HCS HB 397 -- POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

SPONSOR:  Viebrock (Flook)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee on
Retirement by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding retirement based on
disability in the police retirement systems of Kansas City and
St. Louis.

POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF KANSAS CITY

The substitute changes the retirement benefits of any member of
the Police Retirement System of Kansas City who retired due to
being permanently disabled or any eligible surviving spouse of a
member who died in service on or before August 28, 2009.  If the
member's or surviving spouse's current retirement benefit is less
than $600 per month, excluding supplemental retirement benefits,
the benefit will increase to $600 per month until the member's or
surviving spouse's current total base pension and cost-of-living
adjustments exceed $600 per month.

POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF ST. LOUIS

The substitute:

(1)  Eliminates the medical board of physicians that arranges for
required disability-related medical examinations and replaces it
with a medical director who must appoint doctors to investigate
the physical and mental conditions of applicants for disability
retirement.  The medical director must report in writing to the
board of trustees of the system on the doctor's conclusions and
recommendations in connection with an application for disability
retirement;

(2)  Allows members who have completed at least 10 years of
creditable service and who become permanently unable to perform
the duties of a police officer as the result of an injury or
illness not exclusively caused or induced by his or her official
duties or by his or her negligence to retire upon certification
of the medical director and approval by the board of trustees;

(3)  Allows members who are permanently disabled exclusively as a
result of an accident occurring within the actual performance of
duty at some definite time and place to retire upon certification
by the medical director and the approval of the board of
trustees.  These members must apply for disability within five
years of the accident, unless the accident was reported within
five years and the member was examined by a health care provider
supplied by the board of police commissioners within 30 days of
the accident;

(4)  Requires a member who retires because of disability and is
younger than 60 years of age to submit to a medical examination
yearly for the first five years following his or her retirement
and at least once every three years thereafter.  If the retiree
refuses to submit to a medical examination, his or her disability
pension may be discontinued.  If the retiree continues to refuse
for one year, his or her pension may be revoked; and

(5)  Specifies that if the medical director certifies to the
board of trustees that a member who retires because of disability
is able to perform the duties of a police officer and the board
agrees, the disability pension will end.  If the officer returns
to active service, the period of time during which the officer
received a disability pension will not be included in his or her
time of service.

The substitute contains an emergency clause for the provisions
regarding the Police Retirement System of Kansas City.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2010, FY 2011, and
FY 2012.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will bring survivor and
member benefits to a level currently received by other retirees.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Flook; and Jim Pyles,
Police Retirement System of Kansas City.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:24 am