Bill Text: AZ HB2056 | 2013 | Fifty-first Legislature 1st Regular | Chaptered
Bill Title: PSPRS; amendments
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-06-19 - Governor Signed [HB2056 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2013-HB2056-Chaptered.html
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Senate Engrossed House Bill |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013
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CHAPTER 203
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HOUSE BILL 2056 |
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AN ACT
Amending sections 38‑643, 38‑842, 38‑843, 38‑844, 38-845.02, 38‑846, 38‑847, 38-848, 38‑849, 38‑853.02, 38‑857, 38‑859 and 38‑961, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the public safety personnel retirement system.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 38-643, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-643. Fire fighter and peace officer cancer insurance policy program account
A. The fire fighter and peace officer cancer insurance policy program account is established and shall be under the exclusive control of the board. The board shall deposit monies collected pursuant to section 38‑642 in the account to pay the cost of providing a group cancer insurance policy under the program and the cost of administering the program.
B. The board may use up to ten per cent of the monies deposited in the account each year ending July 31 to pay the costs of administering the program, except that board attorney fees and court costs relating to the program shall be paid out of the account and are not subject to this limitation. If no monies are deposited in the account in a given year, the board may use up to five per cent of the monies deposited in the account in the most recent year in which there was a deposit to pay the costs of administering the program.
C. The board shall cause an independent audit of the account to be performed at the end of each fiscal year and shall report the results of the audit to each employer within six months following the end of the fiscal year.
D. The employer contributions and securities in the account and investment earnings on monies in the account are exempt from state, county and municipal taxes.
E. The program is a welfare benefit plan or trust intended to pay expenses incurred in the treatment of cancer as provided in the policy of insurance secured or established by the board pursuant to section 38‑642. The legislature intends that the program's income be excluded as gross income for the purposes of the assessment of federal income tax under section 115 of the internal revenue code and that coverage under the program be excluded as gross income to the employees or retirees under section 106 of the internal revenue code. The board may adopt additional program provisions as are necessary to fulfill its intent that the program's income and premiums are not subject to federal income tax.
F. Employers, the board of trustees and any member of a local board do not guarantee the account in any manner against loss or depreciation and are not liable for any act or failure to act made in good faith pursuant to this article, including determinations on program claims.
Sec. 2. Section 38-842, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-842. Definitions
In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. "Accidental disability" means a physical or mental condition that the local board finds totally and permanently prevents an employee from performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's job classification and that was incurred in the performance of the employee's duty.
2. "Accumulated contributions" means, for each member, the sum of the amount of the member's aggregate contributions made to the fund and the amount, if any, attributable to the employee's contributions before the member's effective date under another public retirement system, other than the federal social security act, and transferred to the fund minus the benefits paid to or on behalf of the member.
3. "Actuarial equivalent" means equality in present value of the aggregate amounts expected to be received under two different forms of payment, based on mortality and interest assumptions adopted by the board.
4. "Alternate payee" means the spouse or former spouse of a participant as designated in a domestic relations order.
5. "Alternate payee's portion" means benefits that are payable to an alternate payee pursuant to a plan approved domestic relations order.
6. "Annuitant" means a person who is receiving a benefit pursuant to section 38‑846.01.
7. "Average monthly benefit compensation" means the result obtained by dividing the total compensation paid to an employee during a considered period by the number of months, including fractional months, in which such compensation was received. For an employee who becomes a member of the system before January 1, 2012, the considered period shall be the three consecutive years within the last twenty completed years of credited service that yield the highest average. For an employee who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012, the considered period is the five consecutive years within the last twenty completed years of credited service that yield the highest average. In the computation under this paragraph, a period of nonpaid or partially paid industrial leave shall be considered based on the compensation the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was not on industrial leave.
8. "Board" means the board of trustees of the system, who are the persons appointed to invest and operate the fund.
9. "Catastrophic disability" means a physical and not a psychological condition that the local board determines prevents the employee from totally and permanently engaging in any gainful employment and that results from a physical injury incurred in the performance of the employee's duty.
10. "Certified peace officer" means a peace officer certified by the Arizona peace officers officer standards and training board.
11. "Claimant" means any member or beneficiary who files an application for benefits pursuant to this article.
Ch. 118
12. "Compensation" means, for the purpose of
computing retirement benefits, base salary, overtime pay, shift differential
pay, military differential wage pay, compensatory time used by an employee in
lieu of overtime not otherwise paid by an employer and holiday pay paid to an
employee by the employer for the
employee's performance of services in an eligible group on a
regular monthly, semimonthly or biweekly payroll basis and longevity pay paid
to an employee at least every six months for which contributions are made to
the system pursuant to section 38‑843, subsection D. Compensation
does not include, for the purpose of computing retirement benefits, payment for
unused sick leave, payment in lieu of vacation, payment for unused compensatory
time or payment for any fringe benefits. In addition, compensation
does not include, for the purpose of computing retirement benefits, payments
made directly or indirectly by the employer to the employee for work performed
for a third party on a contracted basis or any other type of agreement under
which the third party pays or reimburses the employer for the work performed by
the employee for that third party, except for third party contracts between
public agencies for law enforcement, criminal, traffic and crime suppression
activities training or fire, wildfire, emergency medical or emergency
management activities or where the employer supervises the employee's
performance of law enforcement, criminal, traffic and crime suppression
activities training or fire, wildfire, emergency medical or emergency
management activities. For the purposes of this paragraph,
"base salary" means the amount of compensation each employee is
regularly paid for personal services rendered to an employer before the
addition of any extra monies, including overtime pay, shift differential pay, holiday
pay, longevity pay, fringe benefit pay and similar extra payments.
13. "Credited service" means the member's total period of service before the member's effective date of participation, plus those compensated periods of the member's service thereafter for which the member made contributions to the fund.
14. "Cure period" means the ninety-day period in which a participant or alternate payee may submit an amended domestic relations order and request a determination, calculated from the time the system issues a determination finding that a previously submitted domestic relations order did not qualify as a plan approved domestic relations order.
15. "Depository" means a bank in which all monies of the system are deposited and held and from which all expenditures for benefits, expenses and investments are disbursed.
16. "Determination" means a written document that indicates to a participant and alternate payee whether a domestic relations order qualifies as a plan approved domestic relations order.
17. "Determination period" means the ninety-day period in which the system must review a domestic relations order that is submitted by a participant or alternate payee to determine whether the domestic relations order qualifies as a plan approved domestic relations order, calculated from the time the system mails a notice of receipt to the participant and alternate payee.
18. "Direct rollover" means a payment by the system to an eligible retirement plan that is specified by the distributee.
19. "Distributee" means a member, a member's surviving spouse or a member's spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a plan approved domestic relations order.
20. "Domestic relations order" means an order of a court of this state that is made pursuant to the domestic relations laws of this state and that creates or recognizes the existence of an alternate payee's right to, or assigns to an alternate payee the right to, receive a portion of the benefits payable to a participant.
21. "Effective date of participation" means July 1, 1968, except with respect to employers and their covered employees whose contributions to the fund commence thereafter, the effective date of their participation in the system is as specified in the applicable joinder agreement.
22. "Effective date of vesting" means the date a member's rights to benefits vest pursuant to section 38‑844.01.
23. "Eligible child" means an unmarried child of a deceased member or retired member who meets one of the following qualifications:
(a) Is under eighteen years of age.
(b) Is at least eighteen years of age and under twenty‑three years of age only during any period that the child is a full‑time student.
(c) Is under a disability that began before the child attained twenty‑three years of age and remains a dependent of the surviving spouse or guardian.
24. "Eligible groups" means only the following who are regularly assigned to hazardous duty:
(a) Municipal police officers who are certified peace officers.
(b) Municipal fire fighters.
(c) Paid full‑time fire fighters employed directly by a fire district organized pursuant to section 48‑803 or 48‑804 or a joint powers authority pursuant to section 48-805.01 with three or more full‑time fire fighters, but not including fire fighters employed by a fire district pursuant to a contract with a corporation.
(d) State highway patrol officers who are certified peace officers.
(e) State fire fighters.
(f) County sheriffs and deputies who are certified peace officers.
(g) Game and fish wardens who are certified peace officers.
(h) Police officers who are certified peace officers and fire fighters of a nonprofit corporation operating a public airport pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424. A police officer shall be designated pursuant to section 28‑8426 to aid and supplement state and local law enforcement agencies and a fire fighter's sole duty shall be to perform fire fighting services, including services required by federal regulations.
(i) Police officers who are certified peace officers and who are appointed by the Arizona board of regents.
(j) Police officers who are certified peace officers and who are appointed by a community college district governing board.
(k) State attorney general investigators who are certified peace officers.
(l) County attorney investigators who are certified peace officers.
(m) Police officers who are certified peace officers and who are employed by an Indian reservation police agency.
(n) Fire fighters who are employed by an Indian reservation fire fighting agency.
(o) Department of liquor licenses and control investigators who are certified peace officers.
(p) Arizona department of agriculture officers who are certified peace officers.
(q) Arizona state parks board rangers and managers who are certified peace officers.
(r) County park rangers who are certified peace officers.
25. "Eligible retirement plan" means any of the following that accepts a distributee's eligible rollover distribution:
(a) An individual retirement account described in section 408(a) of the internal revenue code.
(b) An individual retirement annuity described in section 408(b) of the internal revenue code.
(c) An annuity plan described in section 403(a) of the internal revenue code.
(d) A qualified trust described in section 401(a) of the internal revenue code.
(e) An annuity contract described in section 403(b) of the internal revenue code.
(f) An eligible deferred compensation plan described in section 457(b) of the internal revenue code that is maintained by a state, a political subdivision of a state or any agency or instrumentality of a state or a political subdivision of a state and that agrees to separately account for amounts transferred into the eligible deferred compensation plan from this plan.
26. "Eligible rollover distribution" means a payment to a distributee, but does not include any of the following:
(a) Any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made not less frequently than annually for the life or life expectancy of the member or the joint lives or joint life expectancies of the member and the member's beneficiary or for a specified period of ten years or more.
(b) Any distribution to the extent the distribution is required under section 401(a)(9) of the internal revenue code.
(c) The portion of any distribution that is not includable in gross income.
27. "Employee" means any person who is employed by a participating employer and who is a member of an eligible group but does not include any persons compensated on a contractual or fee basis. If an eligible group requires certified peace officer status or fire fighter certification and at the option of the local board, employee may include a person who is training to become a certified peace officer or fire fighter.
28. "Employers" means:
(a) Cities contributing to the fire fighters' relief and pension fund as provided in sections 9‑951 through 9‑971 or statutes amended thereby and antecedent thereto, as of June 30, 1968 on behalf of their full‑time paid fire fighters.
(b) Cities contributing under the state police pension laws as provided in sections 9‑911 through 9‑934 or statutes amended thereby and antecedent thereto, as of June 30, 1968 on behalf of their municipal policemen.
(c) The state highway patrol covered under the state highway patrol retirement system.
(d) The state, or any political subdivision of this state, including towns, cities, fire districts, joint powers authorities, counties and nonprofit corporations operating public airports pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424, that has elected to participate in the system on behalf of an eligible group of public safety personnel pursuant to a joinder agreement entered into after July 1, 1968.
(e) Indian tribes that have elected to participate in the system on behalf of an eligible group of public safety personnel pursuant to a joinder agreement entered into after July 1, 1968.
29. "Fund" means the public safety personnel retirement fund, which is the fund established to receive and invest contributions accumulated under the system and from which benefits are paid.
30. "Local board" means the retirement board of the employer, who are the persons appointed to administer the system as it applies to their members in the system.
31. "Member" means any full-time employee who meets all of the following qualifications:
(a) Who is either a paid municipal police officer, a paid fire fighter, a law enforcement officer who is employed by this state including the director thereof, a state fire fighter who is primarily assigned to fire fighting duties, a fire fighter or police officer of a nonprofit corporation operating a public airport pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424, all ranks designated by the Arizona law enforcement merit system council, a state attorney general investigator who is a certified peace officer, a county attorney investigator who is a certified peace officer, a department of liquor licenses and control investigator who is a certified peace officer, an Arizona department of agriculture officer who is a certified peace officer, an Arizona state parks board ranger or manager who is a certified peace officer, a county park ranger who is a certified peace officer, a person who is a certified peace officer and who is employed by an Indian reservation police agency, a fire fighter who is employed by an Indian reservation fire fighting agency or an employee included in a group designated as eligible employees under a joinder agreement entered into by their employer after July 1, 1968 and who is or was regularly assigned to hazardous duty or, beginning retroactively to January 1, 2009, who is a police chief or a fire chief.
(b) Who, on or after the employee's effective date of participation, is receiving compensation for personal services rendered to an employer or would be receiving compensation except for an authorized leave of absence.
(c) Whose customary employment is at least forty hours per week or, for those employees who customarily work fluctuating work weeks, whose customary employment averages at least forty hours per week.
(d) Who is engaged to work for more than six months in a calendar year.
(e) Who, if economic conditions exist, is required to take furlough days or reduce the hours of the employee's normal work week below forty hours but not less than thirty hours per pay cycle, and maintain the employee's active member status within the system as long as the hour change does not extend beyond twelve consecutive months.
(f) Who has not attained age sixty‑five before the employee's effective date of participation or who was over age sixty‑five with twenty‑five years or more of service prior to the employee's effective date of participation.
32. "Normal retirement date" means:
(a) For an employee who becomes a member of the system before January 1, 2012, the first day of the calendar month immediately following the employee's completion of twenty years of service or the employee's sixty‑second birthday and the employee's completion of fifteen years of service.
(b) For an employee who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012, the first day of the calendar month immediately following the employee's completion of twenty‑five years of service if the employee is at least fifty‑two and one‑half years of age.
33. "Notice of receipt" means a written document that is issued by the system to a participant and alternate payee and that states that the system has received a domestic relations order and a request for a determination that the domestic relations order is a plan approved domestic relations order.
34. "Ordinary disability" means a physical condition that the local board determines will prevent an employee totally and permanently from performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's department or a mental condition that the local board determines will prevent an employee totally and permanently from engaging in any substantial gainful activity.
35. "Participant" means a member who is subject to a domestic relations order.
36. "Participant's portion" means benefits that are payable to a participant pursuant to a plan approved domestic relations order.
37. "Pension" means a series of monthly amounts that are payable to a person who is entitled to receive benefits under the plan but does not include an annuity that is payable pursuant to section 38‑846.01.
38. "Personal representative" means the personal representative of a deceased alternate payee.
39. "Physician" means a physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17.
39. 40. "Plan approved domestic relations order" means a domestic relations order that the system approves as meeting all the requirements for a plan approved domestic relations order as otherwise prescribed in this article.
40. 41. "Regularly assigned to hazardous duty" means regularly assigned to duties of the type normally expected of municipal police officers, municipal or state fire fighters, eligible fire district fire fighters, state highway patrol officers, county sheriffs and deputies, fish and game wardens, fire fighters and police officers of a nonprofit corporation operating a public airport pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424, police officers who are appointed by the Arizona board of regents or a community college district governing board, state attorney general investigators who are certified peace officers, county attorney investigators who are certified peace officers, department of liquor licenses and control investigators who are certified peace officers, Arizona department of agriculture officers who are certified peace officers, Arizona state parks board rangers and managers who are certified peace officers, county park rangers who are certified peace officers, police officers who are certified peace officers and who are employed by an Indian reservation police agency or fire fighters who are employed by an Indian reservation fire fighting agency. Those individuals who are assigned solely to support duties such as secretaries, stenographers, clerical personnel, clerks, cooks, maintenance personnel, mechanics and dispatchers are not assigned to hazardous duty regardless of their position classification title. Since the normal duties of those jobs described in this paragraph are constantly changing, questions as to whether a person is or was previously regularly assigned to hazardous duty shall be resolved by the local board on a case‑by‑case basis. Resolutions by local boards are subject to rehearing and appeal.
41. 42. "Retirement" or "retired" means termination of employment after a member has fulfilled all requirements for a pension or, for an employee who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012, attains the age and service requirements for a normal retirement date. Retirement shall be considered as commencing on the first day of the month immediately following a member's last day of employment or authorized leave of absence, if later.
42. 43. "Segregated funds" means the amount of benefits that would currently be payable to an alternate payee pursuant to a domestic relations order under review by the system, or a domestic relations order submitted to the system that failed to qualify as a plan approved domestic relations order, if the domestic relations order were determined to be a plan approved domestic relations order.
43. 44. "Service" means the last period of continuous employment of an employee by the employers before the employee's retirement, except that if such period includes employment during which the employee would not have qualified as a member had the system then been effective, such as employment as a volunteer fire fighter, then only twenty‑five per cent of such noncovered employment shall be considered as service. Any absence that is authorized by an employer shall not be considered as interrupting continuity of employment if the employee returns within the period of authorized absence. Transfers between employers also shall not be considered as interrupting continuity of employment. Any period during which a member is receiving sick leave payments or a temporary disability pension shall be considered as service. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, any period during which a person was employed as a full‑time paid fire fighter for a corporation that contracted with an employer to provide firefighting services on behalf of the employer shall be considered as service if the employer has elected at its option to treat part or all of the period the firefighter worked for the company as service in its applicable joinder agreement. Any reference in this system to the number of years of service of an employee shall be deemed to include fractional portions of a year.
44. 45. "State" means the state of Arizona, including any department, office, board, commission, agency or other instrumentality of the state.
45. 46. "System" means the public safety personnel retirement system established by this article.
46. 47. "Temporary disability" means a physical or mental condition that the local board finds totally and temporarily prevents an employee from performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's department and that was incurred in the performance of the employee's duty.
Sec. 3. Section 38-843, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-843. Contributions
A. Each employer who participates in the system on behalf of a group of employees who were covered under a prior public retirement system, other than the federal social security act, shall transfer all securities and monies attributable to the taxes and contributions of the state other than the state contribution to social security, the employer and the employees for the covered group of employees under the other system, such transfer to be made to the fund subject to all existing liabilities and on or within sixty days following the employer's effective date. All monies and securities transferred to the fund shall be credited to the employer's account in the fund. A record of the market value and the cost value of such transferred contributions shall be maintained for actuarial and investment purposes.
B. As determined by actuarial valuations reported to the employer and the local board by the board of trustees, each employer shall make level per cent of compensation contributions sufficient under such actuarial valuations to meet both the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability over, beginning July 1, 2005, a rolling period of at least twenty and not more than thirty years that is established by the board of trustees taking into account the recommendation of the system's actuary, except that, beginning with fiscal year 2006‑2007, except as otherwise provided, the employer contribution rate shall not be less than eight per cent of compensation. For any employer whose actual contribution rate is less than eight per cent of compensation for fiscal year 2006‑2007, that employer's contribution rate is not subject to the eight per cent minimum but, for fiscal year 2006-2007 and each year thereafter, shall be at least five per cent and not more than the employer's actual contribution rate. An employer shall have the option of paying a higher level per cent of compensation thereby reducing its unfunded past service liability. An employer shall also have the option of increasing its contributions in order to reduce the contributions required from its members under subsection C of this section, except that if an employer elects this option the employer shall pay the same higher level percentage contribution for all members of the eligible group. During a period when an employee is on industrial leave and the employee elects to continue contributions during the period of industrial leave, the employer shall make the contributions based on the compensation the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was in normal employment status. All contributions made by the employers and all state taxes allocated to the fund shall be irrevocable and shall be used to pay benefits under the system or to pay expenses of the system and fund. The minimum employer contribution that is paid and that is in excess of the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability as calculated pursuant to this subsection shall be used to reduce future employer contribution increases and shall not be used to pay for an increase in benefits that are otherwise payable to members. The board shall separately account for these monies in the fund. Forfeitures arising because of severance of employment before a member becomes eligible for a pension or any other reason shall be applied to reduce the cost of the employer, not to increase the benefits otherwise payable to members. After the close of any fiscal year, if the system's actuary determines that the actuarial valuation of an employer's account contains excess valuation assets other than excess valuation assets that were in the employer's account as of fiscal year 2004‑2005 and is more than one hundred per cent funded, the board shall account for fifty per cent of the excess valuation assets in a stabilization reserve account. After the close of any fiscal year, if the system's actuary determines that the actuarial valuation of an employer's account has a valuation asset deficiency and an unfunded actuarial accrued liability, the board shall use any valuation assets in the stabilization reserve account for that employer, to the extent available, to limit the decline in that employer's funding ratio to not more than two per cent.
C. Each member, throughout the member's period of service from the member's effective date of participation, shall contribute to the fund an amount equal to the amount prescribed in subsection E of this section, except as provided in subsection B of this section. During a period when an employee is on industrial leave and the employee elects to continue contributions during the period of industrial leave, the employee shall make the employee's contribution based on the compensation the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was in normal employment status. Contributions of members shall be required as a condition of employment and membership in the system and shall be made by payroll deductions. Every employee shall be deemed to consent to such deductions. Payment of an employee's compensation, less such payroll deductions, shall constitute a full and complete discharge and satisfaction of all claims and demands by the employee relating to remuneration for the employee's services rendered during the period covered by the payment, except with respect to the benefits provided under the system. A member may not, under any circumstance, borrow from, take a loan against or remove contributions from the member's account before the termination of membership in the plan or the receipt of a pension.
D. Each employer shall transfer to the board the employer and employee contributions provided for in subsections B and C of this section within ten working days after each payroll date. Contributions transferred after that date shall include a penalty of ten per cent per annum, compounded annually, for each day the contributions are late, such penalty to be paid by the employer. Delinquent payments due under this subsection, together with interest charges as provided in this subsection, may be recovered by action in a court of competent jurisdiction against an employer liable for the payments or, at the request of the board, may be deducted from any other monies, including excise revenue taxes, payable to such employer by any department or agency of this state.
E. The amount contributed by a member pursuant to subsection C of this section is:
1. Through June 30, 2011, 7.65 per cent of the member's compensation.
2. For fiscal year 2011‑2012, 8.65 per cent of the member's compensation.
3. For fiscal year 2012‑2013, 9.55 per cent of the member's compensation.
4. For fiscal year 2013‑2014, 10.35 per cent of the member's compensation.
5. For fiscal year 2014‑2015, 11.05 per cent of the member's compensation.
6. For fiscal year 2015‑2016 and each fiscal year thereafter, 11.65 per cent of the member's compensation or 33.3 per cent of the sum of the member's contribution rate from the preceding fiscal year and the aggregate computed employer contribution rate that is calculated pursuant to subsection B of this section, whichever is lower, except that the member contribution rate shall not be less than 7.65 per cent of the member's compensation and the employer contribution rate shall not be less than the rate prescribed in subsection B of this section.
F. For fiscal year 2011‑2012 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the member's contribution that exceeds 7.65 per cent of the member's compensation shall not be used to reduce the employer's contributions that are calculated pursuant to subsection B of this section.
Sec. 4. Section 38-844, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-844. Requirements for retirement benefits and disability pensions
A. A member shall be eligible for a normal pension on retirement on or after the member's normal retirement date. Payment of a normal pension shall commence as of the first day of the month following the date of retirement, and the last payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the death of the retired member occurs.
B. A member is eligible for an accidental disability pension if the member's employment is terminated by reason of accidental disability. A member is eligible for an ordinary disability pension if the member's employment is terminated before the member's normal retirement date by reason of ordinary disability. A member shall file an application for a disability pension after the disabling incident or within one year after the date the member ceases to be an employee. Timely application for an accidental, catastrophic or ordinary disability pension is a prerequisite to receipt of the pension. Payment of an accidental, catastrophic or ordinary disability pension shall commence as of the first day of the month following the date of retirement or the expiration of a period during which the member is receiving sick leave payments or a temporary disability pension, whichever is later, but not earlier than section 38-845.02 allows for retroactive payments. The last payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the death of the retired member occurs, or if disability ceases before the member's normal retirement date, the first day of the month in which disability ceases.
C. A member is eligible for a catastrophic disability pension if the member's employment is terminated by reason of catastrophic disability. If more than the allowable catastrophic disability pensions are approved by the local boards in a calendar year, from and after December 31 of the following calendar year a member of the system is not eligible to apply for a catastrophic disability pension. On or before January 31, the board of trustees shall report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives the number of catastrophic disability pensions that were approved by the local boards in the preceding calendar year. For the purposes of this subsection, "allowable catastrophic disability pensions" means for calendar year 2004, ten, and for subsequent calendar years the number of allowable catastrophic disability pensions allowed in the prior calendar year minus the number of catastrophic disability pensions approved by the local boards in the prior calendar year plus four.
D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no member shall qualify for an accidental, catastrophic or ordinary disability pension if the local board determines that the member's disability results from the following:
1. An injury suffered while engaged in a felonious criminal act or enterprise.
2. Service in the armed forces of the United States that entitles the member to a veteran's disability pension.
3. A physical or mental condition or injury that existed or occurred before the member's date of membership in the system.
E. Accidental or ordinary disability shall be considered to have ceased and an accidental or ordinary disability pension terminates if the member:
1. Has sufficiently recovered, in the opinion of the local board, based on a medical examination by a designated physician or a physician working in a clinic that is appointed by the local board, to be able to engage in a reasonable range of duties within the member's department and the member refuses an offer of employment by an employer in the system.
2. Refuses to undergo any medical examination requested by the local board, provided that a medical examination shall not be required more frequently than once in any calendar year.
F. Sixty months after the award of a catastrophic disability pension, the local board shall reevaluate the member. If the member still qualifies for the catastrophic disability pension, the member is entitled to continue to receive the pension at the reduced amount prescribed in section 38‑845, subsection E. A catastrophic disability shall be considered to have ceased and a catastrophic disability pension terminates if the local board determines that the member has sufficiently recovered and is able to engage in gainful employment based on a medical examination by a designated physician or a physician working in a clinic that is appointed by the local board. After the sixty‑month review, the catastrophic disability shall be considered to have ceased and a catastrophic disability pension terminates if the local board determines that the member has sufficiently recovered and is able to engage in gainful employment based on a medical examination by a designated physician or a physician working in a clinic that is appointed by the local board, except that the medical examination shall not be required more frequently than once in a calendar year. The medical review after the sixty‑month period does not apply after the date the catastrophic disability pensioner would have attained twenty‑five years of service assuming the pensioner remained a member of the system. The local board shall also terminate a catastrophic disability pension if the member refuses to undergo any medical examination requested by the local board. A member whose catastrophic disability pension is terminated may apply for and if eligible is entitled to receive an accidental disability pension as provided in this section.
G. Subsection E of this section does not apply after a disability pensioner's normal retirement date. The amount of a disability pension shall not be recomputed at a disability pensioner's normal retirement date.
H. If accidental or ordinary disability ceases before a retired member attains the member's normal retirement date and the member is reemployed by an employer, the member shall be treated as if the member has been on an uncompensated leave of absence during the period of the member's disability retirement and shall be a contributing member of the system. The pension payable on the member's subsequent retirement shall be determined as provided in section 38‑849, subsection E 38‑845.
I. A member shall be eligible for a temporary disability pension if the member's employment is terminated before the member's normal retirement date by reason of temporary disability. Payment of a temporary disability pension shall commence as of the first day of the month following the date of disability or the expiration of a period during which the member is receiving compensation and sick leave payments, whichever is later. The last payment shall be made as of the first day of the month in which either the death of the member occurs or the local board deems the member is no longer under temporary disability, whichever first occurs, provided that no more than twelve monthly temporary disability payments shall be made in total to the member.
J. If on the expiration of a temporary disability pension the local board finds on application that the member has an accidental or ordinary disability, the member shall be eligible for an accidental or ordinary disability pension, as provided in this section.
K. The system shall make payments pursuant to section 401(a)(9) of the internal revenue code and the regulations that are issued under that section. Notwithstanding any other provision of the system, beginning January 1, 1987 payment of benefits to a member shall commence no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the later of:
1. The calendar year in which the member attains seventy and one-half years of age.
2. The date the member terminates employment.
Sec. 5. Section 38-845.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-845.02. Payment of pension
The board shall not make a retroactive payment of a pension to a person that is more than ninety one hundred eighty days before the date of the person's application for benefits.
Sec. 6. Section 38-846, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-846. Death benefits
A. The surviving spouse of a deceased retired member shall be paid a surviving spouse's pension if the spouse was married to the member for a period of at least two consecutive years at the time of the member's death. Payment of a surviving spouse's pension shall commence as of the last day of the month following the retired member's date of death. The last payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the surviving spouse's death occurs.
B. The surviving spouse of a deceased member shall be paid a surviving spouse's pension if the spouse was married to the member on the date of the member's death. Payment of a surviving spouse's pension commences as of the last day of the month following the member's date of death. The last payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the surviving spouse's death occurs.
C. The surviving spouse of a deceased retired member is entitled to receive a monthly amount equal to four‑fifths of the monthly amount of pension that the decedent would have received immediately before death.
D. The surviving spouse of a deceased member who was not killed in the line of duty or did not die from injuries suffered in the line of duty is entitled to receive a monthly amount calculated in the same manner as an accidental disability pension is calculated pursuant to section 38-845, subsection B. The surviving spouse of a deceased member who is killed in the line of duty or dies from injuries suffered in the line of duty is entitled to receive a monthly amount equal to the deceased member's average monthly benefit compensation less any amount payable for an eligible child under this section. A member who was eligible for or receiving a temporary disability pension at the time of the member's death is not deemed to be retired for the purposes of this subsection. For the purposes of this subsection, "killed in the line of duty" means the decedent's death was the direct and proximate result of the performance of the decedent's public safety duties and does not include suicide.
E. A surviving spouse shall file a written application with the system in order to receive a survivor benefit.
F. If at least one eligible child is surviving at the death of a member or retired member, but no surviving spouse's pension then becomes payable, a guardian's or conservator's pension shall be payable to the person who is serving, or who is deemed by the local board to be serving, as the legally appointed guardian or custodian of the eligible child. If an eligible child of a member or retired member is surviving at the member's or retired member's death, the eligible child is entitled to receive a child's pension payable to the person who is serving or who is deemed by the local board to be serving as the legally appointed guardian or custodian of the eligible child until the eligible child reaches eighteen years of age, at which time the eligible child's pension shall be paid directly to the eligible child if the person remains eligible to receive the pension and is not subject to a guardianship or conservatorship due to disability or incapacity. The pension of a disabled child who is eighteen years of age or older and who is subject to a guardianship or conservatorship due to disability or incapacity shall continue to be paid to the guardian or conservator if the child remains eligible for the pension payment. A child's pension or a guardian's or conservator's pension terminates if the child is adopted. In the case of a disabled child, the child's pension or the guardian's or conservator's pension terminates if the child ceases to be under a disability or ceases to be a dependent of the surviving spouse or guardian. The member may also direct by designation to the local board that the guardian or conservator pension or child's pension be paid to the trustee of a trust created for the benefit of the eligible child. A guardian's or conservator's pension shall also become payable if at least one eligible child is surviving when a surviving spouse's pension terminates. The guardian or conservator shall file a written application with the system in order to receive the guardian's or conservator's pension and child's pension.
G. The board shall pay a guardian's or conservator's pension during the same period in which a pension is payable to at least one eligible child. The guardian, conservator or designated trustee is entitled to receive the same monthly amount as would have been payable to the decedent's surviving spouse had a surviving spouse's pension become payable on the decedent's death.
H. Each eligible child is entitled to a monthly amount equal to one‑tenth of the monthly amount of pension that the deceased member or retired member would have received immediately before death. The pension for a child of a deceased member shall be calculated in the same manner as an accidental disability is calculated pursuant to section 38-845, subsection B. A deceased member shall be assumed to be retired for reasons of accidental disability immediately before the member's death. If there are three or more children eligible for a child's pension, a maximum of two shares of the child's pension shall be payable, the aggregate of such shares to be apportioned in equal measure to each eligible child.
I. If a member has accumulated contributions remaining in the system at the date of death of the last beneficiary, a lump sum refund of such accumulated contributions shall be payable to the person whom the member has designated to the local board as the member's refund beneficiary, or if the member's refund beneficiary is not then surviving, to the designated contingent refund beneficiary, or if the designated contingent refund beneficiary is not then surviving or if the surviving designated beneficiary does not apply for the benefit within twelve months from the date of the member's death, at the election of the local board to the person's nearest of kin as determined by the local board or to the estate of the deceased member. The amount of the lump sum refund shall be the remaining accumulated contributions. The beneficiary or person who is claiming to be the nearest of kin shall file a written application in order to receive the refund.
J. In calculating the right to and the amount of the surviving spouse's pension, the law in effect on the date of the death of the member or retired member controls, unless the law under which the member retired provides for a greater benefit amount for a surviving spouse.
Sec. 7. Section 38-847, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-847. Local boards
A. The administration of the system and responsibility for making the provisions of the system effective for each employer are vested in a local board. The department of public safety, the Arizona game and fish department, the department of emergency and military affairs, the university of Arizona, Arizona state university, northern Arizona university, each county sheriff's office, each county attorney's office, each county parks department, each municipal fire department, each eligible fire district, each community college district, each municipal police department, the department of law, the department of liquor licenses and control, the Arizona department of agriculture, the Arizona state parks board, each Indian reservation police agency and each Indian reservation fire fighting agency shall have a local board. A nonprofit corporation operating pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424 shall have one local board for all of its members. Each local board shall be constituted as follows:
1. For political subdivisions or Indian tribes, the mayor or chief elected official or a designee of the mayor or chief elected official approved by the respective governing body as chairman, two members elected by secret ballot by members employed by the appropriate employer and two citizens, one of whom shall be the head of the merit system, or the head's designee from among the other members of the merit system, if it exists for the group of members, appointed by the mayor or chief elected official and with the approval of the governing body of the city or the governing body of the employer. The appointed two citizens shall serve on both local boards in a city or Indian tribes where both fire and police department employees are members.
2. For state agencies and nonprofit corporations operating pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424, two members elected by secret ballot by members employed by the appropriate employer and three citizens appointed by the governor. Each state agency local board shall elect a chairman.
3. For fire districts organized pursuant to section 48‑804, the secretary‑treasurer as chairman, two members elected by secret ballot by members employed by the fire district and two citizens appointed by the secretary‑treasurer, one of whom is a resident of the fire district and one of whom has experience in personnel administration but who is not required to be a resident of the fire district.
4. For joint powers authorities organized pursuant to section 48‑805.01, the joint powers authority board chairman or a designee approved by the governing body, two members elected by secret ballot by members employed by the joint powers authority and two citizens, one of whom is a resident of one of the partner entities and one of whom has experience in personnel administration but who is not required to be a resident of a partner entity.
B. On the taking effect of this system for an employer, the appointments and elections of local board members shall take place with one elective and appointive local board member serving a term ending two years after the effective date of participation for the employer and other local board members serving a term ending four years after the effective date. Thereafter, every second year, and as a vacancy occurs, an office shall be filled for a term of four years in the same manner as previously provided.
C. Each local board shall be fully constituted pursuant to subsection A of this section within sixty days after the employer's effective date of participation in the system. If the deadline is not met, on the written request of any member who is covered by the local board or the employer to the board of trustees, the board of trustees may appoint all vacancies of the local board pursuant to subsection A of this section and designate whether each appointive position is for a two year or four year term. If the board of trustees cannot find individuals to serve on the local board who meet the requirements of subsection A of this section, the board of trustees may appoint individuals to serve as interim local board members until qualified individuals are appointed or elected. Each local board shall meet at least twice a year. Each member of a local board, within ten days after the member's appointment or election, shall take an oath of office that, so far as it devolves on the member, the member shall diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the local board and that the member shall not knowingly violate or willingly permit to be violated any of the provisions of law applicable to the system.
D. Except as limited by subsection E of this section, a local board shall have such powers as may be necessary to discharge the following duties:
1. To decide all questions of eligibility and service credits, and determine the amount, manner and time of payment of any benefits under the system.
2. To prescribe procedures to be followed by claimants in filing applications for benefits.
3. To make a determination as to the right of any claimant to a benefit and to afford any claimant or the board of trustees, or both, a right to a rehearing on the original determination. Except as otherwise required by law, unless all parties involved in a matter presented to the local board for determination otherwise agree, the local board shall commence a hearing on the matter within ninety days after the date the matter is presented to the local board for determination. If a local board fails to commence a hearing as provided in this paragraph, on a matter presented to the local board for determination, the relief demanded by the party petitioning the local board is deemed granted and approved by the local board. The granting and approval of this relief is considered final and binding unless a timely request for rehearing or appeal is made as provided in this article, unless the board of trustees determines that granting the relief requested would violate the internal revenue code or threaten to impair the system's status as a qualified plan under the internal revenue code. If the board of trustees determines that granting the requested relief would violate the internal revenue code or threaten to impair the system's status as a qualified plan, the board of trustees may refuse to grant the relief by issuing a written determination to the local board and the party petitioning the local board for relief. The decision by the board of trustees is subject to judicial review pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6.
4. To request and receive from the employers and from members such information as is necessary for the proper administration of the system and action on claims for benefits and to forward such information to the board of trustees.
5. To distribute, in such manner as the local board determines to be appropriate, information explaining the system received from the board of trustees.
6. To furnish the employer, the board of trustees and the legislature, on request, with such annual reports with respect to the administration of the system as are reasonable and appropriate.
7. To receive and review the actuarial valuation of the system for its group of members.
8. To receive and review reports of the financial condition and of the receipts and disbursements of the fund from the board of trustees.
9. To appoint medical boards as provided in section 38‑859.
10. To sue and be sued to effectuate the duties and responsibilities set forth in this article.
E. A local board shall have no power to add to, subtract from, modify or waive any of the terms of the system, change or add to any benefits provided by the system or waive or fail to apply any requirement of eligibility for membership or benefits under the system. Notwithstanding any limitations periods imposed in this article, including subsection D, paragraph 3 and subsections G and H of this section, if the board of trustees determines a local board decision violates the internal revenue code or threatens to impair the system's status as a qualified plan under the internal revenue code, the local board's decision is not final and binding and the board of trustees may refrain from implementing or complying with the local board decision.
F. A local board, from time to time, shall establish and adopt such rules as it deems necessary or desirable for its administration. All rules and decisions of a local board shall be uniformly and consistently applied to all members in similar circumstances. If a claim or dispute is presented to a local board for determination but the local board has not yet adopted uniform rules of procedure for adjudication of the claim or dispute, the local board shall adopt and use the model uniform rules of local board procedure that are issued by the board of trustees' fiduciary counsel to adjudicate the claim or dispute.
G. Except as otherwise provided in this article, any action by a majority vote of the members of a local board that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the system and the internal revenue code shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons affected by it unless a timely application for a rehearing or appeal is filed as provided in this article. No later than twenty days after taking action, the local board shall submit to the board of trustees the minutes from the local board meeting that include the name of the member affected by its decision, a description of the action taken and an explanation of the reasons and all documents submitted to the local board for the action taken, including the reports of a medical board. The board of trustees may not implement and comply with any local board action that does not comply with the internal revenue code or that threatens to jeopardize the system's status as a qualified plan under the internal revenue code.
H. A claimant or the board of trustees may apply for a rehearing before the local board within the time periods prescribed in this subsection, except that if a decision of a local board violates the internal revenue code or threatens to jeopardize the system's status as a qualified plan under the internal revenue code, no limitation period for the board of trustees to seek a rehearing of a local board decision applies. An application for a rehearing shall be filed in writing with a member of the local board or its secretary within sixty days after:
1. The applicant‑claimant receives notification of the local board's original action by certified mail, by attending the meeting at which the action is taken or by receiving benefits from the system pursuant to the local board's original action, whichever occurs first.
2. The applicant-board of trustees receives notification of the local board's original action as prescribed by subsection G of this section by certified mail.
I. A hearing before a local board on a matter remanded from the superior court is not subject to a rehearing before the local board.
J. Decisions of local boards are subject to judicial review pursuant to title 12, chapter 7, article 6.
K. When making a ruling, determination or calculation, the local board shall be entitled to rely on information furnished by the employer, a medical board, the board of trustees, independent legal counsel or the actuary for the system.
L. Each member of a local board is entitled to one vote. A majority is necessary for a decision by the members of a local board at any meeting of the local board.
M. The local board shall adopt such bylaws as it deems desirable. The local board shall elect a secretary who may, but need not, be a member of the local board. The secretary of the local board shall keep a record and prepare minutes of all meetings in compliance with chapter 3, article 3.1 of this title and forward the minutes and all necessary communications to the board of trustees as prescribed by subsection G of this section.
N. The fees of the medical board and of the local board's independent legal counsel and all other expenses of the local board necessary for the administration of the system shall be paid by the employer and not the board of trustees or system at such rates and in such amounts as the local board shall approve. Legal counsel that is employed by the local board is independent of the employer and any employee organization or member and owes its duty of loyalty only to the local board in connection with its representation of the local board.
O. The local board shall issue directions to the board of trustees concerning all benefits that are to be paid from the employer's account pursuant to the provisions of the fund. The local board shall keep on file, in such manner as it may deem convenient or proper, all reports from the board of trustees and the actuary.
P. The local board and the individual members of the local board shall be indemnified from the assets of the employer for any judgment against the local board or its members, including attorney fees and costs, arising from any act, or failure to act, made in good faith pursuant to the provisions of the system, including expenses reasonably incurred in the defense of any claim relating to the act or failure to act.
Sec. 8. Section 38-848, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-848. Board of trustees; powers and duties; independent trust fund; administrator; agents and employees
A. The board of trustees shall consist of seven members and shall have the rights, powers and duties that are set forth in this section. The term of office of members shall be five years to expire on the third Monday in January of the appropriate year. Members are eligible to receive compensation in an amount of fifty dollars a day, but not to exceed one thousand dollars in any one fiscal year, and are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to chapter 4, article 2 of this title. The board consists of the following members appointed by the governor pursuant to section 38‑211:
1. Two elected members from a local board to represent the employees.
2. One member to represent this state as an employer of public safety personnel. This member shall have the qualifications prescribed in subsection T of this section.
3. One member to represent the cities as employers of public safety personnel.
4. An elected county or state official or a judge of the superior court, court of appeals or supreme court.
5. Two public members. These members shall have the qualifications prescribed in subsection T of this section.
B. All monies in the fund shall be deposited and held in a public safety personnel retirement system depository. Monies in the fund shall be disbursed from the depository separate and apart from all monies or funds of this state and the agencies, instrumentalities and subdivisions of this state, except that the board may commingle the assets of the fund and the assets of all other plans entrusted to its management in one or more group trusts, subject to the crediting of receipts and earnings and charging of payments to the appropriate employer, system or plan. The monies shall be secured by the depository in which they are deposited and held to the same extent and in the same manner as required by the general depository law of this state. For purposes of making the decision to invest in securities owned by the fund or any plan or trust administered by the board, the fund and assets of the plans and the plans' trusts are subject to the sole management of the board for the purpose of this article except that, on the board's election to invest in a particular security or make a particular investment, the assets comprising the security or investment may be chosen and managed by third parties approved by the board. The board may invest in portfolios of securities chosen and managed by a third party. The board's decision to invest in securities such as mutual funds, commingled investment funds, exchange traded funds, private equity or venture capital limited partnerships, real estate limited partnerships or limited liability companies and real estate investment trusts whose assets are chosen and managed by third parties does not constitute an improper delegation of the board's investment authority.
C. All contributions under this system and other retirement plans that the board administers shall be forwarded to the board and shall be held, invested and reinvested by the board as provided in this article. All property and monies of the fund and other retirement plans that the board administers, including income from investments and from all other sources, shall be retained for the exclusive benefit of members, as provided in the system and other retirement plans that the board administers, and shall be used to pay benefits to members or their beneficiaries or to pay expenses of operation and administration of the system and fund and other retirement plans that the board administers.
D. The board shall have the full power in its sole discretion to invest and reinvest, alter and change the monies accumulated under the system and other retirement plans and trusts that the board administers as provided in this article. In addition to its power to make investments managed by others, the board may delegate the authority the board deems necessary and prudent to investment management pursuant to section 38‑848.03, as well as to the administrator, employed by the board pursuant to subsection K, paragraph 6 of this section, and any assistant administrators to invest the monies of the system and other retirement plans and trusts that the board administers if the administrator, investment management and any assistant administrators follow the investment policies that are adopted by the board. The board may commingle securities and monies of the fund, the elected officials' retirement plan, the corrections officer retirement plan and other plans or monies entrusted to its care, subject to the crediting of receipts and earnings and charging of payments to the account of the appropriate employer, system or plan. In making every investment, the board shall exercise the judgment and care under the circumstances then prevailing that persons of ordinary prudence, discretion and intelligence exercise in the management of their own affairs, not in regard to speculation but in regard to the permanent disposition of their funds, considering the probable income from their funds as well as the probable safety of their capital, provided:
1. That not more than eighty per cent of the combined assets of the system or other plans that the board manages shall be invested at any given time in corporate stocks, based on cost value of such stocks irrespective of capital appreciation.
2. That no more than five per cent of the combined assets of the system or other plans that the board manages shall be invested in corporate stock issued by any one corporation, other than corporate stock issued by corporations chartered by the United States government or corporate stock issued by a bank or insurance company.
3. That not more than five per cent of the voting stock of any one corporation shall be owned by the system and other plans that the board administers, except that this limitation does not apply to membership interests in limited liability companies.
4. That corporate stocks and exchange traded funds eligible for direct purchase shall be restricted to stocks and exchange traded funds that, except for bank stocks, insurance stocks, stocks acquired for coinvestment in connection with the system's or the plans' or trusts' commingled investments and membership interests in limited liability companies and mutual funds, are either:
(a) Listed or approved on issuance for listing on an exchange registered under the securities exchange act of 1934, as amended (15 United States Code sections 78a through 78ll).
(b) Designated or approved on notice of issuance for designation on the national market system of a national securities association registered under the securities exchange act of 1934, as amended (15 United States Code sections 78a through 78ll).
(c) Listed or approved on issuance for listing on an exchange registered under the laws of this state or any other state.
(d) Listed or approved on issuance for listing on an exchange of a foreign country with which the United States is maintaining diplomatic relations at the time of purchase, except that no more than twenty per cent of the combined assets of the system and other plans that the board manages shall be invested in foreign securities, based on the cost value of the stocks irrespective of capital appreciation.
(e) An exchange traded fund that is recommended by the chief investment officer of the system, that is registered under the investment company act of 1940 (15 United States Code sections 80a-1 through 80a-64) and that is both traded on a public exchange and based on a publicly recognized index.
E. Notwithstanding any other law, the board shall not be required to invest in any type of investment that is dictated or required by any entity of the federal government and that is intended to fund economic development projects, public works or social programs, but may consider such economically targeted investments pursuant to its fiduciary responsibility. The board, on behalf of the system and all other plans or trusts the board administers, may invest in, lend monies to or guarantee the repayment of monies by a limited liability company, limited partnership, joint venture, partnership, limited liability partnership or trust in which the system and plans or trusts have a financial interest, whether the entity is closely held or publicly traded and that, in turn, may be engaged in any lawful activity, including venture capital, private equity, the ownership, development, management, improvement or operation of real property and any improvements or businesses on real property or the lending of monies.
F. Conference call meetings of the board that are held for investment purposes only are not subject to chapter 3, article 3.1 of this title, except that the board shall maintain minutes of these conference call meetings and make them available for public inspection within twenty‑four hours after the meeting. The board shall review the minutes of each conference call meeting and shall ratify all legal actions taken during each conference call meeting at the next scheduled meeting of the board.
G. The board shall not be held liable for the exercise of more than ordinary care and prudence in the selection of investments and performance of its duties under the system and shall not be limited to so‑called "legal investments for trustees", but all monies of the system and other plans that the board administers shall be invested subject to all of the conditions, limitations and restrictions imposed by law.
H. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, the board may:
1. Invest and reinvest the principal and income of all assets that the board manages without distinction between principal and income.
2. Sell, exchange, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of any investments made on behalf of the system or other plans the board administers in the name of the system or plans by private contract or at public auction.
3. Also:
(a) Vote on any stocks, bonds or other securities.
(b) Give general or special proxies or powers of attorney with or without power of substitution.
(c) Exercise any conversion privileges, subscription rights or other options and make any payments incidental to the exercise of the conversion privileges, subscription rights or other options.
(d) Consent to or otherwise participate in corporate reorganizations or other changes affecting corporate securities, delegate discretionary powers and pay any assessments or charges in connection therewith.
(e) Generally exercise any of the powers of an owner with respect to stocks, bonds, securities or other investments held in or owned by the system or other plans whose assets the board administers.
4. Make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any other instruments that may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the powers granted in this section.
5. Register any investment held by the system or other plans whose assets the board administers in the name of the system or plan or in the name of a nominee or trust.
6. At the expense of the system or other plans that the board administers, enter into an agreement with any bank or banks for the safekeeping and handling of securities and other investments coming into the possession of the board. The agreement shall be entered into under terms and conditions that secure the proper safeguarding, inventory, withdrawal and handling of the securities and other investments. No access to and no deposit or withdrawal of the securities from any place of deposit selected by the board shall be permitted or made except as the terms of the agreement may provide.
7. Appear before local boards and the courts of this state and political subdivisions of this state through counsel or appointed representative to protect the fund or the assets of other plans that the board administers. The board is not responsible for the actions or omissions of the local boards under this system but may seek review or rehearing of actions or omissions of local boards. The board does not have a duty to review actions of the local boards but may do so in its discretion in order to protect the fund. No limitations period precludes the board or administrator from contesting, or requires the board or administrator to implement or comply with, a local board decision that violates the internal revenue code or that threatens to impair the tax qualified status of the system or any plan administered by the board or administrator.
8. Empower the fund administrator to take actions on behalf of the board that are necessary for the protection and administration of the fund or the assets of other plans that the board administers pursuant to the guidelines of the board.
9. Do all acts, whether or not expressly authorized, that may be deemed necessary or proper for the protection of the investments held in the fund or owned by other plans or trusts that the board administers.
10. Settle threatened or actual litigation against any system or plan that the board administers.
I. Investment expenses and operation and administrative expenses of the board shall be accounted for separately and allocated against investment income.
J. The board, as soon as possible within a period of six months following the close of any fiscal year, shall transmit to the governor and the legislature a comprehensive annual financial report on the operation of the system and other plans that the board administers containing, among other things:
1. A balance sheet.
2. A statement of income and expenditures for the year.
3. A report on an actuarial valuation of its assets and liabilities.
4. A list of investments owned.
5. The total rate of return, yield on cost, and per cent of cost to market value of the fund and the assets of other plans that the board administers.
6. Any other statistical and financial data that may be necessary for the proper understanding of the financial condition of the system and other plans that the board administers and the results of their operations. A synopsis of the annual report shall be published for the information of members of the system, the elected officials' retirement plan or the corrections officer retirement plan.
K. The board shall:
1. Maintain the accounts of the system and other plans that the board administers and issue statements to each employer annually and to each member who may request it.
2. Report the results of the actuarial valuations to the local boards and employers.
3. Contract on a fee basis with an independent investment counsel to advise the board in the investment management of the fund and assets of other plans that the board administers and with an independent auditing firm to audit the board's accounting.
4. Permit the auditor general to make an annual audit and the results shall be transmitted to the governor and the legislature.
5. Contract on a fee basis with an actuary who shall make actuarial valuations of the system and other plans that the board administers, be the technical adviser of the board on matters regarding the operation of the funds created by the provisions of the system, the elected officials' retirement plan, the corrections officer retirement plan and the fire fighter and peace officer cancer insurance policy program and perform other duties required in connection therewith. The actuary must be a member of a nationally recognized association or society of actuaries.
6. Employ, as administrator, a person, state department or other body to serve at the pleasure of the board.
7. Establish procedures and guidelines for contracts with actuaries, auditors, investment counsel and legal counsel and for safeguarding of securities.
L. The administrator, under the direction of the board, shall:
1. Administer this article.
2. Be responsible for the recruitment, hiring and day‑to‑day management of employees.
3. Invest the funds of the system and other plans that the board administers as the board deems necessary and prudent as provided in subsections D and H of this section and subject to the investment policies and fund objectives adopted by the board.
4. Establish and maintain an adequate system of accounts and records for the system and other plans that the board administers, which shall be integrated with the accounts, records and procedures of the employers so that the system and other plans that the board administers operates most effectively and at minimum expense and that duplication of records and accounts is avoided.
5. In accordance with the board's governance policy and procedures and the budget adopted by the board, hire such employees and services the administrator deems necessary and prescribe their duties, including the hiring of one or more assistant administrators to manage the system's operations, investments and legal affairs.
6. Be responsible for income, the collection of the income and the accuracy of all expenditures.
7. Recommend to the board annual contracts for the system's actuary, auditor, investment counsel, legal counsel and safeguarding of securities.
8. Perform additional duties and powers prescribed by the board and delegated to the administrator.
M. The system is an independent trust fund and the board is not subject to title 41, chapter 6. Contracts for goods and services approved by the board are not subject to title 41, chapter 23. As an independent trust fund whose assets are separate and apart from all other funds of this state, the system and the board are not subject to the restrictions prescribed in section 35‑154 or article IX, sections 5 and 8, Constitution of Arizona. Loans, guarantees, investment management agreements and investment contracts that are entered into by the board are contracts memorializing obligations or interests in securities that the board has concluded, after thorough due diligence, do not involve investments in Sudan or Iran or otherwise provide support to terrorists or in any way facilitate illegal immigration into the United States. These contracts do not involve the procurement, supply or provision of goods, equipment, labor, materials or services that would require the certifications or warranties required by sections 35‑391.06, 35‑393.06 and 41‑4401.
N. The board, the administrator, the assistant administrators and all persons employed by them are subject to title 41, chapter 4, article 4. The administrator, assistant administrators and other employees of the board are entitled to receive compensation pursuant to section 38‑611.
O. In consultation with the director of the department of administration, the board may enter into employment agreements and establish the terms of those agreements with persons holding any of the following system positions:
1. Administrator.
2. Deputy or assistant administrator.
3. Chief investment officer.
4. Deputy chief investment officer.
5. Fiduciary or investment counsel.
P. The attorney general or an attorney approved by the attorney general and paid by the fund shall be the attorney for the board and shall represent the board in any legal proceeding or forum that the board deems appropriate. The board, administrator, assistant administrators and employees of the board are not personally liable for any acts done in their official capacity in good faith reliance on the written opinions of the board's attorney.
Q. At least once in each five‑year period after the effective date, the actuary shall make an actuarial investigation into the mortality, service and compensation experience of the members and beneficiaries of the system and other plans that the board administers and shall make a special valuation of the assets and liabilities of the monies of the system and plans. Taking into account the results of the investigation and special valuation, the board shall adopt for the system and other plans that the board administers those mortality, service and other tables deemed necessary.
R. On the basis of the tables the board adopts, the actuary shall make a valuation of the assets and liabilities of the funds of the system and other plans that the board administers not less frequently than every year. By November 1 of each year the board shall provide a preliminary report and by December 15 of each year provide a final report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate on the contribution rate for the ensuing fiscal year.
S. Neither the board nor any member or employee of the board shall directly or indirectly, for himself or as an agent, in any manner use the monies or deposits of the fund except to make current and necessary payments, nor shall the board or any member or employee become an endorser or surety or in any manner an obligor for monies loaned by or borrowed from the fund or the assets of any other plans that the board administers.
T. The members of the board who are appointed pursuant to subsection A, paragraphs 2 and 5 of this section shall have at least ten years' substantial experience as any one or a combination of the following:
1. A portfolio manager acting in a fiduciary capacity.
2. A securities analyst.
3. An employee or principal of a trust institution, investment organization or endowment fund acting either in a management or an investment related capacity.
4. A chartered financial analyst in good standing as determined by the association for investment management and research.
5. A professor at the university level teaching economics or investment related subjects.
6. An economist.
7. Any other professional engaged in the field of public or private finances.
U. Financial or commercial information that is provided to the board, employees of the board and attorneys of the board in connection with investments in which the board has invested or investments the board has considered for investment is confidential, proprietary and not a public record if the information is information that would customarily not be released to the public by the person or entity from whom the information was obtained.
Sec. 9. Section 38-849, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-849. Limitations on receiving pension; violation; classification; reemployment after severance; reinstatement of service credits; reemployment of retired or disabled member; definition
A. If a member is convicted of, or discharged because of, theft, embezzlement, fraud or misappropriation of an employer's property or property under the control of the employer, the member shall be subject to restitution and fines imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction. The court may order the restitution or fines to be paid from any payments otherwise payable to the member from the retirement system.
B. A person who knowingly makes any false statement or who falsifies or permits to be falsified any record of the system with an intent to defraud the system is guilty of a class 5 felony. If any change or error in the records results in any member or beneficiary receiving from the system more or less than the member or beneficiary would have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, the local board shall correct such error, and as far as practicable shall adjust the payments in such manner that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which such member or beneficiary was correctly entitled shall be paid. If a member is convicted of a crime specified in this subsection, section 13‑713 applies.
C. If a member who received a severance refund on termination of employment pursuant to section 38‑846.02 becomes reemployed with the same employer within two years after the former member's termination date, the member may have forfeited credited service attributable to service rendered during a prior period of service as an employee restored on satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
1. The member files with the system a written application for reinstatement of forfeited credited service within ninety days after again becoming an employee.
2. The retirement fund is paid the total amount previously withdrawn pursuant to section 38‑846.02 plus compound interest from the date of withdrawal to the date of repayment. Interest shall be computed at the rate of nine per cent for each year compounded each year from the date of withdrawal to the date of repayment. Forfeited credited service shall not be restored until complete payment is received by the fund.
3. The required payment is completed within one year after returning to employee status.
D. If a member who received a severance refund on termination of employment, as provided in section 38‑846.02, is subsequently reemployed by an employer, the member's prior service credits shall be cancelled and service shall be credited only from the date the member's most recent reemployment period commenced. However, a present active member of the system who forfeited credited service, received a severance refund pursuant to section 38‑846.02 and becomes reemployed with the same employer two years or more after the member's termination date or becomes reemployed with another employer may elect to redeem any part of that forfeited credited service by paying into the system any amounts required pursuant to this subsection. A present active member who elects to redeem any part of forfeited credited service for which the member is deemed eligible by the board shall pay into the system the amounts previously paid or transferred to the member as a severance refund plus an amount, computed by the system's actuary that is necessary to equal the increase in the actuarial present value of projected benefits resulting from the redemption calculated using the actuarial methods and assumptions prescribed by the system's actuary. On satisfaction of this obligation the member's prior service credits shall be reinstated.
E. If a retired member becomes employed reemployed in any capacity by the employer from which the member retired before one year after the member's from the date of retirement, or in the same position at any time following retirement:
1. The following apply:
(a) Within ten days after the retired member is reemployed, the local board shall advise the system in writing of the retired member's reemployment.
(b) The system shall not make pension payments to the retired member during the period of reemployment. If a retired member is reemployed by an employer, no employee contributions shall be made on the retired member's account, nor any service credited, during the period of the reemployment. This subsection does not apply to a retired member who is assigned voluntary duties acting as a limited authority peace officer for an employer pursuant to the Arizona peace officer standards and training board rules, to a retired member who subsequently becomes employed by an employer from which the member retired after no less than sixty consecutive days from the member's retirement date if the retired member is hired as a result of participating in an open competitive new hire process for an entry level nonsupervisory position or if the retired member is hired as a fire inspector or arson investigator. Notwithstanding this subsection, if a retired member subsequently becomes employed in the same position by the employer from which the member retired, the system shall not make pension payments to the retired member during the period of reemployment. On subsequent termination of employment by the retired member, the retired member is entitled to receive a pension based on the member's service and compensation before the date of the member's reemployment. If a member who retired under disability is reemployed by an employer as an employee, that member shall be treated as if the member had been on an uncompensated leave of absence during the period of the member's disability retirement and shall be a contributing member of the system. Within ten days after a retired member is reemployed by the employer from which the member retired, the employer shall advise the board in writing as to whether the retired member has been reemployed in the same position from which the member retired. The board shall review all reemployment determinations. If the board is not provided the necessary information to make a reemployment determination, the board shall suspend pension payments until information is received and a determination is made that the reemployment meets the requirements of this subsection. For the purposes of this subsection, "same position" means the member is in a position where the member performs substantially similar duties that were performed and exercises substantially similar authority that was exercised by the retired member before retirement.
(c) Employee contributions shall not be made on the retired member's account, nor shall any service be credited during the period of reemployment. On subsequent termination of employment by the retired member, the retired member is entitled to receive a pension based on the member's service and compensation before the date of the member's reemployment. The employer shall pay the alternate contribution rate pursuant to section 38‑843.05.
2. Paragraph 1, subdivisions (a) and (b) of this subsection do not apply if either:
(a) The retired member becomes reemployed after sixty consecutive days from the member's retirement date as a result of participating in an open competitive new hire process for an entry level, nonsupervisory position, except if the retired member is hired for the same position.
(b) The retired member is hired as a fire inspector or arson investigator.
F. If a retired member is assigned voluntary duties acting as a limited authority peace officer, pursuant to the Arizona peace officer standards and training board rules, employee contributions shall not be made on the retired member's account, and any service shall not be credited during the period of reemployment. The employer shall not pay the alternate contribution rate pursuant to section 38‑843.05.
G. If after one year from the date of retirement a retired member becomes reemployed by the employer from which the member retired in a position other than the same position from which the member retired, employee contributions shall not be made on the retired member's account, and any service shall not be credited during the period of reemployment. The employer shall pay the alternate contribution rate pursuant to section 38‑843.05.
H. At any time following retirement, if the retired member becomes employed by an employer, other than the employer from which the member retired, in a position ordinarily filled by an employee of an eligible group, employee contributions shall not be made on the retired member's account, and any service shall not be credited during the period of reemployment. The employer shall pay the alternate contribution rate pursuant to section 38‑843.05.
I. If a member who retired under an accidental or ordinary disability becomes reemployed as an employee of an eligible group, section 38‑844 applies and a determination shall be made by the local board as to whether subsection E, F, G or H of this section applies.
J. The local board shall review all reemployment determinations and voluntary assignments as described in subsection F of this section. If the local board or the system is not provided the necessary information required by the system to make a reemployment determination, the local board and the system shall suspend pension payments until information is received and a determination is made regarding whether the reemployment meets the requirements of subsection E, F, G, H or I of this section.
F. K. A person who defrauds the system or who takes, converts, steals or embezzles monies owned by or from the system and who fails or refuses to return the monies to the system on the board's written request is subject to civil suit by the system in the superior court in Maricopa county. On entry of an order finding the person has defrauded the system or taken, converted, stolen or embezzled monies owned by or from the system, the court shall enter an order against that person and for the system awarding the system all of its costs and expenses of any kind, including attorney fees, that were necessary to successfully prosecute the action. The court shall also grant the system a judicial lien on all of the nonexempt property of the person against whom judgment is entered pursuant to this subsection in an amount equal to all amounts awarded to the system, plus interest at the rate prescribed by section 44‑1201, until all amounts owed are paid to the system.
G. L. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the board may offset against any benefits otherwise payable by the system to an active or retired member or survivor any court ordered amounts awarded to the board and system and assessed against the member or survivor.
M. For the purposes of this section, "same position" means a position in which the member performs substantially similar duties that were performed and exercises substantially similar authority that was exercised by the retired member before retirement.
Sec. 10. Section 38-853.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-853.02. Purchase of service; payment
A member who purchases service pursuant to this article or section 38‑922 or 38‑924 shall make payments directly to the system in whole or in part by any one or a combination of the following methods:
1. In lump sum payments.
2. Through an arrangement with the system that the payments be made in installment payments over a period of time.
3. Subject to the limitations prescribed in sections 401(a)(31) and 402(c) of the internal revenue code, accepting a direct transfer of any eligible rollover distribution or a contribution by a member of an eligible rollover distribution from one or more:
(a) Retirement programs that are qualified under section 401(a) or 403(a) of the internal revenue code.
(b) Annuity contracts described in section 403(b) of the internal revenue code.
(c) Eligible deferred compensation plans described in section 457(b) of the internal revenue code that are maintained by a state, a political subdivision of a state or any agency or instrumentality of a state or a political subdivision of a state.
4. Subject to the limitations prescribed in section 408(d)(3)(A)(ii) of the internal revenue code, accepting from a member a rollover contribution of that portion of a distribution from an individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity described in section 408(a) or 408(b) of the internal revenue code that is eligible to be rolled over and would otherwise be includable as gross income.
Sec. 11. Section 38-857, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-857. Group health and accident coverage for retired members; payment
A. Upon notification, the board shall pay from the assets of the separate account established pursuant to subsection G of this section part of the single coverage premium of any group health and accident insurance for each retired member or survivor of the system who receives a pension and who has elected to participate in the coverage provided by section 38‑651.01 or 38‑782 or any other retiree health and accident insurance coverage provided or administered by a participating employer of the system. The board shall pay up to:
1. One hundred fifty dollars per month for each retired member or survivor of the system who is not eligible for medicare.
2. One hundred dollars per month for each retired member or survivor of the system who is eligible for medicare.
B. Upon notification, the board shall pay from assets of the fund separate account established pursuant to subsection G of this section part of the family coverage premium of any group health and accident insurance each month for a benefit recipient who elects family coverage and otherwise qualifies for payment pursuant to subsection A of this section. The board shall pay up to:
1. Two hundred sixty dollars per month if the retired member or survivor of the system and one or more dependents are not eligible for medicare.
2. One hundred seventy dollars per month if the retired member or survivor of the system and one or more dependents are eligible for medicare.
3. Two hundred fifteen dollars per month if either:
(a) The retired member or survivor of the system is not eligible for medicare and one or more dependents are eligible for medicare.
(b) The retired member or survivor of the system is eligible for medicare and one or more dependents are not eligible for medicare.
C. The board shall not pay from assets of the fund more than the amount prescribed in this section for a benefit recipient as a member or survivor of the system.
D. A retired member or survivor of the system may elect to purchase individual health care coverage and receive a payment pursuant to this section through the retired member's former employer if that former employer assumes the administrative functions associated with the payment, including verification that the payment is used to pay for health insurance coverage if the payment is made to the retired member or survivor of the system. This provision does not apply to a retired member or survivor of the system who is reemployed and who participates in health care coverage provided by the member's or survivor's new employer.
E. This section does not apply to a retired member of the system who becomes a member on or after the effective date of this amendment to this section and who is reemployed and participates in health care coverage provided by the member's new employer.
F. This section does not apply to a survivor of the system whose deceased spouse becomes a member on or after the effective date of this amendment to this section and who is reemployed and participates in health care coverage provided by the survivor's new employer.
G. The board shall establish a separate account that consists of the benefits provided in this section. The board shall deposit the benefits provided by this section in the account. The board shall not use or divert any part of the corpus or income of the account for any purpose other than the provision of benefits pursuant to this section unless the liabilities to provide the benefits pursuant to this section are satisfied. If the liabilities to provide the benefits described in this section are satisfied, the board shall return any amount remaining in the account to the employer.
H. Payment of the benefits provided by this section is subject to the following conditions:
1. The payment of the benefits is subordinate to the payment of retirement benefits payable by the system.
2. The total of the contributions for the benefits and actual contributions for life insurance protection, if any, shall not exceed twenty‑five per cent of the total actual employer and employee contributions to the system, minus the contributions to fund past service credits, after the day the account is established.
3. The contributions by the employer to the account shall be reasonable and ascertainable.
Sec. 12. Section 38-859, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-859. Medical boards; purposes; composition; medical examinations
A. The purposes of a medical board are to:
1. Identify a physical or mental condition or injury that existed or occurred prior to the member's date of membership in the system and for which benefits may otherwise be limited by section 38‑844, subsection D.
2. Evaluate a member's eligibility for an accidental disability pension.
3. Evaluate a member's eligibility for an ordinary disability pension.
4. Evaluate a member's eligibility for a temporary disability pension.
5. Evaluate a member's eligibility for a catastrophic disability pension.
6. For the purposes of section 38‑846, determine through appropriate medical evidence the proximate cause of death for members who are killed in the line of duty if the death occurs more than one year after the date of injury.
B. For the purpose of determining a disability, the medical board shall be composed of a designated physician or physicians working in a clinic other than the employer's regular employee or contractee. Employees employed after October 1, 1992 shall undergo a medical examination for the purpose of identifying a physical or mental condition or injury that existed or occurred prior to a member's date of membership in the system and for which benefits may otherwise be limited by section 38‑844, subsection D, and for this purpose, the medical board shall be composed of a designated physician or physicians working in a clinic that may be the employer's regular employee or contractee.
C. A finding of accidental, ordinary, temporary or catastrophic disability shall be based on medical evidence by a designated physician or a physician working in a clinic that is appointed by the local board pursuant to section 38‑847, subsection D, paragraph 9 that established the disability. The local board shall resolve material conflicts in medical evidence. If required, the local board may employ other physicians or clinics to report on special cases. With the approval of the local board, a designated physician or physicians working in a clinic that is employed by the local board may employ occupational specialists to assist the designated physician or physicians working in a clinic in rendering an opinion.
D. All employees shall undergo medical examinations before a designated physician or a physician working in a clinic that is appointed by the local board pursuant to and for the reasons prescribed in this article. An employee who fails to comply with this subsection waives all rights to disability benefits under this article.
E. The examining physician or clinic shall report the results of examinations to the local board, and the secretary of the local board shall preserve the report as a permanent record. Medical examinations conducted pursuant to this article shall be conducted by a physician and shall not be conducted or utilized for the purposes of hiring, advancement, discharge, job training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment unrelated to the receipt of or qualification for pension benefits or service credits under the system.
F. This section does not affect or impair the right of an employer to prescribe medical or physical standards for employees or prospective employees.
Sec. 13. Section 38-961, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
38-961. Public safety officer; duty-related injury; supplemental benefits plan; definitions
A. This state or a political subdivision of this state that employs a public safety employee on a full‑time basis shall establish a supplemental benefits plan for a public safety employee who is injured while on duty to the extent that the public safety employee cannot perform the functions of the position. To become eligible for the supplemental benefits plan, the public safety employee must be receiving workers' compensation benefits pursuant to title 23, chapter 6. This state or a political subdivision of this state shall design the supplemental benefits plan so that, with the addition of other benefits being paid by the worker's compensation fund to the public safety employee pursuant to title 23, chapter 6, the public safety employee will receive approximately the identical base salary less the amount of taxes the public safety employee was paying.
B. If a public safety employee is accepted into the supplemental benefits plan, the public safety employee's employer shall continue to pay the employer portion of the health care benefits that were was being paid to the public safety employee on the date of the employee's injury.
C. If a public safety employee is accepted into the supplemental benefits plan, the public safety employee's employer shall pay the employee contribution to the public safety personnel retirement system or corrections officer retirement plan, as applicable, and shall continue to pay the employer contribution to the respective retirement system or plan. The public safety employee is entitled to accrue credited service for the period of time enrolled in the supplemental benefits plan.
D. A public safety employee who is eligible for the supplemental benefits plan shall apply for benefits to this state or a political subdivision of this state. This state or a political subdivision of this state, on an individual basis, shall determine if the public safety employee is entitled to the benefits in the plan. This state or a political subdivision of this state may establish injury standards for eligibility into the plan that may include the exclusion of a public safety employee whose injury is a result of the public safety employee's gross negligence, or any other condition that this state or the political subdivision chooses to consider within the plan.
E. A public safety employee who is accepted into the plan shall comply with all risk management requirements, including evaluation for light duty options and rehabilitation programs. If a public safety employee fails to comply with risk management decisions, the public safety employee's participation in the supplemental benefits plan will be terminated. The public safety employee who is accepted into the plan is responsible for the public safety employee's portion of the health care benefit costs the public safety employee was paying on the date of the injury. The public safety employee remains responsible for any elective health care plan deductions, health related optional deductions or optional life insurance deductions.
F. If a public safety employee is accepted into the supplemental benefits plan, the public safety employee shall not accrue any additional sick or annual leave and any sick or annual leave amount on the public safety employee's account shall not be decreased while the public safety employee is participating in the plan.
G. A public safety employee who is accepted into the supplemental benefits plan is not precluded from disciplinary action, including termination of employment, pursuant to chapter 8 of this title or any agreements that supplant, revise or otherwise alter the provisions of this title, including preexisting agreements between the employer and the public safety employee's lawful representative association.
H. This section shall not supersede any plan or policy that provides a greater benefit being offered by this state or a political subdivision of this state to a public safety employee who is injured while on duty. This state or a political subdivision of this state shall offer the supplemental benefits plan for an initial six-month period. This state or the political subdivision may determine if the plan shall be extended, on an individual basis, an additional six months, for a maximum of one year.
I. For the purposes of this section: ,
1. "Member" includes a retired member of the public safety personnel retirement system who is a certified peace officer.
2. "Public safety employee" means:
1. (a) An individual who is a member of the public safety personnel retirement system or the corrections officer retirement plan.
2. (b) A probation officer, surveillance officer or juvenile detention officer who is employed by this state or a political subdivision of this state.
APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR JUNE 19, 2013.
FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE JUNE 19, 2013.
