SB 94

Bill Subjects

Firefighters; Firefighters' Pensions And Benefits Governor Indiana Public Retirement System (Formerly Perf) Judges Pensions Prosecuting Attorneys

Abstract

Provides that the Indiana public retirement system (INPRS) shall pay the governors' retirement and surviving spouse pensions from the public employees' retirement fund (PERF). (Current law makes the auditor of state responsible for the payments.) Modifies provisions related to the pension entitlement for the surviving spouse of a governor. Changes the definition of "retired participant" in the retirement medical benefits account statute. Eliminates the requirement that INPRS shall make an actuarial valuation of the assets and liabilities of the retiree health benefit trust fund at least every two years and instead requires INPRS each year to report the assets and liabilities of the retiree health benefit trust fund and make recommendations for employer contribution amounts. Provides that if an individual becomes a participant in the public employees' defined contribution plan with respect to the individual's service as a volunteer firefighter, the individual does not earn creditable service in the fund for service with a volunteer fire department. Provides that interest shall be credited to the account of each participant in the prosecuting attorneys' retirement fund at least annually. Specifies the repayment conditions that apply if a participant of the judges' retirement system or a fund member of the 1977 police officers' and firefighters' pension and disability fund withdraws from the respective fund and again becomes a participant or member of the respective fund at a later date. For purposes of the PERF and state teachers' retirement fund: (1) adds survivors and beneficiaries to provisions related to recouping, stopping, or terminating benefits; (2) provides that if an overpayment occurs, the board may not require a member, survivor, or beneficiary to pay more than 25% of their monthly benefit toward the overpayment; and (3) provides that if an overpayment began before July 1, 2015 and was caused by no fault of the member, survivor, or beneficiary, the board may only require a member, survivor, or beneficiary to pay the amount of the overpayment of benefits received during the six years before the date INPRS discovers the overpayment and attempts to provide notice of the overpayment. Provides that the budget agency may transfer appropriations from federal or dedicated funds to the retiree health benefit trust fund. (The introduced version of this bill was prepared by the interim study committee on pension management oversight.)