41 | | - | [ Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma - |
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42 | | - | retirement benefits - forms - payment - benefit |
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43 | | - | amount - effective date ] |
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| 40 | + | COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE |
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| 41 | + | |
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| 42 | + | An Act relating to the Teachers’ Retirement System of |
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| 43 | + | Oklahoma; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Sections 17-105 and |
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| 44 | + | 17-105.2, which relate to retirement benefits and |
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| 45 | + | partial lump-sum payments; requiring certain death |
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| 46 | + | benefit payments be made by certain date; requiring |
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| 47 | + | certain forms be transmitted and electronically |
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| 48 | + | published; authorizing certain retirement ben efit |
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| 49 | + | payment for specific members; providing calculation |
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| 50 | + | for benefit amount; updating statutory reference and |
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| 51 | + | language; and providing an effecti ve date. |
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| 52 | + | |
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44 | 53 | | |
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45 | 54 | | |
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46 | 55 | | |
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47 | 56 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: |
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48 | 57 | | SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 17 -105, is |
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49 | 58 | | amended to read as follows: |
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50 | 59 | | Section 17-105. (1) (a) Any member who has attained age |
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51 | 60 | | fifty-five (55) or who has completed thirty (30) years of creditable |
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52 | 61 | | service, as defined in Section 17-101 of this title, or for any |
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53 | 62 | | person who initially became a member prior to July 1, 1 992, |
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54 | 63 | | regardless of whether there were breaks in service after July 1, |
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55 | 64 | | 1992, whose age and number of years of creditable service total |
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56 | 65 | | eighty (80) may be retired upon proper application for reti rement on |
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89 | 97 | | after July 1, 1992. Any person who became a m ember after June 30, |
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90 | 98 | | 1992, but prior to November 1, 2011, whose age and number of years |
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91 | 99 | | of creditable service total ninety (90) may be retired upon pr oper |
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92 | 100 | | application for retirement and executi ng a retirement contract. Any |
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93 | 101 | | person who becomes a member on o r after November 1, 2011, who |
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94 | 102 | | attains the age of sixty -five (65) years or who reaches a normal |
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95 | 103 | | retirement date pursuant to subparagraph (d) of paragra ph (24) of |
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96 | 104 | | Section 17-101 of this title hav ing attained a minimum age of sixty |
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97 | 105 | | (60) years may be retired u pon proper application for retirement and |
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98 | 106 | | executing a retirement contract. The application shall be filed on |
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99 | 107 | | the form provided by the Board of Truste es for this purpose, not |
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100 | 108 | | less than sixty (60) days before the date of retirement, provided |
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101 | 109 | | that the Executive Director may waive the sixty -day deadline for |
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102 | 110 | | good cause shown as defined by the Board. |
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103 | 111 | | 1. The employer shall provide t he System with the |
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104 | 112 | | following information for a retiring member, no lat er |
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105 | 113 | | than the fifteenth day of the month of retirement: |
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106 | 114 | | last day physically on the job; last day on payroll; |
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140 | 147 | | the error results in disq ualification of retirement |
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141 | 148 | | eligibility, it is the employer ’s responsibility to |
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142 | 149 | | reemploy the member, or retain the member on the |
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143 | 150 | | payroll, for the time period required to reach |
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144 | 151 | | eligibility, not exceeding two (2) months. |
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145 | 152 | | (b) An individual who becomes a membe r of the Teachers’ |
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146 | 153 | | Retirement System on or after November 1, 2017, shal l be employed by |
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147 | 154 | | the public schools, state colleges or universi ties of Oklahoma for a |
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148 | 155 | | minimum of seven (7) years and be a contributing member of the |
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149 | 156 | | Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklah oma for a minimum of seven ( 7) |
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150 | 157 | | years to qualify for monthly retirement benefits from the Teachers ’ |
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151 | 158 | | Retirement System of Oklahoma. |
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152 | 159 | | (c) Any member with seven (7) or more years of Oklahoma |
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153 | 160 | | teaching service and whose accumulated contributions during such |
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154 | 161 | | period have not been withdrawn s hall be given an indefinite |
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155 | 162 | | extension of membership beginning with the sixth year following his |
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156 | 163 | | or her last contributing membership and shall become eligible to |
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191 | 197 | | would result, an amount arrived at pursuant to application of the |
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192 | 198 | | formula prescribed herein. |
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193 | 199 | | (3) No member shall receive a lesser retirement benefit than he |
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194 | 200 | | or she would have recei ved under the law in effect at the time he or |
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195 | 201 | | she retired. Any individ ual under the Teachers ’ Retirement System, |
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196 | 202 | | who through error in stating the title of the position which he or |
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197 | 203 | | she held, may, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees, be |
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198 | 204 | | changed from the nonclassified optional g roup to the classified |
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199 | 205 | | group for the purpos e of calculating retirement benefits. |
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200 | 206 | | Any individual regardless of residence, who has a minimum of ten |
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201 | 207 | | (10) years of teaching in Oklahoma schools prior to July 1, 1943, or |
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202 | 208 | | who taught in Oklahoma schools prior to 1 934 and thereafter taught a |
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203 | 209 | | minimum of ten (10) years and who does not qualify under the present |
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204 | 210 | | retirement System system, or who has a minimum of thirty (30) years |
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205 | 211 | | of teaching in Oklahoma schools and has reached seventy (70) ye ars |
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206 | 212 | | of age prior to July 1, 1984, a nd is not otherwise eligible to |
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207 | 213 | | receive any benefits from the retirement system shall receive a |
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242 | 247 | | application for the benefit provided for by this paragraph during |
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243 | 248 | | his or her lifetime but did not receive the benefit may submit an |
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244 | 249 | | application to the System for payment of the benefit for those |
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245 | 250 | | months during the lifetim e of the deceased person that he or she was |
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246 | 251 | | eligible for but did not receive the benefit. Upon approval of the |
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247 | 252 | | application by the Board of Trustees, the benefit shall be paid to |
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248 | 253 | | the surviving spouse in one lump sum . |
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249 | 254 | | (4) The value of each year of prior service is the total |
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250 | 255 | | monthly retirement benef it divided by the number of years of |
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251 | 256 | | creditable service. |
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252 | 257 | | (5) Upon application of a member who is actively engaged in |
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253 | 258 | | teaching in Oklahoma or his or her employer, any member who has been |
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254 | 259 | | a contributing member fo r ten (10) years may be retired by the |
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255 | 260 | | System subsequent to the execution and filing thereof, on a |
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256 | 261 | | disability retirement allowance, provided that it is found by the |
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257 | 262 | | Medical Board after medical examination of such member by a duly |
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258 | 263 | | qualified physician that s uch member is mentally or physically |
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259 | | - | incapacitated for further performance of duty, that such incapacity |
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260 | | - | is likely to be permanent, and that such me mber should be retired. |
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261 | | - | The System shall rely on and give full considerati on to the |
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262 | | - | conclusions and recomme ndations in the certified written report of |
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263 | | - | the Medical Board of the Teachers ’ Retirement System regarding t he |
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264 | | - | disability application of such member . If the Medical Board does |
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265 | | - | not find that a member applying for disability retirement is |
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| 290 | + | incapacitated for further performance of duty, that such incapacity |
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| 291 | + | is likely to be permanent, and that such member should be retired. |
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| 292 | + | The System shall rely on and give full considerati on to the |
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| 293 | + | conclusions and recomme ndations in the certified written report of |
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| 294 | + | the Medical Board of the Teachers ’ Retirement System regarding t he |
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| 295 | + | disability application of such member. If the Medical Board does |
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| 296 | + | not find that a member applying for disability retirement is |
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293 | 297 | | mentally or physically incapacitated for performance of duty or |
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294 | 298 | | otherwise eligible for a disability retirement, the applicatio n |
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295 | 299 | | shall then be considered by the Board of Trustees. If a member is |
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296 | 300 | | determined to be eligible for disability benef its pursuant to the |
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297 | 301 | | Social Security System system, then such determination shall enti tle |
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298 | 302 | | the member to the authorized disability retirement allowanc e |
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299 | 303 | | provided by law. For members who are not eligible for disability |
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300 | 304 | | benefits pursuant to the Social Security System system, the Board of |
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301 | 305 | | Trustees and the Medical Board shall apply the same standard fo r |
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302 | 306 | | which provision is made in the first two sentences of this |
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303 | 307 | | subsection for determining the eligibility of a person for such |
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304 | 308 | | disability benefits in making a determi nation of eligibility for |
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305 | 309 | | disability benefits a s authorized by this subsection. |
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306 | 310 | | (6) (a) A member who at the time of retirement has been found |
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307 | 311 | | to be permanently physically or mentally incapacitated to perform |
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308 | 312 | | the necessary duties to continue in his or her current position |
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309 | 313 | | shall receive a minimum month ly retirement payment for life or until |
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310 | | - | such time as the member may be found to be recovered to the point |
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311 | | - | where he or she may return t o teaching. Any member retired before |
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312 | | - | July 1, 1992, shall be eligible to r eceive the monthly retirement |
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313 | | - | allowance herein provided, but such payment shall not begin un til |
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314 | | - | the first payment due him or her after July 1, 1992, and sh all not |
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315 | | - | be retroactive. The Board of Trustees is empowered to make such |
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316 | | - | rules and regulations as it considers proper to preserve equity in |
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| 340 | + | such time as the member may be found to be recovered to the point |
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| 341 | + | where he or she may return to teaching. Any member retired before |
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| 342 | + | July 1, 1992, shall be eligible to r eceive the monthly retirement |
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| 343 | + | allowance herein provided, but such payment shall not begin un til |
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| 344 | + | the first payment due him or her after July 1, 1992, and sh all not |
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| 345 | + | be retroactive. The Board of Trustees is empowered to make such |
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| 346 | + | rules and regulations as it considers proper to preserve equity in |
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344 | 347 | | retirements under this provision, which shall include a provision to |
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345 | 348 | | protect the rights of the member ’s spouse. |
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346 | 349 | | (b) A member who has qualified for retirement benefits under |
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347 | 350 | | disability retirement shall have the total monthly payment deducted |
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348 | 351 | | from his or her accumu lated contributions plus interest earned and |
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349 | 352 | | any money remaining in the member ’s account after the above |
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350 | 353 | | deductions at the death of the member shall be paid in a lump sum to |
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351 | 354 | | the beneficiary or to the estate of the member. Provided, if the |
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352 | 355 | | deceased disabled member had thirty (30) years or more of cre ditable |
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353 | 356 | | service and the death occurred after June 30, 1981, and death |
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354 | 357 | | occurred prior to the disabled member receiving twelve monthly |
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355 | 358 | | retirement payments, a survivin g spouse may elect to receive the |
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356 | 359 | | retirement benefit to which the deceased member would have been |
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357 | 360 | | entitled at the time of death under the Option 2 Plan of Retirement |
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358 | 361 | | provided for in subsection (8) of this section in lieu of the death |
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359 | 362 | | benefit provided for i n this subsection and in subsection (12) of |
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360 | 363 | | this section. |
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395 | 397 | | examination in any such year by a physician or phys icians designated |
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396 | 398 | | by the System his or her al lowance may be discontinued until he or |
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397 | 399 | | she submits to such exa mination. |
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398 | 400 | | (d) Should the Medical Board report and certify to the Board of |
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399 | 401 | | Trustees that such disable d annuitant is engaged in or is able to |
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400 | 402 | | engage in a gainful occupation paying more than the difference |
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401 | 403 | | between his or her retirement allowance and the aver age final |
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402 | 404 | | compensation, and should the Board of Trustees concur in such report |
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403 | 405 | | then the amount of his or her pension shall be reduced to an amount |
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404 | 406 | | which, together with his or her retirement all owance and that amount |
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405 | 407 | | earnable by him or her, shall equal the amount of his or her average |
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406 | 408 | | final compensation. Should his or her earning capacity be later |
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407 | 409 | | increased, the amount of his or her pension may be fur ther modified, |
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408 | 410 | | provided the new pension shall not exceed that amount of the pension |
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409 | 411 | | originally granted nor a n amount, which when added to the amount |
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410 | 412 | | earnable by the member, together with his or her annuity, eq uals the |
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411 | 413 | | amount of his or her average final com pensation. |
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446 | 447 | | service was computed at the tim e of his or her retirement shall be |
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447 | 448 | | restored to full force and effect. |
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448 | 449 | | (7) Should a member before retiremen t under Section 1-101 et |
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449 | 450 | | seq. of this title make application for withdrawal duly filed with |
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450 | 451 | | the System, not earlier than four (4) months after the d ate of |
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451 | 452 | | termination of such service as a teach er, the contribution standing |
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452 | 453 | | to the credit of his or her indiv idual account in the Teachers ’ |
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453 | 454 | | Savings Fund shall be paid to him or her or, in the event of his or |
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454 | 455 | | her death before retirement, shall be paid to suc h person or persons |
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455 | 456 | | as he or she shall have n ominated by written designation, duly |
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456 | 457 | | executed and filed with t he System; provided, however, if there be |
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457 | 458 | | no designated beneficiary surviving upon such death, such |
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458 | 459 | | contributions shall be paid to his or her admini strators, executors, |
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459 | 460 | | or assigns, together wit h interest as hereinafter provided . |
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460 | 461 | | In lieu of a lump-sum settlement at the death of the member, the |
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461 | 462 | | amount of money the member has on deposit in the Teachers ’ Savings |
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462 | 463 | | Fund and the money the member has on depo sit in the Teachers’ |
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463 | | - | Deposit Fund may be paid i n monthly payments to a designated |
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464 | | - | beneficiary, who must be th e spouse, under the Maximum or Option 1 |
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465 | | - | Plan of Retirement providing the monthly payment shall be not less |
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466 | | - | than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per mo nth. The monthly payment |
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467 | | - | shall be the actuaria l equivalent of the amount becoming due at the |
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468 | | - | member’s death based on the sex of the spo use and the age the spouse |
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469 | | - | has attained at the last birthday prior to the m ember’s death. |
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| 490 | + | Deposit Fund may be paid i n monthly payments to a designated |
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| 491 | + | beneficiary, who must be th e spouse, under the Maximum or Option 1 |
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| 492 | + | Plan of Retirement providing the monthly payment shall be not less |
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| 493 | + | than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) per mo nth. The monthly payment |
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| 494 | + | shall be the actuaria l equivalent of the amount becoming due at the |
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| 495 | + | member’s death based on the sex of the spouse and the age the spouse |
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| 496 | + | has attained at the last birthday prior to the m ember’s death. |
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497 | 497 | | Provided further, if there be no designated beneficiary surviving |
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498 | 498 | | upon such death, and the contributions standing to the credit of |
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499 | 499 | | such member do not exceed Two Hundred Dollars ($200.00), no part of |
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500 | 500 | | such contributions shall be subject to th e payment of any expense of |
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501 | 501 | | the last illness or funeral of the deceased member or any expens e of |
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502 | 502 | | administration of the estate of such deceased and the Sys tem, upon |
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503 | 503 | | satisfactory proof of the death of such member and of the name or |
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504 | 504 | | names of the person or per sons who would be entitled to receive such |
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505 | 505 | | contributions under the laws of descent and distr ibution of the |
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506 | 506 | | state, may authorize the payment of accumulated contributions to |
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507 | 507 | | such person or persons. A member terminating his or her membership |
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508 | 508 | | by withdrawal after June 30, 2003, shall have the interest co mputed |
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509 | 509 | | at a rate of interest determined by the Board of Trustees and paid |
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510 | 510 | | to him or her subject to the follow ing schedule: |
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511 | 511 | | (a) If termination occurs within sixteen (16) years from the |
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512 | 512 | | date membership began, fif ty percent (50%) of such interest |
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513 | 513 | | accumulations shall be paid. |
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547 | 546 | | (d) With at least twenty -six (26) years of membership, ninety |
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548 | 547 | | percent (90%) of such interest accumulations shall be paid. |
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549 | 548 | | In case of death of an active member, the interest shall be |
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550 | 549 | | calculated and restored to the member ’s account and paid to his or |
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551 | 550 | | her beneficiary. |
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552 | 551 | | (8) (a) In lieu of his or her retirement allowance payable |
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553 | 552 | | throughout life for such an amount as determined under this section, |
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554 | 553 | | the member may select a retirement allowance for a reduced amount |
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555 | 554 | | payable under any of the f ollowing options the present value of |
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556 | 555 | | which is the actuarial e quivalent thereof. |
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557 | 556 | | (b) A member may select the option under which he or she |
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558 | 557 | | desires to retire at the end of the school year in which he or she |
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559 | 558 | | attains age seventy (70) and the option shall be b inding and cannot |
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560 | 559 | | be changed. Provided further that if a memb er retires before age |
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561 | 560 | | seventy (70), no election of an option shall be effective in case an |
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562 | 561 | | annuitant dies before the first payment due under such o ption has |
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563 | 562 | | been received. |
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564 | | - | (c) The first payment of any benefit selected shall be made on |
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565 | | - | the first day of the month following approval o f the retirement by |
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566 | | - | the System. If the named designated joint annuitant un der Option 2 |
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567 | | - | or 3 Plan of Retirement dies at any time after the member’s |
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568 | | - | retirement date, but before the death of the member, the member |
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569 | | - | shall return to the retirement benef it, including any post |
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570 | | - | retirement postretirement benefit increases the member would have |
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| 589 | + | (c) The first payment of any benefit selected shall be made on |
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| 590 | + | the first day of the month following approval of the retirement by |
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| 591 | + | the System. If the named designated joint annuitant un der Option 2 |
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| 592 | + | or 3 Plan of Retirement dies at any time after the member’s |
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| 593 | + | retirement date, but before the death of the member, the member |
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| 594 | + | shall return to the retirement benef it, including any post |
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| 595 | + | retirement postretirement benefit increases the member would have |
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598 | 596 | | received had the member not selected Option 2 or 3 Plan of |
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599 | 597 | | Retirement of this subsection. T he benefit shall be determined a t |
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600 | 598 | | the date of death of the designated joint annuitant. This increase |
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601 | 599 | | shall become effective the first day of the month follow ing the date |
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602 | 600 | | of death of the designated joint annuitant, and shall be payable for |
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603 | 601 | | the member’s remaining lifetime. The member sha ll notify the |
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604 | 602 | | Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma of the death of the |
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605 | 603 | | designated joint annuitant in writing. In the absen ce of the |
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606 | 604 | | written notice being filed by the member notifying the Teachers ’ |
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607 | 605 | | Retirement System of Ok lahoma of the death of the desig nated joint |
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608 | 606 | | annuitant within six (6) months of the date of death, nothing in |
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609 | 607 | | this subsection shall require the Teachers ’ Retirement System of |
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610 | 608 | | Oklahoma to pay more than six (6) months of retrospective benefits |
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611 | 609 | | increase. |
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612 | 610 | | Option 1. If he or she dies before h e or she has received in |
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613 | 611 | | annuity payments the present value of his or her ann uity as it was |
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614 | 612 | | at the time of his or her retireme nt, the balance shall be paid to |
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649 | 646 | | duly acknowledged and filed wit h the System at the time of the |
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650 | 647 | | member’s retirement and, except as provided in paragraph (e) of th is |
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651 | 648 | | subsection, cannot be changed after the effective date of the |
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652 | 649 | | member’s retirement; or |
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653 | 650 | | Option 3. A member receives a reduced retirement allowance for |
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654 | 651 | | life. Upon the death of the member one -half (1/2) of the retirement |
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655 | 652 | | allowance paid the member shall be continued throughout the life o f |
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656 | 653 | | the designated joint annuitant. A written designation of a joint |
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657 | 654 | | annuitant must be duly acknowledged and filed with the Sys tem at the |
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658 | 655 | | time of the member’s retirement and, except as provided in paragraph |
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659 | 656 | | (e) of this subsection, cannot be changed after th e effective date |
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660 | 657 | | of the member’s retirement; or |
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661 | 658 | | Option 4. Some other benefit or benefits shall be paid either |
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662 | 659 | | to the member or to such joint annuitant as he or she shall |
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663 | 660 | | nominate, provided such other benefit or benefits, to gether with the |
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664 | 661 | | reduced retirement allowance, shall be certified by the actuary to |
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699 | 695 | | (e) A member who chose the maximum retirement benefit plan at |
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700 | 696 | | the time of retirement may make a one-time election to cho ose either |
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701 | 697 | | Option 2 or 3 Plan of Retirement and name the member’s spouse as |
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702 | 698 | | designated joint annuitant if the member marries after making the |
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703 | 699 | | initial election. Such an election shall be made within one (1) |
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704 | 700 | | year of the date of marriage. The m ember shall provide proof of a |
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705 | 701 | | member’s good health before the System will permit a change to |
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706 | 702 | | either Option 2 or 3 Plan of Retirement and the naming of a |
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707 | 703 | | designated joint annuitant. A medical examination conducted by a |
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708 | 704 | | licensed physician is required for purposes of determin ing good |
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709 | 705 | | health. Such examinati on must be approved by the Medical Board. |
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710 | 706 | | The member shall be required to pr ovide proof of age for the new |
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711 | 707 | | joint annuitant. The System shall adjust the monthly benefit to the |
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712 | 708 | | actuarially equivalent amount based on the new designated joint |
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713 | 709 | | annuitant’s age. The Board of Trustees shall promulgate rules to |
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714 | 710 | | implement the provisions o f this subsection. |
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715 | | - | (f) A member who retires after the effective date of this act |
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716 | | - | July 1, 2010, and has selected a retirement allowance for a reduced |
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717 | | - | amount payable under one of the options pro vided for in this |
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718 | | - | subsection may make a one-time irrevocable election to sele ct a |
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719 | | - | different option within sixty (60) days of the member ’s retirement |
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720 | | - | date. The beneficiary or joint annuitant designated by the member |
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721 | | - | at the time of retirement shall not be c hanged if the member makes |
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722 | | - | the election provided for in this paragraph. |
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| 737 | + | (f) A member who retires after the effective date of this act |
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| 738 | + | July 1, 2010, and has selected a retirement allowance for a reduced |
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| 739 | + | amount payable under one of the options pro vided for in this |
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| 740 | + | subsection may make a one-time irrevocable election to sele ct a |
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| 741 | + | different option within sixty (60) days of the member ’s retirement |
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| 742 | + | date. The beneficiary or joint annuitant designated by the member |
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| 743 | + | at the time of retirement shall not be c hanged if the member makes |
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| 744 | + | the election provided for in this paragraph. |
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750 | 745 | | (g) Any individual who is eligible to be a beneficiary or joint |
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751 | 746 | | annuitant of a member under this subsection, and who is also a |
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752 | 747 | | beneficiary of a trust c reated under the Oklahoma Discre tionary and |
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753 | 748 | | Special Needs Trust Act, Section 175.81 et seq. of Title 60 of th e |
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754 | 749 | | Oklahoma Statutes, or a comparable Trust Act created under the laws |
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755 | 750 | | of another state, hereinafter collectively referred to as “Trust |
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756 | 751 | | Acts”, may be a beneficiary or joint annuita nt under this subsection |
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757 | 752 | | by having the trustee of the trust established for t he benefit of |
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758 | 753 | | that individual named as the legal beneficiary or joint annuitant |
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759 | 754 | | under this subsection. The age of that beneficiary shall be used |
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760 | 755 | | for calculating any benefit payab le to the trust under this |
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761 | 756 | | subsection. The beneficiary of such a trust shall be treated as the |
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762 | 757 | | beneficiary or joint annuitant under this subsection except that |
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763 | 758 | | payments of any benefits due under this subsection shall be pay able |
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764 | 759 | | to the lawfully appointed t rustee of the trust. The obligation of |
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765 | 760 | | the System to pay the beneficiary or joint annuitant under this |
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766 | | - | subsection shall be satisfied by payment to the trustee whom the |
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767 | | - | System, in good faith, believes to be the lawful ly appointed |
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768 | | - | trustee. Any conflict bet ween the statutes creating and gover ning |
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769 | | - | the Teachers’ Retirement System in S ection 17-101 et seq. of this |
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770 | | - | title and the provisions of any Trust Act referred to above shall be |
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771 | | - | resolved in favor of the statutes governi ng the System. If an |
---|
772 | | - | eligible beneficiary or joint annuitant is named at t he time of |
---|
773 | | - | retirement, and becomes a bene ficiary of a trust under one of the |
---|
| 787 | + | subsection shall be satisfied by payment to the trustee whom the |
---|
| 788 | + | System, in good faith, believes to be the lawfully appo inted |
---|
| 789 | + | trustee. Any conflict bet ween the statutes creating and gover ning |
---|
| 790 | + | the Teachers’ Retirement System in S ection 17-101 et seq. of this |
---|
| 791 | + | title and the provisions of any Trust Act referred to above shall be |
---|
| 792 | + | resolved in favor of the statutes governing the System. If an |
---|
| 793 | + | eligible beneficiary or joint annuitant is named at t he time of |
---|
| 794 | + | retirement, and becomes a bene ficiary of a trust under one of the |
---|
801 | 795 | | Trust Acts described herein after that time, the System will |
---|
802 | 796 | | acknowledge the trust as the beneficiary upon the submission of |
---|
803 | 797 | | adequate documentation of the existence of the trust. All other |
---|
804 | 798 | | provisions of this subsection shall apply to these subsequently |
---|
805 | 799 | | created trusts. |
---|
806 | 800 | | (h) The Board of Trustees of the System may recognize other |
---|
807 | 801 | | trusts set up for the benefit of ind ividuals otherwise eligible to |
---|
808 | 802 | | be named as a beneficiary or joint an nuitant under this subsection |
---|
809 | 803 | | by administrative rule if it can be done without undue additional |
---|
810 | 804 | | administrative expense of the System. |
---|
811 | 805 | | (9) The governing board of any “public school”, as that term is |
---|
812 | 806 | | defined in Section 17 -101 of this title, is hereby author ized and |
---|
813 | 807 | | empowered to pay additional reti rement allowances or compensation to |
---|
814 | 808 | | any person who was in the employ of such public school for not less |
---|
815 | 809 | | than seven (7) school years preceding the date of his or her |
---|
816 | 810 | | retirement. Payments so made shall be a proper c harge against the |
---|
817 | | - | current appropriation o r appropriations of any such public school |
---|
818 | | - | for salaries for the fiscal year in which such payments are made. |
---|
819 | | - | Such payments shall be made in regular monthly installments in such |
---|
820 | | - | amounts as the governing board of any such public school, in its |
---|
821 | | - | judgment, shall determine to be reasonable and appropriate in view |
---|
822 | | - | of the length and type of service rendered by any such person to |
---|
823 | | - | such public school by which such person was employed at the time of |
---|
824 | | - | retirement. All such additi onal payments shall be uniform, based |
---|
| 837 | + | current appropriation o r appropriations of any such public school |
---|
| 838 | + | for salaries for the fiscal year in which such payments are made. |
---|
| 839 | + | Such payments shall be made in regula r monthly installments in such |
---|
| 840 | + | amounts as the governing board of any such public school, in its |
---|
| 841 | + | judgment, shall determine to be reasonable and appropriate in view |
---|
| 842 | + | of the length and type of service rendered by any such person to |
---|
| 843 | + | such public school by which such person was employed at the time of |
---|
| 844 | + | retirement. All such additi onal payments shall be uniform, based |
---|
852 | 845 | | upon the length of service and the type of services performed, to |
---|
853 | 846 | | persons formerly employed by such public school who have retired or |
---|
854 | 847 | | been retired in accordance with the provisions o f Section 17-101 et |
---|
855 | 848 | | seq. of this title. |
---|
856 | 849 | | The governing board of any such publi c school may adopt rules |
---|
857 | 850 | | and regulations of general application outlining the terms and |
---|
858 | 851 | | conditions under which such additional retirement benefits shall be |
---|
859 | 852 | | paid, and all decisions of such board shall be final. |
---|
860 | 853 | | (10) In addition to the teachers ’ retirement herein provided, |
---|
861 | 854 | | teachers may voluntarily avail themselves of the Federal federal |
---|
862 | 855 | | Social Security Program program upon a district basis. |
---|
863 | 856 | | (11) Upon the death of an in-service member, the System s hall |
---|
864 | 857 | | pay to the designated beneficiary of the member or, if there is no |
---|
865 | 858 | | designated beneficiary or if the designated beneficiary predeceases |
---|
866 | 859 | | the member, to the estate of the member, the sum of Eighteen |
---|
867 | 860 | | Thousand Dollars ($18,0 00.00) as a death benefit. Prov ided, if the |
---|
868 | | - | deceased member had ten (10) years or more of creditable service , |
---|
869 | | - | the member’s designated beneficiary may elect to receive the |
---|
870 | | - | retirement benefit to which the deceased member would have be en |
---|
871 | | - | entitled at the time of death under the Option 2 plan of retirement |
---|
872 | | - | Plan of Retirement in lieu of the death benefit provided for in this |
---|
873 | | - | subsection. Provided further, the option provided in this |
---|
874 | | - | subsection is only available when the member has designat ed one |
---|
875 | | - | individual as the designated benefi ciary. The beneficiary or |
---|
| 887 | + | deceased member had ten (10) years or more of creditable service , |
---|
| 888 | + | the member’s designated beneficiary may elect to receive the |
---|
| 889 | + | retirement benefit to which the deceased member would have been |
---|
| 890 | + | entitled at the time of death under the Option 2 plan of retirement |
---|
| 891 | + | Plan of Retirement in lieu of the death benefit provided for in this |
---|
| 892 | + | subsection. Provided further, the option provided in this |
---|
| 893 | + | subsection is only available when the member has designated one |
---|
| 894 | + | individual as the designated benefi ciary. The beneficiary or |
---|
903 | 895 | | beneficiaries of death benefits in the amount not to exceed Eighteen |
---|
904 | 896 | | Thousand Dollars ($18,000.00), but exclusive of any retirement |
---|
905 | 897 | | benefit received by an electing beneficiary based upon creditable |
---|
906 | 898 | | service performed by the deceas ed member, which are provided |
---|
907 | 899 | | pursuant to this subsection may elect to disclaim such death |
---|
908 | 900 | | benefits in which case such benefits will be transferred to a person |
---|
909 | 901 | | licensed as a funeral director or to a lawfully recognized business |
---|
910 | 902 | | entity licensed as required by law to provide funeral servic es for |
---|
911 | 903 | | the deceased member. The qualified disclaimer must be in writing |
---|
912 | 904 | | and will be an irrevocable and an unqualified refusal to accept all |
---|
913 | 905 | | or a portion of the death benefit. It must shall be received by the |
---|
914 | 906 | | transferor no more than nine (9) months one (1) month after the |
---|
915 | 907 | | later of the day the transfer creating the interest in the |
---|
916 | 908 | | disclaiming person i s made or the day the disclaiming person attains |
---|
917 | 909 | | age twenty-one (21). The interest in the death benefits must pass |
---|
918 | 910 | | without direction by the disclaiming person to another person. |
---|
919 | | - | Death benefits under this subsection shall be paid to the |
---|
920 | | - | beneficiary or beneficiaries of the dece ased member not later than |
---|
921 | | - | one (1) month from the date of receipt of the death certificate |
---|
922 | | - | certifying the member’s death. Upon notice of the death of a |
---|
923 | | - | member, the System shall send any required forms or applications |
---|
924 | | - | necessary for payment of the death benefit not later than one (1) |
---|
925 | | - | week from the date of the member’s death, and all forms and |
---|
926 | | - | applications shall be available on a publicly accessible website. |
---|
| 937 | + | Death benefits under this subsection shall be paid to the |
---|
| 938 | + | beneficiary or beneficiaries of the dece ased member not later than |
---|
| 939 | + | one (1) month from the date of receipt of the death certificate |
---|
| 940 | + | certifying the member’s death. Upon notice of the death of a |
---|
| 941 | + | member, the System shall send any required forms or applications |
---|
| 942 | + | necessary for payment of the death benefit not later than one (1) |
---|
| 943 | + | week from the date of the member’s death, and all forms and |
---|
| 944 | + | applications shall be available on a publicly accessible website. |
---|
954 | 945 | | (12) Upon the death of a retired member who has contributed to |
---|
955 | 946 | | the System, the retirement system shall pay to the designated |
---|
956 | 947 | | beneficiary of the member or, if there is no designated beneficiary |
---|
957 | 948 | | or if the designated beneficiary predeceases the member, to the |
---|
958 | 949 | | estate of the member, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) |
---|
959 | 950 | | as a death benefit. The beneficiary or beneficiaries of benefits |
---|
960 | 951 | | provided pursuant to this subsection may elect to disclaim such |
---|
961 | 952 | | death benefits in which case such benefi ts will be transferred to a |
---|
962 | 953 | | person licensed as a funeral director or to a lawfully recognized |
---|
963 | 954 | | business entity licensed as required by law to provide funeral |
---|
964 | 955 | | services for the deceased member. The qualified disclaimer must be |
---|
965 | 956 | | in writing and will be an irrev ocable and an unqualified refusal to |
---|
966 | 957 | | accept all or a portion of the death benefit. It must shall be |
---|
967 | 958 | | received by the transferor no more than nine (9) months one (1) |
---|
968 | 959 | | month after the later of the day the transfer creating the interest |
---|
969 | 960 | | in the disclaiming pers on is made or the day the disclaiming person |
---|
970 | | - | attains age twenty-one (21). The interest in the death benefits |
---|
971 | | - | must pass without direction by the disclaiming person to another |
---|
972 | | - | person. All death benefits under this subsection shall be paid to |
---|
973 | | - | the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the deceased member not later |
---|
974 | | - | than one (1) month from the date of the member’s death. Upon |
---|
975 | | - | receipt of a certified death certificate certifying the death of a |
---|
976 | | - | member, the System shall send any forms or applications necessary |
---|
977 | | - | for payment of the death benefit not later than one (1) week from |
---|
| 987 | + | attains age twenty-one (21). The interest in the death benefits |
---|
| 988 | + | must pass without direction by the disclaiming person to another |
---|
| 989 | + | person. All death benefits under this subsection shall be paid to |
---|
| 990 | + | the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the deceased member not later |
---|
| 991 | + | than one (1) month from the date of the member’s death. Upon |
---|
| 992 | + | receipt of a certified death certificate certifying the death of a |
---|
| 993 | + | member, the System shall se nd any forms or applications necessary |
---|
| 994 | + | for payment of the death benefit not later than one (1) week from |
---|
1005 | 995 | | the date of receipt of the cer tified death certificate , and all |
---|
1006 | 996 | | required forms and applications shall be available on a publicly |
---|
1007 | 997 | | accessible website. The benefit payable pursuant to this subsection |
---|
1008 | 998 | | shall be deemed, for purposes of federal income taxation, as life |
---|
1009 | 999 | | insurance proceeds and not as a death benefit if th e Internal |
---|
1010 | 1000 | | Revenue Service approves this provision pursuant to a private letter |
---|
1011 | 1001 | | ruling request which shall be submitted by the Board of Trus tees of |
---|
1012 | 1002 | | the System for that purpose. |
---|
1013 | 1003 | | (13) Upon the death of a member who dies leaving no living |
---|
1014 | 1004 | | beneficiary or having designated his or her estate as beneficiary, |
---|
1015 | 1005 | | the System may pay any applicable death bene fit, unpaid |
---|
1016 | 1006 | | contributions, or unpaid benefit whi ch may be subject to probate, in |
---|
1017 | 1007 | | an amount of Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) or less, |
---|
1018 | 1008 | | without the intervention of the probate court or probate procedure |
---|
1019 | 1009 | | pursuant to Section 1 et seq. of Title 58 of the Oklahoma Statutes. |
---|
1055 | 1044 | | a. the names and signatures of all claiming heirs to |
---|
1056 | 1045 | | the deceased member’s estate including the |
---|
1057 | 1046 | | claiming heirs’ names, relationship to the |
---|
1058 | 1047 | | deceased, current addresses, tax I.D. numbers if |
---|
1059 | 1048 | | known and current telephone numbers, |
---|
1060 | 1049 | | b. a statement or statements by the clai ming heirs |
---|
1061 | 1050 | | that no application or petition for the |
---|
1062 | 1051 | | appointment of a personal representative is |
---|
1063 | 1052 | | pending or has been granted in any jurisdicti on, |
---|
1064 | 1053 | | c. a description of the personal property claimed, |
---|
1065 | 1054 | | (i.e., death benefit or unpaid contributions or |
---|
1066 | 1055 | | both) together with a statement that such |
---|
1067 | 1056 | | personal property is subject to probate, |
---|
1068 | 1057 | | d. a statement by each individual claiming heir |
---|
1069 | 1058 | | identifying the amount of personal property that |
---|
1070 | 1059 | | the heir is claiming from the System, and that |
---|
1071 | | - | the heir has been notified of, is aware of and |
---|
1072 | | - | consents to the identified claims of all the |
---|
1073 | | - | other claiming heirs of the deceased member |
---|
1074 | | - | pending with the System; |
---|
1075 | | - | 3. A written agreement or agreements signed by all |
---|
1076 | | - | claiming heirs of the deceased member which provides |
---|
1077 | | - | that the claiming heirs release, discharge and hold |
---|
1078 | | - | harmless the System from any and all liability, |
---|
| 1086 | + | the heir has been notified of, is aware of and |
---|
| 1087 | + | consents to the identified claims of all the |
---|
| 1088 | + | other claiming heirs of the deceased membe r |
---|
| 1089 | + | pending with the System; |
---|
| 1090 | + | 3. A written agreement or agreements signed by all |
---|
| 1091 | + | claiming heirs of the deceased member which provides |
---|
| 1092 | + | that the claiming heirs release, discharge and hold |
---|
| 1093 | + | harmless the System from any and all liability, |
---|
1106 | 1094 | | obligations and costs whi ch it may incur as a result |
---|
1107 | 1095 | | of making a payment to any of the deceased member’s |
---|
1108 | 1096 | | heirs; |
---|
1109 | 1097 | | 4. A corroborating affidavit from an individual other |
---|
1110 | 1098 | | than a claiming heir, w ho was familiar with the |
---|
1111 | 1099 | | affairs of the deceased member; |
---|
1112 | 1100 | | 5. Proof that all debts of the dece ased member, including |
---|
1113 | 1101 | | payment of last sickness, hospital, medical, death, |
---|
1114 | 1102 | | funeral and burial expenses have been paid or provided |
---|
1115 | 1103 | | for. |
---|
1116 | 1104 | | (b) The Executive Director o f the System shall retain complete |
---|
1117 | 1105 | | discretion in determining which requests for probate waiv er may be |
---|
1118 | 1106 | | granted or denied, for any reason. Sh ould the System have any |
---|
1119 | 1107 | | question as to the validity of any document presented by the |
---|
1120 | 1108 | | claiming heirs, or as to any s tatement or assertion contained |
---|
1121 | | - | therein, the probate requirement p rovided for in Section 1 et seq. |
---|
1122 | | - | of Title 58 of the Oklahoma Statutes shal l not be waived. |
---|
1123 | | - | (c) After paying any death benefits or unpaid contributions to |
---|
1124 | | - | any claiming heirs as provided purs uant to this subsection, the |
---|
1125 | | - | System is discharged and released fro m any and all liability, |
---|
1126 | | - | obligation and costs to the same extent as if the System had dealt |
---|
1127 | | - | with a personal representative of the deceased member. The System |
---|
1128 | | - | is not required to inquire into the truth of any matter specified in |
---|
1129 | | - | this subsection or into the payment of any estate tax liability. |
---|
| 1135 | + | therein, the probate requirement provided for in Section 1 e t seq. |
---|
| 1136 | + | of Title 58 of the Oklahoma Statutes shal l not be waived. |
---|
| 1137 | + | (c) After paying any death benefits or unpaid contributions to |
---|
| 1138 | + | any claiming heirs as provided purs uant to this subsection, the |
---|
| 1139 | + | System is discharged and released from any and all liability, |
---|
| 1140 | + | obligation and costs to the same extent as if the System had dealt |
---|
| 1141 | + | with a personal representative of the deceased member. The System |
---|
| 1142 | + | is not required to inquire into the truth of any matter specified in |
---|
| 1143 | + | this subsection or into the payment of any estate tax liability. |
---|
1157 | 1144 | | (14) Upon the death of a retired mem ber, the benefit payment |
---|
1158 | 1145 | | for the month in which the retired member died, if not previously |
---|
1159 | 1146 | | paid, shall be made to th e joint annuitant if still living, to the |
---|
1160 | 1147 | | beneficiary of the member if the joint annuitant i s deceased, or to |
---|
1161 | 1148 | | the member’s estate if there is no surviving joint annuitant or |
---|
1162 | 1149 | | beneficiary. Such benefit payment shall be made in an amount equal |
---|
1163 | 1150 | | to a full monthly benefit payment regardless of the day of the month |
---|
1164 | 1151 | | in which the retired member died. |
---|
1165 | 1152 | | SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 17-105.2, is |
---|
1166 | 1153 | | amended to read as follows: |
---|
1167 | 1154 | | Section 17-105.2. A. 1. A member of the Teachers’ Retirement |
---|
1168 | 1155 | | System of Oklahoma who is eligible to retire wi th at least thirty |
---|
1169 | 1156 | | (30) years of creditable service may elect to receive a partial |
---|
1170 | 1157 | | lump-sum payment on the date of retirement and a reduced annuity. |
---|
1171 | | - | 2. On and after the effective date of this act, a member who is |
---|
1172 | | - | eligible to retire with at least tw enty (20) years of creditable |
---|
1173 | | - | service may elect to receive a partial lump-sum payment on the date |
---|
1174 | | - | of retirement and a reduced annu ity. |
---|
1175 | | - | B. 1. The partial lump-sum payment shall be an amount equal to |
---|
1176 | | - | the unreduced retirement benefit, which shall be referred to as the |
---|
1177 | | - | “Maximum Retirement Allowance” for purposes of this section, which |
---|
1178 | | - | would have been paid over a period of twelve (12), twenty -four (24), |
---|
1179 | | - | or thirty-six (36) months, had the lump -sum option not been elected. |
---|
| 1184 | + | 2. On and after the effective date of this act, a member who is |
---|
| 1185 | + | eligible to retire with at least tw enty (20) years of creditable |
---|
| 1186 | + | service may elect to receive a partial lump-sum payment on the date |
---|
| 1187 | + | of retirement and a reduced annu ity. |
---|
| 1188 | + | B. 1. The partial lump-sum payment shall be an amount equal to |
---|
| 1189 | + | the unreduced retirement benefit, which shall be referred to as the |
---|
| 1190 | + | “Maximum Retirement Allowance” for purposes of this section, which |
---|
| 1191 | + | would have been paid over a period of twelve (12), twenty -four (24), |
---|
| 1192 | + | or thirty-six (36) months, had the lump -sum option not been elected. |
---|
1207 | 1193 | | 2. The partial lump-sum payment made pursuant to paragraph 2 of |
---|
1208 | 1194 | | subsection A of this section shall be an amount equal to one -half |
---|
1209 | 1195 | | (1/2) of the unreduced retirement benefit, which would have been |
---|
1210 | 1196 | | paid over a period of twe lve (12), twenty-four (24), or thirty-six |
---|
1211 | 1197 | | (36) months, had the lump-sum option not been elected. |
---|
1212 | 1198 | | C. Once the payout amount is elected, a reduced Maximum |
---|
1213 | 1199 | | Retirement Allowance is then calculated using factors adopted by the |
---|
1214 | 1200 | | Board of Trustees based upon the System ’s actuarial expected rate of |
---|
1215 | 1201 | | return and the member’s age at retirement and the payout option |
---|
1216 | 1202 | | (twelve (12), twenty-four (24), or thirty-six (36) months) elected . |
---|
1217 | 1203 | | This reduced Maximum Retirement Allowance shall also be reduced in |
---|
1218 | 1204 | | accordance with any retirement options the mem ber has elected |
---|
1219 | 1205 | | pursuant to Section 17-105 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes this |
---|
1220 | 1206 | | title. |
---|
1221 | | - | B. D. The partial lump-sum payment, pursuant to this section, |
---|
1222 | | - | shall be paid in a check separate from the regular monthly |
---|
1223 | | - | retirement benefit. The total amount of t he partial lump-sum |
---|
1224 | | - | payment shall be deducted from the member’s account balance |
---|
1225 | | - | consisting of the employee contributions plus interest for purposes |
---|
1226 | | - | of determining unused contributions remaining in the account. The |
---|
1227 | | - | member may elect to rollover the taxable portion of the partial |
---|
1228 | | - | lump-sum payment to an eligible retirement plan or individual |
---|
1229 | | - | retirement account (IRA). The nont axable portion of th e partial |
---|
1230 | | - | lump-sum payment can be rolled over to an IRA or another qualified |
---|
| 1233 | + | B. D. The partial lump-sum payment, pursuant to this section, |
---|
| 1234 | + | shall be paid in a check separate from the regular monthly |
---|
| 1235 | + | retirement benefit. The total amount of t he partial lump-sum |
---|
| 1236 | + | payment shall be deducted from the member’s account balance |
---|
| 1237 | + | consisting of the employee contributions plus interest for purposes |
---|
| 1238 | + | of determining unused contributions remaining in the account. The |
---|
| 1239 | + | member may elect to rollover the taxable portion of the partial |
---|
| 1240 | + | lump-sum payment to an eligible retirement plan or individual |
---|
| 1241 | + | retirement account (IRA). The nont axable portion of th e partial |
---|
| 1242 | + | lump-sum payment can be rolled over to an IRA or another qualified |
---|
1258 | 1243 | | retirement plan as allowed by the Inter nal Revenue Code and |
---|
1259 | 1244 | | regulations. This partial lump -sum payment shall be subject to |
---|
1260 | 1245 | | federal income tax in accordance wi th the Internal Reve nue Code |
---|
1261 | 1246 | | Section 72 and other such Internal Revenue Code sections and |
---|
1262 | 1247 | | regulations as may be applicable. This partia l lump-sum benefit is |
---|
1263 | 1248 | | subject to the same restrictions for assignment and attachment as |
---|
1264 | 1249 | | all other retirement benefits. The appropriate port ion of the |
---|
1265 | 1250 | | partial lump-sum distribution will be reported to the Internal |
---|
1266 | 1251 | | Revenue Service (IRS) as taxable income an d appropriate tax |
---|
1267 | 1252 | | withholdings will be withheld unless the member elects to make a |
---|
1268 | 1253 | | direct rollover of the taxable portio n of the funds. Sho uld the |
---|
1269 | 1254 | | member have after-tax contributions, a portion of such after -tax |
---|
1270 | 1255 | | contributions will be allocated to the part ial lump-sum payment and |
---|
1271 | 1256 | | to the remaining annuity on a prorata pro rata basis. |
---|