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Florida Senate - 2012
By Senator Hays
20-00646A-12
SB 910
2012910
A bill to be entitled
An act relating to public employees; amending s.
112.18, F.S.; revising conditions under which certain
firefighters, law enforcement officers, correctional
officers, or. correctional probations officers who
suffer or have died from any of specified medical
conditions are presumed to have been injured or killed
accidentally and in the line of duty; revising the
conditions under which the presumption with respect to
disability due to any of specified diseases is against
occurrence in the line of duty for purposes of
workers' compensation claims; changing an evidentiary
standard; amending s. 175.061, F.S.; providing duties
of the board of trustees relating to the reporting of
expenses and the operation under an administrative
expense budget; amending s. 175.071, F.S.; revising
requirements of the board relating to the employment
of legal counsel, actuaries, and other advisers;
amending s. 175.231, F.S.; providing medical
conditions or behaviors that are appropriate for
consideration in denying or overcoming the presumption
of accidental disabilities or death suffered in the
line of duty for firefighters; changing an evidentiary
standard; amending s. 175.351, F.S.; revising
provisions relating to benefits paid from the premium
tax by a municipality or, special fire control,district,.
.
_thathas-its;,own pension, plan, providing definitions,
.providing a process for determining the a'llocatibri` of,
._the_premium tax revenues to a supplemental plan;
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30 amending s. 175.361, F.S.; providing certain powers
31 and responsibilities to municipalities and special
32 fire control districts relating to termination of
33 plans and distribution of funds; amending s. 185.02,
34 F.S.; revising the definition of the term
35 "compensation" or "salary" for purposes of police
36 officers' pensions; amending s. 185.05, F.S.;
37 authorizing a municipality to change the municipal
38 representation of the board of trustees pursuant to
39 certain requirements; providing duties of the board of
40 trustees relating to the reporting of expenses and the
41 operation under an administrative expense budget;
42 amending s. 185.06, F.S.; revising requirements of the
43 board relating to the employment of legal counsel,
44 actuaries, and other advisers; amending s. 185.34,
45 F.S.; providing medical conditions or behaviors that
46 are appropriate for -consideration in denying or
47 overcoming the presumption of accidental disabilities
48 or death suffered in the line of duty for police
49 officers; changing an evidentiary standard; amending
50 s. 185.35, F.S.; revising provisions relating to
51 benefits paid by a municipality that has its own
52 pension plan; providing definitions; providing a
53 process for determining the allocation of the premium
54 tax revenues to a supplemental plan; amending s.
55 185.37, F.S.; providing certain.pow.ers and
5.6 responsibilities to municipalities relating toJ
57 .. termination of plans and distributions of -funds'
58 :providing,.a.declaration of important state interest;
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59 providing an effective date.
60
61 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
62
63 Section 1.. Section 112.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to
64 read:
65 112.18 Firefighters and law enforcement or correctional
66 officers; special provisions relative to disability.-
67 (1) (a) Any condition or impairment of health of any Florida
68 state, municipal, county, port authority, special tax district,
69 or fire control district firefighter or any law enforcement
70 officer, correctional officer, or correctional probation officer
71 as defined in s. 943.10(1), (2), or (3), who has been employed
72 by the current employer for at least 5 years and who is less
73 than 37 years of age, caused by tuberculosis, heart disease, or
74 hypertension resulting in total or partial disability or death
75 shall be presumed to have been accidental and to have been
76 suffered in the line of duty unless the contrary be shown by a
77 preponderance of the compctcnt evidence. However, any such
78 firefighter, correctional officer, correctional probation
79 officer, or law enforcement officer must have successfully
80 passed a physical examination upon entering into any such
81 service as a firefighter, correctional officer, correctional
82 probation officer, or law enforcement officer, which examination
83 failed to reveal any evidence of any such condition. Risk
84 factors and epidemiological data relating ,,t.o..:..nonwork-related
85 conditions unique -to an individual, such as blood cholesterol,
86; ,body mass index, history of tobacco- andlcohol._us
_87 :`medical conditions or behaviors that are associated with the,.,;_._.,_,
.
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88 disease or condition subject to the presumption, are appropriate
89 for consideration in denying or overcoming the presumption. Such
90 presumption does not apply to benefits payable under or granted
91 in a policy.of life insurance or disability insurance, unless
92 the insurer and insured have negotiated for such additional
93 benefits to be included in the policy contract.
94 (b)1. For any workers' compensation claim filed under this
95 section and chapter 440 occurring on or after July 1, 2010, a
96 firefighter, law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or
97 correctional probation officer as defined in s. 943.10(1), (2),
98 or (3) suffering from tuberculosis, heart disease, or
99 hypertension is presumed not to have incurred such disease in
100 the line of duty as provided in this section if the firefighter,
101 law enforcement officer, correctional officer, or correctional
102 probation officer:
103 a. Departed in a material fashion from the prescribed
104 course of treatment of his or her personal physician and the
105 departure is demonstrated to have resulted in a significant
106 aggravation of the tuberculosis, heart disease, or hypertension
107 resulting in disability or increasing the disability or need for
108 medical treatment; or
109 b. Was previously compensated pursuant to this section and
110 chapter 440 for tuberculosis, heart disease, or hypertension and
111 thereafter sustains and reports a new compensable workers'
112 compensation claim under this section and chapter 440, and the
113 firefighter, law enforcement officer, correctional, officer ,or
114 ,correctional probation officer has departed in a material
.115 fashion from the prescribed course of -_treatment of `an authorized
al6 physician for the preexisting workers' compensation claim_.and
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117 the departure is demonstrated to have resulted in a significant
118 aggravation of the tuberculosis, heart disease, or hypertension
119 resulting in disability or increasing the disability or need for
120 medical treatment.
121 2. As used.in this paragraph, "prescribed course of
122 treatment" means prescribed medical courses of action and
123 prescribed medicines for the specific disease or diseases
124 claimed and as documented in the prescribing physician's medical
125 records.
126 3. If there is a dispute as to the appropriateness of the
127 course of treatment prescribed by a physician under sub-
128 subparagraph 1.a. or sub -subparagraph 1.b. or whether a
129 departure in a material fashion from the prescribed course of
130 treatment is demonstrated to have resulted in a significant
131 aggravation of the tuberculosis, heart disease, or hypertension
132 resulting in disability or increasing the disability or need for
133 medical treatment, the firefighter, law enforcement officer,
134 correctional officer, or correctional probation officer is
135 entitled to seek an independent medical examination pursuant to
136 s. 440.13 (5) .
137 4. A firefighter, law enforcement officer, correctional
138 officer, or correctional probation officer is not entitled to
139 the presumption provided in this section unless a claim for
140 benefits is made prior to or within 180 days after leaving the
141 employment of the employing agency.
142 (2) This section authorizes. each governmental entity
p ifie eg p.. i.. y
,143 s ecified in ..subsection (1) to ne otiate, olic contracts for..
144. life _.and disability insurance to include -a"ccidental--'= death
145 benefits or double indemnity coverage which shall include the
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146 presumption that any condition or impairment of health of any
147 firefighter, law enforcement officer, or correctional officer
148 caused by tuberculosis, heart disease, or hypertension resulting
149 in total or partial disability or death was accidental and
150 suffered in the line of duty, unless the contrary be shown by a
151 preponderance of the competent evidence.
152 Section 2. Subsection (8) is added to section 175.061,
153 Florida Statutes, to read:
154 175.061 Board of trustees; members; terms of office;
155 meetings; legal entity; costs; attorney's fees. —For any
156 municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local
157 law municipality, local law special fire control district, or
158 local law plan under this chapter:
159 (8) The board of trustees shall:
160 (a) Provide a detailed accounting report of its expenses
161 for each fiscal year to the plan sponsor and the Department of
162 Management Services and make the report available to every
163 member of the plan. The report must include, but need not be
164 limited to, all administrative expenses that, for purposes of
165 this subsection, are expenses relating to any legal counsel,
166 actuary, plan administrator, and all other consultants, and all
167 travel and other expenses paid to or on behalf of the members of
168 the board of trustees or anyone else on behalf of the plan.
169 (b) Operate under an administrative expense budget for each
170 fiscal year, provide a copy of the budget to the plan sponsor,
171 and make available a copy of the budgetto,plan members.:;before.
172 the beginning of: the fiscal year. The administrative expense
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;.,budget must regulate the administrative expenses 'oftheoar`d
174 --- - -- _ _
trustees. If the board of trustees. amends the administrative
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175 expense budget, the board must provide a copy of the amended
176 budget to the plan sponsor and make available a copy of the
177 amended budget to plan members before the amendment takes
178 effect.
179 Section 3. Subsection. (7) of section 175.071, Florida
180 Statutes, is amended to read:
181 175.071 General powers and duties of board of trustees. —For
182 any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan,
183 local law municipality, local law special fire control district,
184 or local law plan under this chapter:
185 (7) To assist the board in meeting its responsibilities
186 under this chapter, the board, if it so elects, and subject to
187 s. 175.061(8), may:
188 (a) Employ independent legal counsel at the pension fund's
189 expense.
190 (b) Employ an independent actuary, as defined in s.
191 175.032(7), at the pension fund's expense.
192 (c) Employ such independent professional, technical, or
193 other advisers as it deems necessary at the pension fund's
194 expense.
195
196 Ifthe board chooses to use the municipality's or special
197 district's legal counsel or actuary, or chooses to use any of
198 the municipality's or special district's othcr professional,
199 technical, or other advisers, it must do so only under terms and
200 conditions acceptable to the board.
201 Section 4 Section 175.231, Florida
202 read
203 l75•.231 Diseases ;of -firefighters suffered in line of duty;
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presumption. -For any municipality, special fire control
district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law
special fire control district, or local law plan under this
chapter, any condition or impairment of health of a firefighter,
who has been employed by the current employer for at least 5
years and who is less than 37 years of age, caused by
tuberculosis, hypertension, or heart disease resulting in total
or partial disability or death shall be presumed to have been
accidental and suffered in the line of duty unless the contrary
is shown by a preponderance of the compctcnt evidence, provided
that such firefighter shall have successfully passed a physical
examination before entering into such service, which examination
failed to reveal any evidence of such condition. Risk factors
and epidemiological data relating to nonwork-related conditions
unique to an individual, such as blood cholesterol, body mass
index, history of tobacco and alcohol use, and other medical
conditions or behaviors that are associated with the disease or
condition subject to the presumption, are appropriate for
consideration in denying or overcoming the presumption. This
section shall be applicable to all firefighters only with
reference to pension and retirement benefits under this chapter.
Section 5. Section 175.351, Florida Statutes, is amended to
read:
175.351 Municipalities and special fire control districts
having their own pension plans for firefighters. -For any
municipality, special fire control district,, ocal. law .....-
municipality, local law special fire control district, or local
law plan .under,this,.chapter, in order foi municipaland
special fire control districts with their own pension plans for._.
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233 firefighters, or for firefighters and police officers if
234 included, to participate in the distribution of the tax fund
235 established pursuant to s. 175.101, local law plans must meet
236 the minimum benefits and minimum standards set forth in this
237 chapter.
238 (1) Notwithstanding any other provision, retirement
239 benefits provided pursuant to this chapter and the use of the
240 income from the premium tax in s. 175.101 must be determined and
241 implemented in accordance with the collective bargaining
242 process, and where collective bargaining is not applicable, in
243 accordance with the pension plan, except as provided in
244 subsection (2). If the term of a collective bargaining agreement
245 ends without a new collective bargaining agreement in effect,
246 the retirement benefits of a plan operating pursuant to this
247 chapter shall revert to the minimum benefit provisions of this
248 chapter for the period of time from the end of the collective
249 bargaining agreement until the effective date of the subsequent
250 collective bargaining agreement, and the income from the premium
251 tax may be used for any retirement benefit provided pursuant to
252 this chapter as determined unilaterally by the municipality or
253 special fire- control district. If a municipality has a pension
254 pan fo crs, or a pcnsi n plan f r firefighters and
255 police officers if included, which in thc opinion of thc
256 division meets thc minimum benefits and minimum standards sct
257 forth in this chapter, thc board of trustees of thc pension
258 plan, approved by .a maj rity f fircfightcr
.259 municipality, may:
-T.261_
— ee-thciHco to from the pTcfr trm tax in 175:101 in
s lc and exclusive use f its
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firefighters, or for firefighters and police officers if
included, where it hall bcc me an integral part of that pension
plan and shall bc used to pay cxtra benefits to the firefighters
included in that pension plan; or
included, participating in such separate supplemental plan.
(2) ?ire premium--tax-� ey±�e � h±s ' �tiri zn—
cases bc used in its entirety to provide extra benefits to
included. For However, local law plans in effect on October 1,
1998, which do not
provisions
additional
of this
premium
must comply with the minimum benefit
chapter, as only t the extent that
tax revenues become available, such revenues
shall be used to incrementally fund the cost of such compliance
as provided in
s. 1.75.162(2)(a). If a plan is in compliance with
sions, as subsequent additional
Local law plans created by special act
before May 27, 1939, are deemed to comply with this chapter. For
the purpose of this chapter, the term=
} "additional premium tax revenues" means revenues
received by a municipality or special fire control district
pursuant to s. 175.121 which exceed that amount received for
calendar year 1997. Once a plan is in compliance with the
minimum;benefit.provisions of this chapter, the provisions of
subsection (1) apply.
b)- �Ext f tc," means benefits in addition to or'
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greater than those pr vidcd t general employees of the
municipality and in addition to those in existence for
firefighters on March 12, 1999.
(3) A retirement plan or amendment to a retirement plan.may
not be proposed for adoption unless the proposed plan or
amendment contains an actuarial estimate of the costs involved.
The Such proposed plan or proposed plan change may not be
adopted without the approval of the municipality, special fire
control district, or, if required where permitted, the
Legislature. Copies of the proposed plan or proposed plan change
and the actuarial impact statement of the proposed plan or
proposed plan change shall be furnished to the division before
the last public hearing thereon. Such statement must also
indicate whether the proposed plan or proposed plan change is in
compliance with s. 14, Art. X of the State Constitution and
those provisions of part VII of chapter 112 which are not
expressly providedinthis chapter. Notwithstanding any other
provision, only those local law plans created by special act of
legislation before May 27, 1939, are deemed to meet the minimum
benefits and minimum standards only in this chapter.
(4) Notwithstanding any other provision, with respect to
any supplemental plan municipality:
(a) A local law plan and a supplemental plan may continue
to use their definition of compensation or salary in existence
on March 12, 1999.
(b) Section 175.061(1) (b) does not apply, and a_local law...
pIanand a_suppleniental,plan shall continue to be administered
-.by.a board;or.boards of trustees numbered,' constit.utedand
.s.elected as-ahe,board or boards were numbered, :constituted,.and.
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320 selected on December 1, 2000.
321 (c) The election set forth in paragraph (1) (b) is deemed to
322 have been made.
323 (d) The annual amount of, premium tax revenues allocated to
324 the supplemental plan shall be .determined through collective
325 bargaining, where applicable, and in accordance with the pension
326 plan where collective bargaining does not apply. If the term of
327 a collective bargaining agreement ends without a new collective
328 bargaining agreement in effect, the amount of premium tax
329 revenues allocated to the supplemental plan shall be determined
330 unilaterally by the municipality or special fire control
331 district for the period of time from the end of the collective
332 bargaining agreement until the effective date of the subsequent
333 collective bargaining agreement.
334 (5) The retirement plan setting forth the benefits and the
335 trust agreement, if any, covering the duties and
336 responsibilities of the trusteesand the regulations of the
337 investment of funds must be in writing, and copies made
338 available to the participants and to the general public.
339 (6) A municipality or special fire control district may
340 unilaterally establish one or more new plans, or benefit levels
341 within a plan, which provide different benefit levels for plan
342 members based on the member's date of hire if the new plan or
343 benefit level provides pension benefits that, in the aggregate,
344 meet or exceed the minimum benefits set forth in this chapter,
345 as determined by the plan's or employer'_sac.tuary. A
34.6 municipality or special fire control district may unilaterally
347- -.elect to maintain an existing plan and join the Florida
348 Retirement System_or.establish a defined -contribution retirement--.
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349 plan for employees hired after a specified date. A municipality
350 or special fire control district choosing to operate under this
351 subsection shall use the premium tax provided under this chapter
352 for the current plan or benefit level, for any. additional plan
353 or benefit level,, for. contributions to the Florida Retirement
354 System, or for contributions to a defined contribution
355 retirement plan.
356 Section 6. Section 175.361, Florida Statutes, is amended to
357 read:
358 175.361 Termination of plan and distribution of fund. —For
359 any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan,
360 local law municipality, local law special fire control district,
361 or local law plan under this chapter, the plan may be terminated
362 by the municipality or special fire control district. Upon
363 termination of the plan by the municipality or special fire
364 control district for any reason or because of a transfer,
365 merger, or consolidation of governmental units, services, or
366 functions as provided in chapter 121, or upon written notice by
367 the municipality or special fire control district to the board
368 of trustees that contributions under the plan are being
369 permanently discontinued, the rights of all employees to
370 benefits accrued to the dateof such termination and the amounts
371 credited tothe employees' accounts are nonforfeitable. The fund
372 shall be distributed in accordance with the following
373 procedures:
374 (1) The board of trustees, subject to prior written
" 375 - approval of th-e municipality or special fire control district,
37.6 determine.the date of distribution and the asset value
377- required,to.fund all the nonforfeitable benefits after taking
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into account the expenses of such distribution. The board shall
inform the municipality or special fire control district if
additional assets are required, in which event the municipality
or special fire control district shall continue to financially
support the plan until all nonforfeitable benefits have been
funded.
(2) The board of trustees, subject to prior written
approval of the municipality or special fire control district,
shall determine the method of distribution of the asset value,
whether distribution shall be by payment in cash, by the
maintenance of another or substituted trust fund, by the
purchase of insured annuities, or otherwise, for each
firefighter entitled to benefits under the plan as specified in
subsection (3).
(3) The board of trustees, subject to prior written
approval of the municipality or special fire control district,
shall distribute the asset value as of the date of termination
in the manner set forth in this subsection, on the basis that
the amount required to provide any given retirement income is
the actuarially_ computed single -sum value of such retirement
income, except that if the method of distribution determined
under subsection (2) involves the purchase of an insured
annuity, the amount required to provide the given retirement
income is the single premium payable for such annuity. The
actuarial single -sum value may not be less than the employee's
accumulated contributions to the plan, with interest if provided_
by:.`. theplan_ ,_.,ess:the value of any plan benefits previously paid
.: _.
to the employee.
(4),If there is asset value
remaining after t
e full
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distribution specified in subsection (3), and after the payment
of any expenses incurred with such distribution, such excess
shall be returned to the municipality or special fire control
district, less return to the state of -the state's contributions,
provided that, if the excess is.less than the total
contributions made by the municipality or special fire control
district and the state to date of termination of the plan, such
excess shall be divided proportionately to the total
contributions made by the municipality or special fire control
district and the state.
(5) The board of trustees, subject to prior written
approval of the municipality or special fire control district,
shall distribute, in accordance with subsection (2), the amounts
determined under subsection (3).
If, after 24 months after the date the plan terminated or the
date the board received written notice that the contributions
thereunder were being permanently discontinued', the municipality ,
or special fire control district or the board of trustees of the
firefighters' pension trust fund affected has not complied with
all the provisions in this section, the Department, of Management
Services shall effect the termination of the fund in accordance
with this section and in the manner having the least fiscal
impact on the municipality or special fire control district.
Section 7. Subsection (4) of section 185.02, Florida
Statutes, is amended to read:
185.0efinitions.-For any municipality, chapter plan,
;_local ---.law municipality, or local law plan._,under,this_chapter,
_-the;fo.laowing_words:and phrases as used in this chapter shall
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have the following meanings, unless a different meaning is
plainly required by the context:
(4) "Compensation" or "salary" means, for noncollectively
bargained service earned before July 1, 2011, or for service
earned under collective bargaining agreements in place before
July 1, 2011, the total cash remuneration including "overtime'-'
paid by the primary employer to a police officer for services
rendered, but not including any payments for extra duty or
special detail work performed on behalf of a second party
employer. A local law plan may limit the amount of overtime
payments which can be used for retirement benefit calculation
purposes; howcvcr, such overtime limit may n t be lcso than 300
hours per officer per calendar year. For noncollectively
bargained service earned on or after July 1, 2011, or for
service earned under collective bargaining agreements entered
into on or after July 1, 2011, the term has the same meaning
except that when calculating retirement benefits, up to 300
hours per year in overtime compensation may be included as
specified in the plan or collective bargaining agreement, but
payments for accrued unused sick or annual leave may not be
included.
(a) Any retirement trust fund or plan that meets the
requirements of this chapter does not, solely by virtue of this
subsection, reduce or diminish the monthly retirement income
otherwise payable to each police officer covered by the
retirement trust fund orplan.
(b):_The-_memb.er s compensationpor sal" ary contributed as
employee -elective salary reductions or de:ferrals.:_to any.--_saiary,.
reduction;.:deferred compensation, or tax-sheltered:annuity
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program authorized under the Internal Revenue Code shall be
deemed to be the compensation or salary the member would receive
if he or she were not participating in such program and shall be
treated as compensation for retirement purposes under this
chapter.
(c) For any person who first becomes a member in any plan
year beginning on or after January 1, 1996, compensation for
that plan year may not include any amounts in excess of the
Internal Revenue Code s. 401(a) (17) limitation, as amended by
the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, which limitation
of $150,000 shall be adjusted as required by federal law for
qualified government.plans and shall be further adjusted for
changes in the cost of living in the manner provided by Internal
Revenue Code s. 401(a)(17)(B). For any person who first became a
member before the first plan year beginning on or after January
1, 1996, the limitation on compensation may not be less than the
maximum compensation amount that was allowed to be taken into
account under the plan as in effect on July 1, 1993, which
limitation shall be adjusted for changes in the cost of living
since 1989 in the manner provided by Internal Revenue Code s.
401 (a) (17) (1991) .
Section 8. Subsection (8) is added to section 185.05,
Florida Statutes, to read:
185.05 Board of trustees; members; terms of office;
meetings; legal entity; costs; attorney's fees. —For any
municipality, chapter plan, local law municipality, or local law
plan under this chapter:
(8) The board of trustees shall: .
(a)_Provide_a detailed accounting report of its expenses
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for each fiscal year to the plan
Management Services and make the
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sponsor and the Department of
report available to every
member of the plan. The report must include, but need not be
limited to, all administrative expenses that, for purposes of
this subsection, are expenses relating to any legal counsel,
actuary, plan administrator, and all
travel and other expenses paid to or
the board of trustees or anyone else
other consultants, and all
on behalf of the members
on behalf of the plan.
of
(b) Operate under an administrative expense budget for each
fiscal year, provide
and make available a
the beginning of the
budget must regulate
a copy of the budget to the plan sponsor,
copy of the budget to plan members before
fiscal year. The administrative expense
the administrative expenses of the board of
trustees. If the board of trustees amends the administrative
expense budget, the board must provide a copy of the amended
budget to the plan sponsor and make available a copy of the
amended budget. to plan members before the amendment takes
effect
Section 9. Subsection (6)
Statutes, is amended to read:
185.06 General powers and duties
of section 185.06,
Florida
of board of trustees. —For
any municipality, chapter plan, local law municipality, or local
law plan under this chapter:
(6) To assist the board in meeting its responsibilities
under this chapter, the board, if it so elects, and subject to
s. 185.05 (8) , may:
(a) Employ.indepe.ndent legal counsel at the.,pension fund's
expense.
(.b) Employ an independent actuary, as definedin s.
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523 185.02(8), at the pension fund's expense.
524 (c) Employ such independent professional, technical, or
525 other advisers as it deems necessary at the pension fund's
526 expense.
527
528 If the board chooses to use the municipality's or special
529 district's legal counsel or actuary, or chooses to use any of
530 the municipality's other professional, technical, or other
531 advisers, it must do so only under terms and conditions
532 acceptable to the board.
533 Section 10. Section 185.34, Florida Statutes, is amended to
534 read:
535 185.34 Disability in line of duty. —For any municipality,
536 chapter plan, local law municipality, or local law plan under
537 this chapter, any condition or impairment of health of any and
538 police officer officers employed in the state, who has been
539 employed by the current employer for at least 5 years and who is
540 less than 37 years of age, caused by tuberculosis, hypertension,
541 heart disease, or hardening of the arteries, resulting in total
542 or partial disability or death, shall be presumed to be
543 accidental and suffered in line of duty unless the contrary be
544 shown by a preponderance of the competent evidence. Any.
545 condition or impairment of health caused directly or proximately
546 by exposure, which exposure occurred in the active performance
547 of duty at some definite time or place without willful
548 negligence on the part of the police officer, resulting in total
r549_ .�; or: "partial disability, shall be presumed to be accidental and
550___suffered in the line of duty, provided that such police officer
551 shall have_successfully passed a physical examination upon
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entering such service, which physical examination including
electrocardiogram failed to reveal any evidence of such
condition, and, further, that such presumption shall not apply
to benefits payable under or granted in a policy of life
insurance or disability insurance. Risk factors and
epidemiological data relating to nonwork-related conditions
unique to an individual, such as blood cholesterol, body mass
index, history of tobacco and alcohol use, and other medical
conditions or behaviors that are associated with the disease or
condition subject to the presumption, are appropriate for
consideration in denying or overcoming the presumption. This
section shall be applicable to all police officers only with
reference to pension and retirement benefits under this chapter.
Section 11. Section 185.35, Florida Statutes, is amended to
read:
185.35 Municipalities having their own pension plans for
police officers. —For any municipality, chapter plan, local law
municipality, or local law plan under this chapter, in order for
municipalities with their own pension plans for police officers,
or for police officers and firefighters if included, to
participate in the distribution of the tax fund established
pursuant to s. 185.08, local law plans must meet the minimum
benefits and minimum standards set forth in this chapter.--
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision, retirement
benefits provided pursuant to this chapter and the use of the
income from.the.premium tax in s. 185.08., must be determined and..,
J_implemented.,i. accordance with the collective bargaining
:::.process:i::. and_wher.e collective bargaining is not applicable..,::..in
accordance.. with the pension plan, except as provided in.
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subsection (2). If the term of a collective bargaining agreement
ends without a new collective bargaining agreement in effect,
the retirement benefits of a plan operating pursuant to this
chapter shall revert to the minimum benefit provisions of this
chapter for the period of time. from the end of the collective
bargaining agreement until the effective date of the subsequent
collective bargaining agreement, and the income from the premium
tax may be used for any retirement benefit provided pursuant to
this chapter as determined unilaterally by the municipality. If
has for for
a municipality a pension plan police officcrs, or
fircfightcrs if includcd, in
policc officcrs and which, thc
thc division, thc bcncfits
opinion of mccts minimum and minimum
forth in this thc board
standards set chapter, of trustees of
thc by
pension plan, as approved a majority of policc officers
thc
of municipality, may:
(a) Placc thc inc fr in 185.08 in
me m thc premium tax s.
, .,e
c3,,.cti. clusiyc �re-e
1 --o-e-n-19it ec sol
its fircfightcrs if included,
officcrs, or policc officcrs and
it bcc integral f
where shall me an part that pcnsi n plan and
bc to benefits to thc
shall uscd pay cxtra policc officcrs
includcd in that
pension plan; or
(b) May thc income from thc in 185.08
place premium tax s.
in to bcncfits
a scparatc supplemental plan pay cxtra to thc
fircfightcrs if
policc officcrs, or policc officers and
includcd, in
participating such scparatc supplemental plan.
(2) The tax by in
premium provided this chapter .shall all
bc in.._.it, entirety benefits
cases uscd to providc.extra t
lice to fircfightcrs if
p officers, r policc officers and
includcd. For local
However, law plans ineffecton October 1,
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1998, which do not must comply with the minimum benefit
provisions of this chapter, as my to the extent that
additional premium tax revenues become available, such revenues
shall be. used to incrementally fund the cost of such compliance
as provided in s. 185.16(2). If a plan is in compliance with
ouch minimum benefit provisions, as subsequent additi nal tax
revenues become available, they shall be used to provide extra
benefits. Local law plans created by special act before May 27,
1939, shall be deemed to comply with this chapter. For the
purpose of this chapter, the term=
(a) "additional premium tax revenues" means revenues
received by a municipality pursuant to s. 185.10 which exceed
the amount received for calendar year 1997. Oncea plan is in
compliance with the minimum benefit provisions of this chapter,
the provisions of subsection (1) apply.
(b) "Extra benefits" means bcncfits in additi n to or
greater than th sc provided to gener.al.cmploycc3 of the
municipality and in addition to th se in existence f r police
officers on March 12, 1999.
(3) A retirement plan or amendment to a retirement plan may
not be proposed for adoption unless the proposed plan or
amendment contains an actuarial estimate of the costs involved.
The Such proposed plan or proposed plan change may not be
adopted without the approval of the municipality or, if required
where permitted, the Legislature. Copies of the proposed plan or
proposed plan change and the actuarial impact statement of the
proposed plan -or -.proposed plan change shall be furnished to the:
'division before the.last public hearing thereon. Such statement
-Must also indicate whether the proposed -plan or,proposedplan...
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639 change is in compliance with s. 14, Art. X of the State
640 Constitution and those provisions of part VII of chapter 112
641 which are not expressly provided in this chapter.
642 Notwithstanding any other provision, only those local law plans
643 created by special act of legislation before May 27, 193,9, are
644 deemed to meet the minimum benefits and minimum standards only
645 in this chapter.
646 (4) Notwithstanding any other provision, with respect to
647 any supplemental plan municipality:
648 (a) Scction 185.02(4)(a) does not apply, and A local law
649 plan and a supplemental plan may continue to use their
650 definition of compensation or salary in existence on March 12,
651 1999.
652 (b) Section 185.05(1) (b) does not apply, and a local law
653 plan and a supplemental plan must continue to be administered by
654 a board or boards of trustees numbered, constituted, and
655 selected as .the board or boards were numbered, constituted, and
656 selected on December 1, 2000.
657 (c) The election set forth in paragraph (1) (b) is deemed to
658 have been made.
659 (d) The annual amount of -premium tax revenues allocated to
660 the supplemental plan shall be determined through collective
661 bargaining, where applicable, and in accordance with the pension
662 plan where collective bargaining does not apply. If the term of
663 a collective bargaining agreement ends without a new collective
664 bargaining agreement in effect, the amount of premium tax
665._.revenues allocated.to the supplemental plan shall be` -determined
666 unilaterally by -the municipality for the period of time from.the
667.--:end of the collective bargaining agreement .until the effective
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date of the subsequent collective bargaining agreement.
(5) The retirement plan setting forth the benefits and the
trust agreement, if any, covering the duties and
responsibilities of the trustees and the regulations of the
investment of funds must be in writing and copies made available
to the participants and to the general public.
(6) A municipality may unilaterally establish one or more
new plans, or benefit levels within a plan, which provide
different benefit levels for plan members based on the member's
date of hire if the new plan or benefit level provides pension
benefits that, in the aggregate, meet or exceed the minimum
benefits set forth in this chapter, as determined by the plan's
or employer's actuary. A municipality may unilaterally.elect to
maintain an existing plan and join the Florida Retirement System
or establish a defined contribution retirement plan for
employees hired after a specified date. A municipality choosing
to operate under this subsection shall use the premium tax
provided under this chapter for the current plan or benefit
level, for any additional plan or benefit level, for
contributions to the Florida Retirement System, or for
contributions to a defined contribution retirement plan.
Section 12. Section 185.37, Florida Statutes, is amended to
read:
185.37 Termination of plan and distribution of fund. -For
any municipality, chapter plan, local law municipality, or local
law plan under this chapter, the plan may be terminated by the
-muni.cipaiity. Upon termination- of the plan -by the municipality'
-for any_.reason, or because of a transfer, .merger, or
consolidation=of-governmental units, services, or functions as
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697 provided in chapter 121, or upon written notice to the board of
698 trustees by the municipality that contributions under the plan
699 are being permanently discontinued, the rights of all employees
700 to benefits accrued to the date of such termination or
701 discontinuance and the amounts credited to the employees'
702 accounts are nonforfeitable. The fund shall be distributed in
703 accordance with the following procedures:
704 (1) The board of trustees, subject to prior written
705 approval of the municipality, shall determine the date of
706 distribution and the asset value required to fund all the
707 nonforfeitable benefits, after taking into account the expenses
708 of such distribution. The board shall inform the municipality if
709 additional assets are required, in which event the municipality
710 shall continue to financially support the plan until all
711 nonforfeitable benefits have been funded.
712 (2) The board of trustees, subject to prior written
713 approval of the municipality, shall determine the method of
714 distribution of the asset value, whether distribution shall be
715 by'payment in cash, by the maintenance of another or substituted
716 trust fund, by the purchase of insured annuities, or otherwise,
717 for each police officer entitled to benefits under the plan, as
718 specified in subsection (3).
719 (3) The board of trustees, subject to prior written
720 approval of the municipality, shall distribute the asset value
721 as of the date of termination in the manner set forth in this
722. subsection, on the basis that the amount required to provide any
72.3...:--_given-retirement.::income is the actuarially computed single -sum
724 value'of'such -retirement income, except.,that if.the..method of
7.2:5: distribution determined under subsection (2) 'involves the
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purchase of an insured annuity, the amount required to provide
the given retirement income is the single premium payable for
such annuity. The actuarial single -sum value may not be less
than the employee's accumulated contributions to the plan, with
interest if provided by the plan, less the value of any plan
benefits previously paid to the employee.
(4) If there is asset value remaining after the full
distribution specified in subsection (3), and after payment of
any expenses incurred with such distribution, such excess shall
be returned to the municipality, less return to the state of the
state's contributions, provided that, if the excess is less than
the total contributions made by the municipality and the state
to date of termination of the plan, such excess shall be divided
proportionately to the total contributions made by the
municipality and the state.
(5) The board of trustees, subject to prior written
approval of themunicipality, shall distribute, in accordance
with the manner of distribution determined under subsection (2),
the amounts determined under subsection (3).
. If, after 24 months after the date the plan terminated or the
date the board received written notice that the contributions
thereunder were being permanently discontinued, the municipality
or the board of trustees of the municipal police officers'
retirement trust fund affected has not complied with. all the
provisions in this section, the Department of Management
•
-= -Services shall- effect -the termination of. the fund in accordance
with this±section.-and in the manner having.the least..fis.cal
impact on the municipality.
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Section 13. The Legislature finds that a proper and
legitimate state purpose is served when employees and retirees
of the state and its political subdivisions, and the dependents,
survivors, and beneficiaries of such employees and retirees are
extended the basic protections afforded by governmental
retirement systems that provide fair and adequate benefits and
that are managed, administered, and funded in an actuarially
sound manner as required by s. 14, Article X of the State
Constitution and part VII of chapter 112, Florida Statutes.
Therefore, the Legislature determines and declares that this act
fulfills an important state interest.
Section 14. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012.
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