Regardless of whether the member is survived by a spouse or designated beneficiary, if the school employees retirement system receives notice that a deceased member described in division (A) or (B) of this section has one or more qualified children, all persons who are qualified survivors under Division division (B) of this section shall receive monthly benefits as provided in division (B) of this section.

If, after determining the monthly benefits to be paid under division (B) of this section, the system receives notice that there is a qualified survivor who was not considered when the determination was made, the system shall, notwithstanding section 3309.661 of the Revised Code, recalculate the monthly benefits with that qualified survivor included, even if the benefits to qualified survivors already receiving benefits are reduced as a result. The benefits shall be calculated as if the qualified survivor who is the subject of the notice became eligible on the date the notice was received and shall be paid to qualified survivors effective on the first day of the first month following the system's receipt of the notice.

If the retirement system did not receive notice that a deceased member has one or more qualified children prior to making payment under section 3309.44 of the Revised Code to a beneficiary as determined by the retirement system, the payment is a full discharge and release of the system from any future claims under this section or section 3309.44 of the Revised Code.

(2) If benefits under division (C)(1) of this section to all persons, or to all persons other than a surviving spouse or other sole beneficiary, terminate, there are no children under the age of twenty-two years, and the surviving spouse or beneficiary qualifies for benefits under division (A) of this section, the surviving spouse or beneficiary may elect to receive benefits under division (A) of this section. Benefits shall be effective on the first day of the month following receipt by the board of an application for benefits under division (A) of this section.

(D) The final average salary used in the calculation of a benefit payable pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section to a survivor or beneficiary of a disability benefit recipient shall be adjusted for each year between the disability benefit's effective date and the recipient's date of death by the lesser of three per cent or the actual average percentage increase 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").

(E) If the survivor benefits due and paid under this section are in a total amount less than the member's accumulated account that was transferred from the employees' savings fund, the state teachers retirement fund, and the public employees retirement fund to the survivors' benefit fund, then the difference between the total amount of the benefits paid shall be paid to the beneficiary under section 3309.44 of the Revised Code.

Sec. 3309.46.  (A) The retirement allowance calculated under section 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code shall be paid as provided in this section. If the member is eligible to elect a plan of payment under this section, the election shall be made on the application for retirement. A plan of payment elected under this section shall be effective only if it is certified by the actuary engaged by the school employees retirement board to be the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance and is approved by the retirement board.

(B)(1) Unless the member is eligible to elect another plan of payment, a member who retires under section 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code shall receive a retirement allowance under "plan A," which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance determined under section 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half of such allowance continuing after death to the member's surviving spouse for the life of the spouse.

A member may elect to receive a retirement allowance under a plan of payment other than "plan A" if the member is not married or either the member's spouse consents in writing to the member's election to a plan of payment other than "plan A" or the board waives the requirement that the spouse consent.

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 "plan A," which consists of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half of the allowance continuing after death to the surviving spouse for the life of the spouse;

(b) A description of the alternative plans of payment, including all plans described in divisions (B)(2) and (3) of this section, 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 in writing, signed by the spouse, and witnessed by an employee of the school employees retirement system or a notary public. The board may waive the requirement of consent if the spouse is incapacitated or cannot be located or for any other reason specified by the board. Consent or waiver is effective only with regard to the spouse who is the subject of the consent or waiver.

(2) A member eligible to elect to receive a retirement allowance under a plan of payment other than "plan A" shall receive the retirement allowance under the plan described in division (B)(3) of this section or one of the following plans elected at the time the member makes application for retirement:

(a) "Plan B," which shall consist of an allowance determined under section 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code;

(b) "Plan C," which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance determined under section 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half or some other portion of the allowance continuing after death to the member's sole surviving beneficiary designated at the time of the member's retirement, provided that the amount payable to the beneficiary does not exceed the amount payable to the member;

(c) "Plan D," which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance determined under section 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code in a lesser amount payable for life and continuing after death to a surviving designated beneficiary designated at the time of the member's retirement;

(d) "Plan E," which shall consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance determined under section 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code in a lesser amount payable for a certain period from the member's retirement date as elected by the member and approved by the retirement board, and on the member's death before the expiration of that certain period, the member's lesser retirement allowance continued for the remainder of that period to, and in such order, the beneficiaries as the member has nominated by written designation and filed with the retirement board.

Monthly benefits shall not be paid to joint beneficiaries, but they may receive the present value of any remaining payments in a lump sum settlement. If all beneficiaries die before the expiration of the certain period, the present value of all such payments yet remaining in such period shall be paid to the estate of the beneficiary last receiving.

(3)(a) Beginning on a date selected by the board, which shall be not later than July 1, 2004, a member may elect, in lieu of a plan of payment under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section, a plan consisting of both a lump sum in an amount the member designates that constitutes a portion of the retirement allowance payable under a plan described in division (B)(1) or (2) of this section and the remainder of the allowance payable under that plan in monthly payments.

The total amount paid as a lump sum and a monthly benefit shall be the actuarial equivalent of the amount that would have been paid had the lump sum not been selected.

(b) The lump sum amount designated by the member shall be not less than six times the monthly amount that would be payable to the member under the plan of payment elected under this section had the lump sum not been elected and not more than thirty-six times that amount.

(4) An election under division (B)(2) or (3) of this section shall be made at the time the member makes application for retirement.

(5) A member eligible to elect to receive a retirement allowance under a plan of payment other than "plan A" because the member is unmarried who fails to make an election on retirement shall receive a retirement allowance under "plan B."

(C) Until the first payment of any retirement allowance is made, as provided in sections 3309.36, 3309.38, or 3309.381 of the Revised Code, a member may change the member's election of a payment plan if the election is made in accordance with and is consistent with division (B) of this section.

(D) If the retirement allowances due and paid under the above provisions of this section are in a total amount less than (1) the accumulated contributions, (2) the deposits for additional credit as provided by section 3309.31 of the Revised Code, (3) the deposits for additional annuities as provided by section 3309.47 of the Revised Code, (4) the deposits for repurchase of service credit as provided by section 3309.26 of the Revised Code, (5) the accumulated contributions provided by section 3309.65 of the Revised Code, (6) the deposits for purchase of military service credit provided by section 3309.021 or 3309.022 of the Revised Code, and (7) the deposits for the purchase of service credit provided by section 3309.73 of the Revised Code, standing to the credit of the member at the time of retirement, then the difference between the total amount of the allowances paid and the accumulated contributions and other deposits shall be paid to the beneficiary provided under division (D) of section 3309.44 of the Revised Code.

(E)(1) The death of a spouse or any other designated beneficiary following the member's retirement shall cancel any plan of payment to provide continuing lifetime benefits to the spouse or designated beneficiary and the retirant shall receive the retirant's single lifetime retirement allowance equivalent as determined by the board.

(2) On divorce, annulment, or marriage dissolution, a retirant receiving a retirement allowance under a plan of payment that provides for continuation of all or part of the allowance after death for the lifetime of the member's surviving spouse may elect to cancel the plan and receive the member's single lifetime retirement allowance equivalent as determined by the retirement board, except that in the case of a member who retires on or after July 24, 1990, the election may be made only with the written consent of the spouse or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage. The election shall be made on a form provided by the board and shall be effective the month following its receipt by the board.

(3) Following marriage or remarriage, a retirant who is receiving a benefit pursuant to "plan B" may elect a new plan of payment under division (B)(1), (2)(b), or (2)(c) of this section based on the actuarial equivalent of the member's single lifetime retirement allowance as determined by the board. The plan shall become effective the first day of the month following receipt by the board of an application on a form approved by the board.

Section 2. That existing sections 145.46, 3307.01, 3307.39, 3307.51, 3307.56, 3307.561, 3307.563, 3307.58, 3307.60, 3307.761, 3307.763, 3307.764, 3307.87, 3309.45, and 3309.46 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.

Section 3.  Section 3307.58 of the Revised Code is presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by both Sub. H.B. 535 and Sub. S.B. 270 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.