MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2024 Regular Session
To: Appropriations A
By: Representative Rushing
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM SHALL BE TERMINATED FROM MEMBERSHIP IN THE SYSTEM IF THE MEMBER IS CONVICTED OF OR PLEADS GUILTY OR NOLO CONTENDERE TO A FELONY THAT IS RELATED TO OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE MEMBER'S EMPLOYMENT IN THE STATE SERVICE AND WHICH IS COMMITTED ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 2023; TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-111, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT A MEMBER WHO IS CHARGED WITH SUCH CRIME WHO RETIRES AND RECEIVES A RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH THE CRIME SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THE RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE MEMBER IS CONVICTED OF OR PLEADS GUILTY OR NOLO CONTENDERE TO THE CRIME, AT WHICH TIME THE MEMBER'S RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE SHALL BE TERMINATED; TO AMEND SECTION 25-11-117, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE FOR THE REFUND WITHOUT INTEREST OF THE ACCUMULATED CONTRIBUTIONS OF A MEMBER WHO IS CONVICTED OF SUCH CRIME; TO AMEND SECTIONS 25-15-3 AND 25-15-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE SYSTEM WHO IS PARTICIPATING IN THE STATE AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEES LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN, AND WHO OTHERWISE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE BUT IS TERMINATED FROM MEMBERSHIP IN THE SYSTEM BECAUSE OF THE MEMBER'S CONVICTION OF OR PLEA OF GUILTY OR NOLO CONTENDERE TO SUCH CRIME, IS ELIGIBLE TO CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AND COVERAGES FOR RETIRED EMPLOYEES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 25-11-105, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-11-105. I. THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP
The membership of this retirement system shall be composed as follows:
(a) (i) All persons who become employees in the state service after January 31, 1953, and whose wages are subject to payroll taxes and are lawfully reported on IRS Form W-2, except those specifically excluded, or as to whom election is provided in Articles 1 and 3, shall become members of the retirement system as a condition of their employment.
(ii) From and after July 1, 2002, any individual who is employed by a governmental entity to perform professional services shall become a member of the system if the individual is paid regular periodic compensation for those services that is subject to payroll taxes, is provided all other employee benefits and meets the membership criteria established by the regulations adopted by the board of trustees that apply to all other members of the system; however, any active member employed in such a position on July 1, 2002, will continue to be an active member for as long as they are employed in any such position.
(b) All persons who become employees in the state service after January 31, 1953, except those specifically excluded or as to whom election is provided in Articles 1 and 3, unless they file with the board before the lapse of sixty (60) days of employment or sixty (60) days after the effective date of the cited articles, whichever is later, on a form prescribed by the board, a notice of election not to be covered by the membership of the retirement system and a duly executed waiver of all present and prospective benefits that would otherwise inure to them on account of their participation in the system, shall become members of the retirement system; however, no credit for prior service will be granted to members who became members of the system before July 1, 2007, until they have contributed to Article 3 of the retirement system for a minimum period of at least four (4) years, or to members who became members of the system on or after July 1, 2007, until they have contributed to Article 3 of the retirement system for a minimum period of at least eight (8) years. Those members shall receive credit for services performed before January 1, 1953, in employment now covered by Article 3, but no credit shall be granted for retroactive services between January 1, 1953, and the date of their entry into the retirement system, unless the employee pays into the retirement system both the employer's and the employee's contributions on wages paid him during the period from January 31, 1953, to the date of his becoming a contributing member, together with interest at the rate determined by the board of trustees. Members reentering after withdrawal from service shall qualify for prior service under the provisions of Section 25-11-117. From and after July 1, 1998, upon eligibility as noted above, the member may receive credit for such retroactive service provided:
(i) The member shall furnish proof satisfactory to the board of trustees of certification of that service from the covered employer where the services were performed; and
(ii) The member shall pay to the retirement system on the date he or she is eligible for that credit or at any time thereafter before the date of retirement the actuarial cost for each year of that creditable service. The provisions of this subparagraph (ii) shall be subject to the limitations of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations promulgated under Section 415.
Nothing contained in this paragraph (b) shall be construed to limit the authority of the board to allow the correction of reporting errors or omissions based on the payment of the employee and employer contributions plus applicable interest.
(c) All persons who become employees in the state service after January 31, 1953, and who are eligible for membership in any other retirement system shall become members of this retirement system as a condition of their employment, unless they elect at the time of their employment to become a member of that other system.
(d) All persons who are employees in the state service on January 31, 1953, and who are members of any nonfunded retirement system operated by the State of Mississippi, or any of its departments or agencies, shall become members of this system with prior service credit unless, before February 1, 1953, they file a written notice with the board of trustees that they do not elect to become members.
(e) All persons who are employees in the state service on January 31, 1953, and who under existing laws are members of any fund operated for the retirement of employees by the State of Mississippi, or any of its departments or agencies, shall not be entitled to membership in this retirement system unless, before February 1, 1953, any such person indicates by a notice filed with the board, on a form prescribed by the board, his individual election and choice to participate in this system, but no such person shall receive prior service credit unless he becomes a member on or before February 1, 1953.
(f) Each political subdivision of the state and each instrumentality of the state or a political subdivision, or both, is authorized to submit, for approval by the board of trustees, a plan for extending the benefits of this article to employees of any such political subdivision or instrumentality. Each such plan or any amendment to the plan for extending benefits thereof shall be approved by the board of trustees if it finds that the plan, or the plan as amended, is in conformity with such requirements as are provided in Articles 1 and 3; however, upon approval of the plan or any such plan previously approved by the board of trustees, the approved plan shall not be subject to cancellation or termination by the political subdivision or instrumentality. No such plan shall be approved unless:
(i) It provides that all services that constitute employment as defined in Section 25-11-5 and are performed in the employ of the political subdivision or instrumentality, by any employees thereof, shall be covered by the plan, with the exception of municipal employees who are already covered by existing retirement plans; however, those employees in this class may elect to come under the provisions of this article;
(ii) It specifies the source or sources from which the funds necessary to make the payments required by paragraph (d) of Section 25-11-123 and of paragraph (f)(v)2 and 3 of this section are expected to be derived and contains reasonable assurance that those sources will be adequate for that purpose;
(iii) It provides for such methods of administration of the plan by the political subdivision or instrumentality as are found by the board of trustees to be necessary for the proper and efficient administration thereof;
(iv) It provides that the political subdivision or instrumentality will make such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the board of trustees may from time to time require;
(v) It authorizes the board of trustees to terminate the plan in its entirety in the discretion of the board if it finds that there has been a failure to comply substantially with any provision contained in the plan, the termination to take effect at the expiration of such notice and on such conditions as may be provided by regulations of the board and as may be consistent with applicable federal law.
1. The board of trustees shall not finally refuse to approve a plan submitted under paragraph (f), and shall not terminate an approved plan without reasonable notice and opportunity for hearing to each political subdivision or instrumentality affected by the board's decision. The board's decision in any such case shall be final, conclusive and binding unless an appeal is taken by the political subdivision or instrumentality aggrieved by the decision to the Circuit Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in accordance with the provisions of law with respect to civil causes by certiorari.
2. Each political subdivision or instrumentality as to which a plan has been approved under this section shall pay into the contribution fund, with respect to wages (as defined in Section 25-11-5), at such time or times as the board of trustees may by regulation prescribe, contributions in the amounts and at the rates specified in the applicable agreement entered into by the board.
3. Every political subdivision or instrumentality required to make payments under paragraph (f)(v)2 of this section is authorized, in consideration of the employees' retention in or entry upon employment after enactment of Articles 1 and 3, to impose upon its employees, as to services that are covered by an approved plan, a contribution with respect to wages (as defined in Section 25-11-5) not exceeding the amount provided in Section 25-11-123(d) if those services constituted employment within the meaning of Articles 1 and 3, and to deduct the amount of the contribution from the wages as and when paid. Contributions so collected shall be paid into the contribution fund as partial discharge of the liability of the political subdivisions or instrumentalities under paragraph (f)(v)2 of this section. Failure to deduct the contribution shall not relieve the employee or employer of liability for the contribution.
4. Any state agency, school, political subdivision, instrumentality or any employer that is required to submit contribution payments or wage reports under any section of this chapter shall be assessed interest on delinquent payments or wage reports as determined by the board of trustees in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the board and delinquent payments, assessed interest and any other amount certified by the board as owed by an employer, may be recovered by action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the reporting agency liable therefor or may, upon due certification of delinquency and at the request of the board of trustees, be deducted from any other monies payable to the reporting agency by any department or agency of the state.
5. Each political subdivision of the state and each instrumentality of the state or a political subdivision or subdivisions that submit a plan for approval of the board, as provided in this section, shall reimburse the board for coverage into the expense account, its pro rata share of the total expense of administering Articles 1 and 3 as provided by regulations of the board.
(g) The board may, in its discretion, deny the right of membership in this system to any class of employees whose compensation is only partly paid by the state or who are occupying positions on a part-time or intermittent basis. The board may, in its discretion, make optional with employees in any such classes their individual entrance into this system.
(h) An employee whose membership in this system is contingent on his own election, and who elects not to become a member, may thereafter apply for and be admitted to membership; but no such employee shall receive prior service credit unless he becomes a member before July 1, 1953, except as provided in paragraph (b).
(i) If any member of this system changes his employment to any agency of the state having an actuarially funded retirement system, the board of trustees may authorize the transfer of the member's creditable service and of the present value of the member's employer's accumulation account and of the present value of the member's accumulated membership contributions to that other system, provided that the employee agrees to the transfer of his accumulated membership contributions and provided that the other system is authorized to receive and agrees to make the transfer.
If any member of any other actuarially funded system maintained by an agency of the state changes his employment to an agency covered by this system, the board of trustees may authorize the receipt of the transfer of the member's creditable service and of the present value of the member's employer's accumulation account and of the present value of the member's accumulated membership contributions from the other system, provided that the employee agrees to the transfer of his accumulated membership contributions to this system and provided that the other system is authorized and agrees to make the transfer.
(j) Wherever state employment is referred to in this section, it includes joint employment by state and federal agencies of all kinds.
(k) Employees of a political subdivision or instrumentality who were employed by the political subdivision or instrumentality before an agreement between the entity and the Public Employees' Retirement System to extend the benefits of this article to its employees, and which agreement provides for the establishment of retroactive service credit, and who became members of the retirement system before July 1, 2007, and have remained contributors to the retirement system for four (4) years, or who became members of the retirement system on or after July 1, 2007, and have remained contributors to the retirement system for eight (8) years, may receive credit for that retroactive service with the political subdivision or instrumentality, provided that the employee and/or employer, as provided under the terms of the modification of the joinder agreement in allowing that coverage, pay into the retirement system the employer's and employee's contributions on wages paid the member during the previous employment, together with interest or actuarial cost as determined by the board covering the period from the date the service was rendered until the payment for the credit for the service was made. Those wages shall be verified by the Social Security Administration or employer payroll records. Effective July 1, 1998, upon eligibility as noted above, a member may receive credit for that retroactive service with the political subdivision or instrumentality provided:
(i) The member shall furnish proof satisfactory to the board of trustees of certification of those services from the political subdivision or instrumentality where the services were rendered or verification by the Social Security Administration; and
(ii) The member shall pay to the retirement system on the date he or she is eligible for that credit or at any time thereafter before the date of retirement the actuarial cost for each year of that creditable service. The provisions of this subparagraph (ii) shall be subject to the limitations of Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code and regulations promulgated under Section 415.
Nothing contained in this paragraph (k) shall be construed to limit the authority of the board to allow the correction of reporting errors or omissions based on the payment of employee and employer contributions plus applicable interest. Payment for that time shall be made beginning with the most recent service. Upon the payment of all or part of the required contributions, plus interest or the actuarial cost as provided above, the member shall receive credit for the period of creditable service for which full payment has been made to the retirement system.
(l) Through June 30, 1998, any state service eligible for retroactive service credit, no part of which has ever been reported, and requiring the payment of employee and employer contributions plus interest, or, from and after July 1, 1998, any state service eligible for retroactive service credit, no part of which has ever been reported to the retirement system, and requiring the payment of the actuarial cost for that creditable service, may, at the member's option, be purchased in quarterly increments as provided above at the time that its purchase is otherwise allowed.
(m) All rights to purchase retroactive service credit or repay a refund as provided in Section 25-11-101 et seq. shall terminate upon retirement.
II. THOSE WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP
The following classes of employees and officers shall not become members of this retirement system, any other provisions of Articles 1 and 3 to the contrary notwithstanding:
(a) Patient or inmate help in state charitable, penal or correctional institutions;
(b) Students of any state educational institution employed by any agency of the state for temporary, part-time or intermittent work;
(c) Participants of Comprehensive Employment and Training Act of 1973 (CETA) being Public Law 93-203, who enroll on or after July l, 1979;
(d) From and after July 1, 2002, individuals who are employed by a governmental entity to perform professional service on less than a full-time basis who do not meet the criteria established in I(a)(ii) of this section.
III. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership in this system shall cease by:
(a) A member
withdrawing his or her accumulated contributions * * *;
(b) A member
withdrawing from active service with a retirement allowance * * *;
(c) A member's
death * * *;
or
(d) A member's conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony that is related to or in connection with the member's employment in the state service and which is committed on or after July 1, 2024. A member who is terminated from the system because of such a conviction or plea shall have his or her contributions refunded, without interest, in accordance with Section 25-11-117. A member who was convicted is not terminated from membership under this paragraph (d) until all appeals of the conviction have been concluded finally or the time for an appeal from the conviction has expired. The member's employer shall notify the system of the member's conviction or plea, and if the member was convicted, when all appeals of the conviction have been concluded finally or the time for an appeal from the conviction has expired.
SECTION 2. Section 25-11-111, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-11-111. (a) (1) Any member who became a member of the system before July 1, 2007, upon withdrawal from service upon or after attainment of the age of sixty (60) years who has completed at least four (4) years of membership service, or any member who became a member of the system before July 1, 2011, upon withdrawal from service regardless of age who has completed at least twenty-five (25) years of creditable service, shall be entitled to receive a retirement allowance, which shall begin on the first of the month following the date the member's application for the allowance is received by the board, but in no event before withdrawal from service.
(2) Any member who became a member of the system on or after July 1, 2007, upon withdrawal from service upon or after attainment of the age of sixty (60) years who has completed at least eight (8) years of membership service, or any member who became a member of the system on or after July 1, 2011, upon withdrawal from service regardless of age who has completed at least thirty (30) years of creditable service, shall be entitled to receive a retirement allowance, which shall begin on the first of the month following the date the member's application for the allowance is received by the board, but in no event before withdrawal from service.
(b) (1) Any member who became a member of the system before July 1, 2007, whose withdrawal from service occurs before attaining the age of sixty (60) years who has completed four (4) or more years of membership service and has not received a refund of his accumulated contributions, shall be entitled to receive a retirement allowance, beginning upon his attaining the age of sixty (60) years, of the amount earned and accrued at the date of withdrawal from service. The retirement allowance shall begin on the first of the month following the date the member's application for the allowance is received by the board, but in no event before withdrawal from service.
(2) Any member who became a member of the system on or after July 1, 2007, whose withdrawal from service occurs before attaining the age of sixty (60) years who has completed eight (8) or more years of membership service and has not received a refund of his accumulated contributions, shall be entitled to receive a retirement allowance, beginning upon his attaining the age of sixty (60) years, of the amount earned and accrued at the date of withdrawal from service. The retirement allowance shall begin on the first of the month following the date the member's application for the allowance is received by the board, but in no event before withdrawal from service.
(c) Any member in service who has qualified for retirement benefits may select any optional method of settlement of retirement benefits by notifying the Executive Director of the Board of Trustees of the Public Employees' Retirement System in writing, on a form prescribed by the board, of the option he has selected and by naming the beneficiary of the option and furnishing necessary proof of age. The option, once selected, may be changed at any time before actual retirement or death, but upon the death or retirement of the member, the optional settlement shall be placed in effect upon proper notification to the executive director.
(d) Any member who became a member of the system before July 1, 2011, shall be entitled to an annual retirement allowance which shall consist of:
(1) A member's annuity, which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the accumulated contributions of the member at the time of retirement computed according to the actuarial table in use by the system; and
(2) An employer's annuity, which, together with the member's annuity provided above, shall be equal to two percent (2%) of the average compensation for each year of service up to and including twenty-five (25) years of creditable service, and two and one-half percent (2-1/2%) of the average compensation for each year of service exceeding twenty-five (25) years of creditable service.
(3) Any retired member or beneficiary thereof who was eligible to receive a retirement allowance before July 1, 1991, and who is still receiving a retirement allowance on July 1, 1992, shall receive an increase in the annual retirement allowance of the retired member equal to one-eighth of one percent (1/8 of 1%) of the average compensation for each year of state service in excess of twenty-five (25) years of membership service up to and including thirty (30) years. The maximum increase shall be five-eighths of one percent (5/8 of 1%). In no case shall a member who has been retired before July 1, 1987, receive less than Ten Dollars ($10.00) per month for each year of creditable service and proportionately for each quarter year thereof. Persons retired on or after July 1, 1987, shall receive at least Ten Dollars ($10.00) per month for each year of service and proportionately for each quarter year thereof reduced for the option selected. However, such Ten Dollars ($10.00) minimum per month for each year of creditable service shall not apply to a retirement allowance computed under Section 25-11-114 based on a percentage of the member's average compensation.
(e) Any member who became a member of the system on or after July 1, 2011, shall be entitled to an annual retirement allowance which shall consist of:
(1) A member's annuity, which shall be the actuarial equivalent of the accumulated contributions of the member at the time of retirement computed according to the actuarial table in use by the system; and
(2) An employer's annuity, which, together with the member's annuity provided above, shall be equal to two percent (2%) of the average compensation for each year of service up to and including thirty (30) years of creditable service, and two and one-half percent (2-1/2%) of average compensation for each year of service exceeding thirty (30) years of creditable service.
(f) Any member who became a member of the system on or after July 1, 2011, upon withdrawal from service upon or after attaining the age of sixty (60) years who has completed at least eight (8) years of membership service, or any such member upon withdrawal from service regardless of age who has completed at least thirty (30) years of creditable service, shall be entitled to receive a retirement allowance computed in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection (e) of this section. In the case of the retirement of any member who has attained age sixty (60) but who has not completed at least thirty (30) years of creditable service, the retirement allowance shall be computed in accordance with the formula set forth in subsection (e) of this section except that the total annual retirement allowance shall be reduced by an actuarial equivalent factor for each year of creditable service below thirty (30) years or the number of years in age that the member is below age sixty-five (65), whichever is less.
(g) A person who is charged with a felony that is related to or in connection with the member's employment in the state service and which is committed on or after July 1, 2024, who withdraws from service and receives a retirement allowance under this section after being charged with the crime, shall continue to receive the retirement allowance until such time as the member is convicted of or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to the crime, and if the member was convicted, until such time as all appeals of the conviction have been concluded finally or the time for an appeal from the conviction has expired, at which time the member's retirement allowance shall be terminated. If a member's retirement allowance is terminated under this subsection and the total amount that the member received from the retirement allowance is less than the amount of the member's accumulated contributions, the member shall be refunded the difference between the amount received from the retirement allowance and the amount of his or her contributions in accordance with Section 25-11-117. The member's employer shall notify the system of the member's conviction or plea, and if the member was convicted, when all appeals of the conviction have been concluded finally or the time for an appeal from the conviction has expired.
( * * *h) No member, except members excluded
by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act Amendments of 1986 (Public Law 99-592),
under either Article 1 or Article 3 in state service shall be required to
retire because of age.
( * * *i) No payment on account of any
benefit granted under the provisions of this section shall become effective or
begin to accrue until January 1, 1953.
( * * *j) (1) A retiree or beneficiary may,
on a form prescribed by and filed with the retirement system, irrevocably waive
all or a portion of any benefits from the retirement system to which the retiree
or beneficiary is entitled. The waiver shall be binding on the heirs and
assigns of any retiree or beneficiary and the same must agree to forever hold
harmless the Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi from any claim
to the waived retirement benefits.
(2) Any waiver under this subsection shall apply only to the person executing the waiver. A beneficiary shall be entitled to benefits according to the option selected by the member at the time of retirement. However, a beneficiary may, at the option of the beneficiary, execute a waiver of benefits under this subsection.
(3) The retirement system shall retain in the annuity reserve account amounts that are not used to pay benefits because of a waiver executed under this subsection.
(4) The board of trustees may provide rules and regulations for the administration of waivers under this subsection.
SECTION 3. Section 25-11-117, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-11-117. (1) A member may be paid a refund of the amount of accumulated contributions to the credit of the member in the annuity savings account, provided that the member has withdrawn from state service and has not returned to state service on the date the refund of the accumulated contributions would be paid. That refund of the contributions to the credit of the member in the annuity savings account shall be paid within ninety (90) days from receipt in the office of the retirement system of the properly completed form requesting the payment. The accumulated contributions of a member who is terminated from membership in the system because of the member's conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime, as provided for under Section 25-11-105III(d), or the amount of the member's accumulated contributions that the member has not received from a retirement allowance, as provided under Section 25-11-111(g), shall be refunded, without interest, to the member within ninety (90) days from the date that the retirement system receives notice from the member's employer of the member's conviction or plea, and if the member was convicted, the date that all appeals of the conviction have been concluded finally or the time for an appeal from the conviction has expired. In the event of death before retirement of any member whose spouse and/or children are not entitled to a retirement allowance, the accumulated contributions to the credit of the deceased member in the annuity savings account shall be paid to the designated beneficiary on file in writing in the office of the executive director of the board of trustees within ninety (90) days from receipt of a properly completed form requesting the payment. If there is no such designated beneficiary on file for the deceased member in the office of the system, upon the filing of a proper request with the board, the contributions to the credit of the deceased member in the annuity savings account shall be refunded under Section 25-11-117.1(1). The payment of the refund shall discharge all obligations of the retirement system to the member on account of any creditable service rendered by the member before the receipt of the refund. By the acceptance of the refund, the member shall waive and relinquish all accrued rights in the system.
(2) Under the Unemployment Compensation Amendments of 1992 (Public Law 102-318 (UCA)), a member or the spouse of a member who is an eligible beneficiary entitled to a refund under this section may elect, on a form prescribed by the board under rules and regulations established by the board, to have an eligible rollover distribution of accumulated contributions payable under this section paid directly to an eligible retirement plan, as defined under applicable federal law, or an individual retirement account. If the member or the spouse of a member who is an eligible beneficiary makes that election and specifies the eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account to which the distribution is to be paid, the distribution will be made in the form of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to the specified eligible retirement plan. A nonspouse beneficiary may elect to have an eligible rollover distribution paid in the form of a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer to an individual retirement account established to receive the distribution on behalf of the nonspouse beneficiary. Flexible rollovers under this subsection shall not be considered assignments under Section 25-11-129.
(3) (a) If any person who has received a refund, reenters the state service and again becomes a member of the system before July 1, 2007, the member may repay all or part of the amounts previously received as a refund, together with regular interest covering the period from the date of refund to the date of repayment; however, the amounts that are repaid by the member and the creditable service related thereto shall not be used in any benefit calculation or determination until the member has remained a contributor to the system for a period of at least four (4) years after the member's reentry into state service. Repayment for that time shall be made beginning with the most recent service for which refund has been made. Upon the repayment of all or part of that refund and interest, the member shall again receive credit for the period of creditable service for which full repayment has been made to the system.
(b) If any person who has received a refund, reenters the state service and again becomes a member of the system on or after July 1, 2007, the member may repay all or part of the amounts previously received as a refund, together with regular interest covering the period from the date of refund to the date of repayment; however, the amounts that are repaid by the member and the creditable service related thereto shall not be used in any benefit calculation or determination until the member has remained a contributor to the system for a period of at least eight (8) years after the member's reentry into state service. Repayment for that time shall be made beginning with the most recent service for which refund has been made. Upon the repayment of all or part of that refund and interest, the member shall again receive credit for the period of creditable service for which full repayment has been made to the system.
(4) (a) In order to provide a source of income to members who have applied for disability benefits under Section 25-11-113 or 25-11-114, the board may provide, at the employee's election, a temporary benefit to be paid from the member's accumulated contributions, if any, without forfeiting the right to pursue disability benefits, provided that the member has exhausted all personal and medical leave and has terminated his or her employment. The board may prescribe rules and regulations for carrying out the provisions of this subsection (4).
(b) If a member who has elected to receive temporary benefits under this subsection later applies for a refund of his or her accumulated contributions, all amounts paid under this subsection shall be deducted from the accumulated contributions and the balance will be paid to the member. If a member who has elected to receive temporary benefits under this subsection is later approved for a disability retirement allowance, and a service retirement allowance or survivor benefits are paid on the account, the board shall adjust the benefits in such a manner that no more than the actuarial equivalent of the benefits to which the member or beneficiary was or is entitled shall be paid.
(c) The board may study, develop and propose a disability benefit structure, including short- and long-term disability benefits, provided that it is the actuarial equivalent of the benefits currently provided in Section 25-11-113 or 25-11-114.
SECTION 4. Section 25-15-3, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-15-3. For the purposes of
this article, the words and phrases used * * * in this section shall have the following
meanings:
(a) "Employee"
means a person who works full time for the State of Mississippi and receives his
compensation in a direct payment from a department, agency or institution of the
state government and any person who works full time for any school district, community/junior
college, public library or university-based program authorized under Section 37-23-31
for deaf, aphasic and emotionally disturbed children or any regular nonstudent bus
driver. This * * *
term include legislators, employees of the legislative branch and the judicial
branch of the state and "employees" shall include full-time salaried judges
and full-time district attorneys and their staff and full-time compulsory school
attendance officers. For the purposes of this article, any "employee"
making contributions to the * * * Public
Employees' Retirement System or the Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System
shall be considered a full-time employee. For purposes of this article, "employee"
shall not mean contract personnel.
(b) "Department" means the Department of Finance and Administration.
(c) "Plan" means the State and School Employees Life and Health Insurance Plan created under this article.
(d) "Fund" means the State and School Employees Insurance Fund set up under this article.
(e) "Retiree"
"or retired employee" means any employee retired under * * * Public Employees'
Retirement System or the Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System, and any person
who is participating in the plan under the authority of Section 25-15-13(2).
(f) "Board" means the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board created under Section 25-15-303.
SECTION 5. Section 25-15-13, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
25-15-13. (1) Each eligible employee may participate in the plan by signing up for the plan at the time of employment. Each eligible employee who declines coverage under the plan must sign a waiver of coverage. After acceptance in the plan, the employee may cease his or her participation by filing a specific disclaimer with the board. Forms for this purpose shall be prescribed and issued by the board. All eligible employees will be eligible to participate in the plan on the effective date of the plan or on the date on which they are employed by the state, whichever is later, provided they make the necessary contributions as provided in this article. Spouses of employees, unmarried dependent children from birth to age nineteen (19) years, unmarried dependent children who are full-time students up to age twenty-five (25) years, and physically or mentally handicapped children, regardless of age, are eligible under the plan as of the date the employee becomes eligible. If both spouses are eligible employees who participate in the plan, the benefits shall apply individually to each spouse by virtue of his or her participation in the plan. If those spouses also have one or more eligible dependents participating in the plan, the cost of their dependents shall be calculated at a special family plan rate. The cost for participation by the dependents shall be paid by the spouse who elects to carry such dependents under his or her coverage.
(2) An active member of the Public Employees' Retirement System who is participating in the plan, and who otherwise would be eligible to receive a retirement allowance under Section 25-11-111 but is terminated from membership in the system because of the member's conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a crime, as provided for under Section 25-11-105III(d), is eligible to continue to participate in the plan under the same conditions and coverages for retired employees.
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2024.