RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 ENGROSSED HOUSE AMENDME NT TO ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO . 448 By: Montgomery of the Senate and Lepak of the House An Act relating to retirement benefits payment; amending 20 O.S. 2021, Section 110 2C, which relates to payment to members of the Un iform Retirement System for Justices and Judges; conforming language; amending 74 O.S. 2021, Section 918, which rela tes to payment to members of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System; conforming language; and providing an effective date. AMENDMENT NO. 1. Strike the title, enacting clause, and entire bill and insert: "An Act relating to retirement benefits payment; amending 20 O.S. 2021, Section 110 2C, which relates to the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges; conforming language; providing that spousal consent is not required for certain election; amending 74 O.S. 2021, Sections 918 and 935.7, which relate to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System; conforming language; providing that spousal consent is not required for certain election; authorizing that certain contributions be used as permitted by federal l aw; and providing an effective date. RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 1102C, is amended to read as follows: Section 1102C. A. Except as otherwi se provided for in this section and Section 1104.2 of this title, members who join the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges on September 1, 2005, or thereafter, may elect to have the retirement benefit paid under one of the options provided in this section in lieu of having it paid in the form stated in Section 1104 of this title. The election of an option must be made prior to the member ’s retirement date or to receipt of a benefit after termination of service with a vested benefit. A specif ic person must be designated as joint annuitant at the time of the election of Option A or B. Election of an option is available with respect to the vested benefit. All retirement benefits of a married member shall be paid pursuant to the Option A plan or Option B plan as provided for in this section unless the spouse of a member consents in writing for the unreduced benefits to be paid as provided for in S ection 1104 of this t itle. The spouse of the member is not required to consent in writing to the election of the Option B plan by the member. B. The amount of retirement benefit payable under an option shall be based on the age and sex of the member and the age and sex of the joint annuitant at the reti rement date, and sha ll be such RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 amount as to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement benefit otherwise payable under Section 1104 of this title. C. The retirement options are: Option A. Joint and one -half to joint annuit ant survivor. A reduced retirement benefit is pa yable to the retiree during h is or her lifetime with one-half (1/2) of that amount continued to the joint annuitant during such joint annuitant’s remaining lifetime, if any, after the death of the retiree. If the named joint annuitant dies at any time aft er the member’s retirement date, but before the death of the retiree, the retiree shall return to the unreduced retirement benefit, including any postretirement post-retirement benefit increases, the member would have received had the member not selected Option A. The benefit shall be det ermined at the date of death of the named joint annuitant. This increase shall become effective the first day of the month following the date of death of the named joint annuitant, and shall be payable for the retiree ’s remaining lifetime. The retiree sh all notify the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges of the death of the named joint annuitant in writing. In the absence of the written no tice being filed by the member notifying the Uniform Retirement Sy stem for Justices and Judges of the de ath of the named joint annuitant within six (6) months of the date of death, nothing in this subsection shall require the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges to pay more than six (6) months of retrospecti ve benefits increase. RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 Option B. Joint and survivor. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during his or her lifetime with that amount continued to the joint annuitant duri ng the joint annuitan t’s remaining lifetime, if any, after the dea th of the retiree. If the named joint annuitant dies at any time after the member’s retirement date, but before the death of the retiree, the retiree shall return to the unreduced retiremen t benefit, including any postretirement post-retirement benefit increases, the member would have receive d had the member not selected Option B. The benefit shall be determined at the date of death of the named joint annuitant. This increase shall become effective the first d ay of the month following the date of death of th e named joint annuitant, and shall be payable for the retiree’s remaining lifetime. The retiree shall notify the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges of the death of the named joint annuitant i n writing. In the absence of such written notice being filed by the member notifyi ng the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges of the death of the named joint annuitant within six (6) months of the date of death, nothing in this subsection sha ll require the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges to pay more than s ix (6) months of retrospective benefits increase. D. If a member who is eligible to retire in accordance with the provisions of this section or Section 1104 of this title b ut is not actually retired or is eligible to vest or has elected a vested RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 benefit dies, the member’s spouse may elect to receive benefits as a joint annuitant under Option B, calculated as if the member retired on the date of death, in lieu of receiving th e member’s accumulated contributions. However, n o benefits shall be payable before the date the deceased member would have met the requirements for a normal or early retirement. The provisions of this paragraph shall be applicable to a surviving spouse o f a deceased member who died prior to the effective date of this act September 1, 2005, but only if no benefits or distributions have been previously paid. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 918, is amended to read as fol lows: Section 918. (1) Except as otherwise prov ided for in this section and Section 918.1 of this title, a member may elect to have the retirement benefit paid under one of the options provided in this section in lieu of having it paid in the form stated in Section 915 of this title. The election of a n option must be made at any time prior to retirement or prior to termination of service with a vested benefit. A specific person must be designated as joint annuitant at the time of election of Option A or B. Election of an option is available with resp ect to the vested benefit. Al l retirement benefits of a married member shall be paid pursuant to the Option A plan or Option B plan as provided for in this section unless the spouse of a member consents in writing for the benefits to be paid as provided f or in Section 915 of this titl e or pursuant RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 to Option C as provided for in this section. The spouse of the member is not required to consent in writing to the election of the Option B plan by the member. (2) The amount of retirement benefit payable under an option shall be based on the age and sex of the member and the age and sex of the joint annuitant, and shall be such amount as to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement benefi t otherwise payable under Section 915 of this title. (3) The retirement options are: Option A. Joint and one-half to joint annuitant survivor. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during his or her lifetime with one -half (1/2) of that amount continued to t he joint annuitant during such joint annuitant ’s remaining lifetime, if any, after the death of the retiree. If the named joint annuitant dies at any time after the member’s retirement date, but before the death of the retiree, the re tiree shall return to the retirement benefit, including any post -retirement benefit increases the m ember would have received had the member not selected Option A. The benefit shall be determined at the date of death of the named joint annuitant or July 1, 1994, whichever is l ater. This increase shall become effective the f irst day of the month followi ng the date of death of the named joint annuitant or July 1, 1994, whichever is later, and shall be payable for the retiree’s remaining lifetime. The retiree shall notify the Ok lahoma Public Employees Retirement RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 System of the death of the named joint annu itant in writing. In the absence of the written notice being filed by the member notifying the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System of the death of t he named joint annuitant within six (6) months of the date of death, nothing in this subsection sha ll require the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to pay more than six (6) months of retrospective benefits increase. Option B. Joint and survivor. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during his or her lifetime with that amoun t continued to the joint annuitant during the joint annuitant’s remaining lifetime, if any, after the death of the retiree. If the named joint annuitant die s at any time after t he member’s retirement date, but before the death of the retiree, the retiree shall return to the retirement benefit, including any post retirement post- retirement benefit increases the member would have received had the member not selected Option B. The benefit shall be determined at the date of death of the named joint annuitant or Ju ly 1, 1994, whichever is later. This increase shall become effective the first day of the month following the date of death of the named joint annuitant or July 1, 1994, wh ichever is later, and shall be payable for the retiree’s remaining lifetime. The r etiree shall notify the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System of the death of the named joint annuitant in writing. In the absence of such writte n notice being filed by the member notifying the Oklahoma Public RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 Employees Retirement System of the deat h of the named joint annuitant within six (6) months of the date of death, nothing in this subsection shall require the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to pay mo re than six (6) months of retrospective benefits increase. Option C. Life with ten (10) years certain. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during his or her lifetime and if the retiree dies within the ten -year certain period, measured from the commencement of retirement benefits paym ents, such payments will be contin ued to the beneficiary during the balance of the ten-year certain period. If the retiree dies within the ten- year certain period, and there are no livi ng designated beneficiaries, the person responsible for the estate of the retiree may elect for the esta te to be paid the benefits for the remainder of the term or to receive the present value of the remaining benefit payments according to rules adopted by the Board of Trustee s of the System. If the retiree predeceases a de signated beneficiary within the ten-year certain period, and the beneficiary dies after the beneficiary has begun to receive benefits, the person responsible for the estate of the benefi ciary may elect for t he estate to be paid the benefits for the remaind er of the term or to receive the present value of the remaining benefit payments according to rules adopted by the Board of Trustees of the System. RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 (4) If the selection of a joint annui tant would violate th e distribution requirements contained in Section 918.1 of this title, such selection will not be permitted. (5) If a member who is eligible to retire in accordance with the provisions of Section 914 of this title but is not actually retired or is eligible to vest or has elected a vested benefit dies, the member’s spouse may elect to rec eive benefits as a joint annuitant under Option B calculated as if the member retired on the date of death, in lieu of receiving the member ’s accumulated contributions. However, no benefits shall be payable before the date the deceased member would have m et the requirements for a normal or early retirement. The provisions of this paragraph shall be applicable to a surviving spouse of a deceased member w ho died prior to the effective date of this act July 1, 2002, but only if no benefits or distributions h ave been previously paid. (6) Benefits payable to a joint annuitant shall accrue from the first day of the month following the death of a member or ret iree and, in the case of Option A and Option B, shall end on the last day of the month in which the join t annuitant dies. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 935.7, is amended to read as follows: Section 935.7 A. Participating employees shal l at all times be vested at one hundred percent ( 100%) of their accounts containing solely their employee contributions, and the gains or losses on RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 these contributions. Pa rticipating employees will have investment discretion over thes e accounts within the available options offered by the Board. B. Participating employees shall be vested with respe ct to the employer matching amounts, and the gains or losses on these funds, deposited into their defined contribution system account or acc ounts according to the following schedule based on years of participat ing service: Year 1 20% Year 2 40% Year 3 60% Year 4 80% Year 5 and thereafter 100% C. Participating employees will ha ve investment discretion over all employer contributions. D. For purposes of determ ining a participating employee's right to withdraw employer matching contributions and any inve stment gains upon such employer contribution matching amounts, the vesting percentages apply at the end of each full year of service as described in subsection B of this section. E. For participating employees who do not select any investment options, the OPERS Board will establish default investment options for the contributions received from participating employees and default investment op tions for matching em ployer contributions. RBH No. 8175 ENGR. H. A. to ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 F. To the extent that part icipants leave employment and have not vested in all of the employer contributions, the nonvested employer contributions, i ncluding any gains or losses, shall be immediately forfeited to the 401(a) plan and may be used to offset costs of administering the plan or as permitted by federal law . Upon reemployment with an employer and satisfying the eligibility requirements to become a participant , the reemployed participant shall receive credit for previous serv ice and be vested at the same percentage the participant was vested when service was previously terminated. However, under no circumstances shall the participant be entitled to any previou sly forfeited employer contributions. SECTION 4. This act shall become effe ctive November 1, 2023." Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of April, 2023. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives Passed the Senate the ____ day of _______ ___, 2023. Presiding Officer of the Senate ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO. 448 By: Montgomery of the Senate and Lepak of the House An Act relating to retirement benefits payment; amending 20 O.S. 2021, Section 110 2C, which relates to payment to members of the Unif orm Retirement System for Justices and Judges; conforming language; amending 74 O.S. 2021, Section 918, which rela tes to payment to members of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System; conforming language; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 5. AMENDATORY 20 O.S. 2021, Section 1102C, is amended to read as follows: Section 1102C. A. Except as otherwi se provided for in this section and Section 1104.2 of t his title, members wh o join the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges on September 1, 2005, or thereafter, may elect to have th e retirement benefit paid under one of the options provided in this section in lieu of having it paid in the form sta ted in Section 1104 o f this title. The election of an option must be made prior to the member ’s retirement date or to receipt of a benefit after termination of service with a vested benefit. A specif ic person must be designated as joint annuitant at the time of the election of Option A or B. Election of ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 an option is available with respect to the vested benefit. All retirement benefits of a married member shall be paid pursuant to the Option A plan or Option B plan as provided for in this section unless the spouse of a membe r consents in writing for the unreduced benefits to be paid as provided for in Section 1104 of this title. The spouse of the member is not required to consent in writing to the election of the Option B plan by t he member. B. The amount of retirement bene fit payable under an option shall be based on the age and sex of the member and the age and sex of the joint annuitant at the reti rement date, and shall be such amount as to be the actuarial equivalent of the ret irement benefit otherwise payable under Sect ion 1104 of this title. C. The retirement options are: Option A. Joint and one -half to joint annuitant survivor. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during h is or her lifetime with one -half (1/2) of that amount c ontinued to the joint annuitant during such joint annuitant ’s remaining lifetime, if any, after the death of the retiree. If the named joint annuitant dies at any time after the member ’s retirement date, but before the death of the retiree, the retiree sh all return to the unre duced retirement benefit, including any postretirement post-retirement benefit increases, the member would have received had the member not selected Option A. The benefit shall be det ermined at the date of death of the named joint annuitant. This increase shall become ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 effective the first day of the month following the date of death of the named joint annuitant, and shall be payable for the retiree ’s remaining lifetime. The retiree sh all notify the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges of the death of the named joint annuitant in writing. In the absence of the written notice being filed by the member notifying the Uniform Retirement Sy stem for Justices and Judges of the de ath of the named joint annuitant within six (6) months of the date of death, nothing in this subsection shall require the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges to pay more than six (6) months of retrospecti ve benefits increase. Option B. Joint and survivor. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during his or her lifetime with that amount continued to the joint annuitant during the joint annuitant ’s remaining lifetime, if any, after the dea th of the retiree. If the named joint annuitant dies at any time after the member’s retirement date, but before the death of the retiree, the retiree shall return to the unreduced retirement benefit, including any postretirement post-retirement benefit increases, the mem ber would have receive d had the member not select ed Option B. The benefi t shall be determined at the date of death of the named joint annuitant. This increase shall become effective the first day of the month following the date of death of the named join t annuitant, and shall be payable for the retiree’s remaining lifetime. The retiree shall notify the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges of the death of ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 the named joint annuitant in writing. In the absence of such written notice being filed by the member notifyi ng the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and J udges of the death of the named joint annuitant within six (6) months of the date of death, nothing in this subsection shall require the Uniform Retirement System for Justices and Judges to pay more than s ix (6) months of retrospect ive benefits increase. D. If a member who is eligible to retire in accordance with the provisions of this section or Section 1104 of this title but is not actually retired or is eligible to vest or has elec ted a vested benefit dies, the member’s spouse may elect to receive benef its as a joint annuitant under Option B, calculated as if the member retired on the date of death, in lieu of receiving the member ’s accumulated contributions. However, no benefits s hall be payable before the date the deceased memb er would have met the re quirements for a normal or early retirement. The provisions of this paragraph shall be applicable to a surviving spouse of a deceased member who died prior to the effective date of t his act September 1, 2005, but only if no benefits or distributions have been previously paid. SECTION 6. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 918, is amended to read as follows: Section 918. (1) Except as otherwise provided for in this section and Section 918.1 of this title, a me mber may elect to have the retirement benefit paid under one of the options provided in ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 this section in lieu of having it paid in the form stated in Section 915 of this title. The election of an option must be made at any time prior to retirement or prior to termination of service with a vested benefit. A specific person must be designated as joint annuitant at the time of election of Option A or B. Election of an option is available with respect to the vested benefit. Al l retirement benefits of a marri ed member shall be paid pursuant to the Option A plan or Option B plan as provided for in this section unless the spouse of a member consents in writing for the benefits to be paid as provided for in Section 915 of this titl e or pursuant to Option C as provided for in this section. The spouse of the member is not required to consent in writing to the election of the Option B plan by the member. (2) The amount of retirement benefit payable under an option shall be based on the age and sex of the member and the age and sex of the joint annuitant, and shall be such amount as to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement benefit otherwise payable under Section 915 of this title. (3) The retirement options are: Option A. Joint and one-half to joint annuita nt survivor. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during his or her lifetime with one -half (1/2) of that amount continued to the joint annuitant during such joint annuitant ’s remaining lifetime, if any, after the death of the retiree. I f the named joint annuitant ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 dies at any time after the member’s retirement date, but before the death of the retiree, the retiree shall return to the retirement benefit, including any post -retirement benefit increases the m ember would have received had the member not selected Option A. The benefit shall be determined at the date of death of the named joint annuitant or July 1, 1994, whichever is later. This increase shall become effective the first day of the month followi ng the date of death of the named joint annuitant or July 1, 1994, whichever is later, and shall be payable for the retiree ’s remaining lifetime. The retiree shall notify the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System of the death of the named joint annu itant in writing. In the absence of the written notice being filed by the member notifying the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System of the death of the named joint annuitant within six (6) months of the date of death, nothing in this subsection sha ll require the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to pay more than six (6) months of retrospective benefits increase. Option B. Joint and survivor. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during his or her lifetime with that amoun t continued to the joint annuitan t during the joint annuitant’s remaining lifetime, if any, after the death of the retiree. If the named joint annuitant dies at any time after the member ’s retirement date, but before the death of the retiree, the retiree shall return to the retirement be nefit, including any post retirement post- ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 retirement benefit increases the member would have received had the member not selected Option B. The benefit shall be determined at the date of death of the named joint annuitant or Ju ly 1, 1994, whichever is later. This increase shal l become effective the first day of the month following the date of death of the named joint annuitant or July 1, 1994, whichever is later, and shall be payable for the retiree’s remaining lifetime. The r etiree shall notify the Oklahoma Public Employees R etirement System of the death of the named joint annuitant in writing. In the absence of such written notice being filed by the member notifying the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System of the deat h of the named joint annuitant within six (6) month s of the date of death, nothing in this subsection shall require the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to pay more than six (6) months of retrospective benefits increase. Option C. Life with ten (10) years certain. A reduced retirement benefit is payable to the retiree during his or her lifetime and if the retiree dies within the ten -year certain period, measured from the commencement of retirement benefits payments, such payments will be contin ued to the beneficiary during the balance of the ten-year certain period. If the retiree dies within the ten- year certain period, and there are no living designated beneficiaries, the person responsible for the estate of the retiree may elect for the esta te to be paid the benefits for the remainder ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 of the term or to receive the present value of the remaining benefit payments according to rules adopted by the Board of Trustees of the System. If the retiree predeceases a designated beneficiary within the ten-year certain period, and the beneficiary dies aft er the beneficiary has begun to receive benefits, the person responsible for the estate of the beneficiary may elect for the estate to be paid the benefits for the remainder of the term or to receive the present value of the remaining benefit payments acco rding to rules adopted by the Board of Trustees of the System. (4) If the selection of a joint annuitant would violate the distribution requirements contained in Section 918.1 of this title, such selection will not be permitted. (5) If a member who is el igible to retire in accordance with the provisions of Section 914 of this title but is not actually retired or is eligible to vest or has elected a vested benefit dies, the member’s spouse may elect to rec eive benefits as a joint annuitant under Option B c alculated as if the member retired on the date of death, in lieu of receiving the member ’s accumulated contributions. However, no benefits shall be payable before the date the deceased member would have m et the requirements for a normal or early retiremen t. The provisions of this paragraph shall be applicable to a surviving spouse of a deceased member who died prior to the effective date of this act July 1, 2002, but only if no benefits or distributions h ave been previously paid . ENGR. S. B. NO. 448 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 (6) Benefits payable to a joint annuitant sha ll accrue from the first day of the month following the death of a member or retiree and, in the case of Option A and Option B, shall end on the last day of the month in which the join t annuitant dies. SECTION 7. This act shall become effe ctive November 1, 2023. Passed the Senate the 14th day of March, 2023. Presiding Officer of the Senate Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2023. Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives