HOUSE BILL No. 4813

 

April 21, 2009, Introduced by Rep. Rick Jones and referred to the Committee on Labor.

 

     A bill to amend 1943 PA 240, entitled

 

"State employees' retirement act,"

 

by amending sections 19 and 20 (MCL 38.19 and 38.20), as amended by

 

2002 PA 93.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 19. (1) A member who is 60 years of age or older and has

 

10 or more years of credited service or a member who is 60 years of

 

age or older and has 5 or more years of credited service as

 

provided in section 20(4) or (5) may retire upon written

 

application to the retirement board, stating a date on which he or

 

she desires to retire. Beginning on the retirement allowance

 

effective date, he or she shall receive a retirement allowance

 

computed according to section 20(1).

 

     (2) A member who is 55 years of age or older, but less than 60

 


years of age, and has 15 or more years of credited service, may

 

retire upon written application to the retirement board stating a

 

date on which he or she desires to retire. Upon retirement he or

 

she shall receive a retirement allowance computed according to

 

section 20(1). Except as otherwise provided in this act, the

 

retirement allowance of a member who has less than 30 years of

 

credited service shall be reduced by an amount that is 0.5% of the

 

retirement allowance multiplied by the number of months the

 

person's age at retirement is under 60 years. The reduction of 1/2

 

of 1% for each month and fraction of a month from the member's

 

retirement allowance effective date to the date of the member's

 

sixtieth birthday provided for in this subsection does not apply to

 

a member who retired before July 1, 1974 and before attainment of

 

age 60, with 30 or more years of credited service. The retirement

 

allowance of a retirant or beneficiary of a retirant who retired

 

before that date shall be recalculated disregarding the reduction,

 

and the person receiving the retirement allowance is eligible to

 

receive an adjusted retirement allowance based on the recalculation

 

beginning October 1, 1987, but is not eligible to receive the

 

adjusted amount attributable to any month beginning before October

 

1, 1987. The recalculated retirement allowance provided by this

 

subsection shall be paid by January 1, 1988. The retirement

 

allowance of a retirant who dies before January 1, 1988, and who

 

has not nominated a retirement allowance beneficiary pursuant to

 

section 31, shall not be recalculated pursuant to this subsection.

 

     (3) A member who is 50 years of age or older and has 30 or

 

more years of credited service may retire upon written application

 


to the retirement board stating a date on which he or she desires

 

to retire. Upon retirement, he or she shall receive a retirement

 

allowance computed according to section 20(1) without regard to the

 

reduction in subsection (2).

 

     (4) (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section,

 

effective April 1, 1988, a member may retire with a retirement

 

allowance computed according to section 20(1), without regard to

 

the reduction in subsection (2), if all of the following apply:

 

     (a) The member files a written application with the retirement

 

board stating a date, not less than 30 or more than 90 days after

 

the execution and filing of the application, on which the member

 

desires to retire, and which is within the early retirement

 

effective period.

 

     (b) The member was employed by the state for the 6-month

 

period immediately preceding the member's retirement allowance

 

effective date. This subdivision does not apply to a member who had

 

been restored to active service during that 6-month period pursuant

 

to section 33.

 

     (c) On the last day of the month immediately preceding the

 

retirement allowance effective date stated in the application, the

 

member's combined age and length of credited service is equal to or

 

greater than 80 years and the member is 50 years of age or older.

 

     (d) For purposes of this subsection, "early retirement

 

effective period" means 1 of the following:

 

     (i) Except as provided in subparagraph (ii), the period

 

beginning on April 1, 1988 and ending on April 1, 1989.

 

     (ii) For a member employed by a hospital or facility owned or

 


operated by the department formerly known as the department of

 

mental health that is in the process of being closed by the

 

department formerly known as the department of mental health, the

 

period beginning on April 1, 1988 and ending on October 1, 1989.

 

     (5) (4) As used in subsections (5) (6) to (9) (10):

 

     (a) "Agency of the department" means 1 of the following:

 

     (i) Southwest Michigan community living services.

 

     (ii) Wayne community living services.

 

     (b) "Department inpatient facility" means 1 of the following:

 

     (i) A developmental disability center that is directly operated

 

by the department formerly known as the department of mental health

 

for purposes of providing inpatient care and treatment services to

 

persons with developmental disabilities.

 

     (ii) A psychiatric hospital that is directly operated by the

 

department formerly known as the department of mental health for

 

purposes of providing inpatient diagnostic and therapeutic services

 

to persons who are mentally ill.

 

     (6) (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a

 

member who is an employee of an agency of the department or a

 

department inpatient facility and is on layoff status because the

 

agency or inpatient facility has been designated by the state

 

officer formerly known as the director of mental health for closure

 

on or after October 1, 1989, may retire as provided in subsection

 

(7) (8) or (8) (9), as applicable, with a retirement allowance

 

computed according to section 20(1), without regard to the

 

reduction in subsection (2), upon satisfaction of any 1 of the

 

following conditions:

 


     (a) The member is 51 years of age or older and has 25 or more

 

years of credited service, the last 5 of which are as an employee

 

of an agency of the department designated for closure or a

 

department inpatient facility designated for closure.

 

     (b) The member is at least 56 years of age and has 10 or more

 

years of credited service, the last 5 of which are as an employee

 

of an agency of the department designated for closure or a

 

department inpatient facility designated for closure.

 

     (c) The member has 25 or more years of credited service,

 

regardless of age, as an employee of an agency of the department

 

designated for closure or a department inpatient facility

 

designated for closure.

 

     (7) (6) When a department inpatient facility or agency is

 

designated for closure on or after October 1, 1989, the state

 

officer formerly known as the director of mental health shall

 

certify in writing to the state legislature and the retirement

 

board, not less than 240 days before the designated official date

 

of closure, which facility or agency is to be closed and the

 

designated official date of closure.

 

     (8) (7) Except as provided in subsection (8) (9), a member who

 

is eligible to receive a retirement allowance under subsection (5)

 

(6) may retire effective on the date that an agency of the

 

department or a department inpatient facility designated for

 

closure as provided in subsection (5) (6) actually closes, upon

 

written application to the retirement board not less than 30 or

 

more than 180 days before the designated official date of closure.

 

Beginning on the retirement allowance effective date, he or she

 


shall receive a retirement allowance computed according to section

 

20(1).

 

     (9) (8) A member who is on layoff status, is not working for

 

the state, and becomes eligible to receive a retirement allowance

 

under subsection (5) (6) and who was an employee of an agency of

 

the department or a department inpatient facility that has been

 

designated for closure as provided in subsection (5) (6) and that

 

actually closes on or after October 1, 1989, may retire upon

 

written application to the retirement board, stating a date upon

 

which he or she wishes to retire. Beginning on the retirement

 

allowance effective date, he or she shall receive a retirement

 

allowance computed according to section 20(1).

 

     (10) (9) Any additional accrued actuarial cost and costs for

 

health insurance resulting from the implementation of subsection

 

(5) (6) shall be funded from appropriations to the department

 

formerly known as the department of mental health for this purpose.

 

     (11) (10) A member who is an employee of the state accident

 

fund on the date of transfer to a permitted transferee as that term

 

is defined by section 701a of the worker's disability compensation

 

act of 1969, 1969 PA 317, MCL 418.701a, may retire if the member's

 

age and his or her length of service is equal to or greater than 70

 

years on the date of transfer. The member may retire upon written

 

application to the retirement board, stating a date, not less than

 

30 or more than 90 days after the execution and filing of the

 

application, on which he or she desires to retire. Beginning on the

 

retirement allowance effective date, he or she shall receive a

 

retirement allowance computed according to section 20(1) without

 


regard to the reduction required by subsection (2).

 

     (12) (11) A member who is an employee of the Michigan biologic

 

products institute on the date the institute is conveyed pursuant

 

to the Michigan biologic products institute transfer act, 1996 PA

 

522, MCL 333.26331 to 333.26340, may retire if the member's age and

 

his or her length of service is equal to or greater than 70 years

 

on the date of the conveyance. The member may retire upon written

 

application to the retirement board, stating a date, not less than

 

30 or more than 90 days after the execution and filing of the

 

application, on which he or she desires to retire. Beginning on the

 

retirement allowance effective date, he or she shall receive a

 

retirement allowance computed according to section 20(1) without

 

regard to the reduction required by subsection (2).

 

     (13) (12) A member who is an employee of the liquor control

 

commission created by section 209 of the Michigan liquor control

 

code of 1998, 1998 PA 5 58, MCL 436.1209, whose employment is

 

terminated due to the privatization of the distribution of spirits

 

within this state is effectuated pursuant to the resolution and

 

order adopted by the liquor control commission on February 7, 1996,

 

a plan adopted pursuant to statute or court order, or a plan

 

adopted pursuant to both statute and order of the liquor control

 

commission may retire if the member's age and his or her length of

 

service is equal to or greater than 70 years on the date the

 

privatization is effectuated. The member may retire under this

 

subsection upon written application to the retirement board,

 

stating a date, not less than 30 or more than 90 days after the

 

execution and filing of the application, on which he or she desires

 


to retire. Beginning on the retirement allowance effective date, he

 

or she shall receive a retirement allowance computed according to

 

section 20(1), without regard to the reduction required by

 

subsection (2). The cost of benefits paid under this section shall

 

be paid out of the revolving fund created under section 221 of the

 

Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1221.

 

     Sec. 20. (1) Upon his or her retirement, as provided for in

 

section 19, 19a, 19b, 19c, or 19d, a member shall receive a

 

retirement allowance equal to the member's number of years and

 

fraction of a year of credited service multiplied by 1-1/2% of his

 

or her final average compensation. For a member who retires on or

 

after October 1, 2009, the member shall receive a retirement

 

allowance equal to the member's number of years and fraction of a

 

year of credited service multiplied by 1-3/4% of his or her final

 

average compensation. The member's retirement allowance is subject

 

to subsection (3). Upon his or her retirement, the member may elect

 

an option provided for in section 31(1).

 

     (2) Pursuant to rules promulgated by the retirement board, a

 

member who retires before becoming 65 years of age may elect to

 

have his or her regular retirement allowance equated on an

 

actuarial basis to provide an increased retirement allowance

 

payable up to his or her attainment of 65 years of age and a

 

reduced retirement allowance payable after his or her attainment of

 

65 years of age. His or her increased retirement allowance payable

 

up to age 65 shall approximately equal the sum of his or her

 

reduced retirement allowance payable after age 65 and his or her

 

estimated social security primary insurance amount. In addition,

 


upon retirement the member may elect an option provided for in

 

section 31(1).

 

     (3) If a retirant dies before receiving payment of his or her

 

retirement allowance in an aggregate amount equal to the retirant's

 

accumulated contributions credited to the retirant in the

 

employees' savings fund at the time of his or her retirement, the

 

difference between his or her accumulated contributions and the

 

amount of retirement allowance received by him or her shall be paid

 

to the person or persons that he or she nominated by written

 

designation executed and filed with the retirement board. If the

 

person or persons do not survive the retirant, then the difference,

 

if any, shall be paid to the retirant's legal representative or

 

estate. Benefits shall not be paid under this subsection on account

 

of the death of the retirant if he or she elected an option

 

provided for in section 31(1).

 

     (4) If a member has 10 or more years of credited service, or

 

has 5 or more years of credited service as an elected officer or in

 

a position in the executive branch or the legislative branch

 

excepted or exempt from the classified state civil service as

 

provided in section 5 of article XI of the state constitution of

 

1963, and is separated from the service of the state for a reason

 

other than retirement or death, he or she shall remain a member

 

during the period of absence from the state service for the

 

exclusive purpose of receiving a retirement allowance provided for

 

in this section. If a former employee of the state accident fund

 

who had 5 or more years of service as an employee of the state

 

accident fund returns to employment with the state before receiving

 


a retirement allowance under this act, the employee shall be

 

required to accumulate 10 or more years of credited service before

 

receiving a retirement allowance under this act. If a former

 

employee of the Michigan biologic products institute who is

 

eligible to and has elected to purchase additional credited service

 

pursuant to section 17l(2) returns to employment with the state

 

before receiving a retirement allowance under this act, the

 

employee shall be required to accumulate 10 or more years of

 

credited service, without regard to the additional credited service

 

purchased pursuant to section 17l(2) but including any credited

 

service authorized under section 16, before receiving a retirement

 

allowance under this act. If the member withdraws all or part of

 

his or her accumulated contributions, he or she ceases to be a

 

member. Upon becoming 60 years of age or older, the member may

 

retire upon his or her written application to the retirement board

 

as provided in section 19(1). If a member elects an option as

 

provided under section 31(4), but dies before the effective date of

 

his or her retirement, the option elected by the member shall be

 

carried out, and the beneficiary of the member is entitled to all

 

advantages due under that option.

 

     (5) A person who is a member after January 1, 1981, who has at

 

least 5 years of credited service, and whose employment with the

 

department formerly known as the department of mental health is

 

terminated by reason of reduction in force related to

 

deinstitutionalization that may or may not result in facility

 

closure, shall remain a member during the period of absence from

 

the state service for the exclusive purpose of receiving a service

 


retirement allowance as provided in this subsection. As used in

 

this subsection, "deinstitutionalization" means planned reduction

 

of state center or hospital beds through placement of individuals

 

from the hospital or facility, or through limiting admissions to

 

centers and hospitals, or both. If a member withdraws all or part

 

of the member's accumulated contributions, the member ceases to be

 

a member. Upon becoming 60 years of age or older, the member may

 

retire upon written application to the retirement board. The

 

application shall specify a date on which the member desires to

 

retire. Upon retirement, the member shall receive a retirement

 

allowance equal to the number of years and fraction of a year of

 

credited state service multiplied by 1-1/2% of the member's final

 

average compensation. Upon retirement, the member may elect an

 

option provided in section 31(1). If the member elects an option

 

provided for in section 31(4), but dies before the effective date

 

of retirement, the option elected by the member shall be carried

 

out, and a beneficiary of the member is entitled to all advantages

 

due under the option.

 

     (6) A retirant or the beneficiary of a retirant who retired

 

before July 1, 1974 shall have his or her retirement allowance

 

recalculated based on the retirant's number of years and fraction

 

of a year of credited service multiplied by 1.5% of his or her

 

final average compensation. The retirant or beneficiary is eligible

 

to receive the recalculated retirement allowance beginning October

 

1, 1987, but is not eligible to receive the adjusted amount

 

attributable to any month beginning before October 1, 1987. The

 

recalculated retirement allowance provided by this subsection shall

 


be paid by January 1, 1988 and shall be the basis on which future

 

adjustments to the allowance, including the supplement provided by

 

section 20h, are calculated. The retirement allowance of a retirant

 

who dies before January 1, 1988, and who did not nominate a

 

retirement allowance beneficiary pursuant to section 31, shall not

 

be recalculated pursuant to this subsection.

 

     (7) Each retirement allowance payable under this act shall

 

date from the first of the month following the month in which the

 

applicant satisfies the age and service or other requirements for

 

receiving the retirement allowance and terminates state service. A

 

full month's retirement allowance is payable for the month in which

 

a retirement allowance ceases.

 

     (8) An employee of the state accident fund who has 5 or more

 

but less than 10 years of credited service as of the effective date

 

of the transfer authorized by section 701a of the worker's

 

disability compensation act of 1969, 1969 PA 317, MCL 418.701a, and

 

who is permitted to receive a retirement allowance under subsection

 

(4) is eligible for health care benefits under section 20d on the

 

date of his or her retirement to the same extent as a member with

 

10 years of credited service who vested on the same date.

 

     (9) An employee of the Michigan biologic products institute

 

who has 5 or more but less than 10 years of credited service as of

 

the effective date of the conveyance authorized by the Michigan

 

biologic products institute transfer act and who is permitted to

 

receive a retirement allowance under subsection (4) is eligible for

 

health care benefits under section 20d on the date of his or her

 

retirement to the same extent as a member with 10 years of credited

 


service who vested on the same date.