SCS SB 290 -- KANSAS CITY POLICE AND CIVILIAN RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

SPONSOR:  Wiggins (Rizzo)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Urban
Affairs by a vote of 10 to 1.

This substitute revises the Kansas City Police and Civilian
Retirement Systems.

Benefits to members of the Kansas City Police Retirement System
disabled in the line of duty are increased from 60% to 75%.
Normal retirement benefits are increased from 2% to 2.5% per
year of service.

In the Kansas City Civilian Retirement System any lump sum or
periodic payments, except those for medical treatment, which are
paid for death or disability will be offset against any workers'
compensation benefits payable, but the total amount will not be
less than what the worker would have received pursuant to the
terms of the retirement system.  The requirement that surviving
spouses remain unmarried is deleted.  A surviving spouse is
entitled to receive a base pension along with a cost-of-living
adjustment, and payments will continue for the lifetime of the
surviving spouse.  After August 28, 2001, the surviving spouse
must be married to a member who dies in service at the time of
the member's death.  The surviving spouse of a member who dies
after retirement, who has not selected the optional annuity,
will receive half of the member's normal retirement with
cost-of-living adjustments.  The surviving spouse must have been
married to the member at the time of the member's retirement.
If a surviving spouse of a member who dies in service or who
retired prior to August 28, 2001, and who has not remarried
prior to August 28, 2001, but who subsequently remarries will be
entitled to receive benefits as a special consultant in an
amount equal to the amount they would have received in absence
of the remarriage.

In both retirement systems, members who are entitled to benefits
by becoming the surviving spouse of more than one member, are
restricted to the largest benefit calculated.  The timing for
the credit of income from investments is changed from one year
to frequent intervals determined by the retirement board.  The
retirement board may also appoint investment managers to manage
the investments of the retirement system.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that none of the fiscal affairs of
the Kansas City Police Department are under the state's control.
Kansas City's City Council has approved these changes in
retirement benefits and they will be paid for by the city's
budget, not the state's.

Testifying for the bill were Senator Wiggins; Kansas City Police
and Retirement System; City of Kansas City; and Kansas City
Police Officers Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Alice Hurley, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:47 am