RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) SENATE BILL 692 By: Murdock AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to public retirement systems ; amending 74 O.S. 2021, Sections 90 2, 915, 916.3, 919.1, and 920A, which r elate to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System definitions, benefit amount, and contributions ; providing for membership by emergency medical personnel; conforming language; establishing employee and employer contributions; updating statutory language; and providing for death benefits. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 902, is amended to read as follows: Section 902. As used in Section 901 et seq. of this title: (1) “System” means the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System as established by this act Section 901 et seq. of this title and as it may hereafter be amended; (2) “Accumulated contributions ” means the sum of all contributions by a member to the System which shall be credited to the member’s account; (3) “Act” means Sections 901 to 932, inclusive, of this title; RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 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) “Actuarial equivalent ” means a deferred income be nefit of equal value to the accumulated deposits or benefits when computed upon the basis of the actuarial tables in use by the System; (5) “Actuarial tables” means the actuarial tables approved and in use by the Board at any given time; (6) “Actuary” means the actuary or firm of a ctuaries employed by the Board at any given time; (7) “Beneficiary” means any person named by a member to receive any benefits as provided for by Section 901 et seq. of this title. If there is no beneficiary living at time of member employee’s death, the member’s estate shall be the beneficiary; (8) “Board” means the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees; (9) “Compensation” means all salary and wages, as defined by the Board of Trustees, including amou nts deferred under deferred compensation agreements entered into between a member and a participating employer, but exclusive of. Compensation shall not mean payment for overtime, payable to a member of the System for personal services performed for a par ticipating employer but shall not include, compensation or reim bursement for traveling, or moving expenses, or any compensation in excess of the maximum compensation level, provided: RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (a) For compensation for service prior to January 1, 1988, the maximum compensation level shall be Twe nty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000 .00) per annum. For compensation for service on or after January 1, 1988, through June 30, 1994, the maximum compensation level shall be Forty Thousand Dollars ($40,000.00) per annum. For compensation for service on or aft er July 1, 1994, through June 30, 1995, the maximum compensation level shall be Fifty Thousand Dol lars ($50,000.00) per annum; for compensation for service on or after July 1, 1995, through June 30, 1996, the maximum compensation level shall be Sixty Thous and Dollars ($60,000.00) per annum ; for compensation for service on or after July 1, 1996, through June 30, 1997, the maximum compensation level shall be Seventy Thousand Dollars ($70,000.00) per annum; and for compensation for service on or after July 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998, the maximum compensation level shall be Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80, 000.00) per annum. For compensation for services on or after July 1, 1998, there shall be no maximum compensation level for retirement purposes. RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (b) Compensation for retirement purposes shall include any amount of elective salary reduction under Section 4 57 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any amount of nonelective salary reduction under Section 414(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. (c) Notwithstanding any provision to the contr ary, the compensation taken into account for any employee in determining the contribution or benefit accruals for any plan year is limited subject to the annual compensation limit under Section 401(a)(17) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. (d) Current appointed members of the O klahoma Tax Commission whose salary is constitu tionally limited and is less than the highest salary allowed by law for his or her position shall be allowed, within nine ty (90) days from the effective date of this act March 21, 2001, to make an election to use the highest salary allowed by law for the position to whic h the member was appointed for the purposes of making contributions and determination of retirement benefits. Such election shall be irrevocab le and be in writing. Reappointment to t he same office shall not permit a new election. Members appointed to th e Oklahoma Tax Commission after the effective date of RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 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 act March 21, 2001, shall make such election, pursuant to this subparagraph, within ninety (90) days of taking office; (10) “Credited service” means the sum of partic ipating service, prior service and elected ser vice; (11) “Dependent” means a parent, child, or spouse of a member who is dependent upon the member for at least one -half (1/2) of the member’s support; (12) “Effective date” means the date upon which the Sy stem becomes effective by operation of law; (13) “Eligible employer” means the state and any county, county hospital, city or town, con servation districts, circuit engineer ing districts and any public or private trust in wh ich a county, city or town participates and is the primary beneficiary, is to be an eligible employer for the purpose of this act only, whose employees are covered by Social Security and are not covered by or eligible for another retirement plan authorized under the laws of this state which is in operation on the initial entry date. Emergency medical service districts may join the System upon proper application to the Board. Provided, affiliation by a cou nty hospital shall be in the form of a resolution a dopted by the board of control. (a) If a class or several classes of employees of any above-defined employers are covered by Social Security and are not covered by or e ligible for and will not RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 become eligible for another retireme nt plan authorized under the laws of this state, which is in operation on the effective date, such employe r shall be deemed an eligible employer, but only with respect to that class or those classes of employees as defined in this section. (b) A class or several classes of employees who are covered by Social Securi ty and are not covered by or eligible for and will not become eligible for another retirement plan authorized under the laws of this state, which is in operation on the eff ective date, and when the qualifications for employ ment in such class or classes are set by state law; and when such class or classes of employees are employed by a county or municipal government pursuant to such qualifications; and when the services provi ded by such employees are of such nature that they qualify for matching by or contri butions from state or federal funds administered by an agency of state government which qualifies as a participating employer, then the agency of state government administe ring the state or federal funds shall be deemed an eligible employer, but only with respect to that class or those classes of employees as defined in this subsection; provided, RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 that the required contributions to the ret irement plan may be withheld from the contributions of state or federal funds administer ed by the state agency and transmitted to the System on the same basis as the employee and employer contributions are transmitted for the direct employees of the state agency. The retirement or eligibilit y for retirement under t he provisions of law provid ing pensions for service as a volunteer firefighter shall not render any person ineligible for participation in the benefits provided for in Section 901 et seq. of this title. An employee of any public or private trust in which a county, city or town participates and is the primary benef iciary shall be deemed to be an eligible emplo yee for the purpose of this act Section 901 et seq. of this title only. (c) All employees of the George Nigh Rehabilitation Institute who elected to retain membership in the System, pursuant to Section 913.7 of this ti tle, shall continue to be eligible employees for the purposes of this act Section 901 et seq. of this title. The George Nigh Rehabilitation Institute shall be considered a participating employer only for such employees. RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (d) All employees of CompSource Mut ual Insurance Company who retain membership in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System pursuant to Section 913.9 of thi s title shall continue to be eligible employees for the purposes of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System. CompSource Mutual Insurance Company shall be considered a participating employer only for such employees. (e) All employees of a successor organization, as defined by Section 5-60.12 of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes, who retain membership in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System pursuant to Section 5- 60.35 of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall continue to be eligible employe es for the purposes of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System. A successor organization shall be considered a participating employer only for such employ ees. (f) A participating employer of the Teachers ’ Retirement System of Oklahoma, who has one or more employees who have made an election pursuant to enabling legislation to retain membership in the System as a result of change in administration, shall be considered a participating employer of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System only f or such employees; RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (14) “Employee” means any officer or employee of a participating employer, whose employment is not seasonal o r temporary and whose employment r equires at least one thous and (1,000) hours of work per year and whose s alary or wage is equa l to the hourly rate of the monthly m inimum wage for state employees. For those eligible employers outlined in Section 910 of th is title, the rate shall be equal to the hourly rate of the monthly minimum wage for that employer. Each employer, whose minim um wage is less than the state’s minimum wage, shall inform the System of the minimum wage for that employer. This notification shall be by resolution of the gove rning body. (a) Any employee of the county extension agents who is not currently participatin g in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma shall be a member of this System. (b) Eligibility shall not include any employee who is a contributing member of t he United States Civil Ser vice Retirement System. (c) It shall be mandatory for an officer, a ppointee or employee of the office of district attorney to become a member of this Syste m if he or she is not currently participating in a county retirement system . Provided further, that if an officer, appointee or employee of the office of district atto rney is currently participating in such county retirement system, he or RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 she is ineligible for this System as long as he or she is eligible for such county retireme nt system. Any eligible officer, appointee or employee of the office of district attorney sh all be given credit for prior service as defined in this section. The provisions outlined in Section 917 of this title shall app ly to those employees who have pre viously withdrawn their contributions. (d) Eligibility shall also not in clude any officer or employee of the Oklahoma Employment S ecurity Commission, except for those officers and e mployees of the Commission electing to tr ansfer to this System pursuant to the provisions of Section 910.1 of this title or any other class of offi cers or employees specifically exempted by the laws of thi s state, unless there be a consolidation as provide d by Section 912 of this title. Employee s of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission who are ine ligible for enrollment in the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Retirement Plan, that was in effec t on January 1, 1964, shall become members of this System. (e) Any employee employed by the Legislati ve Service Bureau, State Senate or House of Representatives for the full duration of a regular legislative session RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 shall be eligible for membership in the System regardless of classification as a temporary employee and may participate in the System during the regular legislative session at the option of the employe e. For purposes of this subparagraph, the det ermination of whether an employee is employed for the full duration of a regular legislative session shall be made by the Legislative Service Bureau i f such employee is employed by the Legislative Service Bureau, the State Senate if such employee is employ ed by the State Senate, or by the House of Representatives if such employee is employed by the House of Representatives. Each regular legislative session during which the legislative employee or an employee of the Legislative Service Bureau participates full time shall be counted as six (6) months of full-time participating service. (i) Except as otherwise provided by this subparagraph, once a temporar y session employee makes a choice to participate or not, the choice shall be binding for all future legisl ative sessions during which the employee is emplo yed. (ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of divisio n (i) of this subparagraph, any employee, who is e ligible RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 for membership in the Syst em because of the provisions of this subparagraph and who was employed by the State Senate or House of Representatives after January 1, 1989, may file an election, in a man ner specified by the Board, to participate as a me mber of the System prior to September 1, 1989. (iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of division (i) of this subparagraph, a temporary legislative session employee who elected to become a member of the System may withdraw from the System effective the day said such employee elected to participate in the System upon writt en request to the Board. Any such request mus t be received by the Board prior to October 1, 1990. All employee contributions made by the te mporary legislative session employee shall be returned to the employee without interest w ithin four (4) months of receipt of the written request. (iv) A member of the System who did not initially elect to participate as a member of the System pursuant to this subparagraph shall be able to acquire service perfo rmed as a temporary legislative session employee for periods of RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 service performed prior to the date upon w hich the person became a member of the Syste m if: a. the member files an election with the Syst em not later than December 31, 2000, to purchase the prior service; and b. the member makes payment to the System o f the actuarial cost of the service credit pursuant to subsection A of Section 913.5 of this title. The provisions of Section 913.5 of this title shall be applicable to the purchase of the servic e credit, including the provisions for determining service credit in the event of incomplete payment due to cessation of payments, death, termination of employment or retirement, but the payment may extend for a period not to exceed ninety-six (96) months; (15) “Entry date” means the date on which an eligible empl oyer joins the System. The first entry date p ursuant to Section 901 et seq. of this title shall be January 1, 1964; (16) “Executive Director” means the managing officer of the System employed by the Board under Section 901 et se q. of this title; RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (17) “Federal Internal Revenue Code ” means the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or 1986, as amended and as applicable to a governmental plan as in effect on July 1, 1999; (18) “Final average compen sation” means the average annual compensation, including amo unts deferred under deferred compensation agreements entered into between a member and a p articipating employer, up to, but not exceeding the maximum compensation levels as provided in paragraph ( 9) of this section received during the highest three (3) of the last ten (10) years of participating service immediately preceding retirement or termi nation of employment and with respect to members wh ose first participating service occurs on or after July 1, 2013, the compensation receive d during the highest five (5) of the last ten (10) years of participating service immediately preceding retirement o r termination of employment. Provided, no member s hall retire with a final average compensation unless th e member has made the required contributions on such compens ation, as defined by the Board of Trustees; (19) “Fiscal year” means the period commencin g July 1 of any year and ending June 30 of the next year. The fiscal year is the plan year for purposes o f the federal Internal Revenue Cod e; however, the calendar y ear is the limitation year for purposes of Section 415 of the federal Internal Revenue Cod e; RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (20) “Fund” means the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement Fund as created by Section 901 et seq. of t his title; (21) “Leave of absence” means a period of absenc e from employment without pay, authorized and approved by the employer and acknowledged to the Board, and which after the effective date does not exceed two (2) years; (22) “Member” means an eligible employee or elected official who is in the System and i s making the required employee or elected official contributions, or any former employee o r elected official who shall have made the required contributions to the System and shall have not receive d a refund or withdrawal; (23) “Military service” means service in the Armed Forces of the United States by an honorably discharged person during the following time periods, as reflected on such perso n’s Defense Department Form 214, not to exceed five (5) years for combined participating and/or prior service, as f ollows: (a) during the following periods, incl uding the beginning and ending dates, and on ly for the periods served, from: (i) April 6, 1917, to November 11, 1918, commonly referred to as World Wa r I, (ii) September 16, 1940, to D ecember 7, 1941, as a member of the 45th Division, RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (iii) December 7, 1941, to December 31, 1946, commonly referred to as World War II, (iv) June 27, 1950, to January 3 1, 1955, commonly referred to as the Korean Conflict or the Korean War, (v) February 28, 1961, to May 7, 1975, comm only referred to as the Vietnam era, except th at: a. for the period from February 28, 1961 , to August 4, 1964, military service shall only include service in the Republic of Vietnam during that period, and b. for purposes of deter mining eligibility for education and training benefits, such period shall end on December 31, 1976, or (vi) August 1, 1990, to December 31, 1991, commonly referred to as the Gulf War, the Persian Gulf War, or Operation Des ert Storm, but excluding any person who served on active dut y for training only, unless discharged from su ch active duty for a service-connected disability; (b) during a period of war or combat militar y operation other than a conflict, war or era listed in subparagraph (a) of this paragrap h, beginning on the date of Congressional authorization, Congressional RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 resolution, or Executive Order of the Preside nt of the United States, for the use of the Armed F orces of the United States in a war or combat military operation, if such war or combat m ilitary operation lasted f or a period of ninety (90) days or more, for a person who served, and only for the period served, in the area of responsibility of the war or combat military operation, but excluding a person who served on active duty for training only, unless discharged f rom such active duty for a service -connected disability, and provided that the burden of p roof of military service during this period shall b e with the member, who must present appropriate documen tation establishing such service. An eligible member under t his paragraph shall include only those persons who shall have served during the times or i n the areas prescribed in this paragraph, and only if such person provides appropriate documentation in su ch time and manner as required by the System to establish su ch military service prescribed in this paragraph, or for service pursuant to subdivision a of division (v) of subparagraph (a) of this paragr aph those persons who were awarded service medals, as a uthorized by the United States Dep artment of Defense as reflected in the veteran ’s Defense Department Form 214, related to the Vietnam Conflict for se rvice prior to August 5, 1964; RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (24) “Normal retirement date” means the date on which a member may retire with full retirement benefits as p rovided in Section 901 et seq. of this title, such date being whichever occurs first: (a) the first day of the month coinciding with or following a member’s: (1) sixty-second birthday with respect to members whose first participating service occurs prior t o November 1, 2011, or (2) sixty-fifth birthday with respect to members whose first participating service occurs on or after November 1, 2011, or with respect to members whose first participating service occurs on or after November 1, 2011, reaches who reach a minimum age of sixty (60) years and who also reaches reach a normal retirement date pursuant to subparagraph c of this paragraph, (b) for any person who initially became a member prior to July 1, 1992, and who does not reach a normal retirement date pursuant to divis ion (1) of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, the first day of the month coinciding with or followi ng the date at which the sum of a member ’s age and number of years of credited service total eighty (80); such a normal retirement date will also apply to a ny person who RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 19 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 became a member of the sending system as defined in Section 901 et seq. of this title, prior to July 1, 1992, regardless of whether there were breaks in service after July 1, 1992, (c) for any person who beca me a member after June 30, 1992, but prior to November 1, 20 11, and who does not reach a normal retirement date pursuant to division (1) of subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, the first day of the month coinciding with or following the date at which the sum of a member’s age and number of years of credited service total ninety (90), (d) in addition to subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) of th is paragraph, the first day of the month coinciding with or following a member ’s completion of at least twenty (20) years of full-time-equivalent employment as: (i) a correctional or probation and parole officer with the Department of Corrections and at th e time of retirement, the member was a correctional or probation and parole officer with the Department of Corrections, or (ii) a correctional officer, prob ation and parole officer or fugitive apprehension agent with th e Department of Corrections who is in such position on June 30, 2004, or who is hired af ter June 30, RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 20 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2004, and who receives a promotion or change in job classification after June 30, 2004, to another position in the Dep artment of Corrections, so long as su ch officer or agent has at least five (5) years of service as a correctional officer, pr obation and parole officer or fugitive apprehension agent with the Department, has twenty (20) years of f ull-time- equivalent employment with the Department and was employed by the Department at the time of retirement, or (iii) a firefighter with the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma either employed for the first time on or after J uly 1, 2002, or who was employed p rior to July 1, 2002, in such position and who makes the electio n authorized by division (2) of subparagraph b of paragraph (9) of subsection A of Section 915 of this title and at the time of retirement, the member was a firefighter with the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma, and such member has at least twent y (20) years of credited service upon which the two and one-half RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 21 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 percent (2 1/2%) multiplier will be used in calculating the retirement benefit, or (iv) a public safety officer employed by the Grand River Dam Authority for the first time on or after July 1, 2016, or (v) a deputy sheriff or jailer employed by any county that is a participating employer in the System for the first time as a deputy sheriff or jailer on or after November 1, 2020, or (vi) licensed emergency medical personnel, as defined pursuant to Section 1-2503 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, holding a license issued by the State Department of Health pursuant to Section 1-2505 of Title 63 of the Oklahom a Statutes, including emergency medical responders , emergency medical technicians, inte rmediate emergency medical tech nicians, advanced emergency medical technicians, and paramedics employed by any participating employer as a licensed emergency medical personnel for the first time on or after the effective date of this act, (e) for those fugitive apprehension agents who retire on or after July 1, 2002, the first day of the month coinciding with or following a member ’s completion of RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 22 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 at least twenty (20) years of full -time-equivalent employment as a fugitive apprehension agent with the Department of Corrections and at the t ime of retirement, the member was a fugitive apprehension agent with the Department of Corrections, or (f) for any member who was continuously employed by an entity or institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and whose initial emplo yment with such entity or institution was prior to July 1, 1992, and who without a break in service of more than thirty (30) days became employed by an employer participating in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, the first day of the month co inciding with or following the date at which the sum of the member’s age and number of years of credited se rvice total eighty (80); (25) “Participating employer ” means an eligible employer who has agreed to make contributions to the System on behalf of it s employees; (26) “Participating service” means the period of employment after the entry date for which cr edit is granted a member; (27) “Prior service” means the period of employment of a member by an eligible employer prio r to the member’s entry date for which credit is granted a member under Section 901 et seq. of this title; RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 23 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (28) “Retirant” or “retiree” means a member who has retired under the System; (29) “Retirement benefit” means a monthly income with benefits accruing from the first day of the m onth coinciding with or following retirement and ending on the last day of the month in which death occurs or the actuarial equivalent thereof paid in such manner as specified by the member pursuant to Section 901 et seq. of this title or as otherwise allo wed to be paid at the discretion of the Board; (30) “Retirement coordinator” means the individual designat ed by each participating employer through whom System transactions and communication shall be directed; (31) “Social Security” means the old-age survivors and disability section of the Federal federal Social Security Act; (32) “Total disability” means a physical or mental disability accepted for disability benefits by the Federal federal Social Security System; (33) “Service-connected disability benefits ” means military service benefits which are for a s ervice-connected disability rated at twenty percent (20%) or more by the V eterans Administration or the Armed Forces of the United States; (34) “Elected official” means a person elected to a state office in the legislative or executive branch of state gov ernment or a person elected to a county office for a definite number of ye ars RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 and shall include an individual who is appointed to fill the unexpired term of an elected st ate official; (35) “Elected service” means the period of service as an elected official; (36) “Limitation year” means the year used in applying the limitations of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, which year shall be the calendar year; an d (37) “Public safety officers of the Grand River Dam Authority” means those persons hired by the Grand River Dam Authority on or after the effective date of this act March 21, 2001, who are certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Traini ng or an equivalent certifying entity for law enfor cement personnel training and who perform law enforcement functions as part of their regularly assigned duties and responsib ilities on a full-time basis. With respect to any public safety officer hired by the Grand River Dam Authority on or after the effective date of this act March 21, 2001, any earned benefits or credits toward retirement benefits from previous participation within the Okl ahoma Public Employees Retirement System or the Oklahoma Law Enfor cement Retirement System shall remain within that s ystem. SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 915, is amended to read as follows: Section 915. A. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection and as provided for e lected officials in Section 913.4 of RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 25 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 title, any member who shall retire on or a fter the member’s normal retirement date shall be entitled to receive an annual retirement benefit equal t o two percent (2%) of the member ’s final average compensation as d etermined pursuant to paragraph (18) of Section 902 of this title, multiplied by the number of years of credited service that has been credited to the member in accordance with the provisions of Section 913 of this title other than years credited pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection. (2) Effective January 1, 2004, except as other wise provided for elected officials in Section 913.4 of this title and except for those members making con tributions pursuant to paragraphs (c), (d), (e), and (f), (g), and (h) of subsection (1) of Section 919.1 of this title, any member who shall retire s hall be entitled to receive an annual retirement benefit equal to two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the member’s final average compensation as determined pursuant to paragraph (18) of Section 902 of this title, multiplie d by the number of full years of participating service after January 1, 2004, that have been credited to the member in accordance with the provisions of Section 913 of this title and only for those full years of participating service for which contribution s have been made pursuant to para graph (g) of subsection (1) of Secti on 919.1 of this title. The two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) multipl ier shall not apply to purchased service, purchased or granted mil itary service or transferred service. In order to receive the two and RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 26 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 one-half percent (2 1/2%) multiplier in computing retirement benefits, an active member shall make an irrevocable writt en election to pay the contributions pursuant to paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of Section 919.1 of this title. The two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) multiplier pursuant to this paragr aph shall not apply to additional years of service credit attributed t o sick leave pursuant to paragraph 7 of subsection B of Section 91 3 of this title and fractional years pursuant to su bsection C of Section 913 of this title and shall be attributable onl y to the participating service credited after the election of the memb er. (3) The minimum final average compensation for any person who becomes a member of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System on or after July 1, 1995 and who had: a. and who had twenty (20) or more years of credited service within the System as of the membe r’s retirement date shall be no less t han Thirteen Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars ($13,800.00) per annum, b. and who had at least fifteen (15 ) but not more than nineteen (19) years of cred ited service within the System as of the member’s retirement date sh all be no less than Six Thousand Nine Hundred Dollars ($6,900.00) per annum, or c. and who had less than fifteen (15) years of credited service within the System as of the member ’s RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 27 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 date shall not be eligible for any minimum amount of final average compensation and the member ’s final average compensation shall be the final average compensation as defined by paragraph (18) of Section 902 of this title. (4) Provided, further, any memb er who has elected a vested benefit pursuant to Section 917 of this title shall be entitled to receive benefits as outlined in this section except the percent factor and the member’s maximum compensation le vel in effect the date the member’s employment was terminated with a participating employer shall be applicable. (5) Any member who is a correctional offic er or a probation and parole officer employed by the Department o f Corrections at the time of retirement and who retires on or before June 30, 2000, s hall be entitled to receive an annua l retirement benefit equal to tw o and one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation of the member not to exceed Twenty -five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) an d two percent (2%) of the final average salary in excess of Twenty- five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) but not exceedin g the maximum compensation level as pr ovided in paragraph (9) of Section 902 of this title, multiplied by the number of years of service a s a correctional officer or a probation and parole officer; provided, any years accrued prior to July 1, 1990, as a co rrectional officer or a probation and parole officer by a member who is employed as a RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 correctional officer or a probation and parole offic er on July 1, 1990, shall be calculated for retire ment purposes at two and one - quarter percent (2 1/4%) of the final a verage compensation of the member not to exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) and two percent (2%) of the final average salary in excess of Twenty- five Thousand Dollars ($25,00 0.00) but not exceeding the maximum compensation level as provided i n paragraph (9) of Section 902 of this title, multiplied by the number of years of such service and any years in excess of twenty (20) yea rs as such an officer or years credited to the member in accordance with the provision s of Section 913 of this title shall be calculated for retirement purp oses at two percent (2%) of the final average compensation of the member multiplied by the number of years of such service. Any person who contributes to the System as a correctional of ficer or a probation and parole officer as provided in paragraph (b) o r (c) of subsection (1) of Section 919.1 of this title, on or bef ore June 30, 2000, but who does not make such contributions after June 30, 2000, and who does not qualify for normal reti rement under subparagraph (c) of paragraph (24) of Section 902 of this title shall have retirement benefits for each year of full -time-equivalent participating service as a correctional or a probation and parole officer after July 1, 1990, computed on two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation based upon those years as a correctional officer or a probation and par ole officer. Provided, further, an y RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 fugitive apprehension agent shall be entitled to receive benefits as outlined in this act Section 901 et seq. of this title for service as a fugitive apprehension agent prior to July 1, 2002, only upon payment to the System of the employee contributions which would have been paid if such fugitive apprehen sion agent had been covered by this section prior to the effective date of this act July 1, 2002, plus interest of not to exceed ten percent (10%) as d etermined by the Oklahoma Public Employees Retire ment Board of Trustees. The Department of Corrections m ay make the employee contribution and interest payment on behalf of such member. (6) Any member who is a correctional officer, a probation and parole officer or a fugitive apprehension agent employed by the Department of Corrections at the time of retirem ent and who retires on or after July 1, 2002, shall be entitled to receive an annual retirement benefit equal to two a nd one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation of the member, but not exceeding the maximum compensation level as provided in paragraph (18) of Section 902 of this title, multiplied by the number of years of service as a correctional officer, a probation and parole officer or a fugit ive apprehension agent, and any years in excess of twenty (20) years as such an officer or age nt, or years credited to the member in accordance with the provisions of Section 913 of this t itle, shall be calculated for retirement purposes at two percent (2% ) of the final average compensation of the member multiplied by the number of RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 years of such service. For purposes of this paragraph, “final average compensation ” shall be determined by co mputing the average annual salary, in the manner prescribed by parag raph (18) of Section 902 of this title, for the highest three (3) years of the last ten (10) years of participating service immediately preceding retirement or termination of employment fo r all years of service p erformed by such member, both for years of s ervice performed as a correctional officer, probation and parole officer or fugitive apprehens ion agent, not in excess of twenty (20) years, and for years of service performed in excess of twenty (20) years, whet her as a correctional officer, probation and parole officer, fugitive apprehension agent or other position unless the computation of benef its would result in a lower retirement benefit amount than if final average compensation were to be computed as otherw ise provided by this paragraph. “Final average compensation” Final average compensati on shall be determined by computing the average annu al salary for the highest five (5) of the last ten (10) years of participating service immediately preceding retirement or termination of employment, with re spect to members whose first participating service occurs on or after July 1, 2013. (7) Any member who is a correctional officer, a probation and parole officer or a fugitive apprehension agent who has at least five (5) years of service as a correctional officer, a probation and parole officer or a fugitive apprehension age nt who is in such RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 position on June 30, 2004, or who is hired after June 30, 2004, in such position, and who receives a promotion or change in job classification after June 30, 2004, to a nother position in the Department of Corrections, and who is employed by the Department of Corrections at the time of retirement and who retires on or after July 1, 2004, shall be entitled to receive an annual retirem ent benefit equal to two and one -half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation of the member, but n ot exceeding the maximum compensation level as provided in paragraph (18) of Section 902 of this title, multiplied by the number of years of servic e with the Department of Corrections an d any years in excess of twenty (20) years with the Department or year s credited to the member in accordance with the provisions of Section 913 of this title, shall be calculated for retirement purposes at two percent (2%) of the final average compensation of the member multiplied by the number of years of such service. For purposes of this paragraph, “final average compensation ” shall be determined by computing the average annual salary, in the manner prescribed by p aragraph (18) of Section 902 of this title, for the highest three (3) years of the last ten (10) years of participating service immediatel y preceding retirement or termination of employment for all years of service performed by such member with the Departm ent. “Final average compensation ” Final average compensation shall be determined by c omputing the average annual salary for the highest five (5) of the last ten (10) years of RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 32 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 participating service immediately preceding retirement or termination of employm ent, with respect to members w hose first participating service occurs on or after July 1, 2013. (8) Any person who contributed to the S ystem as a correctional officer, a probation and parole officer or a fugitive apprehension agent as provided in paragrap h (b) or (c) of subsection (1) of Section 919.1 of this title, and who retires under normal retirement or early retirement on or after J anuary 1, 2004, under paragraph (24) of Section 902 of this title, and any public safety officer described by paragraph (37) of Section 902 of this ti tle hired on or after the effective date of this act July 1, 2016, by the Grand River Dam Authority and who r etires on or after the effective date of this act July 1, 2016, shall have retirement benefits for each year of full-time-equivalent participating service as a correcti onal officer, a probation and parol e officer or a fugitive apprehension agent, or Grand River Dam public safety officer computed on two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation based upon those years as a correctional officer, a prob ation and parole officer, a fugitive apprehension agent or a Grand River D am public safety officer. For purpose s of this paragraph, “final average compensation” shall be determined by computing the averag e annual salary, in the manner prescribed by paragr aph (18) of Section 902 of this title, for the highest three (3) years of the last ten (10) years of participati ng service immediately preceding retirement or RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 33 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 termination of employment for all years of ser vice performed by such member, both for years of se rvice performed as a correctional officer, probation and parole officer or fugitive apprehension agent, or years of service performed as a Grand River Dam public safety officer, not in excess of twenty (20 ) years, and for years of service performed in exce ss of twenty (20) years, whether as a correctional officer, probation and parole officer, fugitive apprehension agent, Grand River Dam public safety officer, or other position unless the computation of ben efits would result in a lower retirement benefit am ount than if final average compensa tion were to be computed as otherwise p rovided by this paragraph. “Final average compensation” Final average compensation shall be determined by computing the average an nual salary for the highest five (5) of the last ten (10) years of participating ser vice immediately preceding retirement or termination of employment, with respect to members whose first participating service occurs on or after July 1, 2013, or with respect to Grand River Dam public safety officers whose first participating service occur s on or after the effective date of this act July 1, 2016. (9) Any member who is : a. initially on or after July 1, 200 2, employed as a firefighter for the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma and who retires on or after the member’s normal retirement date shall be entitled to RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 34 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 receive an annual retirement benefit equal to two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation of the member multi plied by the number of years of service in such ser vice, b. (1) a firefighter who perf orms firefighting services for the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma prior to July 1, 2002, and who makes an election in writing on a form prescrib ed for this purpose by the System not later than December 31, 2002, shall be entitled to receive a retirement benefit based upon two and one -half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation of the member multipl ied by the number of years of service as a firefighter with the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma on or after July 1, 2002. The election authorized by this sub division shall be irrevocable once the election is filed with the System, (2) a firefighter who perfo rms firefighting services for the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma prior to July 1, 2002, and who makes the election in division (1) o f this subparagraph may also make an election in writing o n a form RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 35 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 prescribed for this purpose by the System not later than December 31, 2002, to receive a retirement benefit based upon two and one -half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation of the member multiplied by the number of years of service a s a firefighter with the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma prior to July 1, 2002. The election authorized by this subdivision shall be irrevocable once the election is filed wit h the System. Retirement benefits shall be calculated based upon the two and one -half percent (2 1/2%) multiplier upon payment being made pursuant to Section 913.5 of this title. (10) Any person who contributes to the System as a deputy sheriff or county jailer as provided in paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of Section 919.1 of this tit le, and who retires under normal retirement or early retirement unde r division (v) of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (24) of Section 902 of this title, shall have retirement benefits for each year of full -time-equivalent participating service as a deputy sh eriff or county jailer computed on two and one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation based upon those years as a deputy sheriff or county jailer, and any years in excess of twenty (20) years as a deputy RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 36 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 sheriff or county jailer, or years credited to the member in accordance with the provisions of Section 913 of this title, shall be calculated for retirement purposes at two percent (2%) of the final average compensation of the member multiplied by the number of years of such service. For p urposes of this paragraph, “final average compensation” shall be determined by computing the average annual salary, in the manner prescribed by paragraph (18) of Section 902 of this title, both for years of service performed as a deputy sheriff or county jailer not in excess of twenty (20) years, and for years of service performed in excess of twenty (20) years, whether as a deputy sheriff or county jailer. (11) Any person who contributes to the System as a n emergency medical service personnel as provided in para graph (h) of subsection (1) of Section 919.1 of this title, and who retires under normal retirement or early retirement under division (vii) of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (24) of Section 902 of this title, shall have retirement benefits for each year of full -time-equivalent participating service as an emergency medical service personnel computed on two and one -half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average compensation based upon those years as an emergency medical service personnel. Any years of full-time-equivalent participating service in excess of twenty (20) years as an emergency medical personnel, or years credited to the member in accor dance with the provisions of Section 913 of this title, shall be calculated for retirement RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 37 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 purposes at two percent (2%) of the final average com pensation of the member multiplied by the number of years of such service. For the purposes of this paragraph, “final average compensation” shall be determined by computing the average annual salary, in the manner prescribed by paragraph 18 of Section 902 of this title, both for years of service performed as an emergency medical personnel no t in excess of twenty (20) years, and for years of service performed in excess of twenty (20) years, as an emergency medical service personnel. (12) Upon death of a retiree, there shall be paid to his or her beneficiary an amount equal to the excess, if a ny, of his or her accumulated contributions over the sum of all retirement benefit payments made. (12) (13) Such annual retirement benefits shall be paid in equal monthly installments, except that the Board may provide for the payment of retirement benefi ts which total less than Two Hundred Forty Dollars ($240.00) a year on other than a monthly basis. (13) (14) Pursuant to the rules established by the Board, a retiree receiving monthly benefits from the System may authorize warrant deductions for any prod ucts currently offered to active state employees through the Employees Benefits Council Oklahoma Employees Insurance and Benefits Board , provided that product is offered to state retirees as a group and has a minimum participation of five hundred state retirees. The System has no responsibility RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 38 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 for the marketing, enrolling or administration of such products, but shall retain a processing fee of two percent (2%) of the g ross deductions for the products. Retirement benefit deductions shall be made for membership dues for any statewide association for whi ch payroll deductions are authorized pursuant to subsection B of Section 34.70 of Title 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes for retired members of any state -supported retirement system, upon proper authorization given by the member to the board from which the memb er or beneficiary is currently receiving retirement benefits. B. A member shall be considered disabled if such member qualifies for the payment of Social Security disability benefits, or the payment of benefits pursuant to the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, Section 231 et seq. of Title 45 of the United States Code, and shall be eligible for benefits hereunder upon proof of such disability, provided such m ember is an active regularly scheduled employee with a participating employer at the time of injury o r inception of illness or disease resulting in subsequent certification of eligibility for Social Security disability be nefits by reason of such injury, il lness or disease, providing such disability is certified by the Social Security Administration within one (1) year after the last date physically on the job and after completion of at least eight (8) years of participatin g service or combined prior and par ticipating service or resulting in subsequent certification of eligibility of disability by the Railr oad RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 39 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Board providing such certification is made by the Railroad Retirement Board within one (1) year after the last date physically on the job an d after completion of at least eight (8) years of participating service or combined prior and partici pating service. The member shall submit to the Retirement System the Social Security Award Notice or the Railroad Retir ement Award Notice certifying the date of entitlement for disability benefits, as issued by the Social Security Administration, Departme nt of Health and Human Services or the Railroad Retirement Board. Disability benefits shall become effective on the dat e of entitlement as established by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board, but not before the first day of the month following removal from the payroll, whichever is later, a nd final approval by the Retirement System. Benefits shall be based upon length of service and compensation as of the date of disability, without actuarial reduction because of commencemen t prior to the normal retirement date. The only optional form of b enefit payment available for disability benefits is O ption A as provided for in Section 918 of this title. Option A must be elected in accordance with the provisions of Section 918 of this title. Benefit payments shall cease upon the member ’s recovery from disability prior to the normal retirement date. F uture benefits, if any, shall be pa id based upon length of service and compensation as of the date of disability. In the event that dis ability ceases and the member RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 40 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 returns to employment within the Syst em credited service to the date of disability shall b e restored, and future benefits sha ll be determined accordingly. C. A member who incurred a disability pursuant to subsection B of this section on or after July 1, 1999, and who has retired from the System with an early retirement benefit pending certific ation from the Social Security Admi nistration or the Railroad Retirement Board shall receive a retirement benefit not less than the disability retirement benefit provided by subsection B of this section once the System receives a Social Security Award Noti ce or a Railroad Retirement Award N otice pursuant to subsection B of this section and a completed Application for Disability Benefits application for disability benefits . In addition, such member shall receive the difference, if any, betw een the early retirement benefit and the disability benefit from the date the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board establishes disability entitlement. D. Any actively participating member of the System on or after July 1, 1998, except for those employees provided in subparagraph (e) of paragraph (14) of Section 902 of this tit le, whose employment is less than full-time, shall have his or her final average compensation calculated on an annualized basis using his or her hourly wage subject to the maximum compensation limits; provide d, however, any such member whose first particip ating service occurred RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 41 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 before July 1, 2013, and who h as at least three (3) years of full - time employment during the last ten (10) years immediately precedin g termination or retirement shall not be eligible fo r the annualization provisions contained herein; and provided further, any such member whose first pa rticipating service occurred on or after July 1, 2013, and who has at least five (5) years of full -time employment during the last ten (10) years immediate ly preceding termination or retirement shall not be eligible for the annualization provisions contain ed herein. The Board of Trustees shall promulgate such administrative rules as are necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection. SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 916.3, is amended to read as follows: Section 916.3. A. 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 901 through 932 of this title, a monthly pension, as provided in subsection B of this section, shall be paid on behalf of any member who is a correctional officer or probation and parole officer of the Department of Corrections and who is killed or mortally wounded on or after January 1, 2000, during the performa nce of the member’s duties for the Department or any employee of the Department of Corrections who is killed or mortally wounded after June 30, 2004, during the performance of the member ’s duties for the Department. RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 42 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. The monthly pension described in t his section shall be paid on behalf of any member first hired by any county that is a participating employer in the System as a deputy sher iff or jailer on or after November 1, 2020, and who is killed or mortally wounded during the performance of the membe r’s duties as a deputy sheriff or jailer. 3. The monthly pension described in this section shall be paid on behalf of a licensed emergency medical personnel hired by any participating employer for the fir st time as a licensed emergency medical personnel on or after the effective date of this act, and who is killed or mortally wounded during the per formance of the member’s duties as an emergency medical personnel. B. The monthly benefit shall be equal to: 1. Two and one-half percent (2 1/2%); 2. Multiplied by twenty (20) years of service, regardless of the actual number of years of credited service performed by the member prior to death, if the member had performed l ess than twenty (20) years of credited s ervice, or the actual number of years of credited service of the member if greater than twenty (20) y ears; 3. Multiplied by the member ’s final average compensation; and 4. Divided by 12. C. The pension provided fo r in subsection A of this section shall be paid: RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 43 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, to the surviving spouse for life; or 2. If there is no surviving spouse or upon the death of the surviving spouse: a. to the surviving child or childr en of said member or legal guardian of such child or children for such time as such child or children are under the age of eighteen (18) years, or b. to the surviving child or children between the age of eighteen (18) and twenty-two (22) years if the child is enrolled full time in and is regular ly attending a public or private school or any i nstitution of higher education. D. No surviving spou se shall receive benefits from this section, Section 49-113 of Title 11 of t he Oklahoma Statutes, Section 50-117 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or S ection 2- 306 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statute s as the surviving spouse of more than one member of the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System, the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System, the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, or the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement Sys tem. The surviving spouse of more than one member sh all elect which member’s benefits he or she will receive. RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 44 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 E. In addition to the pension above provided for, if sai d member leaves one or more children und er the age of eighteen (18) years or under the a ge of twenty-two (22) years if the child is enrolled full-time in and is regularly attending a public or private school or any institution of higher education, Four Hun dred Dollars ($400.00) a month shall be paid to the surviving spouse or to the person having the care and custody of such children if there i s no surviving spouse or if the surviving spouse dies and until each child reaches the age of eighteen (18) years o r reaches the age of twenty-two (22) years if the child is enrolled full -time in and is regularly attending a public or private school or any institution of higher education. F. The pension benefit provided in this s ection shall be made prospectively only from the effective date of this act July 1, 2000. The benefits shall be payable beginn ing the later of the first day of the month following the date that such employee was killed or dies from a mortal wound, as provided in this section, or the effective date of th is act July 1, 2000. G. The Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System shall promulgate such rules as ar e necessary to implement the provisions of this section. SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Sectio n 919.1, is amended to read as follows: RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 45 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Section 919.1. (1) Employee contributions to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System shall be: (a) for employees except a s otherwise provided in paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) , and (g), and (h) of this subsection: beginning Ju ly 1, 2006, and thereafter, three and one-half percent (3.5%) of allowable annual compensation;, (b) for correctional officers and probation a nd parole officers employed by the Department of Corrections: beginning July 1, 199 8, and thereafter, and for correctional officers or probation and parole officers who are in such position on June 30, 2004, or who are hired after June 30, 2004, and who r eceive a promotion or change in job classification after June 30, 2004, to another position in the Department of C orrections, so long as such officers have at least five (5) years of service as a correctional office r or probation and parole officer, eight percent (8%) of allowable compensation as provided in paragraph (9) of Section 902 of this title;, (c) for fugitive apprehension agents who are employe d with the Department of Corrections on or after July 1, 2002, and for fugitive apprehension agents who ar e in such position on June 30, 2004, or who are hired after RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 46 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 June 30, 2004, and who receive a promotion or change in job classification after June 30, 2004, to another position in the Department of Corrections, so l ong as such agents have at least five (5) years of service as a fugitive apprehension agent, eight percent (8%) of allowable compensation as provided in pa ragraph (9) of Section 902 of this ti tle;, (d) for firefighters of the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma first employed beginning July 1, 2002, and thereafter, and such firefighters who performed service pr ior to July 1, 2002, for the Oklahoma Military Department of the State of Oklahoma and who make the election authorize d by division (1) of subparagraph b of paragraph (9) of subsection A of Section 915 of this title who perf orm service on or after July 1, 2002, in such capacity, eight percent (8%) of allowable co mpensation as provid ed in subsection paragraph (9) of Section 902 of this title;, (e) for all public safety officers of the Grand River Dam Authority as defined by par agraph (37) of Section 902 of this title, eight percent (8%) of allowable compensation as provided i n paragraph (9) of Section 902 of this title;, RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 47 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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) for deputy sheriffs and county jailers employed by any county that is a participating employer in the Syst em for the first time as a dep uty sheriff or jailer on or after November 1, 2020, eight percent (8%) of allowable compensation as provided in paragrap h (9) of Section 902 of this title; and, (g) for licensed emergency medical personnel employed by any participating employer as a licensed emergency medical personnel for the first time on or after the effective date of this act, eight percent (8%) of allowable compensation as provided in paragraph ( 9) of Section 902 of this title, and (h) for all employees except those who mak e contributions pursuant to paragraphs (b), (c), (d), (e) , and (f), and (g) of this subsection who m ake an irrevocable written election pursuant to paragraph (2) of subsection A of Section 915 of this title: six and forty-one one-hundredths percent ( 6.41%) of allowable annual compensation. The contributions required by paragra phs (b), (c), (e), and (f), (g), and (h) of this subsection shall be made b y a member for not more than twenty (20) years and thereafter shall be as provided in paragraph (a) of this subsection. RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 48 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 (2) Contributions shall be deducted by each state agency by the participating employer for such benefits as the Board is authorized to administer as provided for by law. Employee and employer contributions shall be remitted monthly, or a s the Board may otherwise provide, to the Executive Director for deposit in th e Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement Fund. (3) Each participating employ er shall pick up under the provisions of Section 414(h)(2) of the Interna l Revenue Code of 1986 and pay the contribution which the me mber is required by law to make to the System for all compensation earned a fter December 31, 1988. Although the contributi ons so picked up are designated as member contributions, such contributio ns shall be treated as contrib utions being paid by the parti cipating employer in lieu of contributions by the member in determining tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and such picked up contributions shall not be includable in the gross income of the member until suc h amounts are distributed or made available to the member or the beneficiary o f the member. The member, by the terms of this System, shall not have any option to choose to receive the contributions so picked up directly and the picked up contributions mus t be paid by the participating employer to the System. Member contributions wh ich are picked up shall be treated in the same manner and to the same exten t as member contributions made prior to the date on which member contribu tions were picked up by RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 49 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 participating employer. Member contributions so picked up shall be included in gross salary for purposes o f determining benefits and contributions under t he System. The participating employer shall pay the member contributions from the same source of funds used in paying salary to the m ember, by effecting an equal cash reduction in g ross salary of the member. (4) By September 1, 1989, the System shall refu nd the accumulated employee contributions of any member who elects to retain the member’s membership in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma, in accordance with Section 17 -104 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, to such member. Upon the refund of the accumulated employee contributions referred to in this subsection, all benefits and rights accrued to such member are terminated . SECTION 5. AMENDATORY 74 O.S. 2021, Section 9 20A, is amended to read as follows: Section 920A. A. Any county, county hospital, city or town, conservation district, ci rcuit engineering district or any public or private trust in which a county, city or town participates an d is the primary beneficiary, which is a participating employer and any eligible employee shall contribute to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System. The total employer an d employee contributions shall be based on the allowable annual compensation a s defined in paragraph (9) of Section 902 of this title. Except as provided f or RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 50 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 in this section, the employer shal l not pay for the employee any of the employee contribution to the System. B. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005, the total employer and employee contributions s hall equal thirteen and one-half percent (13 1/2%) of the allowable monthly compensation of each member; provided, however, each participating employer listed in this section may set the amount of the employer and employee contri bution to equal thirteen an d one-half percent (13 1/2%) of the allowable monthly compensation of each member for co mpensation as provided in paragraph (9) of Section 902 of this title; provided, the employer contribution shall not exceed ten percent (10%) and the employee contribution shall not exceed eight and one-half percent (8 1/2%). C. The total employer and empl oyee contributions for fiscal years following the fiscal year e nding June 30, 2005, shall be as follows: July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2006 15% July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007 16% July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008 17% July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009 18% July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010 19% July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011 and each fiscal year thereafter 20% Such employee and employer contributions shall be based upon t he allowable monthly compen sation of each member for compensation as RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 51 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 provided in paragraph (9) of Section 902 of th is title. The maximum employer contribution of ten percent (10 %) in subsection B of this section shall increase by one and one -half percent (1.5%) beginning in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, and one percent (1%) for each fiscal year thereafter unti l it reaches sixteen and one -half percent (16.5%). For such ye ars, the employee contribution shall not exceed eight and one -half percent (8 1/2%). Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section to the contrary, for those members described in division (v), or (vi) of subparagraph (d) of paragraph (24) of Section 902 of this title, th e county participating employer shall contribute sixteen and one-half percent (16 1/2%) and the employee shall contribute eight percent (8%) for a total of twenty - four and one-half percent (24 1/2%). D. For members who make t he election pursuant to paragr aph (2) of subsection A of Section 915 of this t itle, the employee contribution shall increase by two and ninety-one one-hundredths percent (2.91%). Such employee contribution increase shall be paid by the employee. E. Each participating employer pursuan t to the provisions of this section may pick up under the provisions of Section 41 4(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and pay the contribution which the member is required by law to make to the System for all compensation earned after December 31, 1989. Although the contributions so picked up are designated as member contribut ions, RBS No. 1061 Req. No. 1061 Page 52 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 such contributions shall be treat ed as contributions being paid by the participating employer in lieu of contributions by the member in determining tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and such picked up contributions shall not be in cludable in the gross income of the mem ber until such amounts are distributed or made available to the member or the beneficiary of the member. The member, by the terms of t his System, shall not have any option to choose to receive the contributions so pi cked up directly and the picked up contributions must be paid by the participatin g employer to the System. F. Member contributions which are pi cked up shall be treated in the same manner and to the same extent as member c ontributions made prior to the date on which member contributions were pi cked up by the participating employer. Me mber contributions so picked up shall be included in gross sala ry for purposes of determining benefits and contributions under the System. G. The participating employer shall pay the member contributions from the same source of funds used in paying salary to the member, by effecting an equal cash reduction in gross s alary of the member. 59-1-1061 RD 1/18/2023 12:54:11 PM