HOUSE BILL NO. 148

INTRODUCED BY GOLIE G

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING A ONE-TIME PERMANENT AD HOC POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT INCREASE FOR ELIGIBLE BENEFIT RECIPIENTS UNDER THE FIREFIGHTERS' UNIFIED RETIREMENT SYSTEM; INCREASING THE STATE CONTRIBUTION; AMENDING SECTION 19-13-604, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

NEW SECTION. Section 1. Ad hoc postretirement adjustment. On July 1, 1999, each member who retired on or before June 30, 1994, or the member's beneficiary is entitled to a one-time permanent increase in the monthly service, disability, or survivorship benefit being paid to the member or the member's beneficiary. The amount of the increase for each eligible benefit recipient must be equal to the difference between what the recipient's benefit is on July 1, 1999, and the benefit that would have been payable on July 1, 1999, if the initial benefit had been increased by 1.5% for each full year after 3 years from the benefit's initiation date.

Section 2. Section 19-13-604, MCA, is amended to read:

"19-13-604. State contribution. The state shall make its contributions from the general fund. Payments must be made annually from the general fund to the pension trust fund after the end of each fiscal year but no later than November 1. The division shall notify the state auditor of the annual compensation, excluding overtime, holiday payments, shift differential payments, compensatory time payments, and payments in lieu of sick leave, paid to all active members during the preceding year. The state's contribution is 33.9% of this total compensation. The contributions are statutorily appropriated as provided in 17-7-502."

NEW SECTION. Section 3. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 19, chapter 13, part 10, and the provisions of Title 19, chapter 13, part 10, apply to [section 1].

NEW SECTION. Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.

- END -