Bill Text: MO HB808 | 2013 | Regular Session | Engrossed


Bill Title: Extends the expiration date regarding teaching certificates based on certification by the American Board for Certification of Teaching Excellence from August 28, 2014 to August 28, 2020

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-17 - Placed on Informal Calendar [HB808 Detail]

Download: Missouri-2013-HB808-Engrossed.html

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

[PERFECTED]

HOUSE BILL NO. 808

97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


 

 

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES FUNDERBURK (Sponsor), JONES (110) AND COOKSON (Co-sponsors).

1953H.01P                                                                                                                                                 D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk


 

AN ACT

To repeal sections 168.021, 169.070, and 169.670, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof three new sections relating to sunset provisions related to education.




Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:


            Section A. Sections 168.021, 169.070, and 169.670, RSMo, are repealed and three new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 168.021, 169.070, and 169.670, to read as follows:

            168.021. 1. Certificates of license to teach in the public schools of the state shall be granted as follows:

            (1) By the state board, under rules and regulations prescribed by it:

            (a) Upon the basis of college credit;

            (b) Upon the basis of examination;

            (2) By the state board, under rules and regulations prescribed by the state board with advice from the advisory council established by section 168.015 to any individual who presents to the state board a valid doctoral degree from an accredited institution of higher education accredited by a regional accrediting association such as North Central Association. Such certificate shall be limited to the major area of postgraduate study of the holder, shall be issued only after successful completion of the examination required for graduation pursuant to rules adopted by the state board of education, and shall be restricted to those certificates established pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection 3 of this section;

            (3) By the state board, which shall issue the professional certificate classification in both the general and specialized areas most closely aligned with the current areas of certification approved by the state board, commensurate with the years of teaching experience of the applicant, and based upon the following criteria:

            (a) Recommendation of a state-approved baccalaureate-level teacher preparation program;

            (b) Successful attainment of the Missouri qualifying score on the exit assessment for teachers or administrators designated by the state board of education. Applicants who have not successfully achieved a qualifying score on the designated examinations will be issued a two-year nonrenewable provisional certificate; and

            (c) Upon completion of a background check as prescribed in section 168.133 and possession of a valid teaching certificate in the state from which the applicant's teacher preparation program was completed;

            (4) By the state board, under rules prescribed by it, on the basis of a relevant bachelor's degree, or higher degree, and a passing score for the designated exit examination, for individuals whose academic degree and professional experience are suitable to provide a basis for instruction solely in the subject matter of banking or financial responsibility, at the discretion of the state board. Such certificate shall be limited to the major area of study of the holder and shall be restricted to those certificates established under subdivision (1) of subsection 3 of this section. Holders of certificates granted under this subdivision shall be exempt from the teacher tenure act under sections 168.102 to 168.130 and each school district shall have the decision-making authority on whether to hire the holders of such certificates; or

            (5) By the state board, under rules and regulations prescribed by it, on the basis of certification by the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE) and verification of ability to work with children as demonstrated by sixty contact hours in any one of the following areas as validated by the school principal: sixty contact hours in the classroom, of which at least forty-five must be teaching; sixty contact hours as a substitute teacher, with at least thirty consecutive hours in the same classroom; sixty contact hours of teaching in a private school; or sixty contact hours of teaching as a paraprofessional, for an initial four-year ABCTE certificate of license to teach, except that such certificate shall not be granted for the areas of early childhood education, elementary education, or special education. Upon the completion of the requirements listed in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this subdivision, an applicant shall be eligible to apply for a career continuous professional certificate under subdivision (2) of subsection 3 of this section:

            (a) Completion of thirty contact hours of professional development within four years, which may include hours spent in class in an appropriate college curriculum;

            (b) Validated completion of two years of the mentoring program of the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence or a district mentoring program approved by the state board of education;

            (c) Attainment of a successful performance-based teacher evaluation; and

            (d) Participate in a beginning teacher assistance program.

            2. All valid teaching certificates issued pursuant to law or state board policies and regulations prior to September 1, 1988, shall be exempt from the professional development requirements of this section and shall continue in effect until they expire, are revoked or suspended, as provided by law. When such certificates are required to be renewed, the state board or its designee shall grant to each holder of such a certificate the certificate most nearly equivalent to the one so held. Anyone who holds, as of August 28, 2003, a valid PC-I, PC-II, or continuous professional certificate shall, upon expiration of his or her current certificate, be issued the appropriate level of certificate based upon the classification system established pursuant to subsection 3 of this section.

            3. Certificates of license to teach in the public schools of the state shall be based upon minimum requirements prescribed by the state board of education which shall include completion of a background check as prescribed in section 168.133. The state board shall provide for the following levels of professional certification: an initial professional certificate and a career continuous professional certificate.

            (1) The initial professional certificate shall be issued upon completion of requirements established by the state board of education and shall be valid based upon verification of actual teaching within a specified time period established by the state board of education. The state board shall require holders of the four-year initial professional certificate to:

            (a) Participate in a mentoring program approved and provided by the district for a minimum of two years;

            (b) Complete thirty contact hours of professional development, which may include hours spent in class in an appropriate college curriculum, or for holders of a certificate under subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of this section, an amount of professional development in proportion to the certificate holder's hours in the classroom, if the certificate holder is employed less than full time; and

            (c) Participate in a beginning teacher assistance program;

            (2) (a) The career continuous professional certificate shall be issued upon verification of completion of four years of teaching under the initial professional certificate and upon verification of the completion of the requirements articulated in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of subdivision (1) of this subsection or paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of subdivision (5) of subsection 1 of this section.

            (b) The career continuous professional certificate shall be continuous based upon verification of actual employment in an educational position as provided for in state board guidelines and completion of fifteen contact hours of professional development per year which may include hours spent in class in an appropriate college curriculum. Should the possessor of a valid career continuous professional certificate fail, in any given year, to meet the fifteen-hour professional development requirement, the possessor may, within two years, make up the missing hours. In order to make up for missing hours, the possessor shall first complete the fifteen-hour requirement for the current year and then may count hours in excess of the current year requirement as make-up hours. Should the possessor fail to make up the missing hours within two years, the certificate shall become inactive. In order to reactivate the certificate, the possessor shall complete twenty-four contact hours of professional development which may include hours spent in the classroom in an appropriate college curriculum within the six months prior to or after reactivating his or her certificate. The requirements of this paragraph shall be monitored and verified by the local school district which employs the holder of the career continuous professional certificate.

            (c) A holder of a career continuous professional certificate shall be exempt from the professional development contact hour requirements of paragraph (b) of this subdivision if such teacher has a local professional development plan in place within such teacher's school district and meets two of the three following criteria:

            a. Has ten years of teaching experience as defined by the state board of education;

            b. Possesses a master's degree; or

            c. Obtains a rigorous national certification as approved by the state board of education.             4. Policies and procedures shall be established by which a teacher who was not retained due to a reduction in force may retain the current level of certification. There shall also be established policies and procedures allowing a teacher who has not been employed in an educational position for three years or more to reactivate his or her last level of certification by completing twenty-four contact hours of professional development which may include hours spent in the classroom in an appropriate college curriculum within the six months prior to or after reactivating his or her certificate.

            5. The state board shall, upon completion of a background check as prescribed in section 168.133, issue a professional certificate classification in the areas most closely aligned with an applicant's current areas of certification, commensurate with the years of teaching experience of the applicant, to any person who is hired to teach in a public school in this state and who possesses a valid teaching certificate from another state or certification under subdivision (4) of subsection 1 of this section, provided that the certificate holder shall annually complete the state board's requirements for such level of certification, and shall establish policies by which residents of states other than the state of Missouri may be assessed a fee for a certificate license to teach in the public schools of Missouri. Such fee shall be in an amount sufficient to recover any or all costs associated with the issuing of a certificate of license to teach. The board shall promulgate rules to authorize the issuance of a provisional certificate of license, which shall allow the holder to assume classroom duties pending the completion of a criminal background check under section 168.133, for any applicant who:

            (1) Is the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces stationed in Missouri;

            (2) Relocated from another state within one year of the date of application;

            (3) Underwent a criminal background check in order to be issued a teaching certificate of license from another state; and

            (4) Otherwise qualifies under this section.

            6. The state board may assess to holders of an initial professional certificate a fee, to be deposited into the excellence in education revolving fund established pursuant to section 160.268, for the issuance of the career continuous professional certificate. However, such fee shall not exceed the combined costs of issuance and any criminal background check required as a condition of issuance. Applicants for the initial ABCTE certificate shall be responsible for any fees associated with the program leading to the issuance of the certificate, but nothing in this section shall prohibit a district from developing a policy that permits fee reimbursement.

            7. Any member of the public school retirement system of Missouri who entered covered employment with ten or more years of educational experience in another state or states and held a certificate issued by another state and subsequently worked in a school district covered by the public school retirement system of Missouri for ten or more years who later became certificated in Missouri shall have that certificate dated back to his or her original date of employment in a Missouri public school.

            [8. The provisions of subdivision (5) of subsection 1 of this section, as well as any other provision of this section relating to the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence, shall terminate on August 28, 2014.]

            169.070. 1. The retirement allowance of a member whose age at retirement is sixty years or more and whose creditable service is five years or more, or whose sum of age and creditable service equals eighty years or more, or who has attained age fifty-five and whose creditable service is twenty-five years or more or whose creditable service is thirty years or more regardless of age, may be the sum of the following items, not to exceed one hundred percent of the member's final average salary:

            (1) Two and five-tenths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service;

            (2) Six-tenths of the amount payable for a year of membership service for each year of prior service not exceeding thirty years.

In lieu of the retirement allowance otherwise provided in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, a member may elect to receive a retirement allowance of:

            (3) [Between July 1, 1998, and July 1, 2013,] Two and four-tenths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-nine years or more but less than thirty years, and the member has not attained age fifty-five;

            (4) [Between July 1, 1998, and July 1, 2013,] Two and thirty-five-hundredths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-eight years or more but less than twenty-nine years, and the member has not attained age fifty-five;

            (5) [Between July 1, 1998, and July 1, 2013,] Two and three-tenths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-seven years or more but less than twenty-eight years, and the member has not attained age fifty-five;

            (6) [Between July 1, 1998, and July 1, 2013,] Two and twenty-five-hundredths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-six years or more but less than twenty-seven years, and the member has not attained age fifty-five;

            (7) [Between July 1, 1998, and July 1, 2013,] Two and two-tenths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-five years or more but less than twenty-six years, and the member has not attained age fifty-five;

            (8) [Between July 1, 2001, and July 1, 2013,] Two and fifty-five hundredths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is thirty-one years or more regardless of age.

            2. In lieu of the retirement allowance provided in subsection 1 of this section, a member whose age is sixty years or more on September 28, 1975, may elect to have the member's retirement allowance calculated as a sum of the following items:

            (1) Sixty cents plus one and five-tenths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service;

            (2) Six-tenths of the amount payable for a year of membership service for each year of prior service not exceeding thirty years;

            (3) Three-fourths of one percent of the sum of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection for each month of attained age in excess of sixty years but not in excess of age sixty-five.

            3. (1) In lieu of the retirement allowance provided either in subsection 1 or 2 of this section, collectively called "option 1", a member whose creditable service is twenty-five years or more or who has attained the age of fifty-five with five or more years of creditable service may elect in the member's application for retirement to receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in reduced monthly payments for life during retirement with the provision that:

            Option 2. Upon the member's death the reduced retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to such person as has an insurable interest in the life of the member as the member shall have nominated in the member's election of the option, and provided further that if the person so nominated dies before the retired member, the retirement allowance will be increased to the amount the retired member would be receiving had the retired member elected option 1; OR

            Option 3. Upon the death of the member three-fourths of the reduced retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to such person as has an insurable interest in the life of the member and as the member shall have nominated in an election of the option, and provided further that if the person so nominated dies before the retired member, the retirement allowance will be increased to the amount the retired member would be receiving had the member elected option 1; OR

            Option 4. Upon the death of the member one-half of the reduced retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of, and paid to, such person as has an insurable interest in the life of the member and as the member shall have nominated in an election of the option, and provided further that if the person so nominated dies before the retired member, the retirement allowance shall be increased to the amount the retired member would be receiving had the member elected option 1; OR

            Option 5. Upon the death of the member prior to the member having received one hundred twenty monthly payments of the member's reduced allowance, the remainder of the one hundred twenty monthly payments of the reduced allowance shall be paid to such beneficiary as the member shall have nominated in the member's election of the option or in a subsequent nomination. If there is no beneficiary so nominated who survives the member for the remainder of the one hundred twenty monthly payments, the total of the remainder of such one hundred twenty monthly payments shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the last person, in that order of precedence, to receive a monthly allowance in a lump sum payment. If the total of the one hundred twenty payments paid to the retired individual and the beneficiary of the retired individual is less than the total of the member's accumulated contributions, the difference shall be paid to the beneficiary in a lump sum; OR

            Option 6. Upon the death of the member prior to the member having received sixty monthly payments of the member's reduced allowance, the remainder of the sixty monthly payments of the reduced allowance shall be paid to such beneficiary as the member shall have nominated in the member's election of the option or in a subsequent nomination. If there is no beneficiary so nominated who survives the member for the remainder of the sixty monthly payments, the total of the remainder of such sixty monthly payments shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the last person, in that order of precedence, to receive a monthly allowance in a lump sum payment. If the total of the sixty payments paid to the retired individual and the beneficiary of the retired individual is less than the total of the member's accumulated contributions, the difference shall be paid to the beneficiary in a lump sum.

            (2) The election of an option may be made only in the application for retirement and such application must be filed prior to the date on which the retirement of the member is to be effective. If either the member or the person nominated to receive the survivorship payments dies before the effective date of retirement, the option shall not be effective, provided that:

            (a) If the member or a person retired on disability retirement dies after acquiring twenty-five or more years of creditable service or after attaining the age of fifty-five years and acquiring five or more years of creditable service and before retirement, except retirement with disability benefits, and the person named by the member as the member's beneficiary has an insurable interest in the life of the deceased member, the designated beneficiary may elect to receive either survivorship benefits under option 2 or a payment of the accumulated contributions of the member. If survivorship benefits under option 2 are elected and the member at the time of death would have been eligible to receive an actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance, the designated beneficiary may further elect to defer the option 2 payments until the date the member would have been eligible to receive the retirement allowance provided in subsection 1 or 2 of this section;

            (b) If the member or a person retired on disability retirement dies before attaining age fifty-five but after acquiring five but fewer than twenty-five years of creditable service, and the person named as the member's beneficiary has an insurable interest in the life of the deceased member, the designated beneficiary may elect to receive either a payment of the member's accumulated contributions, or survivorship benefits under option 2 to begin on the date the member would first have been eligible to receive an actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance, or to begin on the date the member would first have been eligible to receive the retirement allowance provided in subsection 1 or 2 of this section.

            4. If the total of the retirement or disability allowance paid to an individual before the death of the individual is less than the accumulated contributions at the time of retirement, the difference shall be paid to the beneficiary of the individual, or to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the individual in that order of precedence. If an optional benefit as provided in option 2, 3 or 4 in subsection 3 of this section had been elected, and the beneficiary dies after receiving the optional benefit, and if the total retirement allowance paid to the retired individual and the beneficiary of the retired individual is less than the total of the contributions, the difference shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the beneficiary, in that order of precedence, unless the retired individual designates a different recipient with the board at or after retirement.

            5. If a member dies and his or her financial institution is unable to accept the final payment or payments due to the member, the final payment or payments shall be paid to the beneficiary of the member or, if there is no beneficiary, to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the member, in that order of precedence, unless otherwise stated. If the beneficiary of a deceased member dies and his or her financial institution is unable to accept the final payment or payments, the final payment or payments shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the member, in that order of precedence, unless otherwise stated.

            6. If a member dies before receiving a retirement allowance, the member's accumulated contributions at the time of the death of the member shall be paid to the beneficiary of the member or, if there is no beneficiary, to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or to the estate of the member, in that order of precedence; except that, no such payment shall be made if the beneficiary elects option 2 in subsection 3 of this section, unless the beneficiary dies before having received benefits pursuant to that subsection equal to the accumulated contributions of the member, in which case the amount of accumulated contributions in excess of the total benefits paid pursuant to that subsection shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the beneficiary, in that order of precedence.

            7. If a member ceases to be a public school employee as herein defined and certifies to the board of trustees that such cessation is permanent, or if the membership of the person is otherwise terminated, the member shall be paid the member's accumulated contributions with interest.

            8. Notwithstanding any provisions of sections 169.010 to 169.141 to the contrary, if a member ceases to be a public school employee after acquiring five or more years of membership service in Missouri, the member may at the option of the member leave the member's contributions with the retirement system and claim a retirement allowance any time after reaching the minimum age for voluntary retirement. When the member's claim is presented to the board, the member shall be granted an allowance as provided in sections 169.010 to 169.141 on the basis of the member's age, years of service, and the provisions of the law in effect at the time the member requests the member's retirement to become effective.

            9. The retirement allowance of a member retired because of disability shall be nine-tenths of the allowance to which the member's creditable service would entitle the member if the member's age were sixty, or fifty percent of one-twelfth of the annual salary rate used in determining the member's contributions during the last school year for which the member received a year of creditable service immediately prior to the member's disability, whichever is greater, except that no such allowance shall exceed the retirement allowance to which the member would have been entitled upon retirement at age sixty if the member had continued to teach from the date of disability until age sixty at the same salary rate.

            10. Notwithstanding any provisions of sections 169.010 to 169.141 to the contrary, from October 13, 1961, the contribution rate pursuant to sections 169.010 to 169.141 shall be multiplied by the factor of two-thirds for any member of the system for whom federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance tax is paid from state or local tax funds on account of the member's employment entitling the person to membership in the system. The monetary benefits for a member who elected not to exercise an option to pay into the system a retroactive contribution of four percent on that part of the member's annual salary rate which was in excess of four thousand eight hundred dollars but not in excess of eight thousand four hundred dollars for each year of employment in a position covered by this system between July 1, 1957, and July 1, 1961, as provided in subsection 10 of this section as it appears in RSMo, 1969, shall be the sum of:

            (1) For years of service prior to July 1, 1946, six-tenths of the full amount payable for years of membership service;

            (2) For years of membership service after July 1, 1946, in which the full contribution rate was paid, full benefits under the formula in effect at the time of the member's retirement;

            (3) For years of membership service after July 1, 1957, and prior to July 1, 1961, the benefits provided in this section as it appears in RSMo, 1959; except that if the member has at least thirty years of creditable service at retirement the member shall receive the benefit payable pursuant to that section as though the member's age were sixty-five at retirement;

            (4) For years of membership service after July 1, 1961, in which the two-thirds contribution rate was paid, two-thirds of the benefits under the formula in effect at the time of the member's retirement.

            11. The monetary benefits for each other member for whom federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance tax is or was paid at any time from state or local funds on account of the member's employment entitling the member to membership in the system shall be the sum of:

            (1) For years of service prior to July 1, 1946, six-tenths of the full amount payable for years of membership service;

            (2) For years of membership service after July 1, 1946, in which the full contribution rate was paid, full benefits under the formula in effect at the time of the member's retirement;

            (3) For years of membership service after July 1, 1957, in which the two-thirds contribution rate was paid, two-thirds of the benefits under the formula in effect at the time of the member's retirement.

            12. Any retired member of the system who was retired prior to September 1, 1972, or beneficiary receiving payments under option 1 or option 2 of subsection 3 of this section, as such option existed prior to September 1, 1972, will be eligible to receive an increase in the retirement allowance of the member of two percent for each year, or major fraction of more than one-half of a year, which the retired member has been retired prior to July 1, 1975. This increased amount shall be payable commencing with January, 1976, and shall thereafter be referred to as the member's retirement allowance. The increase provided for in this subsection shall not affect the retired member's eligibility for compensation provided for in section 169.580 or 169.585, nor shall the amount being paid pursuant to these sections be reduced because of any increases provided for in this section.

            13. If the board of trustees determines that the cost of living, as measured by generally accepted standards, increases two percent or more in the preceding fiscal year, the board shall increase the retirement allowances which the retired members or beneficiaries are receiving by two percent of the amount being received by the retired member or the beneficiary at the time the annual increase is granted by the board with the provision that the increases provided for in this subsection shall not become effective until the fourth January first following the member's retirement or January 1, 1977, whichever later occurs, or in the case of any member retiring on or after July 1, 2000, the increase provided for in this subsection shall not become effective until the third January first following the member's retirement, or in the case of any member retiring on or after July 1, 2001, the increase provided for in this subsection shall not become effective until the second January first following the member's retirement. Commencing with January 1, 1992, if the board of trustees determines that the cost of living has increased five percent or more in the preceding fiscal year, the board shall increase the retirement allowances by five percent. The total of the increases granted to a retired member or the beneficiary after December 31, 1976, may not exceed eighty percent of the retirement allowance established at retirement or as previously adjusted by other subsections. If the cost of living increases less than five percent, the board of trustees may determine the percentage of increase to be made in retirement allowances, but at no time can the increase exceed five percent per year. If the cost of living decreases in a fiscal year, there will be no increase in allowances for retired members on the following January first.

            14. The board of trustees may reduce the amounts which have been granted as increases to a member pursuant to subsection 13 of this section if the cost of living, as determined by the board and as measured by generally accepted standards, is less than the cost of living was at the time of the first increase granted to the member; except that, the reductions shall not exceed the amount of increases which have been made to the member's allowance after December 31, 1976.

            15. Any application for retirement shall include a sworn statement by the member certifying that the spouse of the member at the time the application was completed was aware of the application and the plan of retirement elected in the application.

            16. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person retired prior to September 28, 1983, who is receiving a reduced retirement allowance under option 1 or option 2 of subsection 3 of this section, as such option existed prior to September 28, 1983, and whose beneficiary nominated to receive continued retirement allowance payments under the elected option dies or has died, shall upon application to the board of trustees have his or her retirement allowance increased to the amount he or she would have been receiving had the option not been elected, actuarially adjusted to recognize any excessive benefits which would have been paid to him or her up to the time of application.

            17. Benefits paid pursuant to the provisions of the public school retirement system of Missouri shall not exceed the limitations of Section 415 of Title 26 of the United States Code except as provided pursuant to this subsection. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the board of trustees may establish a benefit plan pursuant to Section 415(m) of Title 26 of the United States Code. Such plan shall be created solely for the purpose described in Section 415(m)(3)(A) of Title 26 of the United States Code. The board of trustees may promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection and to create and administer such benefit plan.

            18. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person retired before, on, or after May 26, 1994, shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging, and upon request shall give written or oral opinions to the board in response to such requests. As compensation for such duties the person shall receive an amount based on the person's years of service so that the total amount received pursuant to sections 169.010 to 169.141 shall be at least the minimum amounts specified in subdivisions (1) to (4) of this subsection. In determining the minimum amount to be received, the amounts in subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection shall be adjusted in accordance with the actuarial adjustment, if any, that was applied to the person's retirement allowance. In determining the minimum amount to be received, beginning September 1, 1996, the amounts in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection shall be adjusted in accordance with the actuarial adjustment, if any, that was applied to the person's retirement allowance due to election of an optional form of retirement having a continued monthly payment after the person's death. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no person retired before, on, or after May 26, 1994, and no beneficiary of such a person, shall receive a retirement benefit pursuant to sections 169.010 to 169.141 based on the person's years of service less than the following amounts:

            (1) Thirty or more years of service, one thousand two hundred dollars;

            (2) At least twenty-five years but less than thirty years, one thousand dollars;

            (3) At least twenty years but less than twenty-five years, eight hundred dollars;

            (4) At least fifteen years but less than twenty years, six hundred dollars.

            19. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, any person retired prior to May 26, 1994, and any designated beneficiary of such a retired member who was deceased prior to July 1, 1999, shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement or aging and upon request shall give written or oral opinions to the board in response to such requests. Beginning September 1, 1996, as compensation for such service, the member shall have added, pursuant to this subsection, to the member's monthly annuity as provided by this section a dollar amount equal to the lesser of sixty dollars or the product of two dollars multiplied by the member's number of years of creditable service. Beginning September 1, 1999, the designated beneficiary of the deceased member shall as compensation for such service have added, pursuant to this subsection, to the monthly annuity as provided by this section a dollar amount equal to the lesser of sixty dollars or the product of two dollars multiplied by the member's number of years of creditable service. The total compensation provided by this section including the compensation provided by this subsection shall be used in calculating any future cost-of-living adjustments provided by subsection 13 of this section.

            20. Any member who has retired prior to July 1, 1998, and the designated beneficiary of a deceased retired member shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging, and upon request shall give written or oral opinions to the board in response to such requests. As compensation for such duties the person shall receive a payment equivalent to eight and seven-tenths percent of the previous month's benefit, which shall be added to the member's or beneficiary's monthly annuity and which shall not be subject to the provisions of subsections 13 and 14 of this section for the purposes of the limit on the total amount of increases which may be received.

            21. Any member who has retired shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging, and upon request shall give written or oral opinions to the board in response to such request. As compensation for such duties, the beneficiary of the retired member, or, if there is no beneficiary, the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the retired member, in that order of precedence, shall receive as a part of compensation for these duties a death benefit of five thousand dollars.

            22. Any member who has retired prior to July 1, 1999, and the designated beneficiary of a retired member who was deceased prior to July 1, 1999, shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging, and upon request shall give written or oral opinions to the board in response to such requests. As compensation for such duties, the person shall have added, pursuant to this subsection, to the monthly annuity as provided by this section a dollar amount equal to five dollars times the member's number of years of creditable service.

            23. Any member who has retired prior to July 1, 2000, and the designated beneficiary of a deceased retired member shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging, and upon request shall give written or oral opinions to the board in response to such requests. As compensation for such duties, the person shall receive a payment equivalent to three and five-tenths percent of the previous month's benefit, which shall be added to the member or beneficiary's monthly annuity and which shall not be subject to the provisions of subsections 13 and 14 of this section for the purposes of the limit on the total amount of increases which may be received.

            24. Any member who has retired prior to July 1, 2001, and the designated beneficiary of a deceased retired member shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging, and upon request shall give written or oral opinions to the board in response to such requests. As compensation for such duties, the person shall receive a dollar amount equal to three dollars times the member's number of years of creditable service, which shall be added to the member's or beneficiary's monthly annuity and which shall not be subject to the provisions of subsections 13 and 14 of this section for the purposes of the limit on the total amount of increases which may be received.

            169.670. 1. The retirement allowance of a member whose age at retirement is sixty years or more and whose creditable service is five years or more, or whose sum of age and creditable service equals eighty years or more, or whose creditable service is thirty years or more regardless of age, shall be the sum of the following items:

            (1) For each year of membership service, one and sixty-one hundredths percent of the member's final average salary;

            (2) Six-tenths of the amount payable for a year of membership service for each year of prior service;

            (3) Eighty-five one-hundredths of one percent of any amount by which the member's average compensation for services rendered prior to July 1, 1973, exceeds the average monthly compensation on which federal Social Security taxes were paid during the period over which such average compensation was computed, for each year of membership service credit for services rendered prior to July 1, 1973, plus six-tenths of the amount payable for a year of membership service for each year of prior service credit;

            (4) In lieu of the retirement allowance otherwise provided by subdivisions (1) to (3) of this subsection, [between July 1, 2001, and July 1, 2013,] a member may elect to receive a retirement allowance of:

            (a) One and fifty-nine hundredths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-nine years or more but less than thirty years and the member has not attained the age of fifty-five;

            (b) One and fifty-seven hundredths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-eight years or more but less than twenty-nine years, and the member has not attained the age of fifty-five;

            (c) One and fifty-five hundredths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-seven years or more but less than twenty-eight years and the member has not attained the age of fifty-five;

            (d) One and fifty-three hundredths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-six years or more but less than twenty-seven years and the member has not attained the age of fifty-five;

            (e) One and fifty-one hundredths percent of the member's final average salary for each year of membership service, if the member's creditable service is twenty-five years or more but less than twenty-six years and the member has not attained the age of fifty-five; and

            (5) In addition to the retirement allowance provided in subdivisions (1) to (3) of this subsection, a member retiring on or after July 1, 2001, whose creditable service is thirty years or more or whose sum of age and creditable service is eighty years or more, shall receive a temporary retirement allowance equivalent to eight-tenths of one percent of the member's final average salary multiplied by the member's years of service until such time as the member reaches the minimum age for Social Security retirement benefits.

            2. If the board of trustees determines that the cost of living, as measured by generally accepted standards, increases five percent or more in the preceding fiscal year, the board shall increase the retirement allowances which the retired members or beneficiaries are receiving by five percent of the amount being received by the retired member or the beneficiary at the time the annual increase is granted by the board; provided that, the increase provided in this subsection shall not become effective until the fourth January first following a member's retirement or January 1, 1982, whichever occurs later, and the total of the increases granted to a retired member or the beneficiary after December 31, 1981, may not exceed eighty percent of the retirement allowance established at retirement or as previously adjusted by other provisions of law. If the cost of living increases less than five percent, the board of trustees may determine the percentage of increase to be made in retirement allowances, but at no time can the increase exceed five percent per year. If the cost of living decreases in a fiscal year, there will be no increase in allowances for retired members on the following January first.

            3. The board of trustees may reduce the amounts which have been granted as increases to a member pursuant to subsection 2 of this section if the cost of living, as determined by the board and as measured by generally accepted standards, is less than the cost of living was at the time of the first increase granted to the member; provided that, the reductions shall not exceed the amount of increases which have been made to the member's allowance after December 31, 1981.

            4. (1) In lieu of the retirement allowance provided in subsection 1 of this section, called option 1, a member whose creditable service is twenty-five years or more or who has attained age fifty-five with five or more years of creditable service may elect, in the application for retirement, to receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in reduced monthly payments for life during retirement with the provision that:

            Option 2. Upon the member's death, the reduced retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to such person as has an insurable interest in the life of the member as the member shall have nominated in the member's election of the option, and provided further that if the person so nominated dies before the retired member, the retirement allowance will be increased to the amount the retired member would be receiving had the member elected option 1; OR

            Option 3. Upon the death of the member three-fourths of the reduced retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of and paid to such person as has an insurable interest in the life of the member and as the member shall have nominated in an election of the option, and provided further that if the person so nominated dies before the retired member, the retirement allowance will be increased to the amount the retired member would be receiving had the member elected option 1; OR

            Option 4. Upon the death of the member one-half of the reduced retirement allowance shall be continued throughout the life of, and paid to, such person as has an insurable interest in the life of the member and as the member shall have nominated in an election of the option, and provided further that if the person so nominated dies before the retired member, the retirement allowance shall be increased to the amount the retired member would be receiving had the member elected option 1; OR

            Option 5. Upon the death of the member prior to the member having received one hundred twenty monthly payments of the member's reduced allowance, the remainder of the one hundred twenty monthly payments of the reduced allowance shall be paid to such beneficiary as the member shall have nominated in the member's election of the option or in a subsequent nomination. If there is no beneficiary so nominated who survives the member for the remainder of the one hundred twenty monthly payments, the reserve for the remainder of such one hundred twenty monthly payments shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the last person, in that order of precedence, to receive a monthly allowance in a lump sum payment. If the total of the one hundred twenty payments paid to the retired individual and the beneficiary of the retired individual is less than the total of the member's accumulated contributions, the difference shall be paid to the beneficiary in a lump sum; OR

            Option 6. Upon the death of the member prior to the member having received sixty monthly payments of the member's reduced allowance, the remainder of the sixty monthly payments of the reduced allowance shall be paid to such beneficiary as the member shall have nominated in the member's election of the option or in a subsequent nomination. If there is no beneficiary so nominated who survives the member for the remainder of the sixty monthly payments, the reserve for the remainder of such sixty monthly payments shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the last person, in that order of precedence, to receive a monthly allowance in a lump sum payment. If the total of the sixty payments paid to the retired individual and the beneficiary of the retired individual is less than the total of the member's accumulated contributions, the difference shall be paid to the beneficiary in a lump sum; OR

            Option 7. A plan of variable monthly benefit payments which provides, in conjunction with the member's retirement benefits under the federal Social Security laws, level or near-level retirement benefit payments to the member for life during retirement, and if authorized, to an appropriate beneficiary designated by the member. Such a plan shall be actuarially equivalent to the retirement allowance under option 1 and shall be available for election only if established by the board of trustees under duly adopted rules.

            (2) The election of an option may be made only in the application for retirement and such application must be filed prior to the date on which the retirement of the member is to be effective. If either the member or the person nominated dies before the effective date of retirement, the option shall not be effective, provided that:

            (a) If the member or a person retired on disability retirement dies after attaining age fifty-five and acquiring five or more years of creditable service or after acquiring twenty-five or more years of creditable service and before retirement, except retirement with disability benefits, and the person named by the member as the member's beneficiary has an insurable interest in the life of the deceased member, the designated beneficiary may elect to receive either survivorship payments under option 2 or a payment of the member's accumulated contributions. If survivorship benefits under option 2 are elected and the member at the time of death would have been eligible to receive an actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance, the designated beneficiary may further elect to defer the option 2 payments until the date the member would have been eligible to receive the retirement allowance provided in subsection 1 of this section.

            (b) If the member or a person retired on disability retirement dies before attaining age fifty-five but after acquiring five but fewer than twenty-five years of creditable service, and the person named as the beneficiary has an insurable interest in the life of the deceased member or disability retiree, the designated beneficiary may elect to receive either a payment of the person's accumulated contributions or survivorship benefits under option 2 to begin on the date the member would first have been eligible to receive an actuarial equivalent of the person's retirement allowance, or to begin on the date the member would first have been eligible to receive the retirement allowance provided in subsection 1 of this section.

            5. If the total of the retirement or disability allowances paid to an individual before the person's death is less than the person's accumulated contributions at the time of the person's retirement, the difference shall be paid to the person's beneficiary or, if there is no beneficiary, to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or person's estate, in that order of precedence; provided, however, that if an optional benefit, as provided in option 2, 3 or 4 in subsection 4 of this section, had been elected and the beneficiary dies after receiving the optional benefit, then, if the total retirement allowances paid to the retired individual and the individual's beneficiary are less than the total of the contributions, the difference shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the beneficiary, in that order of precedence, unless the retired individual designates a different recipient with the board at or after retirement.

            6. If a member dies and his or her financial institution is unable to accept the final payment or payments due to the member, the final payment or payments shall be paid to the beneficiary of the member or, if there is no beneficiary, to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the member, in that order of precedence, unless otherwise stated. If the beneficiary of a deceased member dies and his or her financial institution is unable to accept the final payment or payments, the final payment or payments shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the member, in that order of precedence, unless otherwise stated.

            7. If a member dies before receiving a retirement allowance, the member's accumulated contributions at the time of the member's death shall be paid to the member's beneficiary or, if there is no beneficiary, to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or to the member's estate; provided, however, that no such payment shall be made if the beneficiary elects option 2 in subsection 4 of this section, unless the beneficiary dies before having received benefits pursuant to that subsection equal to the accumulated contributions of the member, in which case the amount of accumulated contributions in excess of the total benefits paid pursuant to that subsection shall be paid to the surviving spouse, surviving children in equal shares, surviving parents in equal shares, or estate of the beneficiary, in that order of precedence.

            8. If a member ceases to be an employee as defined in section 169.600 and certifies to the board of trustees that such cessation is permanent or if the person's membership is otherwise terminated, the person shall be paid the person's accumulated contributions with interest.

            9. Notwithstanding any provisions of sections 169.600 to 169.715 to the contrary, if a member ceases to be an employee as defined in section 169.600 after acquiring five or more years of creditable service, the member may, at the option of the member, leave the member's contributions with the retirement system and claim a retirement allowance any time after the member reaches the minimum age for voluntary retirement. When the member's claim is presented to the board, the member shall be granted an allowance as provided in sections 169.600 to 169.715 on the basis of the member's age and years of service.

            10. The retirement allowance of a member retired because of disability shall be nine-tenths of the allowance to which the member's creditable service would entitle the member if the member's age were sixty.

            11. Notwithstanding any provisions of sections 169.600 to 169.715 to the contrary, any member who is a member prior to October 13, 1969, may elect to have the member's retirement allowance computed in accordance with sections 169.600 to 169.715 as they existed prior to October 13, 1969.

            12. Any application for retirement shall include a sworn statement by the member certifying that the spouse of the member at the time the application was completed was aware of the application and the plan of retirement elected in the application.

            13. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any person retired prior to August 14, 1984, who is receiving a reduced retirement allowance under option 1 or 2 of subsection 4 of this section, as the option existed prior to August 14, 1984, and whose beneficiary nominated to receive continued retirement allowance payments under the elected option dies or has died, shall upon application to the board of trustees have the person's retirement allowance increased to the amount the person would have been receiving had the person not elected the option actuarially adjusted to recognize any excessive benefits which would have been paid to the person up to the time of the application.

            14. Benefits paid pursuant to the provisions of the public education employee retirement system of Missouri shall not exceed the limitations of Section 415 of Title 26 of the United States Code, except as provided under this subsection. Notwithstanding any other law, the board of trustees may establish a benefit plan under Section 415(m) of Title 26 of the United States Code. Such plan shall be credited solely for the purpose described in Section 415(m)(3)(A) of Title 26 of the United States Code. The board of trustees may promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection and to create and administer such benefit plan.

            15. Any member who has retired prior to July 1, 1999, and the designated beneficiary of a deceased retired member upon request shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging. As compensation for such duties the person shall receive a payment equivalent to seven and four-tenths percent of the previous month's benefit, which shall be added to the member's or beneficiary's monthly annuity and which shall not be subject to the provisions of subsections 2 and 3 of this section for the purposes of the limit on the total amount of increases which may be received.

            16. Any member who has retired prior to July 1, 2000, and the designated beneficiary of a deceased retired member upon request shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging. As compensation for such duties the person shall receive a payment equivalent to three and four-tenths percent of the previous month's benefit, which shall be added to the member's or beneficiary's monthly annuity and which shall not be subject to the provisions of subsections 2 and 3 of this section for the purposes of the limit on the total amount of increases which may be received.

            17. Any member who has retired prior to July 1, 2001, and the designated beneficiary of a deceased retired member upon request shall be made, constituted, appointed and employed by the board as a special consultant on the matters of education, retirement and aging. As compensation for such duties the person shall receive a payment equivalent to seven and one-tenth percent of the previous month's benefit, which shall be added to the member's or beneficiary's monthly annuity and which shall not be subject to the provisions of subsections 2 and 3 of this section for the purposes of the limit on the total amount of increases which may be received. 

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