SENATE BILL No. 635

 

 

June 22, 2005, Introduced by Senator KUIPERS and referred to the Committee on Education.

 

 

 

 

     A bill to amend 1980 PA 300, entitled

 

"The public school employees retirement act of 1979,"

 

by amending sections 4, 8, 25, 26, 34, and 91 (MCL 38.1304,

 

38.1308, 38.1325, 38.1326, 38.1334, and 38.1391), section 4 as

 

amended by 2003 PA 17, sections 8, 25, and 26 as amended by 1997 PA

 

143, section 34 as amended by 2002 PA 94, and section 91 as amended

 

by 2004 PA 117, and by adding sections 41b, 109, 110, 111, and 112

 

and article 7.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 4. (1) "Compound interest" means interest compounded

 

annually on July 1 on the contributions on account as of the

 

previous July 1 and computed at the rate of investment return

 

determined under section 104a(1) for the last completed state

 


fiscal year.

 

     (2) "Contributory service" means credited service other than

 

noncontributory service.

 

     (3) "Deferred member" means a member who has ceased to be a

 

public school employee and has satisfied the requirements of

 

section 82 for a deferred vested service retirement allowance.

 

     (4) "Department" means the department of management and

 

budget.

 

     (5) "Designated date" means September 30, 1997.

 

     (6) "Direct rollover" means a payment by the retirement system

 

to the eligible retirement plan specified by the distributee.

 

     (7) "Distributee" includes a member or deferred member.

 

Distributee also includes the member's or deferred member's

 

surviving spouse or the member's or deferred member's spouse or

 

former spouse under an eligible domestic relations order, with

 

regard to the interest of the spouse or former spouse.

 

     (8) Beginning January 1, 2002, except as otherwise provided in

 

this subsection, "eligible retirement plan" means an individual

 

retirement account described in section 408(a) of the internal

 

revenue code, an individual retirement annuity described in section

 

408(b) of the internal revenue code, an annuity plan described in

 

section 403(a) of the internal revenue code, or a qualified trust

 

described in section 401(a) of the internal revenue code, an

 

annuity contract described in section 403(b) of the internal

 

revenue code, or an eligible plan under section 457(b) of the

 

internal revenue code which is maintained by a state, political

 

subdivision of a state, or an agency or instrumentality of a state

 


or political subdivision of a state and which agrees to separately

 

account for amounts transferred into such eligible plan under

 

section 457(b) of the internal revenue code from this retirement

 

system, that accepts the distributee's eligible rollover

 

distribution. However, in the case of an eligible rollover

 

distribution to a surviving spouse, an eligible retirement plan

 

means an individual retirement account or an individual retirement

 

annuity described above.

 

     (9) Beginning January 1, 2002, "eligible rollover

 

distribution" means a distribution of all or any portion of the

 

balance to the credit of the distributee. Eligible rollover

 

distribution does not include any of the following:

 

     (a) A distribution made for the life or life expectancy of the

 

distributee or the joint lives or joint life expectancies of the

 

distributee and the distributee's designated beneficiary.

 

     (b) A distribution for a specified period of 10 years or more.

 

     (c) A distribution to the extent that the distribution is

 

required under section 401(a)(9) of the internal revenue code.

 

     (d) The portion of any distribution that is not includable in

 

federal gross income, determined without regard to the exclusion

 

for net unrealized appreciation with respect to employer

 

securities, except to the extent that the portion of a distribution

 

that is not includable in federal gross income is paid to either of

 

the following:

 

     (i) An individual retirement account or annuity described in

 

section 408(a) or (b) of the internal revenue code.

 

     (ii) A qualified defined contribution plan as described in

 


section 401(a) or 403(a) of the internal revenue code that agrees

 

to separately account for amounts transferred, including separately

 

accounting for the portion of the distribution that is includable

 

in gross income and the portion of the distribution which is not

 

includable in gross income.

 

     (10) "Employee organization professional services leave" or

 

"professional services leave" means a leave of absence that is

 

renewed annually by the reporting unit so that a member may accept

 

a position with a public school employee organization to which he

 

or she belongs and which represents employees of a reporting unit

 

in employment matters. The member shall be included in membership

 

of the retirement system during a professional services leave if

 

all of the conditions of section 71(5) and (6) are satisfied.

 

     (11) "Employee organization professional services released

 

time" or "professional services released time" means a portion of

 

the school fiscal year during which a member is released by the

 

reporting unit from his or her regularly assigned duties to engage

 

in employment matters for a public school employee organization to

 

which he or she belongs. The member's compensation received or

 

service rendered, or both, as applicable, by a member while on

 

professional services released time shall be reportable to the

 

retirement system if all of the conditions of section 71(5) and (6)

 

are satisfied.

 

     (12) "Final average compensation" means the aggregate amount

 

of a member's compensation earned within the averaging period in

 

which the aggregate amount of compensation was highest divided by

 

the member's number of years, including any fraction of a year, of

 


credited service during the averaging period. The averaging period

 

shall be 36 consecutive calendar months if the member contributes

 

to the member investment plan; otherwise, the averaging period

 

shall be 60 consecutive calendar months. If the member has less

 

than 1 year of credited service in the averaging period, the number

 

of consecutive calendar months in the averaging period shall be

 

increased to the lowest number of consecutive calendar months that

 

contains 1 year of credited service.

 

     (13) "Health benefits" means hospital, medical-surgical, and

 

sick care benefits and dental, vision, and hearing benefits for

 

retirants, retirement allowance beneficiaries, and health insurance

 

dependents provided pursuant to section 91.

 

     (14) "Implementation date" means July 31, 2005.

 

     (15)   (14)  "Internal revenue code" means the United States

 

internal revenue code of 1986.

 

     (16)   (15)  "Long-term care insurance" means group insurance

 

that is authorized by the retirement system for retirants,

 

retirement allowance beneficiaries, and health insurance

 

dependents, as that term is defined in section 91, to cover the

 

costs of services provided to retirants, retirement allowance

 

beneficiaries, and health insurance dependents, from nursing homes,

 

assisted living facilities, home health care providers, adult day

 

care providers, and other similar service providers.

 

     (17)   (16)  "Member investment plan" means the program of

 

member contributions described in section 43a.

 

     Sec. 8. (1) "Service" means personal service performed as a

 

public school employee or creditable under this act.

 


     (2) "Simple interest" means interest at 1 or more rates per

 

annum determined by the retirement board.

 

     (3) "State of Michigan service" means service performed as a

 

state employee in the classified or unclassified service under the

 

state employees' retirement act, 1943 PA 240, MCL 38.1 to 38.69.

 

     (4) "Teacher" means a person employed by a reporting unit who

 

is engaged in teaching, who is engaged in administering and

 

supervising teaching, or who is under a teacher's contract with a

 

reporting unit.

 

     (5) "Tier 1" means the retirement plan available to a member

 

under this act who was first employed by a reporting unit before

 

the implementation date and who does not elect to become a

 

qualified participant of Tier 2.

 

     (6) "Tier 2" means the retirement plan established pursuant to

 

section 403 (b) of the internal revenue code that is available to

 

qualified participants under sections 109 to 112 and article 7.

 

     (7)  (5)  "Transitional public employment program" means

 

participation in public service employment programs in the areas of

 

environmental quality, health care, education, public safety, crime

 

prevention and control, prison rehabilitation, transportation,

 

recreation, maintenance of parks, streets, and other public

 

facilities, solid waste removal, pollution control, housing and

 

neighborhood improvements, rural development, conservation,

 

beautification, veterans' outreach, and other fields of human

 

betterment and community improvement as part of a program of

 

comprehensive manpower services authorized, undertaken, and

 

financed under the comprehensive employment and training act of

 


1973, former Public Law 93-203, 87 Stat. 839.

 

     Sec. 25. (1) The board shall have only the rights, authority,

 

and discretion in the proper discharge of its duties provided in

 

this act and former 1945 PA 136.

 

     (2)  The  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the

 

retirement board may promulgate rules pursuant to the

 

administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to

 

24.328, for the implementation and administration of this act. The

 

retirement board shall not promulgate rules for the establishment,

 

implementation, administration, operation, investment, or

 

distribution of a Tier 2 retirement plan.

 

     Sec. 26. (1) This section does not apply to Tier 2.

 

     (2)  (1)  The state treasurer shall be treasurer of the

 

retirement system and shall have investment authority, including

 

the custodianship of the funds of the retirement system, and shall

 

have fiduciary responsibility with regard to the investment of

 

funds of the retirement system.

 

     (3)   (2)  The state treasurer shall deposit the funds of the

 

retirement system in the same manner and subject to the law

 

governing the deposit of state funds by the treasurer. Income

 

earned by the retirement system's funds shall be credited to the

 

respective reserves under this act that earned the income.

 

     Sec. 34. (1) The reserve for health benefits is the account to

 

which payments of reporting units, subscribe copayments, and

 

payments by the retirement system under section 136 for health

 

benefits are credited. Benefits payable pursuant to  section 91  

 

sections 91 and 136 shall be paid from the reserve for health

 


benefits. The assets and any earnings on the assets contained in

 

the reserve for health benefits and the health advance funding

 

subaccount are not to be treated as pension assets for any purpose.

 

     (2) The health advance funding subaccount is the account to

 

which amounts transferred pursuant to section 41 are credited.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this section, any amounts received

 

in the health advance funding subaccount and accumulated earnings

 

on those amounts shall not be expended until the actuarial accrued

 

liability for health benefits under section 91 is at least 100%

 

funded. The department may expend funds or transfer funds to

 

another account to expend for health benefits under section 91 if

 

the actuarial accrued liability for health benefits under section

 

91 is at least 100% funded. For each fiscal year that begins after

 

the first fiscal year in which the actuarial accrued liability for

 

health benefits under section 91 is at least 100% funded by the

 

health advance funding subaccount, the amounts may be expended or

 

credited to fund health benefits provided under section 91 as

 

provided in section 41(2).

 

     (3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the

 

department may transfer amounts from the health advance funding

 

subaccount to the reserve for employer contributions established in

 

section 30 if the department does both of the following:

 

     (a) At least 45 days before the intended transfer, submits a

 

request to the chairs of the senate and house appropriations

 

committees and, at least 15 days before the intended transfer,

 

obtains the approval of both the senate and house appropriations

 

committees.

 


     (b) Ensures that the request submitted to the senate and house

 

appropriations committees contains an actuarial valuation prepared

 

pursuant to section 41 that demonstrates that as of the beginning

 

of a fiscal year, and after all credits and transfers required by

 

this act for the previous fiscal year have been made, the sum of

 

the actuarial value of assets and the actuarial present value of

 

future normal cost contributions does not exceed the actuarial

 

present value of benefits.

 

     Sec. 41b. For fiscal years that begin on or after the

 

effective date of this section, the annual level percentage of

 

payroll contribution rate as it applies to the unfunded actuarial

 

accrued liability determined under section 41 shall be based on and

 

applied to the combined payrolls for members of Tier 1 and

 

qualified participants of Tier 2.

 

     Sec. 91. (1) The retirement system shall pay the entire

 

monthly premium or membership or subscription fee for hospital,

 

medical-surgical, and sick care benefits for the benefit of a

 

retirant or retirement allowance beneficiary who elects coverage in

 

the plan authorized by the retirement board and the department.

 

This subsection does not apply to a member who first becomes a

 

member on or after the implementation date.

 

     (2) The retirement system may pay up to the maximum of the

 

amount payable under subsection (1) toward the monthly premium for

 

hospital, medical-surgical, and sick care benefits for the benefit

 

of a retirant or retirement allowance beneficiary enrolled in a

 

group health insurance or prepaid service plan not authorized by

 

the retirement board and the department, if enrolled before June 1,

 


1975, for whom the retirement system on July 18, 1983 was making a

 

payment towards his or her monthly premium.

 

     (3) A retirant or retirement allowance beneficiary receiving

 

hospital, medical-surgical, and sick care benefits coverage under

 

subsection (1) or (2), until eligible for medicare, shall have an

 

amount equal to the cost chargeable to a medicare recipient for

 

part B of medicare deducted from his or her retirement allowance.

 

     (4) The retirement system shall pay 90% of the monthly premium

 

or membership or subscription fee for dental, vision, and hearing

 

benefits for the benefit of a retirant or retirement allowance

 

beneficiary who elects coverage in the plan authorized by the

 

retirement board and the department. Payments shall begin under

 

this subsection upon approval by the retirement board and the

 

department of plan coverage and a plan provider. This subsection

 

does not apply to a member who first becomes a member on or after

 

the implementation date.

 

     (5) The retirement system shall pay up to 90% of the maximum

 

of the amount payable under subsection (1) toward the monthly

 

premium or membership or subscription fee for hospital, medical-

 

surgical, and sick care benefits coverage described in subsections

 

(1) and (2) for each health insurance dependent of a retirant

 

receiving benefits under subsection (1) or (2). Payment shall not

 

exceed 90% of the actual monthly premium or membership or

 

subscription fee. The retirement system shall pay 90% of the

 

monthly premium or membership or subscription fee for dental,

 

vision, and hearing benefits described in subsection (4) for the

 

benefit of each health insurance dependent of a retirant receiving

 


benefits under subsection (4). Payment for health benefits coverage

 

for a health insurance dependent of a retirant shall not be made

 

after the retirant's death, unless the retirant designated a

 

retirement allowance beneficiary as provided in section 85 and the

 

dependent was covered or eligible for coverage as a health

 

insurance dependent of the retirant on the retirant's date of

 

death. Payment for health benefits coverage shall not be made for a

 

health insurance dependent after the later of the retirant's death

 

or the retirement allowance beneficiary's death. Payment under this

 

subsection and subsection (6) began October 1, 1985 for health

 

insurance dependents who on July 10, 1985 were covered by the

 

hospital, medical-surgical, and sick care benefits plan authorized

 

by the retirement board and the department. Payment under this

 

subsection and subsection (6) for other health insurance dependents

 

shall not begin before January 1, 1986. This subsection does not

 

apply to a member who first becomes a member on or after the

 

implementation date.

 

     (6) The payment described in subsection (5) shall also be made

 

for each health insurance dependent of a deceased member or

 

deceased duty disability retirant if a retirement allowance is

 

being paid to a retirement allowance beneficiary because of the

 

death of the member or duty disability retirant as provided in

 

section 43c(c), 89, or  90, or as otherwise provided under this

 

act. Payment for health benefits coverage for a health insurance

 

dependent shall not be made after the retirement allowance

 

beneficiary's death.

 

     (7) The payments provided by this section shall not be made on

 


behalf of a retiring section 82 deferred member or health insurance

 

dependent of a deferred member having less than 21 full years of

 

attained credited service or the retiring deferred member's

 

retirement allowance beneficiary, and shall not be made on behalf

 

of a retirement allowance beneficiary of a deferred member who dies

 

before retiring. The retirement system shall pay, on behalf of a

 

retiring section 82 deferred member or health insurance dependent

 

of a deferred member or a retirement allowance beneficiary of a

 

deceased deferred member, either of whose allowance is based upon

 

not less than 21 years of attained credited service, 10% of the

 

payments provided by this section, increased by 10% for each

 

attained full year of credited service beyond 21 years, not to

 

exceed 100%. This subsection applies to any member who first

 

becomes a member before the implementation date and who attains

 

deferred status under section 82 after October 31, 1980.

 

     (8) For a member or deferred member who first becomes a member

 

on or after the implementation date, the retirement system shall

 

pay the entire monthly premium or membership or subscription fee

 

for the hospital, medical-surgical, and sick care benefits plan,

 

the dental plan, vision plan, or hearing plan, or any combination

 

of the plans for the benefit of the retirant and his or her health

 

insurance beneficiaries, or for the benefit of the retirant's or

 

deceased member's retirement allowance beneficiary if the retirant

 

or deceased member has 30 years or more of service credit or 30

 

years or more of employment with a reporting unit or units under

 

this act. If a retirant or deceased member described in this

 

subsection has 20 or more but less than 30 years of service credit

 


or years of reporting unit employment under this act, the

 

retirement system shall pay a portion of the monthly premium or

 

membership or subscription fee for the plans or combination of

 

plans equal to the product of 3% and the retirant's or deceased

 

member's years of service. Additionally, if a retirant or deceased

 

member described in this subsection has less than 30 years of

 

service credit and is less than 60 years of age, the retirement

 

system shall reduce the amount payable under this subsection by the

 

formula used to reduce a retirement allowance under section 84(2).

 

     (9) The retirement system shall not pay the premiums or

 

membership or subscription fees under subsection (8) until the

 

retirant or retirement allowance beneficiary requests enrollment in

 

the plans or combination of plans in writing in the manner

 

prescribed by the retirement system. Subsection (8) does not apply

 

to a member who receives a disability retirement allowance under

 

section 86, 87, or 135a or to a deceased member's retirement

 

allowance beneficiary under section 90.

 

     (10)  (8)  Any retirant or retirement allowance beneficiary

 

excluded from payments under this section may participate in the

 

hospital, medical-surgical, and sick care benefits plan, the dental

 

plan, vision plan, or hearing plan, or any combination of the plans

 

described in this section in the manner prescribed by the

 

retirement system at his or her own cost.

 

     (11)  (9)  The hospital, medical-surgical, and sick care

 

benefits plan, dental plan, vision plan, and hearing plan that

 

covers retirants, retirement allowance beneficiaries, and health

 

insurance dependents pursuant to this section shall contain a

 


coordination of benefits provision that provides all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) If the person covered under the hospital, medical-

 

surgical, and sick care benefits plan is also eligible for medicare

 

or medicaid, or both, then the benefits under medicare or medicaid,

 

or both, shall be determined before the benefits of the hospital,

 

medical-surgical, and sick care benefits plan provided pursuant to

 

this section.

 

     (b) If the person covered under any of the plans provided by

 

this section is also covered under another plan that contains a

 

coordination of benefits provision, the benefits shall be

 

coordinated as provided by the coordination of benefits act, 1984

 

PA 64, MCL 550.251 to 550.255.

 

     (c) If the person covered under any of the plans provided by

 

this section is also covered under another plan that does not

 

contain a coordination of benefits provision, the benefits under

 

the other plan shall be determined before the benefits of the plan

 

provided pursuant to this section.

 

     (12)  (10)  For purposes of this section:

 

     (a) "Health insurance dependent" means any of the following:

 

     (i) The spouse of the retirant or the surviving spouse to whom

 

the retirant or deceased member was married at the time of the

 

retirant's or deceased member's death.

 

     (ii) An unmarried child, by birth or adoption, of the retirant

 

or deceased member, until December 31 of the calendar year in which

 

the child becomes 19 years of age.

 

     (iii) An unmarried child, by birth or adoption, of the retirant

 


or deceased member, until December 31 of the calendar year in which

 

the child becomes 25 years of age, who is enrolled as a full-time

 

student, and who is or was at the time of the retirant's or

 

deceased member's death a dependent of the retirant or deceased

 

member as defined in section 152 of the internal revenue code.

 

     (iv) An unmarried child, by birth or adoption, of the retirant

 

or deceased member who is incapable of self-sustaining employment

 

because of mental or physical disability, and who is or was at the

 

time of the retirant's or deceased member's death a dependent of

 

the retirant or deceased member as defined in section 152 of the

 

internal revenue code.

 

     (v) The parents of the retirant or deceased member, or the

 

parents of his or her spouse, who are residing in the household of

 

the retirant or retirement allowance beneficiary.

 

     (vi) An unmarried child who is not the child by birth or

 

adoption of the retirant or deceased member but who otherwise

 

qualifies to be a health insurance dependent under subparagraph

 

(ii), (iii), or (iv), if the retirant or deceased member is the legal

 

guardian of the unmarried child.

 

     (b) "Medicaid" means benefits under the federal medicaid

 

program established under title XIX of the social security act,

 

chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620,  42 U.S.C.  USC 1396 to 1396f, 1396g-1

 

to 1396r-6, and 1396r-8 to 1396v.

 

     (c) "Medicare" means benefits under the federal medicare

 

program established under title XVIII of the social security act,

 

chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620,  42 U.S.C.  USC 1395 to 1395b, 1395b-2,

 

1395b-6 to 1395b-7, 1395c to 1395i, 1395i-2 to 1395i-5, 1395j to

 


1395t, 1395u to 1395w, 1395w-2 to 1395w-4, 1395w-21 to 1395w-28,

 

1395x to 1395yy, and 1395bbb to 1395ggg.

 

     Sec. 109. (1) An individual who was a deferred member or

 

former nonvested member on the day before the implementation date,

 

who is employed by a reporting unit on or after the implementation

 

date, and who by virtue of that employment would be eligible for

 

membership in Tier 1 shall make an election as prescribed in

 

section 110.

 

     (2) An individual who is first employed and entered upon the

 

payroll of a reporting unit on or after the implementation date

 

shall become a qualified participant of Tier 2. The date of

 

membership in Tier 1 or participation in Tier 2 under this

 

subsection dates back to the date the individual was first employed

 

and entered upon the payroll of a reporting unit.

 

     Sec. 110. (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2),

 

the retirement system shall provide an opportunity for each member

 

who is a Tier 1 member on the day before the implementation date,

 

to elect in writing to terminate membership in Tier 1 and elect to

 

become a qualified participant in Tier 2. An election made by a

 

member under this subsection is irrevocable. The retirement system

 

shall accept written elections under this subsection from members

 

during the period beginning on September 30, 2005 and ending on

 

December 31, 2005. A member who does not make a written election or

 

who does not file the election during the period specified in this

 

subsection continues to be a member of Tier 1. A member who makes

 

and files a written election under this subsection elects to do all

 

of the following:

 


     (a) Cease to be a member of Tier 1 effective 12 midnight on

 

December 31, 2005.

 

     (b) Become a qualified participant in Tier 2 effective 12:01

 

a.m. on January 1, 2006.

 

     (c) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, waive

 

all of his or her rights to a pension, an annuity, a retirement

 

allowance, an insurance benefit, or any other benefit under Tier 1

 

effective 12 midnight on the day described in subdivision (a). This

 

subdivision does not affect a person's right to health benefits

 

provided under this act pursuant to section 136.

 

     (2) This subsection applies to an individual who was a vested

 

member of Tier 1 on the day before the implementation date and who

 

terminates the employment upon which that membership is based on or

 

after the implementation date but on or before December 31, 2005.

 

Before the termination of his or her employment, an individual

 

described in this subsection may elect in writing to terminate

 

membership in Tier 1 and become a qualified participant in Tier 2.

 

An election made by a member under this subsection is irrevocable.

 

The retirement system shall accept written elections under this

 

subsection from a member during the period beginning on the

 

implementation date and ending on December 31, 2005. A member

 

described in this subsection who does not make a written election

 

or who does not file the election before the termination of his or

 

her employment continues to be a member or deferred member of Tier

 

1. A member who makes and files a written election under this

 

subsection to terminate membership in Tier 1 elects to do all of

 

the following:

 


     (a) Cease to be a member of Tier 1 and become a qualified

 

participant in Tier 2 effective 12 midnight on the day immediately

 

preceding the date of the termination of employment.

 

     (b) Become a former qualified participant in Tier 2 effective

 

12:01 a.m. on the day immediately following the date described in

 

subdivision (a).

 

     (c) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, waive

 

all of his or her rights to a pension, an annuity, a retirement

 

allowance, an insurance benefit, or any other benefit under Tier 1

 

effective 12 midnight on the date described in subdivision (a).

 

This subdivision does not affect an individual's right to health

 

benefits provided under this act pursuant to section 136.

 

     (3) If an individual who was a deferred member on the day

 

before the implementation date or an individual who was a former

 

nonvested member on the day before the implementation date is

 

employed by a reporting unit on or after the implementation date

 

and by virtue of that employment is again eligible for membership

 

in Tier 1, the individual shall elect in writing to remain a member

 

of Tier 1 or to terminate membership in Tier 1 and become a

 

qualified participant in Tier 2. An election made by a deferred

 

member or a former nonvested member under this subsection is

 

irrevocable. The retirement system shall accept written elections

 

under this subsection from a deferred member or a former nonvested

 

member during the period beginning on the date of the individual's

 

reemployment and ending upon the expiration of 60 days after the

 

date of that reemployment. A deferred member or former nonvested

 

member who makes and files a written election to remain a member of

 


Tier 1 retains all rights and is subject to all conditions as a

 

member of Tier 1 under this act. A deferred member or former

 

nonvested member who does not make a written election or who does

 

not file the election during the period specified in this

 

subsection continues to be a member of Tier 1. A deferred member or

 

former nonvested member who makes and files a written election to

 

terminate membership in Tier 1 elects to do all of the following:

 

     (a) Cease to be a member of Tier 1 effective 12 midnight on

 

the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the

 

election.

 

     (b) Become a qualified participant in Tier 2 effective 12:01

 

a.m. on the first day of the payroll period immediately following

 

the date of the election.

 

     (c) Except as otherwise provided in this subdivision, waive

 

all of his or her rights to a pension, an annuity, a retirement

 

allowance, an insurance benefit, or any other benefit under Tier 1

 

effective 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that

 

includes the date of the election. This subdivision does not affect

 

an individual's right to health benefits provided under this act

 

pursuant to section 136.

 

     (4) After consultation with the retirement system's actuary

 

and the retirement board, the department of management and budget

 

shall determine the method by which a member, deferred member, or

 

former nonvested member shall make a written election under this

 

section. If the member, deferred member, or former nonvested member

 

is married at the time of the election, the election is not

 

effective unless the election is signed by the individual's spouse.

 


However, the retirement board may waive this requirement if the

 

spouse's signature cannot be obtained because of extenuating

 

circumstances.

 

     (5) An election under this section is subject to the eligible

 

domestic relations order act, 1991 PA 46, MCL 38.1701 to 38.1711.

 

     (6) If an individual who was a deferred member of the state

 

employees' retirement system on the day before the implementation

 

date is first employed and entered upon the payroll of a reporting

 

unit on or after the implementation date, the retirement system

 

shall provide an opportunity for that individual to elect in

 

writing to become a member of Tier 1 or to become a qualified

 

participant of Tier 2. The retirement system and the individual

 

shall follow the provisions and procedures provided in this section

 

and by the state treasurer as if the individual were a deferred

 

member of this retirement system on the day before the

 

implementation date.

 

     (7) If the department of management and budget receives

 

notification from the United States internal revenue service that

 

this section or any portion of this section will cause the

 

retirement system to be disqualified for tax purposes under the

 

internal revenue code, then the portion that will cause the

 

disqualification does not apply.

 

     Sec. 111. (1) For a member who elects to terminate membership

 

in Tier 1 under section 110(1), the retirement system shall direct

 

the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the

 

appropriate reserve created under article 2 to the qualified

 

participant's account in Tier 2 on or before July 1, 2006. The

 


retirement system shall calculate the amount to be transferred,

 

which shall be equal to the sum of the following:

 

     (a) The member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the

 

reserve for employee contributions as of 12 midnight December 31,

 

2004.

 

     (b) For a member who is a participant in the member investment

 

plan, the member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the

 

reserve for member investment plan as of 12 midnight December 31,

 

2005.

 

     (c) For a member who is vested under section 81 as of 12

 

midnight December 31, 2005, the excess, if any, of the actuarial

 

present value of the member's accumulated benefit obligation, over

 

the amount specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), from the reserve

 

for employer contributions. Except as provided in subsection (7),

 

for the purposes of this subsection, the present value of the

 

member's accumulated benefit obligation is based upon the member's

 

estimated credited service and estimated final average compensation

 

as of 12 midnight December 31, 2005. The actuarial present value

 

shall be computed as of 12 midnight December 31, 2005 and shall be

 

based on the following:

 

     (i) Eight percent effective annual interest, compounded

 

annually.

 

     (ii) A 50% male and 50% female gender neutral blend of the

 

mortality tables used to project retirant longevity in the most

 

recent actuarial valuation report.

 

     (iii) A benefit commencement age, based upon the member's

 

estimated credited service as of 12 midnight December 31, 2005. The

 


benefit commencement age shall be the younger of the following, but

 

shall not be younger than the member's age as of 12 midnight

 

December 31, 2005:

 

     (A) Age 60.

 

     (B) Age 55, if the member's estimated credited service equals

 

or exceeds 30 years.

 

     (C) The age of the member if the member's credited service

 

equals or exceeds 30 years and the member contributes to the member

 

investment plan.

 

     (D) Interest on any amounts determined in subdivisions (a),

 

(b), and (c) from January 1, 2006 to the date of the transfer,

 

based upon 8% annual interest, compounded annually.

 

     (2) For each member who elects to terminate membership in Tier

 

1 under section 110(1), the retirement system shall recompute the

 

amount transferred under subsection (1) not later than August 1,

 

2006 based upon the member's actual credited service and actual

 

final average compensation as of 12 midnight December 31, 2005. If

 

the recomputed amount differs from the amount transferred under

 

subsection (1) by $10.00 or more, not later than August 15, 2006,

 

the retirement system shall do all of the following:

 

     (a) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the reserve

 

for employer contributions to the qualified participant's account

 

in Tier 2 the excess, if any, of the recomputed amount over the

 

previously transferred amount together with interest from 12

 

midnight December 31, 2005 to the date of the transfer under this

 

subsection, based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded

 

annually.

 


     (b) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the qualified

 

participant's account in Tier 2 to the reserve for employer

 

contributions the excess, if any, of the previously transferred

 

amount over the recomputed amount, together with interest, from the

 

date of the transfer made under subsection (1), based upon 8%

 

effective annual interest, compounded annually.

 

     (3) For a member who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1

 

under section 110(2), the retirement system shall direct the state

 

treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the appropriate

 

reserve created under article 2 to the former qualified

 

participant's account in Tier 2 on or before the expiration of 60

 

days after the date of the individual's termination of employment.

 

The retirement system shall calculate the amount to be transferred,

 

which shall be equal to the sum of the following:

 

     (a) The member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the

 

reserve for employee contributions as of 12 midnight on the day

 

immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment.

 

     (b) For a member who is a participant in the member investment

 

plan, the member's accumulated contributions, if any, from the

 

reserve for member investment plan as of 12 midnight on the day

 

immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment.

 

     (c) The excess, if any, of the actuarial present value of the

 

member's accumulated benefit obligation, over the amount specified

 

in subdivisions (a) and (b), from the reserve for employer

 

contributions. Except as provided in subsection (7), for the

 

purposes of this subsection, the present value of the member's

 

accumulated benefit obligation is based upon the member's estimated

 


credited service and estimated final average compensation as of 12

 

midnight on the day immediately preceding the date of the

 

termination of employment. The actuarial present value shall be

 

computed as of 12 midnight on that date and shall be based on the

 

following:

 

     (i) Eight percent effective annual interest, compounded

 

annually.

 

     (ii) A 50% male and 50% female gender neutral blend of the

 

mortality tables used to project retirant longevity in the most

 

recent annual actuarial valuation report.

 

     (iii) A benefit commencement age, based upon the member's

 

estimated credited service as of 12 midnight on the day immediately

 

preceding the date of the termination of employment. The benefit

 

commencement age shall be the younger of the following, but shall

 

not be younger than the member's age as of 12 midnight on the day

 

immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment:

 

     (A) Age 60.

 

     (B) Age 55, if the member's estimated credited service equals

 

or exceeds 30 years.

 

     (C) The age of the member if the member's credited service

 

equals or exceeds 30 years and the member is a participant of the

 

member investment plan.

 

     (D) Interest on any amounts determined in subdivisions (a),

 

(b), and (c) from the day immediately following the date described

 

in subdivision (a) to the date of the transfer, based upon 8%

 

effective annual interest, compounded annually.

 

     (4) For each member who elects to terminate membership in the

 


retirement system under section 110(2), the retirement system shall

 

recompute the amount transferred under subsection (3) not later

 

than the expiration of 90 days after the transfer occurs under

 

subsection (3) based upon the member's actual credited service and

 

actual final average compensation as of 12 midnight on the day

 

immediately preceding the date of the termination of employment. If

 

the recomputed amount differs from the amount transferred under

 

subsection (3) by $10.00 or more, the retirement system shall do

 

all of the following:

 

     (a) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the reserve

 

for employer contributions to the former qualified participant's

 

account in Tier 2 the excess, if any, of the recomputed amount over

 

the previously transferred amount together with interest from 12

 

midnight on the day immediately preceding the date of the

 

termination of employment to the date of the transfer under this

 

subsection, based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded

 

annually.

 

     (b) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the former

 

qualified participant's account in Tier 2 to the reserve for

 

employer contributions the excess, if any, of the previously

 

transferred amount over the recomputed amount, together with

 

interest, from the date of the transfer made under subsection (3),

 

based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

 

     (5) For a deferred member who elects to terminate membership

 

in Tier 1 under section 110(3), the retirement system shall direct

 

the state treasurer to transfer a lump sum amount from the

 

appropriate reserve created under article 2 to the qualified

 


participant's account in Tier 2 on or before the expiration of 60

 

days after the date of the individual's election to terminate

 

membership. The retirement system shall calculate the amount to be

 

transferred, which shall be equal to the sum of the following:

 

     (a) The deferred member's accumulated contributions, if any,

 

from the reserve for employee contributions as of 12 midnight on

 

the last day of the payroll period that includes the date of the

 

election.

 

     (b) For a deferred member who is a participant in the member

 

investment plan, the deferred member's accumulated contributions,

 

if any, from the reserve for member investment plan as of 12

 

midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the

 

date of the election.

 

     (c) The excess, if any, of the actuarial present value of the

 

deferred member's accumulated benefit obligation, over the amount

 

specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), from the reserve for

 

employer contributions. Except as provided in subsection (7), for

 

the purposes of this subsection, the present value of the deferred

 

member's accumulated benefit obligation is based upon the deferred

 

member's estimated credited service and estimated final average

 

compensation as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll

 

period that includes the date of the election. The actuarial

 

present value shall be computed as of 12 midnight on that date and

 

shall be based on the following:

 

     (i) Eight percent effective annual interest, compounded

 

annually.

 

     (ii) A 50% male and 50% female gender neutral blend of the

 


mortality tables used to project retirant longevity in the most

 

recent annual actuarial valuation report.

 

     (iii) A benefit commencement age, based upon the member's

 

estimated credited service as of 12 midnight on the last day of the

 

payroll period that includes the date of the election. The benefit

 

commencement age shall be the younger of the following, but shall

 

not be younger than the member's age as of 12 midnight on the last

 

day of the payroll period that includes the date of the election:

 

     (A) Age 60.

 

     (B) Age 55, if the deferred member's estimated credited

 

service equals or exceeds 30 years.

 

     (C) The age of the deferred member if the deferred member's

 

credited service equals or exceeds 30 years and the deferred member

 

is a participant of the member investment plan.

 

     (D) Interest on any amounts determined in subdivisions (a),

 

(b), and (c) from the first day of the payroll period immediately

 

following the date of the election to the date of the transfer,

 

based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded annually.

 

     (6) For each deferred member who elects to terminate

 

membership in the retirement system under section 110(3), the

 

retirement system shall recompute the amount transferred under

 

subsection (5) not later than the expiration of 90 days after the

 

transfer occurs under subsection (5) based upon the deferred

 

member's actual credited service and actual final average

 

compensation as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll

 

period that includes the date of the election. If the recomputed

 

amount differs from the amount transferred under subsection (5) by

 


$10.00 or more, the retirement system shall do all of the

 

following:

 

     (a) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the reserve

 

for employer contributions to the qualified participant's account

 

in Tier 2 the excess, if any, of the recomputed amount over the

 

previously transferred amount together with interest from 12

 

midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the

 

date of the election to the date of the transfer under this

 

subsection, based upon 8% effective annual interest, compounded

 

annually.

 

     (b) Direct the state treasurer to transfer from the

 

participant's account in Tier 2 to the reserve for employer

 

contributions the excess, if any, of the previously transferred

 

amount over the recomputed amount, together with interest, from the

 

date of the transfer made under subsection (5), based upon 8%

 

effective annual interest, compounded annually.

 

     (7) For the purposes of subsections (1) to (6), the

 

calculation of estimated and actual present value of the member's

 

or deferred member's accumulated benefit obligation shall be based

 

upon methods adopted by the department of management and budget and

 

the retirement system's actuary in consultation with the retirement

 

board. The retirement system shall utilize the same actuarial

 

valuation report used to calculate the amount transferred under

 

subsection (1), (3), or (5) when making the recomputation required

 

under subsection (2), (4), or (6). Estimated and actual final

 

average compensation shall be determined as provided in sections 3a

 

and 4(11) as of 12 midnight on the date the member or deferred

 


member ceases to be a member of Tier 1 under section 110.

 

     (8) For a former nonvested member who elects to terminate

 

membership in Tier 1 under section 110(3) and who has accumulated

 

contributions standing to his or her credit in the reserve for

 

employee contributions or the reserve for member investment plan,

 

the retirement system shall direct the state treasurer to transfer

 

a lump sum amount from the appropriate reserve created under

 

article 2 to the qualified participant's account in Tier 2 on or

 

before the expiration of 60 days after the date of the individual's

 

election to terminate membership. The retirement system shall

 

calculate the amount to be transferred, which shall be equal to the

 

sum of the following:

 

     (a) The former nonvested member's accumulated contributions,

 

if any, from the reserve for employee contributions as of 12

 

midnight on the last day of the payroll period that includes the

 

date of the election.

 

     (b) For a former nonvested member who is a participant in the

 

member investment plan, the former nonvested member's accumulated

 

contributions, if any, from the reserve for member investment plan

 

as of 12 midnight on the last day of the payroll period that

 

includes the date of the election.

 

     (c) Interest on any amounts determined in subdivisions (a) and

 

(b) from the first day of the payroll period immediately following

 

the date of the election to the date of the transfer, based upon 8%

 

effective annual interest, compounded annually.

 

     (9) If the department of management and budget receives

 

notification from the United States internal revenue service that

 


this section or any portion of this section will cause the

 

retirement system to be disqualified for tax purposes under the

 

internal revenue code, then the portion that will cause the

 

disqualification does not apply.

 

     Sec. 112. After consulting the retirement system's actuary,

 

the department of management and budget shall calculate for each

 

fiscal year any cost savings that have accrued to this retirement

 

system as a result of the implementation of the amendatory act that

 

added this section over the costs that would have been incurred by

 

this retirement system had the amendatory act that added this

 

section not been implemented. The total amount of the cost savings

 

shall not be used to decrease the actuarial rate charged to

 

reporting units.

 

ARTICLE 7

 

     Sec. 121. For the purposes of this article, the words and

 

phrases defined in sections 122 to 124 have the meanings ascribed

 

to them in those sections.

 

     Sec. 122. (1) "Accumulated balance" means the total balance in

 

a qualified participant's, former qualified participant's, or

 

refund beneficiary's individual account in Tier 2.

 

     (2) "Compensation" means the remuneration paid a qualified

 

participant on account of the qualified participant's services

 

rendered to his or her employer. Compensation includes only

 

medicare taxable wages as reported by the employer on the

 

participant's federal form W-2, wage and tax statement.

 

     (3) "Department" means the department of management and

 

budget.

 


     Sec. 123. (1) "Employer" means a reporting unit.

 

     (2) "Former qualified participant" means an individual who was

 

a qualified participant and who terminates the employment upon

 

which his or her participation is based for any reason.

 

     (3) "Health benefit dependent" means an individual who would

 

have been eligible for health insurance coverage as a health

 

insurance dependent under section 91(10)(a) if the former qualified

 

participant had become a retirant of Tier 1.

 

     Sec. 124. (1) "Qualified participant" means an individual who

 

is a participant of Tier 2 and who meets 1 of the following

 

requirements:

 

     (a) An individual who is first employed and entered upon the

 

payroll of his or her employer on or after the implementation date.

 

     (b) An individual who elects to terminate membership in Tier 1

 

and who elects to participate in Tier 2 in the manner prescribed in

 

section 110.

 

     (2) "Refund beneficiary" means an individual nominated by a

 

qualified participant or a former qualified participant under

 

section 134 to receive a distribution of the participant's

 

accumulated balance in the manner prescribed in section 135.

 

     (3) "State treasurer" means the treasurer of this state.

 

     Sec. 125. (1) The state treasurer shall invest the assets of

 

Tier 2. The state treasurer is the fiduciary and trustee of Tier 2.

 

The state treasurer may appoint an advisory board to assist the

 

state treasurer in carrying out his or her duties as fiduciary and

 

trustee.

 

     (2) The department shall determine the provisions and

 


procedures of Tier 2 in conformity with this act and the internal

 

revenue code.

 

     (3) The department has the exclusive authority and

 

responsibility to employ or contract with personnel and for

 

services that the department and state treasurer determine

 

necessary for the proper administration of and investment of assets

 

of Tier 2 including but not limited to managerial, professional,

 

legal, clerical, technical, and administrative personnel or

 

services.

 

     Sec. 126. (1) A qualified participant, former qualified

 

participant, health benefit dependent, or refund beneficiary may

 

request a hearing on a claim involving his or her rights under Tier

 

2. Upon written request, the department shall provide for a hearing

 

that shall be conducted pursuant to chapter 4 of the administrative

 

procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.271 to 24.287. An

 

individual may be represented by counsel or other authorized agent

 

at a hearing conducted under this section.

 

     (2) Chapters 2, 3, and 5 of the administrative procedures act

 

of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.224 to 24.264 and 24.291 to 24.292, do

 

not apply to the establishment, implementation, administration,

 

operation, investment, or distribution of Tier 2.

 

     Sec. 127. Each qualified participant, former qualified

 

participant, and refund beneficiary shall direct the investment of

 

the individual's accumulated employer and employee contributions

 

and earnings to 1 or more investment choices within available

 

categories of investment provided by the state treasurer. The

 

limitations on the percentage of total assets for investments

 


provided in the public employee retirement system investment act,

 

1965 PA 314, MCL 38.1132 to 38.1140m, do not apply to Tier 2.

 

     Sec. 128. The administrative expenses of Tier 2 shall be paid

 

by the qualified participants, former qualified participants, and

 

refund beneficiaries who have not closed their accounts in a manner

 

determined by the department.

 

     Sec. 129. A qualified participant shall not participate in any

 

other public sector retirement benefits plan for simultaneous

 

service rendered to the same public sector employer. Except as

 

otherwise provided in this act or by the department, this section

 

does not prohibit a qualified participant from participating in a

 

retirement plan established by a public sector employer under the

 

internal revenue code. For the purposes of this section, public

 

sector employer includes, but is not limited to, a reporting unit.

 

     Sec. 130. (1) The department shall promptly credit the Tier 2

 

account of a qualified participant or former qualified participant

 

who makes an election under section 110 to terminate membership in

 

Tier 1 with any amount transferred from Tier 1 pursuant to section

 

111.

 

     (2) Not later than 30 days after receipt of a recomputed

 

amount under section 111(2), (4), or (6), the department shall

 

charge the participant's Tier 2 account for any amount of excess

 

transfers under section 111(1), (3), or (5) and transfer that

 

amount to the appropriate reserve in Tier 1. The state treasurer

 

may determine which investment choice or choices within a

 

participant's Tier 2 account will be used for this purpose.

 

     Sec. 131. (1) This section is subject to the vesting

 


requirements of section 132.

 

     (2) A qualified participant's employer shall contribute to the

 

qualified participant's Tier 2 account an amount equal to 4% of the

 

qualified participant's compensation.

 

     (3) A qualified participant may periodically elect to

 

contribute up to 3% of his or her compensation to his or her Tier 2

 

account. The qualified participant's employer shall make an

 

additional contribution to the qualified participant's Tier 2

 

account in an amount equal to the contribution made by the

 

qualified participant under this subsection.

 

     (4) A qualified participant may make contributions in addition

 

to contributions made under subsection (3) to his or her Tier 2

 

account as permitted by the department and the internal revenue

 

code. The qualified participant's employer shall not match

 

contributions made by the qualified participant under this

 

subsection.

 

     Sec. 132. (1) A qualified participant is immediately 100%

 

vested in his or her contributions made to Tier 2. A qualified

 

participant shall vest in the employer contributions made on his or

 

her behalf to Tier 2 according to the following schedule:

 

     (a) Upon completion of 2 years of service, 50%.

 

     (b) Upon completion of 3 years of service, 75%.

 

     (c) Upon completion of 4 years of service, 100%.

 

     (2) A qualified participant is vested in the health insurance

 

coverage provided in section 136 if the qualified participant meets

 

1 of the following requirements:

 

     (a) The qualified participant has completed 10 years of

 


service as a qualified participant and was not a member, deferred

 

member, or former nonvested member of Tier 1.

 

     (b) The qualified participant was a member, deferred member,

 

or former nonvested member of Tier 1 who made an election to

 

participate in Tier 2 pursuant to section 110, and who has met the

 

service requirements he or she would have been required to meet in

 

order to vest in health benefits under section 91.

 

     Sec. 133. A qualified participant who was a member, deferred

 

member, or former nonvested member of Tier 1 who makes an election

 

to participate in Tier 2 pursuant to section 110, shall be credited

 

with the years of service accrued under Tier 1 on the effective

 

date of participation in Tier 2 for the purpose of meeting the

 

vesting requirements for benefits under section 132.

 

     Sec. 134. A qualified participant or former qualified

 

participant may nominate 1 or more individuals as a refund

 

beneficiary by filing written notice of nomination with the

 

department. If the qualified participant or former qualified

 

participant is married at the time of the nomination and the

 

participant's spouse is not the refund beneficiary for 100% of the

 

account, the nomination is not effective unless the nomination is

 

signed by the participant's spouse. However, the department may

 

waive this requirement if the spouse's signature cannot be obtained

 

because of extenuating circumstances.

 

     Sec. 135. (1) A qualified participant is eligible to receive

 

distribution of his or her accumulated balance in Tier 2 upon

 

becoming a former qualified participant.

 

     (2) Upon the death of a qualified participant or former

 


qualified participant, the accumulated balance of that deceased

 

participant is considered to belong to the refund beneficiary, if

 

any, of that deceased participant. If a valid nomination of refund

 

beneficiary is not on file with the department, the department, in

 

a lump sum distribution, shall distribute the accumulated balance

 

to the legal representative, if any, of the deceased participant

 

or, if there is no legal representative, to the deceased

 

participant's estate.

 

     (3) A former qualified participant or refund beneficiary may

 

elect 1 or a combination of several of the following methods of

 

distribution of the accumulated balance:

 

     (a) A lump sum distribution to the recipient.

 

     (b) A lump sum direct rollover to another qualified plan, to

 

the extent allowed by federal law.

 

     (c) Periodic distributions, as authorized by the department.

 

     (d) No current distribution, in which case the accumulated

 

balance shall remain in Tier 2 until the former qualified

 

participant or refund beneficiary elects a method or methods of

 

distribution under subdivisions (a) to (c), to the extent allowed

 

by federal law.

 

     Sec. 135a. (1) A qualified participant whom the retirement

 

board finds to have become totally and permanently disabled from

 

any gainful employment by reason of personal injury or mental or

 

physical illness while serving as an employee of that reporting

 

unit shall be granted a supplemental benefit equivalent to the

 

amount provided for in section 84 as if the former qualified

 

participant had retired under section 87, which supplemental

 


benefit shall be offset by the value of the distribution of his or

 

her accumulated balance upon becoming a former qualified

 

participant pursuant to section 135.

 

     (2) If a qualified participant dies as a result of injury or

 

illness arising out of and in the course of the qualified

 

participant's reporting unit service for which worker's disability

 

compensation is paid, or a duty disability retirant who is in

 

receipt of weekly worker's disability compensation on account of

 

the retirant's reporting unit service dies from the same causes for

 

which the former qualified participant retired within 36 months

 

after the former qualified participant's retirement, and in either

 

case the death or the illness or injury resulting in death is found

 

by the retirement board to have resulted, without the qualified

 

participant's or former qualified participant's willful negligence,

 

from the performance of the qualified participant's or former

 

qualified participant's reporting unit service, a supplemental

 

benefit shall be granted equivalent to the amount provided for in

 

section 84 had the former qualified participant been considered

 

retired under section 90, which supplemental benefit shall be

 

offset by the value of the distribution of his or her accumulated

 

balance upon becoming a former qualified participant pursuant to

 

section 135.

 

     (3) A qualified participant who has at least 10 years of

 

credited service whom the retirement board finds to have become

 

totally and permanently disabled for purposes of employment by his

 

or her reporting unit by reason of personal injury or mental or

 

physical illness before termination of reporting unit service and

 


employment shall be granted a supplemental benefit equivalent to

 

the amount provided for in section 84 as if the former qualified

 

participant had retired under section 86, which supplemental

 

benefit shall be offset by the value of the distribution of his or

 

her accumulated balance upon becoming a former qualified

 

participant pursuant to section 135.

 

     (4) If a qualified participant who meets the service

 

requirements of section 89 dies as a result of injury or illness

 

that does not arise out of and in the course of the qualified

 

participant's reporting unit service, a supplemental benefit shall

 

be granted equivalent to the amount provided for in section 89 had

 

the former qualified participant been considered retired under

 

section 89, which supplemental benefit shall be offset by the value

 

of the distribution of his or her accumulated balance upon becoming

 

a former qualified participant pursuant to section 135.

 

     (5) A qualified participant, former qualified participant, or

 

beneficiary of a deceased participant, which participant is

 

eligible for a disability retirement allowance under this section,

 

is eligible for health insurance coverage under section 91 in all

 

respects and under the same terms as a retirant and his or her

 

beneficiaries under Tier 1.

 

     Sec. 136. (1) A former qualified participant may elect health

 

insurance benefits in the manner prescribed in this section if he

 

or she meets both of the following requirements:

 

     (a) The former qualified participant is vested in health

 

benefits under section 132(2).

 

     (b) The former qualified participant meets or exceeds the

 


benefit commencement age employed in the actuarial present value

 

calculation under section 111 and the service requirements that

 

would have applied to that former participant under Tier 1 for

 

receiving health insurance coverage under section 91, if that

 

former participant was a member of Tier 1.

 

     (2) A former qualified participant who is eligible to elect

 

health insurance coverage under subsection (1) may elect health

 

insurance coverage in a health benefit plan or plans as authorized

 

by section 91 or in another plan as provided in subsection (6). A

 

former qualified participant who is eligible to elect health

 

insurance coverage under subsection (1) may also elect health

 

insurance coverage for his or her health benefit dependents, if

 

any. A surviving health benefit dependent of a deceased former

 

qualified participant who is eligible to elect health insurance

 

coverage under subsection (1) may elect health insurance coverage

 

in the manner prescribed in this section.

 

     (3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6), an

 

individual who elects health insurance coverage under this section

 

shall become a member of a health insurance coverage group

 

authorized under section 91.

 

     (4) For a former qualified participant who is eligible to

 

elect health insurance coverage under subsection (1) and who is

 

vested in those benefits under section 132(2)(a), and for his or

 

her health benefit dependents, the retirement system shall pay a

 

portion of the health insurance premium as calculated under this

 

subsection on a cash disbursement method. An individual described

 

in this subsection who elects health insurance coverage under this

 


section shall pay to the retirement system the remaining portion of

 

the health insurance coverage premium not paid by the retirement

 

system under this subsection. The portion of the health insurance

 

coverage premium paid by the retirement system under this

 

subsection shall be equal to the product of 3% and the former

 

qualified participant's years of service, up to 30 years, and shall

 

not exceed 90% of the payments for health insurance coverage under

 

section 91. Additionally, if a former qualified participant

 

described in this subsection has less than 30 years of service

 

credit and is less than 60 years of age, the retirement system

 

shall reduce the amount payable under this subsection by the

 

formula used to reduce a retirement allowance under section 84(2).

 

If the individual elects the health insurance coverage provided

 

under section 91, the retirement system shall transfer its portion

 

of the amount calculated under this subsection to the reserve for

 

health benefits created by section 34.

 

     (5) A former qualified participant who is eligible to elect

 

health insurance coverage under subsection (1) and who is vested in

 

those benefits under section 132(2)(b) may elect health insurance

 

coverage under section 91 for himself or herself and for his or her

 

health benefit dependents, in all respects and under the same terms

 

as would a retirant and his or her health insurance dependents

 

under Tier 1.

 

     (6) A former qualified participant or health benefit dependent

 

who is eligible to elect health insurance coverage under this

 

section and who elects health insurance coverage under a different

 

plan than the plan authorized under section 91 may elect to have an

 


amount up to the amount of the retirement system's share of the

 

monthly health insurance premium subsidy provided in this section

 

paid by the retirement system directly to the other health

 

insurance plan or to a medical savings account established pursuant

 

to section 220 of the internal revenue code, to the extent allowed

 

by law or under the provisions and procedures of Tier 2.

 

     (7) If the department of management and budget receives

 

notification from the United States internal revenue service that

 

this section or any portion of this section will cause the

 

retirement system to be disqualified for tax purposes under the

 

internal revenue code, then the portion that will cause the

 

disqualification does not apply.

 

     Sec. 137. (1) Distributions from employer contributions made

 

pursuant to section 131(2) and (3) and earnings on those employer

 

contributions, and distributions from employee contributions made

 

pursuant to section 131(3) and earnings on those employee

 

contributions, are exempt from any state, county, municipal, or

 

other local tax, and shall not be subject to execution,

 

garnishment, attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency

 

laws, or other process of law, and shall be unassignable except as

 

otherwise provided in this act.

 

     (2) The right of a qualified participant or a former qualified

 

participant, or his or her beneficiaries, to a distribution

 

described in subsection (1) is subject to forfeiture pursuant to

 

the public employee retirement benefits forfeiture act, 1994 PA

 

350, MCL 38.2701 to 38.2705.

 

     (3) The right of a qualified participant or former qualified

 


participant to a distribution described in subsection (1) is

 

subject to an award by a court pursuant to section 18 of 1846 RS

 

84, MCL 552.18; an eligible domestic relations order under the

 

eligible domestic relations order act, 1991 PA 46, MCL 38.1701 to

 

38.1711; and to any other domestic relations order of a court

 

pertaining to alimony or child support.

 

     (4) If an award or order described in subsection (3) requires

 

the withholding or making of a payment of a distribution described

 

in subsection (1) or requires the individual to request that

 

payment of a distribution described in subsection (1) be made, for

 

the purpose of meeting the individual's obligations to a spouse,

 

former spouse, or child, as provided in subsection (3), the

 

withholding or payment provisions of the award or order are

 

effective only against such amounts as they become due and payable

 

to the individual receiving the distribution, unless otherwise

 

provided in an eligible domestic relations order under the eligible

 

domestic relations order act, 1991 PA 46, MCL 38.1701 to 38.1711.

 

The limitation contained in this subsection does not apply to the

 

accumulated employee contributions of a former qualified

 

participant who has terminated employment before acquiring a vested

 

status pursuant to this article.

 

     (5) The state treasurer has the right of setoff to recover

 

overpayments made under this article and to satisfy any claims

 

arising from embezzlement or fraud committed by a qualified

 

participant, former qualified participant, refund beneficiary, or

 

other person who has a claim to a distribution or any other benefit

 

from Tier 2.

 


     (6) The state treasurer shall correct errors in the records

 

and actions under this article, and shall seek to recover

 

overpayments and shall make up underpayments.

 

     Enacting section 1. If any section or part of a section of

 

this act is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional,

 

the holding does not affect the validity of the remaining sections

 

of this act or the act in its entirety.