CCS SCS HCS HB 397 & HCS HB 947 -- POLICE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

This bill 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 bill 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,
he or she may be appointed as a consultant to the board and will
receive $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 bill:

(1)  Defines "reserve officer" as it relates to the Police
Retirement System of St. Louis as any member of the police
reserve force, armed or unarmed, who works less than full time
without compensation and who, by his or her assigned function or
as implied by his or her uniform, performs duties associated with
those of a police officer and who currently receives retirement
benefits;

(2)  Specifies that a reserve officer will not be considered a
member of the system for the purpose of determining creditable
service, nor will any contributions be due.  A reserve officer
will not be entitled to any benefits other than those awarded
upon his or her original retirement.  Service as a reserve
officer will not prohibit distribution of these benefits;

(3)  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;

(4)  Allows a member who has completed at least 10 years of
creditable service and who becomes 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;

(5)  Allows a member who is permanently disabled exclusively as
the 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.  The member 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;

(6)  Allows the board to require 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

(7)  Specifies that the disability pension will end if the
medical director certifies to the board of trustees that a member
who retired because of disability is able to perform the duties
of a police officer and the board agrees.  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 bill contains an emergency clause for the provisions
regarding a surviving spouse being appointed as a consultant for
the Police Retirement System of Kansas City.

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