HB 478 -- Missouri State Employees' Retirement System

Sponsor:  Jones (117)

This bill changes the laws regarding the Missouri State
Employees' Retirement System to allow for a medical insurance and
retirement incentive for certain state employees who are eligible
for state-sponsored medical benefits.  In its main provisions,
the bill:

(1)  Allows a retiree to elect to continue coverage for himself
or herself and any eligible dependents at the same cost as if the
retiree was an active employee for a maximum period of five years
or until the retiree is eligible for Medicare, whichever occurs
first.  The cost will revert to the applicable retiree rate after
the five-year period or when the retiree becomes Medicare
eligible;

(2)  Requires the governing body of any participating member
agency to provide the medical coverage contained in the bill so
that employees or retirees will be eligible to apply the medical
coverage to their current benefits;

(3)  Allows the governing boards of Truman State University,
Lincoln University, and any educational institution listed in
Section 174.020, RSMo; the Highways and Transportation
Commission; and the Conservation Commission to provide their
employees or retirees the same medical coverage as that contained
in the bill;

(4)  Allows current employees who are receiving creditable
service and are eligible to receive an annuity beginning on or
after May 1, 2009, but no later than August 1, 2009, or a retiree
whose retirement annuity commenced on or after February 1, 2009,
but no later than August 1, 2009, to be eligible to receive the
medical coverage contained in the bill;

(5)  Allows current employees who otherwise would be eligible to
receive a retirement annuity by January 1, 2010, who apply for
retirement and whose annuity begins on or after May 1, 2009, but
no later than August 1, 2009, to be eligible to receive the
medical coverage contained in the bill;

(6)  Allows employees who are eligible to receive lump-sum
payments under Section 104.625 or Section 104.1024, by January 1,
2010, to receive these payments.  However, in no event will a
lump-sum payment be made for any time period after the employee's
annuity start date;

(7)  Allows departments to rehire for positions that are vacated
due to the election to retire; however, the departments will be
limited to using no more than 50% of the personal service funds
of those positions vacated.  Critical, seasonal, or federally
funded positions may be exempt from this provision.  This
provision will not apply to Truman University, Lincoln
University, or any educational institution listed in Section
174.020; and

(8)  Prohibits any employee making an election under the
retirement incentive plan from being employed with any state
department for a period of five years from the date of election.

The bill contains an emergency clause.

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