HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED Page 1 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Regular Session, 2010 HOUSE BILL NO. 224 BY REPRESENTATIVE PEARSON RETIREMENT BENEFITS: Requires suspension of public retirement benefits during incarceration AN ACT1 To amend and reenact the heading of Subpart L of Part II of Chapter 4 of Subtitle I of Title2 11 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, R.S. 11:570, 951.3, 952.3, 1378,3 1735(A), 1905, 3014, 3051, 3111, 3140, 3198, 3229, 3321(A), 3345, 3389, 3408,4 3440, 3470, 3513, 3608(A), 3691, 3770, 3800, and 3823, and R.S. 13:3881(D)(1) and5 to enact R.S. 11:293, relative to public retirement benefits; to provide relative to6 incarcerated persons who are members, former members, or retirees of public7 retirement systems; to require the suspension of retirement benefits by such persons8 during the period of incarceration; to provide for repayment of benefits already9 received by such persons; to require certain entities to report to public retirement10 systems information pertaining to such persons who are incarcerated; to provide an11 effective date; and to provide for related matters.12 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published13 as provided by Article X, Section 29(C) of the Constitution14 of Louisiana.15 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:16 Section 1. The heading of Subpart L of Part II of Chapter 4 of Subtitle I of Title 1117 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, R.S. 11:570, 951.3, 952.3, 1378, 1735(A), 1905,18 3014, 3051, 3111, 3140, 3198, 3229, 3321(A), 3345, 3389, 3408, 3440, 3470, 3513,19 3608(A), 3691, 3770, 3800, and 3823 are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 11:29320 is hereby enacted to read as follows:21 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 2 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. SUBPART L. APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN COURT ORDERS1 LEGAL DETERMINATIONS2 * * *3 §293. Suspension of retirement benefits; incarceration4 A. As used in this Section, the following words or phrases shall have the5 following meanings:6 (1) "Crime" shall mean a criminal offense committed on or after the effective7 date of this Section pursuant to conviction of a crime.8 (2) "Incarceration" or "incarcerated" shall mean physically incarcerated in9 a correctional facility.10 (3) "Public retirement system" means any state, statewide, or local public11 retirement system, plan, or fund.12 (4) "Public servant" means a public employee or an elected official as13 defined in R.S. 42:1102, whether a member, former member, or retiree under the14 provisions of any public retirement system.15 B. No monthly retirement benefit or lump-sum payment of any kind shall be16 payable by a public retirement system to a public servant for any period of time17 during which he is incarcerated.18 C.(1) A parish prosecutor shall inform, in writing, the secretary of the19 Department of Public Safety and Corrections, or the sheriff if incarceration is in a20 parish jail, when a conviction for a crime is entered against a person whom the21 prosecutor knows or has reason to believe is a member of a public retirement system22 and has been sentenced to incarceration under the supervision of the secretary or23 sheriff. The secretary or sheriff shall compile such information and transmit it to the24 appropriate public retirement system. The board of trustees of the retirement system25 shall determine if such conviction and incarceration pursuant thereto applies to any26 of its members, former members, or retirees.27 (2) The secretary of state, upon being notified by a United States attorney of28 a conviction for a federal crime, shall promptly transmit electronically to each public29 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 3 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. retirement system information pertaining to such conviction if such conviction1 resulted in incarceration. The board of trustees of the retirement system shall2 determine if such conviction and incarceration pursuant thereto applies to any of its3 members, former members, or retirees.4 (3) Upon a determination by the board of trustees of a public retirement5 system that a conviction for a crime and incarceration pursuant thereto applies to one6 of its members, former members, or retirees, the system shall suspend such person's7 monthly benefit for each full month of his incarceration period beginning with the8 first day of the first full month of his incarceration. Additionally, any lump-sum9 payments otherwise payable to such person shall not be payable during his10 incarceration period. Upon release of such person from incarceration he may apply11 to have his monthly benefits or his right to any lump-sum payment resumed.12 Monthly payments shall be payable beginning with the first day of the first full13 month following receipt and approval of his application by the retirement system.14 D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B of this Section, an15 incarcerated public servant whose spouse or children are his designated beneficiaries,16 made pursuant to an optional allowance, shall be considered deceased for purposes17 of his retirement benefits, and the amount payable to his spouse or children were he18 deceased shall be payable during the period of his incarceration based upon the19 option selected at the time of retirement, but in no case shall the amount payable to20 the spouse or children exceed the benefit that would be payable to the public servant.21 Upon release of the public servant from incarceration, he may apply to have his22 monthly benefits resumed. Monthly benefits shall be payable beginning with the23 first day of the first full month following receipt of his application. If the benefit24 payable to his spouse or children upon his death would be the balance of the present25 value of his annuity and the beneficiary spouse or children elect to have such balance26 payable to them, the payment of such balance shall discharge the system of all27 liability to the public servant.28 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 4 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. E. Any person subject to suspension of retirement benefits under this Section1 who has received retirement benefits in excess of the benefits permitted in2 Subsection B of this Section shall repay the retirement system the amount of the3 excess benefits plus interest. If such person fails to pay back such amount, the4 system may bring an action in civil court to recover such amount plus court costs and5 legal interest from the date of suspension.6 E. The provisions of Subsection B of this Section shall not apply to any7 defined contribution plan.8 G. The provisions of this Section shall supersede any provision of law9 exempting public retirement benefits from garnishment, attachment, seizure, or other10 process.11 H. In the event of an acquittal or final discharge without conviction of any12 public servant to whom this Section applies, or in the event that such person obtains13 a final judgment overturning his conviction, the system shall repay to such person14 all benefits previously suspended in the form of a one-time lump-sum amount.15 * * *16 §570. Exemption from execution17 Any annuity, retirement allowance or benefit, or refund of contributions, or18 any optional benefit or any other benefit paid or payable to any person under the19 provisions of this Subpart is exempt from state or municipal tax, and is exempt from20 levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever, except as21 provided in R.S. 11:293, and is unassignable.22 * * *23 §951.3. Pensions, benefits, etc., exemption from seizure24 The right of a person to a pension, an annuity, or a retirement allowance, to25 the return of contributions, the pension, annuity, or retirement allowance itself, or26 any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this Part27 and the money in the various accounts created by this Part shall not be subject to28 execution, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever , except as29 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 5 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. provided in R.S. 11:293, and shall be unassignable except as specifically provided1 for in this Part.2 * * *3 §952.3. Exemption of pension and other rights from levy and other processes4 The right of a person to a retirement allowance, or to the return of5 contributions; the retirement allowance itself; any optional benefit or any other right6 accrued or accruing to any person under the provisions of this Part; and the moneys7 monies in the funds created by this Part are exempt from any state or municipal tax,8 and exempt from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process9 whatsoever, except as provided in R.S. 11:293, and shall be unassignable except as10 otherwise specifically provided in this Part.11 * * *12 §1378. Retirement pay or pension; exemption from taxes and execution13 Any retirement pay or pension paid to any judge or the surviving spouse of14 any judge under the unfunded judicial retirement plan is exempt from any state or15 municipal income tax, and is exempt from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment,16 or any other process whatsoever, except as provided in R.S. 11:293.17 * * *18 §1735. Exemption from execution19 A. The following items are hereby exempt from any state or municipal tax20 and from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever21 as provided in this Chapter, except as provided in R.S. 11:292 and 293: the right of22 a person to a pension, an annuity, or a retirement allowance, or to the return of23 contributions, the pension, annuity, or retirement allowance itself, any optional24 benefit or any other right accrued or accruing to any person, and the moneys monies25 in various funds created by this Chapter. These enumerated items shall be26 unassignable, except as in this Chapter specifically otherwise provided. Benefits27 paid under this Chapter shall be exempt from state income tax. If the contributions28 of an employee are paid by a municipality in order to secure credit for back service,29 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 6 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. these funds may be assigned to the municipality until such time as the employee has1 repaid contributions so paid or the municipality has released the contributions so2 paid by written notice to the board of trustees of the Municipal Employees'3 Retirement System.4 * * *5 §1905. Exemption from execution6 The following items are hereby exempt from any state or municipal tax and7 from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever as8 provided in this Chapter, except as provided in R.S. 42:720.21: 11:293: the right of9 a person to a pension, an annuity, or a retirement allowance, or to the return of10 contributions, the pension, annuity, or retirement allowance itself, any optional11 benefit or any other right accrued or accruing to any person, and the moneys monies12 in various funds created by this Chapter. These enumerated items shall be13 unassignable, except as in this Chapter specifically otherwise provided. Benefits14 paid under this Chapter shall be exempt from state income tax. If the contributions15 of an employee are paid by an employer in order to secure credit for service, these16 funds may be assigned to the employer until such time as the employee has repaid17 contributions so paid or the employer has released the contributions so paid by18 written notice to the board.19 * * *20 §3014. Exemptions from execution21 The right of a person to an annuity, a retirement allowance, or benefit, or to22 the return of contributions, or to any optional benefit or any other right accrued or23 accruing to any person under the provisions of this Part, and the monies in the system24 created by this Part, is are hereby exempt from any state or municipal tax, and25 exempt from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process26 whatsoever, except as provided in R.S. 11:293, and shall be unassignable except as27 in this Part specifically otherwise provided.28 * * *29 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 7 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. §3051. Assignment prohibited1 The right of a person to an annuity, a pension or any other benefit or refund,2 or any right accrued or accruing to any member or beneficiary under the provisions3 of this system, and the monies belonging to the system, shall be unassignable and4 shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, the operation of5 bankruptcy, or the insolvency law or any other process of law except as specifically6 provided by the provisions of this system and in R.S. 11:293, and except that the City7 city shall have the right to set off funds for any claim arising from embezzlement by8 or fraud of a member.9 * * *10 §3111. Exemption from seizure and attachment11 No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the said Firemen's12 Pension and Relief Fund shall, before or after its order for distribution is issued by13 the said Board of Trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto under the14 provisions of this Part, be held, seized, or levied upon, by virtue of any attachment,15 garnishment, execution, or order or decree, or any other process whatsoever, issued16 out of or by any court, for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any17 debt, damage, claim, judgment, or decree against any beneficiary of such Fund; but18 shall be exempt therefrom. That the said The Fund fund shall be kept, held, and19 distributed for no purposes other than those provided for in this Part.20 * * *21 §3140. Exemption from seizure and attachment22 No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the Firemen's Pension23 and Relief Fund shall, before or after its order for distribution is issued by the board24 of trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto under the provisions of this Part,25 be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon, by virtue of any26 attachment, garnishment, execution, injunction, writ, order, decree, or any other27 process whatsoever, issued out of or by any court of this state, for the payment or28 satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, damage, demand, claim, judgment, or29 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 8 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. decree against any beneficiary of such Fund fund but shall be exempt therefrom.1 The Fund fund shall be kept, held, and distributed solely for the purposes named in2 this Part and for no other purposes whatsoever.3 * * *4 §3198. Exemption from seizure and attachment5 That Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the said Firemen's6 Pension and Relief Fund shall, before or after its order for distribution is issued by7 the said board of trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto under the8 provisions of this Part, be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon,9 by virtue of any attachment, garnishment, execution, injunction, writ, order, decree,10 or any other process whatsoever, issued out of or by any court of this state, for the11 payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, for any debt, damage, demand, claim,12 judgment, or decree, against any beneficiary of such fund but shall be exempt13 therefrom. That said The fund shall be sacredly kept, held, and distributed for the14 purposes named in this Part, and for no other purposes whatsoever.15 * * *16 §3229. Exemption from seizure and attachment17 No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the Firemen's Pension18 and Relief Fund shall, before or after its order for distribution is issued by the board19 of trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto under the provisions of this Part,20 be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon, by virtue of any21 attachment, garnishment, execution, injunction, writ, order, decree, or any other22 process whatsoever, issued out of or by any court of this state, for the payment or23 satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debts, damage, demand, claim, judgment, or24 decree against any beneficiary of such fund, but shall be exempt therefrom. The25 fund shall be kept, held, and distributed solely for the purposes named in this Part26 and for no other purposes whatsoever.27 * * *28 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 9 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. §3321. Exemption from seizure and attachment1 A. No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the Firemen's2 Pension and Relief Fund shall, before or after any order for distribution is issued by3 the said board of directors to the person or persons entitled thereto under the4 provisions of this Part, be held, seized, or levied upon, by virtue of any attachment,5 garnishment, execution, or order or decree, or any other process whatsoever issued6 out of, or by any court, for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any7 debt, damage, claim, judgment, or decree against any beneficiary of said fund but8 shall be exempt therefrom. That the said The fund shall be kept, held, and9 distributed for no purpose other than those provided for in this Part.10 * * *11 §3345. Exemption from seizure12 No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the pension fund shall,13 before or after its order for distribution is issued by the board of trustees to the14 person or persons entitled thereto under the provisions of this Part, be held, seized,15 taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon by virtue of any attachment,16 garnishment, execution, writ, order, injunction, decree, or any other process17 whatsoever, issued out of or by any court of the state of Louisiana, for the payment,18 or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, claim, damage, demand, judgment,19 or any other decree against any beneficiary of this fund, but shall be exempt20 therefrom.21 * * *22 §3389. Exemption of pension and other rights from levy and other process23 The right of a person to a pension, an annuity, a retirement allowance, or to24 the return of contributions; the pension, annuity, or retirement allowance itself; any25 optional benefit or any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the26 provisions of this Part; and the moneys monies in the various funds created by this27 Part are exempt from any state or municipal tax, and all state income tax, and exempt28 from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever,29 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 10 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. except as provided in R.S. 11:293, and shall be unassignable except as otherwise1 specifically provided in this Part. The fund shall be sacredly held, kept, and secured2 and distributed for the purpose of pensioning the persons named in this Part and for3 the payment of death benefits and for no other purpose whatsoever.4 * * *5 §3408. Exemption from seizure and attachment6 No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the fireman's pension7 and relief fund Firemen's Pension and Relief Fund, before or after its order for8 distribution is issued by the board of trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto9 under the provisions of this Part, shall be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained,10 or levied upon, by virtue of any attachment, garnishment, execution, injunction, writ,11 order, decree, or any other process whatsoever, issued out of or by any court of this12 state, for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, damage,13 demand, claim, judgment, or decree against any beneficiary of such fund, but shall14 be exempt therefrom. The fund shall be kept, held, and distributed solely for the15 purposes named in this Part and for no other purposes whatsoever.16 * * *17 §3440. Exemption from seizure and attachment18 No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the said Firemen's19 Pension and Relief Fund shall, before or after its order for distribution is issued by20 the said Board of Trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto under the21 provisions of this Part, be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon,22 by virtue of any attachment, garnishment, execution, injunction, writ, order, decree,23 or any other process whatsoever, issued out of or by any court of this state, for the24 payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, damage, demand, claim,25 judgment, or decree, against any beneficiary of such fund ;, but shall be exempt26 therefrom. The Fund fund shall be sacredly kept, held, and distributed for the27 purposes named in this Part and for no other purposes whatsoever.28 * * *29 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 11 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. §3470. Exemption from seizure and attachment1 That Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the said Firemen's2 Pension and Relief Fund shall, before or after its order for distribution is issued by3 the said board of trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto under the4 provisions of this Part, be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon,5 by virtue of any attachment, garnishment, execution, injunction, writ, order, decree,6 or any other process whatsoever, issued out of or by any court of this state, for the7 payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, damage, demand, claim,8 judgment, or decree against any beneficiary of such fund;, but shall be exempt9 therefrom. That said The fund shall be sacredly kept, held, and distributed for the10 purposes named in this Part, and for no other purposes whatsoever.11 * * *12 §3513. Fund not subject to execution13 The Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, the fund, or any portion thereof,14 before or after an order for its distribution is issued, shall be exempt from assignment15 or pledge by a beneficiary of the fund or from seizure by virtue of any judicial16 process issued against the beneficiary.17 * * *18 §3608. Attachment of fund; exemption from state income tax19 A. No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the fund shall, before20 or after the order for distribution is issued by the board of directors to the person or21 persons entitled thereto under the provisions of this Subpart, be held, seized, or22 levied upon, by virtue of any attachment, garnishment, execution, or order or decree,23 or any other process whatsoever, issued out of, or by, any court, for the payment or24 satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, damage, claim, judgment, or decree25 against any beneficiary of such fund, but shall be exempt therefrom. The fund shall26 be kept, held, and distributed for no purpose other than those provided for in this27 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 12 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Subpart. No present or future revision or amendments to the fund shall have the1 effect of reducing any benefit now in existence.2 * * *3 §3691. Exemption from execution4 The right of a person to a pension, an annuity, or a retirement allowance, to5 the return of contributions, the pension, annuity, or retirement allowance itself, any6 optional benefit or any other right accrued or accruing to any person under the7 provisions of this Subpart, and the moneys monies in the various funds created by8 this Subpart, are hereby exempt from any state or municipal tax, and exempt from9 levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever, except as10 provided in R.S. 11:293, and shall be unassignable except as in this Subpart11 specifically otherwise provided.12 * * *13 §3770. Exemption from seizure and attachment14 No Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the said Bus Drivers'15 Pension and Relief Fund shall, before or after its order for distribution is issued by16 the said Board of Trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto under the17 provisions of this Part, be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied upon18 by virtue of any attachment, garnishment, execution, injunction, writ, order, decree,19 of or any other process whatsoever, issued out of or by any Court court of this State20 state for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, damage,21 demand, claim, judgment, or decree, against any beneficiary of such fund, but shall22 be exempt therefrom. That said The Fund fund shall be sacredly kept, held, and23 distributed for the purposes named in this Part, and for no other purposes24 whatsoever.25 * * *26 §3800. Exemption from seizure and attachment27 That no Except as provided in R.S. 11:293, no portion of the said Electrical28 Workers' Pension and Relief Fund shall, before or after its order for distribution is29 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 13 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. issued by the said Board of Trustees to the person or persons entitled thereto under1 the provisions of this Part, be held, seized, taken, subjected to, detained, or levied2 upon by virtue of any attachment, garnishment, execution, injunction, writ, order,3 decree, or any other process whatsoever, issued out of, or by, any Court court of this4 State state for the payment or satisfaction, in whole or in part, of any debt, damage,5 demand, claim, judgment, or decree, against any beneficiary of such Fund, but shall6 be exempt therefrom. That said The Fund fund shall be sacredly kept, held, and7 distributed for the purposes named in this Part, and for no other purposes8 whatsoever.9 * * *10 §3823. Exemption from execution11 The right of a person to a pension, an annuity, or a retirement allowance or12 benefit;, or to the return of contributions,; the pension, annuity, or retirement13 allowance itself; to any optional benefit; or any other right accrued or accruing to any14 person under the provisions of this Part or to any person with such rights in the15 Employees' Retirement System of the city of New Orleans are is exempt from any16 state or municipal tax and, are except as provided in R.S. 11:293, exempt from levy17 and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever.18 Section 2. R.S. 13:3881(D)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:19 §3881. General exemptions from seizure20 * * *21 D.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection and in R.S.22 11:293, the following shall be exempt from all liability for any debt except alimony23 and child support: all pensions, all tax-deferred arrangements, annuity contracts, and24 all proceeds of and payments under all tax-deferred arrangements and annuity25 contracts, as defined in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.26 * * *27 HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 14 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Section 3. This Act shall take effect and become operative if and when the proposed1 amendment of Article X of the Constitution of Louisiana contained in the Act which2 originated as House Bill No. 228 of this 2010 Regular Session of the Legislature is adopted3 at the statewide election to be held in 2010 and becomes effective.4 DIGEST The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] Pearson HB No. 224 Abstract: Provides for the suspension of public retirement benefits by any public servant while incarcerated as a result of a crime committed on or after the effective date of proposed law. Proposed law requires the suspension of retirement benefits to any public servant while incarcerated as a result of a crime committed on or after the effective date of proposed law. Requires such person to pay back any funds to the retirement system that he has received in excess of what proposed law allows. Proposed law provides that such public servant shall be considered dead for purposes of retirement benefits; during the incarceration period, his spouse or children shall receive any amounts that they would be entitled to had the public servant died, pursuant to the optional allowance he selected at retirement. Proposed law provides that a parish prosecutor shall inform the secretary of DPS&C or the parish sheriff in writing when a conviction has been obtained against a person to whom proposed law may apply. The secretary or sheriff shall then report this information to the appropriate retirement system. Relative to convictions for federal felonies, requires the secretary of state to report information to the retirement system regarding any federal convictions upon which he receives notice from the U.S. attorney for any federal crime resulting in incarceration of a public servant. The retirement system shall determine if any of its members or retirees are the subject of such incarceration and whether proposed law is applicable. The benefit paid to the wife and children of an incarcerated public servant shall not be more than the benefit that the public servant would have received. Proposed law does not apply to any defined contribution plan. Proposed law provides that in the event of an acquittal or discharge without conviction of the public servant, or in the event that his conviction is overturned, the system shall pay back all benefits to the public servant that were suspended during his incarceration. Various provisions of present law specific to particular public retirement or pension systems, plans, or funds provide that any annuity, retirement allowance or benefit, or refund of contributions, or any optional benefit or any other benefit paid or payable to any person under the provisions of present law is exempt from any state or municipal tax and is exempt from levy and sale, garnishment, attachment, or any other process whatsoever and is unassignable. Proposed law is an exception to such provisions. HLS 10RS-356 ENGROSSED HB NO. 224 Page 15 of 15 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored are additions. Effective if and when the proposed amendment of Art. X of the Constitution of La. contained in the Act which originated as HB 228 of the 2010 R.S. is adopted at the statewide election and becomes effective. (Amends the heading of Subpart L of Part II of Chapter 4 of Subtitle I of Title 11 of the L.R.S. of 1950, R.S. 11:570, 951.3, 952.3, 1378, 1735(A), 1905, 3014, 3051, 3111, 3140, 3198, 3229, 3321(A), 3345, 3389, 3408, 3440, 3470, 3513, 3608(A), 3691, 3770, 3800, and 3823, and R.S. 13:3881(D)(1); Adds R.S. 11:293) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Retirement to the original bill. 1. Clarified that when a public servant is incarcerated and therefore benefits are paid as if he were dead, for purposes of paying benefits to his spouse and children, the benefit payout to such spouse and children shall be pursuant to the optional allowance he chose at retirement. 2. Clarified that the benefit paid to the wife and children of an incarcerated public servant shall not be more than the benefit that the retiree would have received. 3. Added provision that in the event of an acquittal or discharge without conviction of the public servant, or in the event that his conviction is overturned, the system shall pay back all benefits to the public servant that were suspended during his incarceration.