Oklahoma 2024 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB631 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/18/2023

                     
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) 
 
SENATE BILL 631 	By: Montgomery 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to the Oklahoma Law Enforcement 
Retirement System; amending 47 O.S. 2021, Section 2-
305, as amended by Section 2, Cha pter 255, O.S.L. 
2022 (47 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 2 -305), which 
relates to retirement and retirement pay ; and 
reinstating certain annual retirement pay for certain 
members. 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     47 O.S. 2021, Section 2 -305, as 
amended by Section 2, Chapter 255, O.S.L. 2022 (47 O.S. Supp. 2022, 
Section 2-305), is amended to read as f ollows: 
Section 2-305. A.  Except as otherwise provided in this title, 
at any time after attaining normal retirement date, any member of 
the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System upon appli cation for 
unreduced retirement be nefits made and approved, may retire, and, 
during the remainder of the member’s lifetime, receive annual 
retirement pay, payable in equal monthly payments, equal to two and 
one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the final average sa lary times years of 
credited service. If such retired member is reemployed by a state 
agency in a position which is not covered by the System, suc h   
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retired member shall continue to receive in -service distributions 
from the System.  Prior to September 19, 2002, if such retired 
member was reemployed by a state agency in a position which is 
covered by the System, such member shall continue to receive i n-
service distributions from the System and shall not a ccrue any 
further credited service .  If such a member is reemployed by a state 
agency in a position which is covered by the System on or after 
September 19, 2002, such member ’s monthly retirement payme nts shall 
be suspended until such member retires and is not reemployed by a 
state agency in a position which is covered by the System. 
B.  Beginning July 1, 1994, members who retired or were eligible 
to retire prior to July 1, 1980, or their surviving spou ses shall 
receive annual retirement pay, payable in equ al monthly payments, 
equal to the greater of their cur rent retirement pay, or two and 
one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the actual paid gross salary being 
currently paid to a highway patrol officer, at the time each such 
monthly retirement payment is made, mult iplied by the retired 
member’s years of credited servi ce. 
C.  Except as otherwise provid ed by this subsection, members of 
the System whose salary is set by statute who have retired after 
completion of the mandatory twenty (20) years of service, and those 
members with statutory salaries who retire after reachi ng the 
mandatory twenty-year retirement shall receive an annual retirement   
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pay, payable in equal monthly installments, based upon the greater 
of either: 
1.  The top base salary currently paid to the hig hest 
nonsupervisory position in the participating agen cy at the time each 
such monthly retirement payment is made, limited to the annual 
salary limit of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliatio n 
Act of 2001, as described in paragraph 9 of Section 2 -300 of this 
title, multiplied by two and one -half percent (2 1/2%) multiplied by 
the number of years of credited service and fraction thereof for the 
following positions: 
a. Oklahoma Highway Patrolman , 
b. Communications Dispatcher, 
c. Capitol Patrolman, 
d. Lake Patrolman, and 
e. Oklahoma State Bureau of Inve stigation - Special Agent 
or Criminalist; or 
2.  The member’s final average salary as set forth in paragraph 
9 of Section 2-300 of this title, mult iplied by two and one -half 
percent (2 1/2%), and multip lied by the number of years of credited 
service and fraction thereof. 
No member of the System retired prior to July 1, 2002, shall 
receive a benefit less than the amount the member is receiving as of 
June 30, 2002.   
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The provisions of paragraph 1 of this sub section shall not be 
applicable to any member whose fi rst participating service with the 
System occurs on or after November 1, 2012, except for those members 
who died in the performance of their duties pursuant to Section 2 -
306 of this title. 
D.  Other members of the System whose retirement benefit is not 
otherwise prescribed by this section who have retired after 
completion of the mandatory twenty (20) years of service, and those 
members who retire after reaching the mandatory twenty -year 
retirement shall receive an annual retirement pay, payable in equal 
monthly payments, based upon the greater of either: 
1.  The actual average salary currently paid to the highest 
nonsupervisory position in the part icipating agency at the time each 
such monthly payment is made, limited to the annual salary limit of 
the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 20 01, as 
described in paragraph 9 of Section 2-300 of this title, multiplied 
by two and one-half percent (2 1/2%), multiplied by the number of 
years of credited service and fraction thereof for the following 
positions: 
a. Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement Commission - ABLE 
Commission Agent III, 
b. Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Dru gs 
Control - Narcotics Agent III,   
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c. Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department - Park 
Ranger II, 
d. State Board of Pharmacy - Pharmacy Inspector, 
e. University of Oklahoma - Police Officer, and 
f. Oklahoma State University - Police Officer; or 
2.  The other member’s final average salary as set forth in 
paragraph 9 of Section 2-300 of this title, multiplied by two and 
one-half percent (2 1/2%), multiplied b y the number of years of 
credited service and fraction thereof. 
No member of the System retired prior to July 1, 2002, shall 
receive a benefit less than the amount the member is receiving as of 
June 30, 2002.  The participating employer must certify to th e 
System in writing the actual average gross salary currently paid to 
the highest nonsupervisory positi on. The Board of Trustees shall 
promulgate such rules as are necessary to implement the provisions 
of this section. 
The provisions of paragraph 1 of th is subsection shall not be 
applicable to any member whose first participating service with the 
System occurs on or after May 24, 2013, except for those members who 
died in the performance of their duties pursuant to Section 2-306 of 
this title. 
E.  A member who meets the definition of disability as defined 
in paragraph 11 of Section 2 -300 of this title by direc t reason of   
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the performance of the member’s duties as an officer shall re ceive a 
monthly benefit equal to: 
1.  Two and one-half percent (2 1/2%); 
2.  Multiplied by: 
a. twenty (20) years of credited service, if the member 
had performed less than twenty (20) years of credited 
service, notwithstanding the actual number of years of 
credited service performed by the member prior to the 
date of disability, or 
b. the actual number of years of credited service and 
fraction thereof performed by the member prior to t he 
date of disability, if the member had performed twenty 
(20) or more years of credited service; 
3.  Multiplied by the greater of subparagraph a of this 
paragraph and division 1 of subparagraph b of this paragraph or 
division 2 of subparagraph b of this p aragraph, as applicable: 
a. the final average salary of the member, as se t forth 
in paragraph 9 of Section 2-300 of this title, and 
b. (1) the top base salary cur rently paid to the highest 
nonsupervisory position in the participating 
agency of the member at the time each monthly 
payment is made, limited to the a nnual salary 
limit of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief 
Reconciliation Act of 2001 described in paragraph   
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9 of Section 2-300 of this title, for the 
following positions: 
(a) Oklahoma Highway Patrolman, 
(b) Communications Dispatcher, 
(c) Capitol Patrolman, 
(d) Lake Patrolman, and 
(e) Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation - 
Special Agent or Criminalist, 
Provided, the participating employe r must certify to 
the System in writing the top base s alary 
currently paid to the highest nonsupervisory 
position for division (1) of subparagraph b of 
this paragraph, or 
(2) the actual average salary currently paid to the 
highest nonsupervisory position in the 
participating agency of the membe r at the time 
each monthly payment is made, limited to the 
annual salary limit of the Economic Growth and 
Tax Relief Reconciliatio n Act of 2001, described 
in paragraph 9 of Section 2 -300 of this title, 
for the following positio ns: 
(a) Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) 
Commission - ABLE Commission Agent III,   
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(b) Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics and 
Dangerous Drugs Control - Narcotics Agent 
III, 
(c) Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Depar tment - 
Park Ranger II, 
(d) State Board of Pharmacy - Pharmacy 
Inspector, 
(e) University of Oklahoma - Police Officer, and 
(f) Oklahoma State University - Police Officer, 
Provided, the participating employer must certify to the System 
in writing the actual average gross salary currently pa id to the 
highest nonsupervisory position for division (2) of subparagraph b 
of this paragraph; 
4.  No member of the System receiving benefits prescribed by 
this subsection who retired prior to July 1, 2002, shall receive a 
benefit of less than the amount th e member was receiving as of June 
30, 2002; 
5.  The Board of Trustees shall promulgate rules as necessary to 
implement the provisions of this subsection ; and 
6.  If such member participates in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement 
Deferred Option Plan pursuant to S ection 2-305.2 of this title, then 
such member’s disability pension provided pursuant to this 
subsection shall be reduced to account for such member ’s 
participation in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Deferred Option Plan.   
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F.  A member who meets the definition of disability as defined 
in paragraph 11 of Section 2-300 of this title and whose disability 
is by means of personal and traumatic injury of a catastro phic 
nature and in the line of duty, shall receive a monthly benefit 
equal to: 
1.  Two and one-half percent (2 1/2%); 
2.  Multiplied by: 
a. twenty (20) years of service, regardless of the actual 
number of years of credited service performed by the 
member prior to the date of disability, if the member 
had performed less than twenty (20) years of service, 
or 
b. the actual number of years of service performed by the 
member if the member had performed twenty (20) or more 
years of service; 
3.  Multiplied by a final average salary equal to: 
a. the salary which the member would have received 
pursuant to statutory sa lary schedules in effect upon 
the date of the disabil ity for twenty (20) years of 
service prior to disability .  The final average salary 
for a member who performed less than twenty (20) years 
of service prior to disability shall be computed 
assuming that the member was paid the highest salary 
allowable pursuant to the law in effect at the time of   
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the member’s disability based upon twenty (20) years 
of service and with an assumption that the member was 
eligible for any and a ll increases in pay based upon 
rank during the entire period.  If the salary of a 
member is not prescribed by a specific salary schedule 
upon the date of the member ’s disability, the fin al 
average salary for the member shall be computed by the 
member’s actual final average salary or the hi ghest 
median salary amount for a member whose salary was 
prescribed by a specific salary schedule upon the date 
of the member’s disability, whichever fi nal average 
salary amount would be greater, or 
b. the actual final ave rage salary of the member if the 
member had performed twenty (20) or more years of 
service prior to disability. 
If such member participates in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement 
Deferred Option Plan pursuant to Section 2-305.2 of this title, such 
member’s disability pension provided pursuant to this subsection 
shall be adjusted as provided in Sect ion 2-305.2 of this title to 
account for such member ’s participation in the Oklahoma Law 
Enforcement Deferred Option Plan. 
G. A member who meets the definition of disab ility as defined 
in Section 2-300 of this title and whose disability occurred prior 
to the member’s normal retirement date but after completing three   
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(3) years of vesting service and no t by reason of the performance of 
the member’s duties or as a result of the member’s willful 
negligence shall receive a monthly benefit equal to two and one -half 
percent (2 1/2%) of final average salary multiplied by the number of 
years of the member’s credited service. 
H.  Payment of a disability pension shall commence as of the 
first day of the month coinci ding or next following the date of 
retirement and shall continue as long as the member meets the 
definition of total and permanent disability provided in this 
section. 
I.  For the purpose of determining the member ’s disability under 
subsection E, F or G of this section, the member shall be required 
by the Board to be examined by a minimum of two recognized 
physicians selected by the Board to determine th e extent of the 
member’s injury or illness.  The examining physicians s hall furnish 
the Board a detailed written report of the injury or illness of the 
examined member establishing the extent of disability and the 
possibilities of the disabled member being returned to his or her 
regular duties or an alternate occupation or se rvice covered by the 
System after a normal recuperation period.  The Board shall requir e 
all retired disabled members who have not attained their normal 
retirement date to submit to a p hysical examination once each year 
for a minimum of three (3) years fol lowing retirement.  The Board 
shall select a minimum of two physicians to examine the r etired   
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members and pay for their services from the fund .  Any retired 
disabled member found no lon ger disabled by the examining physicians 
to perform the occupation of t he member or an alternate occupati on 
or service covered by the System shall be required to return to duty 
and complete twenty (20) years of service as provided in subsection 
A of this section, or forfeit all his or her rights and claims under 
Section 2-300 et seq. of this title. 
J.  The disability benefit under this section shall be for the 
lifetime of the member unless such member is found no longer 
disabled pursuant to subsection I of this section.  Such member 
shall not be entitled to the retirement bene fit pursuant to 
subsection A of this section unless such member returns to active 
duty and is eligible for a retirement benefit as provided in 
subsection A of this section. 
K.  At the postoffer, preemployment physical examination 
required under paragraph 6 of Section 2-300 of this title, t he 
physician selected by the Board shall determine th e extent to which 
a new member is disabled.  If a member is determined to be partially 
disabled, the physician shall assign a percentage of disability to 
such partial disability.  If such member then bec omes entitled to a 
disability benefit under either su bsection E or subsection G of this 
section, the benefit payable shall be reduced by the percentage 
which such member was determined to be disabled at the postoffer, 
preemployment physical unless the Boar d makes a determination that   
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the initially determined percentage of disability at the 
preemployment physical examination is unrelated to the reason for 
the disability currently sought pursuant to subsection E or 
subsection G of this section.  Upon employment, the member shall 
disclose to the Board any disabi lity payments received from any 
source.  The amount of disability to be paid to any member cannot 
exceed one hundred percent (100%) disability from all sources .  The 
provisions of this subsection shall a pply only to members whose 
effective date of membersh ip is on or after July 1, 2000. 
L.  In addition to the pension provided for under subsection F 
of this section, if the member has one or more children under the 
age of eighteen (18) years or under the ag e of twenty-two (22) years 
if the child is enrolled f ull time in and is regularly attending a 
public or private school or any institution of higher edu cation, 
Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) a month shall be paid from the F und 
for the support of each surviv ing child to the member or person 
having the care and custody of such children until each child 
reaches the age of eighteen (18) years or reaches the a ge of twenty-
two (22) years if the child is enrolled full time in and i s 
regularly attending a public or private school or any institution of 
higher education. 
M.  Notwithstanding any other provisions in Section 2 -300 
through 2-315 of this title, in order to be eligible to receive 
disability benefits, a member who meets the d efinition of disability   
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as defined in paragraph 11 of Section 2-300 of this title shall file 
the member’s completed application for disability benefits with the 
System before such membe r’s date of termination from service and 
provide such additional inform ation that the System’s rules require 
within six (6) months of the System ’s receipt of such application. 
If the member’s completed application for disability benefits is not 
filed with the System before the member’s date of termination from 
service or such additional information as is req uired under the 
System’s rules is not provided within six (6) months of the System’s 
receipt of such application, such member shall be eligible only fo r 
such other benefits as are available to members of the System and 
shall not be eligible to receive any disability benefits.  For good 
cause shown, the Board of Trustees may waive the requirement that 
the disability application be filed before the member ’s date of 
termination from service.  In no event shall a member be elig ible to 
receive any disability ben efit if the member’s completed application 
is filed more than six (6) months after the member’s date of 
termination from service. 
N.  If the requirements of Section 2-305.1C of this title are 
satisfied, a member who, by re ason of disability or attainment o f 
normal retirement date or age, is separated from se rvice as a public 
safety officer with the member’s participating employer may elect to 
have payment made directly to the provider for qualified health 
insurance premiums by deduction from his or her mont hly disability   
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benefit or monthly retirement payment, after December 31, 2006, in 
accordance with Section 402(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
as amended. 
 
59-1-481 RD 1/18/2023 8:59:04 AM