RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022) COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 2745 By: Ford COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE An Act relating to public retirement systems; amending 62 O.S. 2021, Section 3103, which relates to the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act; modifying definition; amending 11 O.S. 2021, Section 50-115, which relates to disability benefit computations; modifying computation of certain disability benefit; providing for use of certain compensation amount in determining disability benefit; and providing effective date s. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLA HOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 62 O.S. 2021, Section 3103, is amended to read as follows: Section 3103. As used in the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actuarial Analysis Act: 1. "Amendment" means any amendment, inc luding a substitute bill, made to a retirement bill by any commi ttee of the House or Senate, any conference committee of the House or Senate or by the House or Senate; RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. "RB number" means that number preceded by the let ters "RB" assigned to a retirement bill by the respective staffs of the Oklahoma State Senate and the Oklahoma House of Representatives when the respective staff office prepares a retirement bill for a member of the Legislature; 3. "Legislative Actuary" means the firm or entity that enters into a contract with t he Legislative Service Bureau pursuant to Section 452.15 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes to provide the actuarial services and other duties provided for in the Oklahoma Pension Legislation Actu arial Analysis Act; 4. "Nonfiscal amendment" means an amendment to a retirement bill having a fiscal impact, which amendment does not change any factor of an actuarial investigation specified in subsection A of Section 3109 of this title; 5. "Nonfiscal retirement bill" means a retirement bill: a. which does not affect the cost or funding factors of a retirement system, b. which affects such factors only in a manner which does not: (1) grant a benefit increase under the retirement system affected by the bi ll, (2) create an actuarial accrued liability for or increase the actuarial accrued liab ility of the retirement system affected by the bill, or RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (3) increase the normal cost of the retirement system affected by the bill, c. which authorizes the purchase by an active member of the retirement system, at the actua rial cost for the purchase as computed pursuant to the statute in effect on the effective date of the measure allowing such purchase, of years of service for purposes of reaching a normal retirement da te in the applicable retirement system, but which canno t be used in order to compute the number of years o f service for purposes of computing the retirement benefit for the member, d. which provides for the computation of a service - connected disability ret irement benefit for members of the Oklahoma Law Enforce ment Retirement System pursuant to Section 2-305 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes if the members were unable to complete twenty (20) years of service as a result of the disability, e. which requires membership in the defined benefit plan authorized by Section 901 et seq. of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes for persons whose first elected or appointed service occurs on or after November 1, 2018, if such persons had any prior service in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System prior to November 1, 2015, RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 f. which provides for a one-time increase in retirement benefits if the increase in retirement benefits is not a permanent increase in the gross annual retirement benefit payable to a member or beneficiary, occurs only once pursuant to a single statutory authorization and does not exceed: (1) the lesser of two percent (2%) of the gross annual retirement benefit of the member or One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and requires that the benefit may only be provided if the funded ratio of the affected retirement system would not be less than sixty percent (60%) but not greater than eighty percent (80%) after the benefit increase is paid, (2) the lesser of two percent (2%) of the gross annual retirement benefit of the member or One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($1,200.00) and requires that the benefit may on ly be provided if the funded ratio of the affected retirement system would be greater than eighty percent (80%) but not greater than one hundred perce nt (100%) after the benefit increas e is paid, (3) the lesser of two percent (2%) of the gross annual retirement benefit of the member or One RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($1,400.00) and requires that the benefit may only be provided if the funded ratio of the affected retirement system would be greater than one hundred percent (100%) after the benefit increas e is paid, or (4) the greater of two percent (2%) of the gross annual retirement benefit of the volunteer firefighter or One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for persons who retired from the O klahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System as volunteer firefighters and who did not retire from the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System as a paid firefighter. As used in this subparagraph, "funded ratio" means the figure derived by dividing the actuarial value of assets of the applicable retirement sy stem by the actuarial accrued liability of the applicable retirement system, g. which modifies the disability pension standard for police officers who are members of the Oklahoma Polic e Pension and Retirement System as provi ded by Section 3 of this act, or RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 h. which provides a cost-of-living benefit increase pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2 through 7 of this act: (1) Section 49-143.7 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes, (2) Section 50-136.9 of Title 11 of the Okl ahoma Statutes, (3) Section 1104K of Title 20 of the Oklahoma Statutes, (4) Section 2-305.12 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, (5) Section 17-116.22 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or (6) Section 930.11 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. A nonfiscal retirement bill shall include any retirement bill that has as its sole purpose the appropriation or distribution or redistribution of monies in some manner to a retirement system for purposes of reducing the unfunded liability of such system or the earmarking of a portion of the revenue from a tax to a retirement system or increasing the percentage of the revenue earmarked from a tax to a retirement system; 6. "Reduction-in-cost amendment" means an amendment to a retirement bill having a fiscal impact which reduces the cost of the RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 bill as such cost is determined by the ac tuarial investigation for the bill prepared pursuant to Section 3109 of this title; 7. "Retirement bill" means any bill or joint resolution introduced or any bill or joint resolution amended by a member of the Oklahoma Legislature which creates or amends any law directly affecting a retirement system. A retirement bill shall not mean a bill or resolution that impacts the revenue of any state tax in which a portion of the revenue generated from such tax is earmarked for the benefit of a retirement system; 8. "Retirement bill having a fiscal impact" means any retirement bill creating or establishing a retirement system and any other retirement bill other than a nonfiscal retirement bill; and 9. "Retirement system" means the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, the Uniform Retirement System for Just ices and Judges, the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, or a retirement system established after January 1, 2006. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 11 O.S. 2021, Section 50-115, is amended to read as follows: Section 50-115. A. The State Board is authorized to pay a disability benefit to a mem ber of the System or a pension to the beneficiaries of such member eligible as hereinafter provided, not RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 exceeding the accrued retirement benefit of the member, except as otherwise provided in this article. Such disability benefit shall be payable immediately upon determination of eligibility. Any preexisting condition identified at the time of any init ial or subsequent membership shall be used to offset the percentage of impairment to the whole person in determining any disability benefit. Once the init ial disability benefit has been awarded by the Board on the basis of the percentage of impairment to the whole person, the member shall have no further recourse to increase the awarded percentage of impairment. B. In order for any member to be eligible fo r any disability benefit, or the member's beneficiaries to be eligible for a pension, the member must have complied with any agreement as to contributions by the member and other members to any funds of the System where said agreement has been made as prov ided by this article; and the State Board must find: 1. That the member incurred a permanent total d isability or a permanent partial disability or died while in, and in consequence of, the performance of duty as an officer; or 2. That such member has ser ved ten (10) years and incurred a permanent total disability or a permanent partial disability or has died from any cause. RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 C. In the event of the death of any member who has been awarded a disability benefit or is eligible therefor as provided in this article, the member's beneficiary shall be paid the benefit. D. 1. As of the date of determination by the State Board that a member is physically or mentally disabled and that the disability is permanent and partial or permanent and total as was incurred while in, and in consequence of, the performance or duty as an officer, the member shall be awarded a d isability benefit on the basis of the percentage of impairment to the whole person, as defined by the most current standards of the impairment as outlined in the "American Medical Association's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment ", as provided in the following table or as prescribed by paragraph 2 of this subsection with respect to injuries sustained as a result of a violent act: 1% to 49% impairment to whole person = 50% of the normal disability benefit 50% to 74% impairment to whole person = 75% of the normal disability benefit 75% to 100% impairment to whole person = 100% of the normal disability benefit. 2. If an injury to a member results from a violent act as defined by this paragraph while in the performance of his or her duties as a police officer, the State Board shall make a determination that the member has sustained a one -hundred-percent RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 disability and shall make the benefit award i n accordance with that standard. As used in this paragraph, "violent act" means a violent attack upon the member by means of a dangerous weapon, including, but not limited to, a firearm, knife, automobile, explosive device or other dangerous weapon. In computing the disability benefit as provided by this paragraph, the System shall use the compensation paid to the highest paid nonsupervisory patrol officer in the employment of the municipality which employs the member who becomes disabled according to the standard prescribed by this paragraph or a one hundred percent (100%) disability based on the member 's final average salary whichever computation results in the highest benefit . E. If the participating municipality denies a disabled member the option of continuing employment instead of retiring on a disability pension, then the burden of proof rests wit h the participating municipality to show cause to the State Board that there is no position as a sworn officer within the police department of that municipality which the member can fill. F. Upon determination by the State Board that a member is physically or mentally disabled and that the disability is permanent and total and that the member has completed ten (10) years of credited service and is disabled by any cause, the member shall receive a disability benefit on the basis of the member 's accrued retirement benefit. A permanent and total impairment equates to one hundred percent (100%) of accrued retirement benefit. RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 G. Upon determination by the State Board that a member is physically or mentally disabled and that the disability is permanent and partial and that the member has completed ten (10) years of credited service as a member and is disabled from any cause, the member shall be awarded a disabilit y benefit on the basis of the member's years of credited service as a member and the percentage of impairment to the whole person, as defined by the most current standards of the impairment as outlined in the "American Medical Association's Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment", on the basis of the following table: 1% to 24% impaired = 25% of accrued retirement benefit 25% to 49% impaired = 50% of accrued retirement benefit 50% to 74% impaired = 75% of accrued retirement benefit 75% to 99% impaired = 90% of accrued retirement benefit. H. Before making a finding as to the disability of a me mber, the State Board shall require that, if the member is able, the member shall make a certificate as to the disability which shall be subscribed and sworn to by the member. It shall also require a certificate as to such disability to be made by some ph ysician licensed to practice in this state as selected by the State Board. The State Board may require other evidence of disability before making the disability benefit. The salary of any such member shall continue while the member is so necessarily conf ined to such hospital bed or home and necessarily requires medical care or RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 professional nursing on account of such sickness or disability for a period of not more than six (6) months, after which said period the other provisions of this article may apply. The State Board, in making disability benefits, shall act upon the written request of the member or without such request, if it deem it for the good of the police department. Any disability benefits shall cease when the member receiving same shall be res tored to active service at a salary not less than three -fourths (3/4) of the member 's average monthly salary. I. Any member of a police department of any municipality who, in the line of duty, has been exposed to hazardous substances, including but not li mited to chemicals used in the manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance or chemicals resulting from the manufacture of a controlled dangerous substa nce, or to blood-borne pathogens and who is later disabled from a condition that was the result of such exposure and that was not revealed by the physical examination passed by the member upon entry into the System shall be presumed to have incurred such d isability while performing the officer's duties unless the contrary is shown by competent evidence. The presumption created by this subsection shall have no application whatever to any workers ' compensation claim or claims, and it shall not be applied or be relied upon in any way in workers' compensation proceedings. All compensation or benefits due to any member RBH No. 10791 Req. No. 10791 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 pursuant to the presumption created by this subsection shall be paid solely by the system. J. If the requirements of Section 50 -114.4 of this title are satisfied, a member who, by reason of disability, is separated from service as a public safe ty officer with the member 's participating municipality, may elect to have payment made directly to the provider for qualified health insurance premiums by deduction from his or her monthly disability benefit, after December 31, 2006, in accordance with Section 402(l) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act shall become effective October 1, 2022. SECTION 4. Section 2 of this act shall become effective November 1, 2022. 58-2-10791 MAH 02/28/22