SB1609 - 501R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 38-727, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-727. Eligibility; options

The following provisions apply to all employees hired on or after the effective date:

1. All employees and officers of this state and all officers and employees of political subdivisions establishing a retirement plan administered by the board pursuant to this article who as a result of state service or service for the political subdivision are included in agreements providing for their coverage under the federal old age and survivors insurance system are subject to this article, except that membership is not mandatory:

(a) On the part of any employee who is eligible and who elects to participate in the optional retirement programs established by the Arizona board of regents pursuant to the authority conferred by section 15‑1628 or by a community college district board pursuant to authority conferred by section 15‑1451.

(b) For a state elected official who is subject to term limits, who is eligible for participation in ASRS because the state elected official elected not to participate in the elected officials' retirement plan as provided in section 38‑804, subsection A and who elects not to participate in ASRS as provided in paragraph 7 of this section.

(c) On the part of any employee or officer who is eligible to participate and who participates in the elected officials' retirement plan pursuant to article 3 of this chapter, the public safety personnel retirement system pursuant to article 4 of this chapter or the corrections officer retirement plan pursuant to article 6 of this chapter.

2. All employees and officers of political subdivisions whose compensation is provided wholly or in part from state monies and who are declared to be state employees and officers by the legislature for retirement purposes are subject, on legislative enactment, to this article and are members of ASRS.

3. Any member whose service terminates other than by death or withdrawal from membership is deemed to be a member of ASRS until the member's death benefit is paid.

4. Employees and officers shall not become members of ASRS and, if they are members immediately before becoming employed as provided by this section, shall have their membership status suspended while they are employed by state departments paying the salaries of their officers and employees wholly or in part from monies received from sources other than appropriations from the state general fund for the period or periods payment of the employer contributions is not made by or on behalf of the departments.

5. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, a temporary employee of the legislature whose projected term of employment is for not more than six months is ineligible for membership in ASRS. If the employment continues beyond six successive months, the employee may elect to either:

(a) Receive credit for service for the first six months of employment and establish membership in ASRS as of the beginning of the current term of employment if, within forty‑five days after the first six months of employment, both the employer and the employee contribute to ASRS the amount that would have been required to be contributed to ASRS during the first six months of employment as if the employee had been a member of ASRS during those six months.

(b) Establish membership in ASRS as of the day following the completion of six months of employment.

6. A person who is employed in postgraduate training in an approved medical residency training program of an employer or a postdoctoral scholar who is employed by a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents is ineligible for membership in ASRS.

7. A state elected official who is subject to term limits and who is eligible for participation in ASRS because the state elected official elected not to participate in the elected officials' retirement plan as provided in section 38‑804, subsection A may elect not to participate in ASRS. The election not to participate is specific for that term of office. The state elected official who is subject to term limits shall make the election in writing and file the election with ASRS within thirty days after the elected official's retirement plan mails the notice to the state elected official of the state elected official's eligibility to participate in ASRS. The election is effective on the first day of the state elected official's eligibility. If a state elected official who is subject to term limits fails to make an election as provided in this paragraph, the state elected official is deemed to have elected to participate in ASRS. The election not to participate in ASRS is irrevocable and constitutes a waiver of all benefits provided by ASRS for the state elected official's entire term, except for any benefits accrued by the state elected official in ASRS for periods of participation prior to before being elected to an office subject to term limits or any benefits expressly provided by law.

8. Every full‑time superior court commissioner who is appointed on or after July 1 of the first fiscal year after the social security administration approves the inclusion of superior court commissioners on this state's section 218 agreement is a member of ASRS and is subject to this article.END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 38-801, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-801. Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Accumulated contributions" means the sum of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑810, subsection A plus the amount transferred to the fund on behalf of the member plus the amount deposited in the fund pursuant to section 38‑816.

2. "Actuarial equivalent" means equality in present value of the aggregate amounts expected to be received under two different forms of payment, based on mortality and interest assumptions adopted by the board.

3. "Alternate payee" means the spouse or former spouse of a participant as designated in a domestic relations order.

4. "Alternate payee's portion" means benefits that are payable to an alternate payee pursuant to a plan approved domestic relations order.

5. "Average yearly salary" means the result obtained by dividing the total salary paid to an employee during a considered period by the number of years, including fractional years, in which the salary was received. The considered period shall be:

(a) For an elected official who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012 and who is not a recent elected official, the three consecutive years within the last ten completed years of credited service as an elected official that yield the highest average. If an employee a member does not have three consecutive years of credited service as an elected official, the considered period is the employee's member's last consecutive period of employment with a plan employer immediately before retirement.

(b) For a recent elected official, the five consecutive years within the last ten completed years of credited service as an elected official that yield the highest average. If a member does not have five consecutive years of credited service as an elected official, the considered period is the member's last consecutive period of employment with a plan employer immediately before retirement.

6. "Board" means the board of trustees of the system.

7. "Credited service" means the number of whole and fractional years of a member's service as an elected official after the elected official's effective date of participation for which member and employer contributions are on deposit with the fund, plus credited service transferred to the plan from another retirement system or plan for public employees of this state, plus service as an elected official before the elected official's effective date of participation that is being funded pursuant to a joinder agreement pursuant to section 38‑810, subsection C and section 38‑815 or service that was redeemed pursuant to section 38‑816. Credited service does not include periods of service for which an active member is uncompensated by the employer and for which no contributions to the plan are made.

8. "Cure period" means the ninety-day period in which a participant or alternate payee may submit an amended domestic relations order and request a determination, calculated from the time the plan issues a determination finding that a previously submitted domestic relations order did not qualify as a plan approved domestic relations order.

9. "Determination" means a written document that indicates to a participant and alternate payee whether a domestic relations order qualifies as a plan approved domestic relations order.

10. "Determination period" means the ninety-day period in which the plan must review a domestic relations order that is submitted by a participant or alternate payee to determine whether the domestic relations order qualifies as a plan approved domestic relations order, calculated from the time the plan mails a notice of receipt to the participant and alternate payee.

11. "Direct rollover" means a payment by the plan to an eligible retirement plan that is specified by the distributee.

12. "Distributee" means a member, a member's surviving spouse or a member's spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a plan approved domestic relations order.

13. "Domestic relations order" means an order of a court of this state that is made pursuant to the domestic relations laws of this state and that creates or recognizes the existence of an alternate payee's right to, or assigns to an alternate payee the right to, receive a portion of the benefits payable to a participant.

14. "Effective date of participation" means August 7, 1985, except with respect to employers and their elected officials whose contributions to the plan commence after that date, in which case the effective date of their participation in the plan is specified in the applicable joinder agreement.

15. "Elected official" means:

(a) Every elected official of this state.

(b) Every elected official of each county of this state.

(d) Every judge of the court of appeals. ,

(e) Every judge of the superior court. and

(f) Every full‑time superior court commissioner who is a member of the plan before July 1 of the first fiscal year after the social security administration approves the inclusion of superior court commissioners on this state's section 218 agreement, except full‑time superior court commissioners who failed to make a timely election of membership under the judges' retirement plan, repealed on August 7, 1985.

(d) (g) The administrator of the board if the administrator is a natural person.

(e) (h) Each elected official of an incorporated city or town whose employer has executed a proper joinder agreement for coverage of its elected officials.

(i) A recent elected official.

16. "Eligible child" means an unmarried child of a deceased active or retired member who meets one of the following qualifications:

(a) Is under eighteen years of age.

(b) Is at least eighteen years of age and under twenty‑three years of age only during any period that the child is a full‑time student.

(c) Is under a disability that began before the child attained twenty‑three years of age and remains a dependent of the surviving spouse or guardian.

17. "Eligible retirement plan" means any of the following that accepts a distributee's eligible rollover distribution:

(a) An individual retirement account described in section 408(a) of the internal revenue code.

(b) An individual retirement annuity described in section 408(b) of the internal revenue code.

(d) A qualified trust described in section 401(a) of the internal revenue code.

(e) An annuity contract described in section 403(b) of the internal revenue code.

(f) An eligible deferred compensation plan described in section 457(b) of the internal revenue code that is maintained by a state, a political subdivision of a state or any agency or instrumentality of a state or a political subdivision of a state and that agrees to separately account for amounts transferred into the eligible deferred compensation plan from this plan.

18. "Eligible rollover distribution" means a payment to a distributee, but does not include any of the following:

(a) Any distribution that is one of a series of substantially equal periodic payments made not less frequently than annually for the life or life expectancy of the member or the joint lives or joint life expectancies of the member and the member's beneficiary or for a specified period of ten years or more.

(b) Any distribution to the extent the distribution is required under section 401(a)(9) of the internal revenue code.

19. "Employer" means a department, agency or political subdivision of this state that makes employer contributions to the plan pursuant to section 38-810 on behalf of an elected official who participates in the plan.

20. "Fund" means the elected officials' retirement plan fund.

21. "Notice of receipt" means a written document that is issued by the plan to a participant and alternate payee and that states that the plan has received a domestic relations order and a request for a determination that the domestic relations order is a plan approved domestic relations order.

22. "Participant" means a member who is subject to a domestic relations order.

23. "Participant's portion" means benefits that are payable to a participant pursuant to a plan approved domestic relations order.

24. "Pension" means a series of monthly payments to a person who is entitled to receive benefits under the plan.

25. "Personal representative" means the personal representative of a deceased alternate payee.

26. "Plan" means the elected officials' retirement plan.

27. "Plan approved domestic relations order" means a domestic relations order that the plan approves as meeting all the requirements for a plan approved domestic relations order as otherwise prescribed in this article.

28. "Recent elected official" means an elected official who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012 or an elected official who is reappointed, reelected or retained in office pursuant to law on or after January 1, 2012.

28. 29. "Retired member" means a person who is being paid a pension based on the person's credited service as a member of the plan.

29. 30. "Segregated funds" means the amount of benefits that would currently be payable to an alternate payee pursuant to a domestic relations order under review by the plan, or a domestic relations order submitted to the plan that failed to qualify as a plan approved domestic relations order, if the domestic relations order were determined to be a plan approved domestic relations order.

30. 31. "System" means the public safety personnel retirement system. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Section 38-804, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-804. Membership; termination

A. All elected officials are members of the plan, except that a state elected official who is subject to term limits may elect not to participate in the plan. The state elected official who is subject to term limits shall make the election in writing and file the election with the board within thirty days after the state elected official assumes office. The election is effective on the first day of the state elected official's eligibility for that term of office. The election not to participate is specific for that term of office. If a state elected official who is subject to term limits fails to make an election as provided in this subsection, the state elected official is deemed to have elected to participate in the plan. The election not to participate in the plan is irrevocable and constitutes a waiver of all benefits provided by the plan for the state elected official's entire term, except for any benefits accrued by the state elected official in the plan for periods of participation prior to before being elected to an office subject to term limits or any benefits expressly provided by law. The state elected official who elects not to participate in the plan shall participate in the Arizona state retirement system unless the state elected official makes an irrevocable election not to participate in the Arizona state retirement system as provided in section 38‑727.

B. If a member who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012 and who is not a recent elected official ceases to hold office for any reason other than death or retirement, within twenty days after filing a completed application with the board, the member is entitled to receive the following amounts, less any benefit payments the member has received and any amount the member may owe to the plan:

1. If the member has less than five years of credited service with the plan, the member may withdraw the member's accumulated contributions from the plan.

2. If the member has five or more years of credited service with the plan, the member may withdraw the member's accumulated contributions plus an amount equal to the amount determined as follows:

(a) 5.0 to 5.9 years of credited service, twenty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑810, subsection A.

(b) 6.0 to 6.9 years of credited service, forty per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑810, subsection A.

(c) 7.0 to 7.9 years of credited service, fifty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑810, subsection A.

(d) 8.0 to 8.9 years of credited service, seventy per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑810, subsection A.

(e) 9.0 to 9.9 years of credited service, eighty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑810, subsection A.

(f) 10.0 or more years of credited service, one hundred per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑810, subsection A.

C. If a member has more than ten years of credited service with the plan, leaves the monies prescribed in subsection B of this section on account with the plan for more than thirty days after termination of employment and after that time period requests a refund of those monies, the member is entitled to receive the amount prescribed in subsection B of this section plus interest at a rate determined by the board for each year computed from and after the member's termination of employment.

D. If a recent elected official ceases to hold office for any reason other than death or retirement, within twenty days after filing a completed application with the board, the member may withdraw the member's accumulated contributions from the plan and shall be paid the member's accumulated contributions plus interest at a rate determined by the board as of the date of termination, less any benefit payments the member has received and any amount the member may owe to the plan.

D. E. If the amount prescribed in subsection B, or C or D of this section includes monies that are an eligible rollover distribution and the member elects to have the distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account or annuity and specifies the eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account or annuity to which the distribution is to be paid, the distribution shall be made in the form of a direct trustee‑to‑trustee transfer to the specified eligible retirement plan. The distribution shall be made in the form and at the time prescribed by the board. A member who receives the amount prescribed in subsection B, or C or D of this section from the plan or who elects a transfer pursuant to this subsection forfeits the member's credited service, and all rights to benefits under the plan and membership in the plan terminate.

E. F. In no case shall more than twelve months of credited service be credited on account of all service rendered by a member in any one year.

F. G. If an elected official who has terminated the member's membership in the plan pursuant to subsection B of this section is subsequently elected or otherwise becomes eligible for membership in the plan pursuant to subsection A of this section, credited service only accrues from the date of the member's most recent eligibility as an elected official.

G. H. Notwithstanding subsection F G of this section, if an elected official files a written election form with the board within ninety days after the day of the member's reemployment as an elected official and repays the amount previously withdrawn pursuant to subsection B or C of this section within one year after the date of the member's reemployment as an elected official, with interest on that amount at the rate of nine per cent for each year, compounded each year from the date of withdrawal to the date of repayment, credited service shall be restored. Credited service shall not be restored until complete repayment is made to the fund.

H. I. If a retired member subsequently becomes an elected official, contributions shall not be made by the retired member or the retired member's employer and credited service shall not accrue while the retired member is holding office.

I. J. In addition to subsection H I of this section, if a retired member subsequently becomes, by reason of election or reelection, an elected official of the same office from which the member retired within a time period following the member's retirement that is less than one full term for that office, the member shall not receive a pension. If the elected official ceases to hold the same office, the elected official is entitled to receive the same pension the elected official was receiving when the elected official's pension was discontinued pursuant to this subsection. Nothing in this subsection prohibits a retired judge called by the supreme court to active duties of a judge pursuant to section 38‑813 from receiving retirement benefits. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 38-805, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-805. Normal retirement and early retirement pensions

A. A member who becomes a member of the plan before january 1, 2012, who is not a recent elected official and who ceases to hold office is eligible for a normal retirement pension, if the member satisfies one of the following requirements:

1. Has attained age sixty‑five with five or more years of credited service.

2. Has attained age sixty‑two with ten or more years of credited service.

3. Has twenty or more years of credited service.

B. A recent elected official who ceases to hold office is eligible for a normal retirement pension, if the member satisfies one of the following requirements:

1. Has attained age sixty‑five with five or more years of credited service.

2. Has attained age sixty‑two with ten or more years of credited service.

B. c. A member who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012, who is not a recent elected official, who has at least five years of credited service and who ceases to hold office as an elected official may take early retirement.

D. A recent elected official who has at least ten years of credited service and who ceases to hold office as an elected official may take early retirement when the member attains age sixty.

C. E. On normal or early retirement, a retired member shall receive a pension computed pursuant to section 38‑808, subsection B or c until the member's death. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Section 38-806, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-806. Disability retirement pensions

A. A member who becomes permanently mentally or physically incapacitated for the purpose of performing the duties of the member's office may receive disability retirement benefits if the board of trustees finds that all of the following apply:

1. The member submits either personally or by a guardian an affidavit as to the nature of the member's incapacity.

2. The member is medically examined by a board of three physicians, one designated by the administrator of the fund, one designated by the member or the member's guardian and one designated by the governor.

3. A majority of the board of physicians certifies to the board of trustees that:

(a) The member is mentally or physically incapacitated for the purpose of performing the duties of the member's office.

(b) The member's incapacity occurred during the member's term of office and is expected to be of an indefinite duration.

B. On retirement by reason of disability under this section, a retired member shall receive a pension computed pursuant to section 38‑808, subsection B, paragraph 2 or subsection c, paragraph 2 until the member's death or until the member's pension is suspended, revoked or discontinued pursuant to this section.

C. If the board of trustees has reason to believe that a member, retired pursuant to this section but not yet eligible for normal retirement, may no longer be mentally or physically incapacitated from performing the duties of the public office from which the member retired, the board of trustees may require such retired member to be medically examined. The examination shall be conducted by a board of three physicians, one designated by the administrator of the fund, one designated by the retired member or the member's guardian and one designated by the governor.

D. The board of trustees shall discontinue pension payments to a member retired pursuant to this section, if the board of physicians certifies that the member is mentally and physically capable of performing the duties of the public office from which the member retired.

E. If the retired member refuses to submit to the medical examination, the administrator of the fund may suspend payment of the member's pension until the member submits to the medical examination. If the retired member refuses for one year or more to submit to medical examination, the board of trustees shall revoke the pension of a member retired under this section. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Section 38-807, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-807. Survivor pensions

A. The surviving spouse of a deceased retired member shall be paid a surviving spouse's pension if the spouse was married to the member for a period of at least two consecutive years at the time of the member's death. Payment of a surviving spouse's pension commences as of the last day of the month following the retired member's date of death. The last payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the surviving spouse's death occurs. For a member who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012 and who is not a recent elected official, the amount of pension paid a surviving spouse is equal to three-fourths of the amount of the deceased retired member's pension at the time of death. For a recent elected official, the amount of pension paid a surviving spouse is equal to one‑half of the amount of the deceased retired member's PENSION at the time of death, except that at the time of retirement a member may elect an optional form of retirement benefit, as determined by the board, that provides for an actuarially reduced pension and an increased surviving spouse's benefit. The surviving spouse shall file a written application with the plan in order to receive the survivor benefit.

B. The surviving spouse of a deceased active or inactive member shall be paid a surviving spouse's pension if the spouse was married to the member on the date of the member's death. Payment of a surviving spouse's pension commences as of the last day of the month following the member's date of death. The last payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the surviving spouse's death occurs. For the purposes of this subsection, for a member who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012 and who is not a recent elected official, the surviving spouse's pension shall be three-fourths of the amount calculated in the same manner as a disability pension is calculated pursuant to section 38‑806. For a recent elected official, the surviving spouse's pension shall be one‑half of the amount calculated in the same manner as a disability pension is calculated pursuant to section 38‑806. The surviving spouse shall file a written application with the plan in order to receive the survivor benefit.

C. If the deceased retired or active or inactive member does not have an eligible surviving spouse or the pension of the eligible surviving spouse is terminated, each eligible child is entitled to receive a child's pension. A child's pension terminates if the child is adopted. In the case of a disabled child, the child's pension terminates if the child ceases to be under a disability or ceases to be a dependent of the surviving spouse or guardian. The amount of the pension of each eligible child is an equal share of the amount of the surviving spouse's pension. The surviving minor or disabled child's pension shall be paid to the person who is the legally appointed guardian or custodian of the eligible child.

D. If a member dies and no pension is payable on account of the member's death, the deceased member's accumulated contributions shall be paid to the person or persons designated by the deceased member in writing and filed with the board. If the designated person or persons do not survive the deceased member, the accumulated contributions shall be paid to the estate of the deceased member. END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Section 38-808, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-808. Pension payments; computation of amounts; termination

A. Plan retirement commences on the first day of the month following the date of the member's retirement or death. Pension payments shall be received on or about the first day of the month next following the member's plan retirement. The last pension payment shall be made as of the last day of the month in which the death of the retired member or the surviving spouse or minor children occurs. Pension payments shall not be made in advance.

B. For a member who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012 and who is not a recent elected official, the monthly pension shall be equal to one‑twelfth of the following amount:

1. Four per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by the member's credited service, not to exceed eighty per cent of the member's average yearly salary. This amount shall be reduced if the member takes early retirement pursuant to section 38‑805, subsection B c. The amount of reduction is three‑twelfths of one per cent for each month the retired member's early retirement age precedes the member's normal retirement age pursuant to section 38‑805, subsection A, except that the reduction shall not be more than thirty per cent.

2. A member who meets the requirements for a disability retirement pension shall receive a disability pension equal to four per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by twenty years of credited service if the member has ten or more years of credited service, four per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by ten years of credited service if the member has five or more years of credited service but fewer than ten years of credited service or four per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by five years of credited service if the member has fewer than five years of credited service.

C. The monthly pension of a recent elected official shall be equal to one‑twelfth of the following amount:

1. Four per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by the member's credited service that is accrued before January 1, 2012 and three per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by the member's credited service that is accrued on or after January 1, 2012, not to exceed seventy‑five per cent of the member's average yearly salary. This amount shall be reduced if the member takes early retirement pursuant to section 38‑805, subsection D. The amount of reduction is one‑half of one per cent for each month the retired member's early retirement age precedes the member's normal retirement age pursuant to section 38‑805, subsection B.

2. A member who meets the requirements for a disability retirement pension shall receive a disability pension equal to three per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by twenty‑five years of credited service if the member has ten or more years of credited service, three per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by twelve and one‑half years of credited service if the member has five or more years of credited service but fewer than ten years of credited service or three per cent of the member's average yearly salary multiplied by 6.25 years of credited service if the member has fewer than five years of credited service.

C. D. The plan shall make payments pursuant to section 401(a)(9) of the internal revenue code and the regulations that are issued under that section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this plan, beginning January 1, 1987 payment of benefits to a member shall commence no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the later of:

1. The calendar year in which the member attains seventy and one‑half years of age.

2. The date the member terminates employment.

D. E. If all pension payments terminate before an amount equal to the member's accumulated contributions has been paid, the difference between the member's accumulated contributions and the aggregate amount of pension payments shall be paid to the person or persons and in such shares as designated by the retired member in writing and filed with the board. If the designated person or persons do not survive the retired member, the difference shall be paid to the estate of the retired member. END_STATUTE

Sec. 8. Section 38-809, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-809. Correction of pension payment errors; assignments prohibited; civil liability; restitution or payment of fine; forfeiture of benefits; violation; classification; offset of benefits

A. If the plan has made pension payments based on incorrect information and a person or an estate has been paid more or less than the person or estate should have been paid, the board shall adjust future payments so that the proper amount is paid. The adjustment may be made in such a manner that the equivalent actuarial present value of the benefit to which the person or estate is correctly entitled is paid.

B. Notwithstanding any other statute, benefits, member contributions or court fees including interest earnings and all other credits payable under the plan are not subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, charge, garnishment, execution or levy of any kind, either voluntary or involuntary, before actually being received by the person entitled to the benefit, contribution, earning or credit under the terms of the plan, and any attempt to dispose of any right under the terms of the plan as proscribed in this subsection is void. The fund is not liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, enlargements or torts of any person entitled to a benefit, contribution, earning or credit under the terms of the plan.

C. Nothing in this section exempts employee benefits of any kind from a writ of attachment, a writ of execution, a writ of garnishment and orders of assignment issued by a court of record as the result of a judgment for arrearages of child support or for child support debt.

D. A person who defrauds the plan or who takes, converts, steals or embezzles monies owned by or from the plan and who fails or refuses to return the monies to the plan on the board's written request is subject to a civil suit by the plan in the superior court in Maricopa county. On entry of an order finding the person has defrauded the plan or taken, converted, stolen or embezzled monies owned by or from the plan, the court shall enter an order against that person and for the plan awarding the plan all of its costs and expenses of any kind, including attorney fees, that were necessary to successfully prosecute the action. The court shall also grant the plan a judicial lien on all of the nonexempt property of the person against whom judgment is entered pursuant to this subsection in an amount equal to all amounts awarded to the plan, plus interest at the rate prescribed by section 44‑1201, subsection A, until all amounts owed are paid to the plan.

E. If a member is convicted of, or discharged because of, theft, embezzlement, fraud or misappropriation of an employer's property or property under the control of the employer, the member is subject to restitution and fines imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction. The court may order the restitution or fines to be paid from any payments otherwise payable to the member from the plan. If a member is convicted of a felony pursuant to this subsection, the member is entitled to receive a lump sum payment of the member's accumulated contributions but forfeits any future compensation and benefits that would otherwise accrue to the member or the member's estate under this article.

F. A person who knowingly makes any false statement or who falsifies or permits to be falsified any record of the plan with an intent to defraud the plan is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor. If any change or error in the records results in any member or beneficiary receiving from the plan more or less than the member or beneficiary would have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, the plan shall correct the error, and as far as practicable shall adjust the payments in such a manner that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which the member or beneficiary was correctly entitled to receive shall be paid. If a member is convicted of a crime pursuant to this subsection, the member is entitled to receive a lump sum payment of the member's accumulated contributions but forfeits any future compensation and benefits that would otherwise accrue to the member or the member's estate under this article.

G. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the board may offset against any benefits otherwise payable by the plan to an active or retired member or survivor any court ordered amounts awarded to the board and plan and assessed against the member or survivor. END_STATUTE

Sec. 9. Section 38-810, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-810. Contributions

A. Each member shall contribute to the fund an amount equal to seven per cent of the member's gross salary the amount prescribed in subsection F or G of this section. Contributions of members shall be made by payroll deductions. Every member is deemed to consent to these deductions. Payment of a member's compensation, less these payroll deductions, constitutes a full and complete discharge and satisfaction of all claims and demands by the member relating to remuneration for the member's services rendered during the period covered by the payment, except with respect to the benefits provided under the plan.

B. The board's office shall be credited monthly with monies collected pursuant to section 12‑119.01, subsection B, paragraph 2, section 12‑120.31, subsection D, paragraph 2, section 12‑284.03, subsection A, paragraph 6, section 22‑281, subsection C, paragraph 3 and section 41‑178. The monies credited to the fund pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited in the fund on a monthly basis, and there shall be a complete accounting of the determination of these monies deposited in the fund.

C. As determined by actuarial valuations performed by the plan's actuary, each employer shall make level per cent compensation contributions sufficient under the actuarial valuation to meet both the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability over, beginning July 1, 2005, a rolling period of at least twenty and not more than thirty years that is established by the board taking into account the recommendation of the plan's actuary, except that, beginning with fiscal year 2006‑2007, the employer contribution rate shall not be less than ten per cent of salary. The monies deposited in the fund pursuant to subsection B of this section shall be used to reduce the contributions required of state and county employers only. Employers that entered the plan under a joinder agreement shall also contribute an amount equal to the unfunded accrued liability for that employer. The unfunded liability for each new employer shall be actuarially determined by the plan's actuary as of the effective date of participation of each employer and shall be payable on the effective date of participation. The minimum employer contribution that is paid and that is in excess of the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability as calculated pursuant to this subsection shall be used to reduce future employer contribution increases and shall not be used to pay for an increase in benefits that are otherwise payable to members. The board shall separately account for these monies in the fund. After the close of any fiscal year, if the plan's actuary determines that the actuarial valuation of the fund contains excess valuation assets and is more than one hundred per cent funded, the board shall account for fifty per cent of the excess valuation assets in a stabilization reserve account. After the close of any fiscal year, if the plan's actuary determines that the actuarial valuation of the fund has a valuation asset deficiency and an unfunded actuarial accrued liability, the board shall use any valuation assets in the stabilization reserve account, to the extent available, to limit the decline in the fund's funding ratio to not more than two per cent.

D. The department of administration and the treasurer of each county and participating city and town shall transfer to the board the contributions provided for in subsections A and C of this section within ten working days after each payroll date. The state, county treasurers and clerks of the superior court shall transfer the monies credited under subsection B of this section to the board on or before the fifteenth day of each calendar month that follows the month in which the court fees were collected. Contributions and monies credited under subsection B of this section and transferred after these dates shall include a penalty equal to ten per cent a year, compounded annually, for each day that the contributions or monies credited under subsection B of this section are late. Delinquent payments due under this subsection, together with interest charges as provided in this subsection and court costs, may be recovered by action in a court of competent jurisdiction against the person or persons responsible for the payments or, at the request of the board, may be deducted from any other monies, including excise revenue taxes, payable to a political subdivision by any department or agency of this state. If requested by the board, the state, county treasurers or clerks of the superior court shall transfer the monies credited under subsection B of this section, in an amount determined by the board, directly to the qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement established pursuant to section 38‑803.01.

E. The employer shall pay the member contributions required of members on account of compensation earned after August 7, 1985. The paid contributions shall be treated as employer contributions for the purpose of determining tax treatment under the United States internal revenue code. The effective date of the employer payment shall not be before the date the retirement plan has received notification from the United States internal revenue service that pursuant to section 414(h) of the United States internal revenue code the member contributions paid will not be included in gross income for income tax purposes until the paid contributions are distributed by refund or pension payments. The employer shall pay the member contributions from monies established and available in the retirement deduction account, which monies would otherwise have been designated as member contributions and paid to the retirement plan. Member contributions paid pursuant to this subsection shall be treated for all other purposes, in the same manner and to the same extent, as member contributions made before August 7, 1985.

F. For a member who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012 and who is not a recent elected official, the amount contributed by a member pursuant to subsection A of this section is:

1. Through June 30, 2011, seven per cent of the member's gross salary.

2. For fiscal year 2011‑2012, nine per cent of the member's gross salary.

3. For fiscal year 2012‑2013, ten per cent of the member's gross salary.

4. For fiscal year 2013‑2014 and each fiscal year thereafter, eleven per cent of the member's gross salary or 33.3 per cent of the sum of the member's contribution rate from the preceding fiscal year and the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability for the employer as calculated pursuant to subsection c of this section, whichever is lower, except that the member contribution rate shall not be less than seven per cent of the member's compensation and the employer contribution rate shall not be less than the rate prescribed in subsection C of this section.

G. For a recent elected official, the amount contributed by a member pursuant to subsection A of this section is:

1. Through June 30, 2012, ten per cent of the member's gross salary.

2. For fiscal year 2012‑2013, eleven and one‑half per cent of the member's gross salary.

3. For fiscal year 2013‑2014 and each fiscal year thereafter, thirteen per cent of the member's gross salary or 33.3 per cent of the sum of the member's contribution rate from the preceding fiscal year and the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability for the employer as calculated pursuant to subsection C of this section, whichever is lower, except that the member contribution rate shall not be less than seven per cent of the member's compensation and the employer contribution rate shall not be less than the rate prescribed in subsection C of this section.

H. For fiscal year 2011‑2012 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the member's contribution that exceeds seven per cent of the member's compensation shall not be used to reduce the employer's contributions that are calculated pursuant to subsection c of this section. END_STATUTE

Sec. 10. Title 38, chapter 5, article 3, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 38-810.04, to read:

START_STATUTE38-810.04. Retired member; return to work; employer contributions

A. An employer shall pay contributions at an alternate contribution rate on behalf of a retired member who returns to work in any capacity in a position ordinarily filled by an elected official of the employer. This section applies to a retired member who has been retired for more than one full term for that office.

B. The alternate contribution rate shall be equal to that portion of the total required contribution that is applied to the amortization of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability for the fiscal year beginning July 1, based on the plan's actuary's calculation of the total required contribution for the preceding fiscal year ended on June 30. The alternate contribution rate shall be applied to the compensation, gross salary or contract fee of a retired member who meets the requirements of this section.

C. The alternate contribution rate shall not be less than ten per cent in any fiscal year.

D. All contributions made by the employer and allocated to the fund established by section 38-802 are irrevocable and shall be used as benefits under this article or to pay the expenses of the plan. Payments made pursuant to this section by employers become delinquent after the due date prescribed in 38-810, subsection D, and thereafter shall be increased by interest from and after that date until payment is received by the plan.

E. An employer of a retired member shall submit any reports, data, paperwork or materials that are requested by the board and that are necessary to determine the compensation, gross salary or contract fee associated with a retired member who returns to work or to determine the function, use, efficacy or operation of the return to work program.END_STATUTE

Sec. 11. Section 38-818, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-818. Benefit increases; definition

A. Effective July 1 of each year, each retired member or survivor of a retired member is entitled to receive a permanent increase in the base benefit equal to the amount determined pursuant to this section if either:

1. The retired member or survivor of a retired member was receiving benefits on or before July 31 of the two previous years.

2. The retired member or survivor of a retired member was fifty‑five years of age or older on July 1 of the current year and was receiving benefits on or before July 31 of the previous year.

B. The monthly amount of a permanent increase provided by subsection A is determined as follows:

1. Determine the excess investment earnings on the actuarial present value of pensions in payment status.

2. Determine the actuarial present value, as of June 30 of the preceding calendar year, of a one‑half of one per cent per month increase in the amount of each pension eligible for an increase.

3. Divide the amount determined in paragraph 1 of this subsection by the amount determined in paragraph 2 of this subsection.

4. From the quotient obtained in paragraph 3 of this subsection, drop any fraction.

5. Multiply the number obtained in paragraph 4 of this subsection by one‑half of one per cent.

C. The excess investment earnings of pensions in payment status are equal to the actuarial present value of pensions in payment status multiplied by the positive difference, if any, between the total return of the plan and nine per cent excess investment earnings amount. The excess investment earnings on pensions in payment status are zero if the total average annual return of the plan over the period of years established by the board for use in the calculation of the actuarial value of assets is less than or equal to nine per cent.

D. As used in this section: , total

1. Average annual return and the actuarial present value of pensions in payment status are the amounts published in the annual report of the plan for the fiscal year ending June 30 of the calendar year preceding the July 1 of the increase.

2. The ratio of the market value of assets to the actuarial accrued liability of the fund is the number determined by the administrator for the fiscal year ending June 30 of the calendar year preceding the July 1 of the increase.

E. All excess investment earnings on pensions in payment status are available for benefit increases as provided in this section. Any excess investment earnings on pensions in payment status from any year which that are not used for benefit adjustments for that year are available for future benefit increases in the following years. Earnings on the excess investment earnings on pensions in payment status account balance at the rate of the total return as published in the annual report of the plan shall be added each year to the excess investment earnings on pensions in payment status account balance and shall be available for future benefit increases.

F. The maximum benefit increase under this section is limited to four per cent of the benefit being received on the preceding June 30.

G. For the purposes of this section, "excess investment earnings amount" means:

1. If the ratio of the market value of assets to the actuarial accrued liability of the fund is seventy per cent or less, zero.

2. If the ratio of the market value of assets to the actuarial accrued liability of the fund is more than seventy per cent but less than eighty per cent, one‑quarter of the positive difference, if any, between the average annual return of the plan and nine per cent.

3. If the ratio of the market value of assets to the actuarial accrued liability of the fund is eighty per cent or more, one‑half of the positive difference, if any, between the average annual return of the plan and nine per cent. END_STATUTE

Sec. 12. Section 38-842, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-842. Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Accidental disability" means a physical or mental condition that the local board finds totally and permanently prevents an employee from performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's job classification and that was incurred in the performance of the employee's duty.

2. "Accumulated contributions" means, for each member, the sum of the amount of the member's aggregate contributions made to the fund and the amount, if any, attributable to the employee's contributions before the member's effective date under another public retirement system, other than the federal social security act, and transferred to the fund minus the benefits paid to or on behalf of the member.

3. "Actuarial equivalent" means equality in present value of the aggregate amounts expected to be received under two different forms of payment, based on mortality and interest assumptions adopted by the board.

4. "Alternate payee" means the spouse or former spouse of a participant as designated in a domestic relations order.

5. "Alternate payee's portion" means benefits that are payable to an alternate payee pursuant to a plan approved domestic relations order.

6. "Annuitant" means a person who is receiving a benefit pursuant to section 38‑846.01.

7. "Average monthly benefit compensation" means the result obtained by dividing the total compensation paid to an employee during a considered period by the number of months, including fractional months, in which such compensation was received. For an employee who becomes a member of the system before January 1, 2012, the considered period shall be the three consecutive years within the last twenty completed years of credited service that yield the highest average. For an employee who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012, the considered period is the five consecutive years within the last twenty completed years of credited service that yield the highest average. In the computation under this paragraph, a period of nonpaid or partially paid industrial leave shall be considered based on the compensation the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was not on industrial leave.

8. "Board" means the board of trustees of the system, who are the persons appointed to invest and operate the fund.

9. "Catastrophic disability" means a physical and not a psychological condition that the local board determines prevents the employee from totally and permanently engaging in any gainful employment and that results from a physical injury incurred in the performance of the employee's duty.

10. "Certified peace officer" means a peace officer certified by the Arizona peace officers standards and training board.

11. "Claimant" means any member or beneficiary who files an application for benefits pursuant to this article.

12. "Compensation" means, for the purpose of computing retirement benefits, base salary, overtime pay, shift differential pay, military differential wage pay and holiday pay paid to an employee by the employer on a regular monthly, semimonthly or biweekly payroll basis and longevity pay paid to an employee at least every six months for which contributions are made to the system pursuant to section 38‑843, subsection D. Compensation does not include, for the purpose of computing retirement benefits, payment for unused sick leave, payment in lieu of vacation, payment for compensatory time or payment for any fringe benefits. In addition, compensation does not include, for the purpose of computing retirement benefits, payments made directly or indirectly by the employer to the employee for work performed for a third party on a contracted basis or any other type of agreement under which the third party pays or reimburses the employer for the work performed by the employee for that third party, except for third party contracts between public agencies for law enforcement, criminal, traffic and crime suppression activities training, wildfire, emergency medical or emergency management activities or where the employer supervises the employee's performance of law enforcement, criminal, traffic and crime suppression activities, training, fire, wildfire, emergency medical or emergency management services. For the purposes of this paragraph, "base salary" means the amount of compensation each employee is regularly paid for personal services rendered to an employer before the addition of any extra monies, including overtime pay, shift differential pay, holiday pay, longevity pay, fringe benefit pay and similar extra payments.

13. "Credited service" means the member's total period of service before the member's effective date of participation, plus those compensated periods of the member's service thereafter for which the member made contributions to the fund.

14. "Cure period" means the ninety-day period in which a participant or alternate payee may submit an amended domestic relations order and request a determination, calculated from the time the system issues a determination finding that a previously submitted domestic relations order did not qualify as a plan approved domestic relations order.

15. "Depository" means a bank in which all monies of the system are deposited and held and from which all expenditures for benefits, expenses and investments are disbursed.

16. "Determination" means a written document that indicates to a participant and alternate payee whether a domestic relations order qualifies as a plan approved domestic relations order.

17. "Determination period" means the ninety-day period in which the system must review a domestic relations order that is submitted by a participant or alternate payee to determine whether the domestic relations order qualifies as a plan approved domestic relations order, calculated from the time the system mails a notice of receipt to the participant and alternate payee.

18. "Direct rollover" means a payment by the system to an eligible retirement plan that is specified by the distributee.

19. "Distributee" means a member, a member's surviving spouse or a member's spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a plan approved domestic relations order.

20. "Domestic relations order" means an order of a court of this state that is made pursuant to the domestic relations laws of this state and that creates or recognizes the existence of an alternate payee's right to, or assigns to an alternate payee the right to, receive a portion of the benefits payable to a participant.

21. "Effective date of participation" means July 1, 1968, except with respect to employers and their covered employees whose contributions to the fund commence thereafter, the effective date of their participation in the system is as specified in the applicable joinder agreement.

22. "Effective date of vesting" means the date a member's rights to benefits vest pursuant to section 38‑844.01.

23. "Eligible child" means an unmarried child of a deceased member or retired member who meets one of the following qualifications:

(a) Is under eighteen years of age.

(b) Is at least eighteen years of age and under twenty‑three years of age only during any period that the child is a full‑time student.

(c) Is under a disability that began before the child attained twenty‑three years of age and remains a dependent of the surviving spouse or guardian.

24. "Eligible groups" means only the following who are regularly assigned to hazardous duty:

(a) Municipal police officers who are certified peace officers.

(b) Municipal fire fighters.

(c) Paid full‑time fire fighters employed directly by a fire district organized pursuant to section 48‑803 or 48‑804 with three or more full‑time fire fighters, but not including fire fighters employed by a fire district pursuant to a contract with a corporation.

(d) State highway patrol officers who are certified peace officers.

(e) State fire fighters.

(f) County sheriffs and deputies who are certified peace officers.

(g) Game and fish wardens who are certified peace officers.

(h) Police officers who are certified peace officers and fire fighters of a nonprofit corporation operating a public airport pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424. A police officer shall be designated pursuant to section 28‑8426 to aid and supplement state and local law enforcement agencies and a fire fighter's sole duty shall be to perform fire fighting services, including services required by federal regulations.

(i) Police officers who are certified peace officers and who are appointed by the Arizona board of regents.

(j) Police officers who are certified peace officers and who are appointed by a community college district governing board.

(k) State attorney general investigators who are certified peace officers.

(l) County attorney investigators who are certified peace officers.

(m) Police officers who are certified peace officers and who are employed by an Indian reservation police agency.

(n) Fire fighters who are employed by an Indian reservation fire fighting agency.

(o) Police officers who are certified peace officers and who are appointed by the department of administration.

(p) Department of liquor licenses and control investigators who are certified peace officers.

(q) Arizona department of agriculture officers who are certified peace officers.

(r) Arizona state parks board rangers and managers who are certified peace officers.

(s) County park rangers who are certified peace officers.

25. "Eligible retirement plan" means any of the following that accepts a distributee's eligible rollover distribution:

(a) An individual retirement account described in section 408(a) of the internal revenue code.

(b) An individual retirement annuity described in section 408(b) of the internal revenue code.

(d) A qualified trust described in section 401(a) of the internal revenue code.

(e) An annuity contract described in section 403(b) of the internal revenue code.

26. "Eligible rollover distribution" means a payment to a distributee, but does not include any of the following:

(b) Any distribution to the extent the distribution is required under section 401(a)(9) of the internal revenue code.

27. "Employee" means any person who is employed by a participating employer and who is a member of an eligible group but does not include any persons compensated on a contractual or fee basis. If an eligible group requires certified peace officer status and at the option of the local board, employee may include a person who is training to become a certified peace officer.

28. "Employers" means:

(a) Cities contributing to the fire fighters' relief and pension fund as provided in sections 9‑951 through 9‑971 or statutes amended thereby and antecedent thereto, as of June 30, 1968 on behalf of their full‑time paid fire fighters.

(b) Cities contributing under the state police pension laws as provided in sections 9‑911 through 9‑934 or statutes amended thereby and antecedent thereto, as of June 30, 1968 on behalf of their municipal policemen.

(d) The state, or any political subdivision of this state, including towns, cities, fire districts, counties and nonprofit corporations operating public airports pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424, that has elected to participate in the system on behalf of an eligible group of public safety personnel pursuant to a joinder agreement entered into after July 1, 1968.

(e) Indian tribes that have elected to participate in the system on behalf of an eligible group of public safety personnel pursuant to a joinder agreement entered into after July 1, 1968.

29. "Fund" means the public safety personnel retirement fund, which is the fund established to receive and invest contributions accumulated

30. "Local board" means the retirement board of the employer, who are the persons appointed to administer the system as it applies to their members in the system.

31. "Member" means any full‑time employee who meets all of the following qualifications:

(a) Who is either a paid municipal police officer, a paid fire fighter, a law enforcement officer who is employed by this state including the director thereof, a state fire fighter who is primarily assigned to fire fighting duties, a fire fighter or police officer of a nonprofit corporation operating a public airport pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424, all ranks designated by the Arizona law enforcement merit system council, a state attorney general investigator who is a certified peace officer, a county attorney investigator who is a certified peace officer, a police officer who is appointed by the department of administration and who is a certified peace officer, a department of liquor licenses and control investigator who is a certified peace officer, an Arizona department of agriculture officer who is a certified peace officer, an Arizona state parks board ranger or manager who is a certified peace officer, a county park ranger who is a certified peace officer, a person who is a certified peace officer and who is employed by an Indian reservation police agency, a fire fighter who is employed by an Indian reservation fire fighting agency or an employee included in a group designated as eligible employees under a joinder agreement entered into by their employer after July 1, 1968 and who is or was regularly assigned to hazardous duty.

(b) Who, on or after the employee's effective date of participation, is receiving compensation for personal services rendered to an employer or would be receiving compensation except for an authorized leave of absence.

(c) Whose customary employment is at least forty hours per week or, for those employees who customarily work fluctuating work weeks, whose customary employment averages at least forty hours per week.

(d) Who is engaged to work for more than six months in a calendar year.

(e) Who, if economic conditions exist, is required to take furlough days or reduce the hours of their the employee's normal work week below forty hours but not less than thirty hours per pay cycle, and maintain their the employee's active member status within the system as long as the hour change does not extend beyond twelve consecutive months.

(f) Who has not attained age sixty‑five before the employee's effective date of participation or who was over age sixty‑five with twenty‑five years or more of service prior to the employee's effective date of participation.

32. "Normal retirement date" means:

(a) For an employee who becomes a member of the system before January 1, 2012, the first day of the calendar month immediately following an the employee's completion of twenty years of service or the employee's sixty‑second birthday and the employee's completion of fifteen years of service.

(b) For an employee who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012, the first day of the calendar month immediately following the employee's completion of twenty‑five years of service if the employee is at least fifty‑two and one‑half years of age.

33. "Notice of receipt" means a written document that is issued by the system to a participant and alternate payee and that states that the system has received a domestic relations order and a request for a determination that the domestic relations order is a plan approved domestic relations order.

34. "Ordinary disability" means a physical condition that the local board determines will prevent an employee totally and permanently from performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's department or a mental condition that the local board determines will prevent an employee totally and permanently from engaging in any substantial gainful activity.

35. "Participant" means a member who is subject to a domestic relations order.

36. "Participant's portion" means benefits that are payable to a participant pursuant to a plan approved domestic relations order.

37. "Pension" means a series of monthly amounts that are payable to a person who is entitled to receive benefits under the plan but does not include an annuity that is payable pursuant to section 38-846.01.

38. "Personal representative" means the personal representative of a deceased alternate payee.

39. "Plan approved domestic relations order" means a domestic relations order that the system approves as meeting all the requirements for a plan approved domestic relations order as otherwise prescribed in this article.

40. "Regularly assigned to hazardous duty" means regularly assigned to duties of the type normally expected of municipal police officers, municipal or state fire fighters, eligible fire district fire fighters, state highway patrol officers, county sheriffs and deputies, fish and game wardens, fire fighters and police officers of a nonprofit corporation operating a public airport pursuant to sections 28‑8423 and 28‑8424, police officers who are appointed by the Arizona board of regents or a community college district governing board, state attorney general investigators who are certified peace officers, county attorney investigators who are certified peace officers, police officers who are appointed by the department of administration and who are certified peace officers, department of liquor licenses and control investigators who are certified peace officers, Arizona department of agriculture officers who are certified peace officers, Arizona state parks board rangers and managers who are certified peace officers, county park rangers who are certified peace officers, police officers who are certified peace officers and who are employed by an Indian reservation police agency or fire fighters who are employed by an Indian reservation fire fighting agency. Those individuals who are assigned solely to support duties such as secretaries, stenographers, clerical personnel, clerks, cooks, maintenance personnel, mechanics and dispatchers are not assigned to hazardous duty regardless of their position classification title. Since the normal duties of those jobs described in this paragraph are constantly changing, questions as to whether a person is or was previously regularly assigned to hazardous duty shall be resolved by the local board on a case‑by‑case basis. Resolutions by local boards are subject to rehearing and appeal.

41. "Retirement" or "retired" means termination of employment after a member has fulfilled all requirements for a pension or, for an employee who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012, attains the age and service requirements for a normal retirement date. Retirement shall be considered as commencing on the first day of the month immediately following a member's last day of employment or authorized leave of absence, if later.

42. "Segregated funds" means the amount of benefits that would currently be payable to an alternate payee pursuant to a domestic relations order under review by the system, or a domestic relations order submitted to the system that failed to qualify as a plan approved domestic relations order, if the domestic relations order were determined to be a plan approved domestic relations order.

43. "Service" means the last period of continuous employment of an employee by the employers before the employee's retirement, except that if such period includes employment during which the employee would not have qualified as a member had the system then been effective, such as employment as a volunteer fire fighter, then only twenty‑five per cent of such noncovered employment shall be considered as service. Any absence that is authorized by an employer shall not be considered as interrupting continuity of employment if the employee returns within the period of authorized absence. Transfers between employers also shall not be considered as interrupting continuity of employment. Any period during which a member is receiving sick leave payments or a temporary disability pension shall be considered as service. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, any period during which a person was employed as a full‑time paid fire fighter for a corporation that contracted with an employer to provide firefighting services on behalf of the employer shall be considered as service if the employer has elected at its option to treat part or all of the period the firefighter worked for the company as service in its applicable joinder agreement. Any reference in this system to the number of years of service of an employee shall be deemed to include fractional portions of a year.

44. "State" means the state of Arizona, including any department, office, board, commission, agency or other instrumentality of the state.

45. "System" means the public safety personnel retirement system established by this article.

46. "Temporary disability" means a physical or mental condition that the local board finds totally and temporarily prevents an employee from performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's department and that was incurred in the performance of the employee's duty. END_STATUTE

Sec. 13. Section 38-843, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-843. Contributions

A. Each employer who participates in the system on behalf of a group of employees who were covered under a prior public retirement system, other than the federal social security act, shall transfer all securities and monies attributable to the taxes and contributions of the state other than the state contribution to social security, the employer and the employees for the covered group of employees under the other system, such transfer to be made to the fund subject to all existing liabilities and on or within sixty days following the employer's effective date. All monies and securities transferred to the fund shall be credited to the employer's account in the fund. A record of the market value and the cost value of such transferred contributions shall be maintained for actuarial and investment purposes.

B. As determined by actuarial valuations reported to the employer and the local board by the board of trustees, each employer shall make level per cent of compensation contributions sufficient under such actuarial valuations to meet both the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability over, beginning July 1, 2005, a rolling period of at least twenty and not more than thirty years that is established by the board of trustees taking into account the recommendation of the system's actuary, except that, beginning with fiscal year 2006‑2007, except as otherwise provided, the employer contribution rate shall not be less than eight per cent of compensation. For any employer whose actual contribution rate is less than eight per cent of compensation for fiscal year 2006‑2007, that employer's contribution rate is not subject to the eight per cent minimum but, for fiscal year 2006-2007 and each year thereafter, shall be at least five per cent and not more than the employer's actual contribution rate. An employer shall have the option of paying a higher level per cent of compensation thereby reducing its unfunded past service liability. An employer shall also have the option of increasing its contributions in order to reduce the contributions required from its members under subsection C, except that if an employer elects this option the employer shall pay the same higher level percentage contribution for all members of the eligible group. During a period when an employee is on industrial leave and the employee elects to continue contributions during the period of industrial leave, the employer shall make the contributions based on the compensation the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was in normal employment status. All contributions made by the employers and all state taxes allocated to the fund shall be irrevocable and shall be used to pay benefits under the system or to pay expenses of the system and fund. The minimum employer contribution that is paid and that is in excess of the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability as calculated pursuant to this subsection shall be used to reduce future employer contribution increases and shall not be used to pay for an increase in benefits that are otherwise payable to members. The board shall separately account for these monies in the fund. Forfeitures arising because of severance of employment before a member becomes eligible for a pension or any other reason shall be applied to reduce the cost of the employer, not to increase the benefits otherwise payable to members. After the close of any fiscal year, if the system's actuary determines that the actuarial valuation of an employer's account contains excess valuation assets other than excess valuation assets that were in the employer's account as of fiscal year 2004‑2005 and is more than one hundred per cent funded, the board shall account for fifty per cent of the excess valuation assets in a stabilization reserve account. After the close of any fiscal year, if the system's actuary determines that the actuarial valuation of an employer's account has a valuation asset deficiency and an unfunded actuarial accrued liability, the board shall use any valuation assets in the stabilization reserve account for that employer, to the extent available, to limit the decline in that employer's funding ratio to not more than two per cent.

C. Each member, throughout the member's period of service from the member's effective date of participation, shall contribute to the fund an amount equal to 7.65 per cent of the member's compensation the amount prescribed in subsection E or f, except as provided in subsection B. During a period when an employee is on industrial leave and the employee elects to continue contributions during the period of industrial leave, the employee shall make the employee's contribution based on the compensation the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was in normal employment status. Contributions of members shall be required as a condition of employment and membership in the system and shall be made by payroll deductions. Every employee shall be deemed to consent to such deductions. Payment of an employee's compensation, less such payroll deductions, shall constitute a full and complete discharge and satisfaction of all claims and demands by the employee relating to remuneration for the employee's services rendered during the period covered by the payment, except with respect to the benefits provided under the system.

D. Each employer shall transfer to the board the employer and employee contributions provided for in subsections B and C within ten working days after each payroll date. Contributions transferred after that date shall include a penalty of ten per cent per annum, compounded annually, for each day the contributions are late, such penalty to be paid by the employer. Delinquent payments due under this subsection, together with interest charges as provided in this subsection, may be recovered by action in a court of competent jurisdiction against an employer liable for the payments or, at the request of the board, may be deducted from any other monies, including excise revenue taxes, payable to such employer by any department or agency of this state.

E. For an employee who becomes a member of the system before January 1, 2012, the amount contributed by a member pursuant to subsection C is:

1. Through June 30, 2011, 7.65 per cent of the member's compensation.

2. For fiscal year 2011‑2012, 9.65 per cent of the member's compensation.

3. For fiscal year 2012‑2013, 10.65 per cent of the member's compensation.

4. For fiscal year 2013‑2014 and each fiscal year thereafter, 11.65 per cent of the member's compensation or 33.3 per cent of the sum of the member's contribution rate from the preceding fiscal year and the aggregate computed employer contribution rate that is calculated pursuant to subsection B, whichever is lower, except that the member contribution rate shall not be less than 7.65 per cent of the member's compensation and the employer contribution rate shall not be less than the rate prescribed in subsection B.

F. For an employee who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012, the amount contributed by a member pursuant to subsection C is:

1. Through June 30, 2012, 10.65 per cent of the member's compensation.

2. For fiscal year 2012‑2013, 12.15 per cent of the member's compensation.

3. For fiscal year 2013‑2014 and each fiscal year thereafter, 13.65 per cent of the member's compensation or 33.3 per cent of the sum of the member's contribution rate from the preceding fiscal year and the aggregate computed employer contribution rate that is calculated pursuant to subsection b, whichever is lower, except that the member contribution rate shall not be less than 7.65 per cent of the member's compensation and the employer contribution rate shall not be less than the rate prescribed in subsection b.

G. For fiscal year 2011‑2012 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the member's contribution that exceeds 7.65 per cent of the member's compensation shall not be used to reduce the employer's contributions that are calculated pursuant to subsection B. END_STATUTE

Sec. 14. Title 38, chapter 5, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 38-843.05, to read:

START_STATUTE38-843.05. Retired members; return to work; employer contributions

A. An employer shall pay contributions at an alternate contribution rate on behalf of a retired member who returns to work in any capacity in a position ordinarily filled by an employee of the employer of an eligible group. This section applies to a retired member who returns to work with another participating employer and a retired member who returns to work after sixty consecutive days with the same employer from which the member retired.

B. The alternate contribution rate shall be equal to that portion of the total required contribution that is applied to the amortization of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability for the fiscal year beginning July 1, based on the system's actuary's calculation of the total required contribution for the preceding fiscal year ended on June 30. The alternate contribution rate shall be applied to the compensation, gross salary or contract fee of a retired member who meets the requirements of this section.

C. The alternate contribution rate shall not be less than eight per cent in any fiscal year.

D. All contributions made by the employer and allocated to the fund are irrevocable and shall be used as benefits under this article or to pay the expenses of the system. Payments made pursuant to this section by employers become delinquent after the due date prescribed in 38-843, subsection D, and thereafter shall be increased by interest from and after that date until payment is received by the system.

Sec. 15. Section 38-844.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-844.02. Deferred retirement option plan for employees hired before January 1, 2012; purpose

A. A deferred retirement option plan is established for those employees who become members of the system before january 1, 2012. The purpose of the deferred retirement option plan is to add flexibility to the system and to provide members who elect to participate in the deferred retirement option plan access to a lump sum benefit in addition to their normal monthly retirement benefit on actual retirement.

B. The board shall offer the deferred retirement option plan to members on a voluntary basis as an alternative method of benefit accrual under the system.END_STATUTE

Sec. 16. Section 38-845, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-845. Amount of retirement benefit; purchase of firearm

A. A member who meets the requirements for a normal pension, who becomes a member of the system before january 1, 2012 and who has twenty years of credited service shall receive a monthly amount which that equals fifty per cent of the member's average monthly benefit compensation. If the member retires with other than twenty years of credited service, the foregoing amount shall be:

1. Reduced by four per cent for each year of credited service under twenty years, with pro rata reduction for any fractional year.

2. Increased by a monthly amount equal to two per cent of the member's average monthly benefit compensation multiplied by the number of the member's years of credited service in excess of twenty years, with pro rata increase for any fractional year, except that if a member retires with twenty‑five or more years of credited service the amount shall be increased by a monthly amount equal to two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly benefit compensation multiplied by the number of the member's years of credited service in excess of twenty years, with pro rata increase for any fractional year. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the maximum amount payable as a normal pension shall be eighty per cent of the average monthly benefit compensation.

B. A member who meets the requirements for an accidental disability pension shall receive a monthly amount, which shall be computed in the same manner as a normal pension, using the member's average monthly benefit compensation before termination of employment and the member's actual credited service or twenty years of credited service, whichever is greater.

C. A member who meets the requirements for an ordinary disability pension shall receive a monthly amount that is equal to a fraction times the member's normal pension that is computed according to subsection A or G if the member had twenty years of credited service. The fraction is the result obtained by dividing the member's actual years of credited service, not to exceed twenty years of credited service, by twenty.

D. A member who meets the requirements for a temporary disability pension shall receive a monthly amount which shall be that is equal to one‑twelfth of fifty per cent of the member's annual compensation received immediately prior to the date on which the member's disability was incurred.

E. A member who meets the requirements for a catastrophic disability pension is entitle entitled to receive a monthly amount computed as follows:

1. For the first sixty months, ninety per cent of the member's average monthly benefit compensation before termination of employment.

2. After sixty months, sixty‑two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly benefit compensation before termination of employment or computed in the same manner as a normal pension using the member's average monthly benefit compensation before termination of employment and the member's actual credited service, whichever is greater.

F. A member who was employed before September 15, 1989 by an employer participating in the system and who retires on or after November 1, 2001 is entitled to receive a tax equity benefit allowance consisting of a permanent increase of two per cent of the member's base benefit retroactive to the day of retirement.

G. A member who meets the requirements for a normal pension, who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012 and who has twenty‑five years of credited service shall receive a monthly amount that equals sixty‑two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly benefit compensation. If the member retires with other than twenty‑five years of credited service, the foregoing amount shall be:

1. Reduced by four per cent for each year of credited service under twenty‑five years, with pro rata reduction for any fractional year.

2. Increased by a monthly amount equal to two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly benefit compensation multiplied by the number of the member's years of credited service in excess of twenty‑five years, with pro rata increase for any fractional year. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, the maximum amount payable as a normal pension shall be eighty per cent of the average monthly benefit compensation.

G. H. In addition to the amounts received under subsection A, B, C, D, or E or G and subject to the approval of the employer, the pension includes the ability of a member to purchase the handgun or shotgun issued by the employer to the member at less than fair market value. END_STATUTE

Sec. 17. Section 38-846.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-846.01. Deferred annuity; exception

a. If any member who has at least ten years of credited service terminates employment for reasons other than retirement or disability, the member may elect to receive a deferred annuity, except that if the annuitant withdraws all or part of the annuitant's accumulated contributions in the system all rights in and to a deferred annuity shall be forfeited by the annuitant. A deferred annuity is a lifetime monthly payment actuarially equivalent to the annuitant's accumulated contributions in the system plus an equal amount paid by the employer and shall commence on application on or after the sixty‑second birthday of the annuitant. The annuity is not a retirement benefit and annuitants are not entitled to receive any amount prescribed by section 38-845, subsection F, or section 38‑846, 38‑856 or 38‑857.

B. This section does not apply to a member who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012. Such a person who attains a normal retirement date is eligible for retirement and a retirement benefit even if the member terminates employment with an employer before the age requirement for normal retirement if the member attains the service requirement for normal retirement. END_STATUTE

Sec. 18. Section 38‑846.02, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-846.02. Termination of membership

A. On termination of employment for any reason other than death or retirement, within twenty days after filing a completed application with the board, a member who becomes a member of the system before January 1, 2012 is entitled to receive the following amounts, less any benefit payments the member has received or any amount the member may owe to the system:

1. If the member has less than five years of credited service with the system, the member may withdraw the member's accumulated contributions from the system.

2. If the member has five or more years of credited service with the system, the member may withdraw the member's accumulated contributions plus an amount equal to the amount determined as follows:

(a) 5.0 to 5.9 years of credited service, twenty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑843, subsection C.

(b) 6.0 to 6.9 years of credited service, forty per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑843, subsection C.

(c) 7.0 to 7.9 years of credited service, fifty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑843, subsection C.

(d) 8.0 to 8.9 years of credited service, seventy per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑843, subsection C.

(e) 9.0 to 9.9 years of credited service, eighty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑843, subsection C.

(f) 10.0 or more years of credited service, one hundred per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑843, subsection C.

B. If a member who becomes a member of the system before January 1, 2012 has more than ten years of credited service with the system, leaves the monies prescribed in subsection A of this section on account with the system for more than thirty days after termination of employment and after that time period requests a refund of those monies, the member is entitled to receive the amount prescribed in subsection A of this section plus interest at a rate determined by the board for each year computed from and after the member's termination of employment.

C. On termination of employment for any reason other than death or retirement, within twenty days after filing a completed application with the board, a member who becomes a member of the system on or after January 1, 2012 is entitled to receive a lump sum payment equal to the member's accumulated contribution plus interest at a rate determined by the board as of the date of termination, less any benefit payments the member has received as of the date of termination or any amount the member may owe to the system.

C. D. If the amount prescribed in subsection A, or B or C of this section includes monies that are an eligible rollover distribution and the member elects to have the distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account or annuity and specifies the eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account or annuity to which the distribution is to be paid, the distribution shall be made in the form of a direct trustee‑to‑trustee transfer to the specified eligible retirement plan. The distribution shall be made in the form and at the time prescribed by the board. A member who withdraws the amount prescribed in subsection A, or B or C of this section from the system or who elects a transfer pursuant to this section forfeits all rights to benefits under the system and rights to rehearing and appeal, except as provided in section 38‑849. END_STATUTE

Sec. 19. Section 38-849, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by Laws 2010, chapter 118, section 10, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-849. Limitations on receiving pension; violation; classification; reemployment after severance; reinstatement of service credits; reemployment of retired or disabled member

A. If a member is convicted of, or discharged because of, theft, embezzlement, fraud or misappropriation of an employer's property or property under the control of the employer, the member shall be subject to restitution and fines imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction. The court may order the restitution or fines to be paid from any payments otherwise payable to the member from the retirement system. If a member is convicted of a felony pursuant to this subsection, the member is entitled to receive a lump sum payment of the member's accumulated contributions but forfeits any future compensation and benefits that would otherwise accrue to the member or the member's estate under this article.

B. A person who knowingly makes any false statement or who falsifies or permits to be falsified any record of the system with an intent to defraud the system is guilty of a class 6 felony. If any change or error in the records results in any member or beneficiary receiving from the system more or less than the member or beneficiary would have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, the local board shall correct such error, and as far as practicable shall adjust the payments in such manner that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which such member or beneficiary was correctly entitled shall be paid. If a member is convicted of a crime specified in this subsection the member shall be entitled to receive a lump sum payment of the member's accumulated contributions but forfeits any future compensation and benefits that would otherwise accrue to the member or the member's estate under this article.

C. If a member who received a severance refund on termination of employment, as provided in section 38‑846.02, is subsequently reemployed by an employer, the member's prior service credits shall be cancelled and service shall be credited only from the date the member's most recent reemployment period commenced. However, if the former member's reemployment with the same employer occurred within two years after the former member's termination date, and, within ninety days after reemployment the former member signs a written election consenting to reimburse the fund within one year, the former member shall be required to redeposit the amount withdrawn at the time of the former member's separation from service, with interest thereon at the rate of nine per cent for each year compounded each year from the date of withdrawal to the date of repayment. On satisfaction of this obligation the member's prior service credits shall be reinstated.

D. If a retired member becomes employed in any capacity by the employer from which the member retired before sixty consecutive days after the member's date of retirement, the system shall not make pension payments to the retired member during the period of reemployment. If a retired member is reemployed by an employer, no employee contributions shall be made on the retired member's account, nor any service credited, during the period of the reemployment. Notwithstanding this subsection, if a retired member subsequently becomes employed in the same position by the employer from which the member retired, the system shall not make pension payments to the retired member during the period of reemployment. On subsequent termination of employment by the retired member, the retired member is entitled to receive a pension based on the member's service and compensation before the date of the member's reemployment. If a member who retired under disability is reemployed by an employer as an employee, that member shall be treated as if the member had been on an uncompensated leave of absence during the period of the member's disability retirement and shall be a contributing member of the system. Within ten days after a retired member is reemployed by the employer from which the member retired, the employer shall advise the fund manager board in writing as to whether the retired member has been reemployed in the same position from which the member retired. The fund manager board shall review all reemployment determinations. If the fund manager board is not provided the necessary information to make a reemployment determination, the fund manager board shall suspend pension payments until information is received and a determination is made that the reemployment meets the requirements of this subsection. For the purposes of this subsection, "same position" means the member is in a position where the member performs substantially similar duties that were performed and exercises substantially similar authority that was exercised by the retired member before retirement.

E. A person who defrauds the system or who takes, converts, steals or embezzles monies owned by or from the system and who fails or refuses to return the monies to the system on the fund manager's board's written request is subject to civil suit by the system in the superior court in Maricopa county. On entry of an order finding the person has defrauded the system or taken, converted, stolen or embezzled monies owned by or from the system, the court shall enter an order against that person and for the system awarding the system all of its costs and expenses of any kind, including attorney fees, that were necessary to successfully prosecute the action. The court shall also grant the system a judicial lien on all of the nonexempt property of the person against whom judgment is entered pursuant to this subsection in an amount equal to all amounts awarded to the system, plus interest at the rate prescribed by section 44-1201, subsection A, until all amounts owed are paid to the system.

F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the fund manager board may offset against any benefits otherwise payable by the system to an active or retired member or survivor any court ordered amounts awarded to the fund manager board and system and assessed against the member or survivor. END_STATUTE

Sec. 20. Repeal

Section 38-849, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by Laws 2010, chapter 200, section 45, is repealed.

Sec. 21. Section 38-856, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-856. Benefit increases; definition

1. The retired member or the survivor of a retired member was receiving benefits on or before July 31 of the two previous years.

2. The retired member or survivor of a retired member was fifty‑five years of age or older on July 1 of the current year and was receiving benefits on or before July 31 of the previous year.

B. The monthly amount of a permanent increase provided by subsection A is determined as follows:

1. Determine the excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund.

2. Determine the excess investment earnings account balance.

3. Determine the actuarial present value, as of June 30 of the preceding calendar year, of a five dollar per month increase in the amount of each pension eligible for an increase.

4. Add the amounts determined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection then divide by the amount determined in paragraph 3 of this subsection.

5. From the quotient obtained in paragraph 4 of this subsection, drop any fraction.

6. Multiply the number obtained in paragraph 5 of this subsection by five dollars.

C. The excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund are equal to the total assets of the fund less any amount allocated to the excess investment earnings account multiplied by one‑half of the positive difference, if any, between the total return of the system and nine per cent the excess investment earnings amount. The excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund are zero if the total average annual return of the system over the period of years established by the board for use in the calculation of the actuarial value of assets is less than or equal to nine per cent.

D. As used in this section: , total

1. Average annual return and the net assets of the fund are the amounts published in the annual report of the system for the fiscal year ending June 30 of the calendar year preceding the July 1 of the increase.

E. All excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund are available for benefit increases as provided in this section. Any excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund from any year which that are not used for benefit adjustments for that year are available for future benefit increases in the following years. Earnings on the excess investment earnings account balance at the rate of the total return as published in the annual report of the system shall be added each year to the excess investment earnings account and shall be available for future benefit increases.

F. The maximum benefit increase under this section is limited to the equivalent of four per cent of the average normal benefit being received on the preceding June 30.

G. For the purposes of this section, "excess investment earnings amount" means:

1. If the ratio of the market value of assets to the actuarial accrued liability of the fund is seventy per cent or less, zero.

Sec. 22. Section 38-881, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by Laws 2010, chapter 200, section 53, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-881. Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Accidental disability" means a physical or mental condition that the local board finds totally and permanently prevents an employee from performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's department, was incurred in the performance of the employee's duties and was the result of any of the following:

(a) Physical contact with inmates, prisoners, parolees or persons on probation.

(b) Responding to a confrontational situation with inmates, prisoners, parolees or persons on probation.

(c) A job related motor vehicle accident while on official business for the employee's employer. A job related motor vehicle accident does not include an accident that occurs on the way to or from work. Persons found guilty of violating a personnel rule, a rule established by the employee's employer or a state or federal law in connection with a job related motor vehicle accident do not meet the conditions for accidental disability.

2. "Accumulated member contributions" means for each member the sum of the amount of all the member's contributions deducted from the member's salary and paid to the fund, plus member contributions transferred to the fund by another retirement plan covering public employees of this state, plus previously withdrawn accumulated member contributions that are repaid to the fund in accordance with this article, minus any benefits paid to or on behalf of a member.

4. "Alternate payee" means the spouse or former spouse of a participant as designated in a domestic relations order.

5. "Alternate payee's portion" means benefits that are payable to an alternate payee pursuant to a plan approved domestic relations order.

6. "Annuitant" means a person who is receiving a benefit pursuant to section 38‑911.

7. "Average monthly salary" means, for an employee who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012, one‑thirty‑sixth of the aggregate amount of salary that is paid a member by a participating employer during a period of thirty‑six consecutive months of service in which the member received the highest salary within the last one hundred twenty months of service and, for an employee who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012, one‑sixtieth of the aggregate amount of salary that is paid a member by a participating employer during a period of sixty consecutive months of service in which the member received the highest salary within the last one hundred twenty months of service. Average monthly salary means the aggregate amount of salary that is paid a member divided by the member's months of service if the member has less than thirty‑six or sixty months of service. In the computation under this paragraph, a period of nonpaid or partially paid industrial leave shall be considered based on the salary the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was not on industrial leave.

8. "Beneficiary" means an individual who is being paid or who has entitlement to the future payment of a pension on account of a reason other than the individual's membership in the retirement plan.

9. "Board" means the board of trustees of the public safety personnel retirement system.

10. "Claimant" means a member, beneficiary or estate that files an application for benefits with the retirement plan.

11. "Credited service" means credited service transferred to the retirement plan from another retirement system or plan for public employees of this state, plus those compensated periods of service as a member of the retirement plan for which member contributions are on deposit in the fund.

12. "Cure period" means the ninety-day period in which a participant or alternate payee may submit an amended domestic relations order and request a determination, calculated from the time the plan issues a determination finding that a previously submitted domestic relations order did not qualify as a plan approved domestic relations order.

13. "Designated position" means:

(a) For a county:

(i) A county detention officer.

(ii) A nonuniformed employee of a sheriff's department whose primary duties require direct contact with inmates.

(b) For the state department of corrections and the department of juvenile corrections, only the following specifically designated positions:

(i) Food service.

(ii) Nursing personnel.

(iii) Corrections physician assistant.

(iv) Therapist.

(v) Corrections dental assistant.

(vi) Hygienist.

(vii) Corrections medical assistant.

(viii) Correctional service officer, including assistant deputy warden, deputy warden, warden and superintendent.

(ix) State correctional program officer.

(x) Parole or community supervision officers.

(xi) Investigators.

(xii) Teachers.

(xiii) Institutional maintenance workers.

(xiv) Youth corrections officer.

(xv) Youth program officer.

(xvi) Behavioral health treatment unit managers.

(xvii) The director and assistant directors of the department of juvenile corrections and the superintendent of the state educational system for committed youth.

(xviii) The director, deputy directors and assistant directors of the state department of corrections.

(xix) Other positions designated by the local board of the state department of corrections or the local board of the department of juvenile corrections pursuant to section 38‑891.

(d) For an employer of an eligible group as defined in section 38‑842, full‑time dispatchers.

(e) For the judiciary, probation, surveillance and juvenile detention officers and those positions designated by the local board of the judiciary pursuant to section 38-891.

(f) For the department of public safety, state detention officers.

14. "Determination" means a written document that indicates to a participant and alternate payee whether a domestic relations order qualifies as a plan approved domestic relations order.

15. "Determination period" means the ninety-day period in which the plan must review a domestic relations order that is submitted by a participant or alternate payee to determine whether the domestic relations order qualifies as a plan approved domestic relations order, calculated from the time the plan mails a notice of receipt to the participant and alternate payee.

16. "Direct rollover" means a payment by the plan to an eligible retirement plan that is specified by the distributee.

17. "Distributee" means a member, a member's surviving spouse or a member's spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee under a plan approved domestic relations order.

18. "Domestic relations order" means an order of a court of this state that is made pursuant to the domestic relations laws of this state and that creates or recognizes the existence of an alternate payee's right to, or assigns to an alternate payee the right to, receive a portion of the benefits payable to a participant.

19. "Eligible child" means an unmarried child of a deceased active or retired member who meets one of the following qualifications:

(a) Is under eighteen years of age.

(b) Is at least eighteen years of age and under twenty-three years of age only during any period that the child is a full-time student.

(c) Is under a disability that began before the child attained twenty‑three years of age and remains a dependent of the surviving spouse or guardian.

20. "Eligible retirement plan" means any of the following that accepts a distributee's eligible rollover distribution:

(a) An individual retirement account described in section 408(a) of the internal revenue code.

(b) An individual retirement annuity described in section 408(b) of the internal revenue code.

(d) A qualified trust described in section 401(a) of the internal revenue code.

(e) An annuity contract described in section 403(b) of the internal revenue code.

21. "Eligible rollover distribution" means a payment to a distributee, but does not include any of the following:

(b) Any distribution to the extent the distribution is required under section 401(a)(9) of the internal revenue code.

22. "Employee" means a person employed by a participating employer in a designated position.

23. "Employer" means an agency or department of this state or a political subdivision of this state that has one or more employees in a designated position.

24. "Fund" means the corrections officer retirement plan fund.

25. "Juvenile detention officer" means a juvenile detention officer responsible for the direct custodial supervision of juveniles who are detained in a county juvenile detention center.

26. "Local board" means the retirement board of the employer that consists of persons appointed or elected to administer the plan as it applies to the employer's members in the plan.

27. "Member" means any employee who meets all of the following qualifications:

(a) Who is a full‑time paid person employed by a participating employer in a designated position.

(b) Who is receiving salary for personal services rendered to a participating employer or would be receiving salary except for an authorized leave of absence.

28. "Normal retirement date" means:

(a) For an employee who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012, the first day of the calendar month immediately following an the employee's completion of twenty years of service or, in the case of a dispatcher, twenty‑five years of service, the employee's sixty‑second birthday and completion of ten years of service or the month in which the sum of the employee's age and years of credited service equals eighty.

(b) For an employee who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012, the first day of the calendar month immediately following the employee's completion of twenty‑five years of service if the employee is at least fifty‑two and one‑half years of age or the employee's sixty‑second birthday and completion of ten years of service.

29. "Notice of receipt" means a written document that is issued by the plan to a participant and alternate payee and that states that the plan has received a domestic relations order and a request for a determination that the domestic relations order is a plan approved domestic relations order.

30. "Ordinary disability" means a physical condition that the local board determines will totally and permanently prevent an employee from performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's department or a mental condition that the local board determines will totally and permanently prevent an employee from engaging in any substantial gainful activity.

31. "Participant" means a member who is subject to a domestic relations order.

32. "Participant's portion" means benefits that are payable to a participant pursuant to a plan approved domestic relations order.

33. "Participating employer" means an employer that the board has determined to have one or more employees in a designated position or a county, city, town or department of this state that has entered into a joinder agreement pursuant to section 38‑902.

34. "Pension" means a series of monthly payments by the retirement plan but does not include an annuity that is payable pursuant to section 38‑911.

35. "Personal representative" means the personal representative of a deceased alternate payee.

36. "Plan approved domestic relations order" means a domestic relations order that the plan approves as meeting all the requirements for a plan approved domestic relations order as otherwise prescribed in this article.

37. "Probation or surveillance officer" means an officer appointed pursuant to section 8‑203, 12‑251 or 12‑259 but does not include other personnel, office assistants or support staff.

38. "Retired member" means an individual who terminates employment and who is receiving a pension pursuant to either section 38‑885 or 38‑886.

39. "Retirement" or "retired" means termination of employment after a member has fulfilled all requirements for a pension or, for an employee who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012, attains the age and service requirements for a normal retirement date.

40. "Retirement plan" or "plan" means the corrections officer retirement plan established by this article.

41. "Salary" means the base salary, shift differential pay, military differential wage pay and holiday pay paid a member for personal services rendered in a designated position to a participating employer on a regular monthly, semimonthly or biweekly payroll basis. Salary includes amounts that are subject to deferred compensation or tax shelter agreements. Salary does not include payment for any remuneration or reimbursement other than as prescribed by this paragraph. For the purposes of this paragraph, "base salary" means the amount of compensation each member is regularly paid for personal services rendered to an employer before the addition of any extra monies, including overtime pay, shift differential pay, holiday pay, fringe benefit pay and similar extra payments.

42. "Segregated funds" means the amount of benefits that would currently be payable to an alternate payee pursuant to a domestic relations order under review by the plan, or a domestic relations order submitted to the plan that failed to qualify as a plan approved domestic relations order, if the domestic relations order were determined to be a plan approved domestic relations order.

43. "Service" means employment rendered to a participating employer as an employee in a designated position. Any absence that is authorized by an employer, including any periods during which the employee is on an employer sponsored long‑term disability program, is considered as service if the employee returns or is deemed by the employer to have returned to a designated position within the period of the authorized absence.

44. "Total and permanent disability" means a physical or mental condition that is not an accidental disability, that the local board finds totally and permanently prevents a member from engaging in any gainful employment and that is the direct and proximate result of the member's performance of the member's duty as an employee of a participating employer. END_STATUTE

Sec. 23. Repeal

Section 38-881, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by Laws 2010, chapter 200, section 54, is repealed.

Sec. 24. Section 38‑884, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-884. Membership of retirement plan; termination; credited service; redemption

A. Each employee of a participating employer is a member of the plan unless the employee is receiving a pension from the plan. A person employed shall undergo a medical examination performed by a doctor or clinic appointed by the local board or, in the case of a state correctional officer who is employed by the state department of corrections, complete a physical examination pursuant to section 41‑1822, subsection B. For the purposes of subsection B of this section, the doctor or clinic appointed by the local board may be the employer's regular employee or contractor.

B. The purpose of the medical examination authorized by this section is to identify a member's physical or mental condition or injury that existed or occurred before the member's date of membership in the plan. Any employee who fails or refuses to submit to the medical examination prescribed in this section is deemed to waive all rights to disability benefits under this article. Medical examinations conducted under this article shall not be conducted or used for purposes of hiring, advancement, discharge, job training or other terms, conditions and privileges of employment unrelated to receipt or qualification for pension benefits or service credits from the fund. This subsection does not affect or impair the right of an employer to prescribe medical or physical standards for employees or prospective employees.

C. If a member who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012 ceases to be an employee for any reason other than death or retirement, within twenty days after filing a completed application with the board, the member is entitled to receive the following amounts, less any benefit payments the member has received and any amount the member may owe to the plan:

1. If the member has less than five years of credited service with the plan, the member may withdraw the member's accumulated contributions from the plan.

2. If the member has five or more years of credited service with the plan, the member may withdraw the member's accumulated contributions plus an amount equal to the amount determined as follows:

(a) 5.0 to 5.9 years of credited service, twenty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑891, subsection B.

(b) 6.0 to 6.9 years of credited service, forty per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑891, subsection B.

(c) 7.0 to 7.9 years of credited service, fifty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑891, subsection B.

(d) 8.0 to 8.9 years of credited service, seventy per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑891, subsection B.

(e) 9.0 to 9.9 years of credited service, eighty‑five per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑891, subsection B.

(f) 10.0 or more years of credited service, one hundred per cent of all member contributions deducted from the member's salary pursuant to section 38‑891, subsection B.

D. If a member who becomes a member of the plan before January 1, 2012 has more than ten years of credited service with the plan, leaves the monies prescribed in subsection C of this section on account with the plan for more than thirty days after termination of employment and after that time period requests a refund of those monies, the member is entitled to receive the amount prescribed in subsection C of this section plus interest at a rate determined by the board for each year computed from and after the member's termination of employment.

E. The accumulated member contributions of a member who ceases to be an employee for a reason other than death or retirement and who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012 shall be paid to the member plus interest at a rate determined by the board as of the date of termination within twenty days after filing with the plan a written application for payment.

E. F. If the refund includes monies that are an eligible rollover distribution and the member elects to have the distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account or annuity and specifies the eligible retirement plan or individual retirement account or annuity to which the distribution is to be paid, the distribution shall be made in the form of a direct trustee‑to‑trustee transfer to the specified eligible retirement plan. The distribution shall be made in the form and at the time prescribed by the board.

F. G. Service shall be credited to a member's individual credited service account in accordance with rules the local board prescribes. In no case shall more than twelve months of credited service be credited on account of all service rendered by a member in any one year. In no case shall service be credited for any period during which the member is not employed in a designated position, except as provided by sections 38‑921 and 38‑922.

G. H. Credited service is forfeited if the amounts prescribed in subsection C, or D or E of this section are paid or are transferred in accordance with this section.

H. I. If a former member becomes reemployed with the same employer within two years after the former member's termination date, a member may have forfeited credited service attributable to service rendered during a prior period of service as an employee restored on satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

1. The member files with the plan a written application for reinstatement of forfeited credited service within ninety days after again becoming an employee.

2. The retirement fund is paid the total amount previously withdrawn pursuant to subsection C, or D or E of this section plus compound interest from the date of withdrawal to the dates of repayment. Interest shall be computed at the rate of nine per cent for each year compounded each year from the date of withdrawal to the date of repayment. Forfeited credited service shall not be restored until complete payment is received by the fund.

3. The required payment is completed within one year after returning to employee status.

I. J. A present active member of the plan who received a refund of accumulated contributions from the plan pursuant to subsection C, or D or E of this section and forfeited credited service pursuant to subsection G H of this section may elect to redeem any part of that forfeited credited service by paying into the plan any amounts required pursuant to this subsection. A present active member who elects to redeem any part of forfeited credited service for which the member is deemed eligible by the board shall pay into the plan the amounts previously paid or transferred as a refund of the member's accumulated contributions plus an amount, computed by the plan's actuary that is necessary to equal the increase in the actuarial present value of projected benefits resulting from the redemption calculated using the actuarial methods and assumptions prescribed by the plan's actuary.

J. K. A retired member may become employed by an employer in a designated position and continue to receive a pension if the employment occurs at least twelve months after retirement. The retired member shall not contribute to the fund and shall not accrue credited service. If a retired member becomes employed by an employer in a designated position before twelve months after retirement:

1. Payment of the retired member's pension shall be suspended until the retired member again ceases to be an employee. The amount of pension shall not be changed on account of service as an employee subsequent to retirement.

2. The retired member shall not contribute to the fund and shall not accrue credited service. END_STATUTE

Sec. 25. Section 38-885, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-885. Normal retirement; conditions and pension

A. A member may retire if the member:

1. Files a written application for normal retirement with the plan in the form prescribed by the plan.

2. Ceases to be an employee before the date of retirement.

3. Meets one of the age and service requirements for normal retirement prescribed in subsection B or D.

B. A member who becomes a member of the plan before january 1, 2012 is eligible for a normal retirement pension if the member satisfies one of the following requirements:

1. Is at least sixty‑two years or older of age and has ten or more years of service.

2. Has twenty or more years of service or, in the case of a dispatcher, twenty‑five or more years of service.

3. The sum of the member's age and years of credited service equals at least eighty.

C. A member who meets the requirements for a normal retirement pension pursuant to subsection B and who has twenty years or twenty‑five years, as applicable, of credited service is entitled to receive a pension that equals fifty per cent of the member's average monthly salary, except that:

1. If the member retires with more than twenty years of credited service the foregoing amount shall be increased by a monthly amount equal to two per cent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the number of the member's years of credited service in excess of twenty years, with pro rata increase for any fractional years, except that if a member retires with twenty‑five or more years of credited service the foregoing amount shall be increased by a monthly amount equal to two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the number of the member's years of credited service in excess of twenty years, with pro rata increase for any fractional year.

2. If the member retires pursuant to subsection B but has less than twenty years of credited service, the member is entitled to receive a pension equal to the product of:

(a) Two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly salary.

(b) The member's credited service.

D. A person who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012 is eligible for a normal retirement pension if the person satisfies one of the following requirements:

1. Is at least sixty‑two years of age and has ten or more years of service.

2. is at least fifty‑two and one‑half years of age and has twenty‑five or more years of service.

E. A person who meets the requirements for a normal retirement pension pursuant to subsection D and who has twenty‑five years of credited service is entitled to receive a pension that equals sixty‑two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly salary, except that:

1. If the person retires with more than twenty‑five years of credited service the foregoing amount shall be increased by a monthly amount equal to two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly salary multiplied by the number of the member's years of credited service in excess of twenty‑five years, with pro rata increase for any fractional year.

2. If the person retires pursuant to subsection D but has less than twenty‑five years of credited service, the person is entitled to receive a pension equal to the product of:

(a) Two and one‑half per cent of the member's average monthly salary.

(b) The member's credited service.

D. F. In no case shall the amount of a member's pension exceed eighty per cent of the member's average monthly salary. Such limitation does not preclude cost‑of‑living increases granted by the legislature. END_STATUTE

Sec. 26. Section 38-886.01, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-886.01. Ordinary disability retirement; qualifications; amount of pension; conditions for continued payment of pension; definition

A. A member may retire and receive an ordinary disability pension if the local board finds that all of the following conditions occur:

1. An application for disability retirement is filed with the retirement plan or the local board by either the member or the member's participating employer after the disabling incident or within one year after the date the member ceases to be an employee. Timely application for an ordinary disability pension is a prerequisite to receipt of the pension.

2. The member undergoes all medical examinations and tests ordered by the local board and releases to the local board all medical reports and records requested by the local board.

3. The local board determines that an ordinary disability condition exists that meets the requirements for an ordinary disability.

4. The member is not participating in the reverse deferred retirement option plan pursuant to section 38‑885.01.

B. The effective date of an ordinary disability retirement shall not predate the date of disability or the date the member ceases to be an employee.

C. Except for a full-time dispatcher or a person who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012, the amount of an ordinary disability pension is equal to a fraction times the member's normal retirement pension that is computed pursuant to section 38‑885, subsection C as if the member had twenty years of credited service. The fraction is the result obtained by dividing the member's actual years of credited service, not to exceed twenty years of credited service, by twenty. For a full‑time dispatcher or a person who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012, the amount of an ordinary disability pension is equal to a fraction times the member's normal retirement pension that is computed pursuant to section 38‑885, subsection C or E as if the member had twenty‑five years of credited service. The fraction is the result obtained by dividing the member's actual years of credited service, not to exceed twenty‑five years of credited service, by twenty‑five.

D. During the period, if any, between the effective date of ordinary disability retirement and the date the disabled retired member attains sixty‑two years of age the local board may require a disabled retired member to undergo periodic reevaluation of the continuation of ordinary disability. If the disabled retired member refuses to submit to reevaluation, the local board may suspend payment of the pension. If the refusal continues for one year, the local board may revoke the disabled retired member's rights to the pension. An ordinary disability pension is terminated if the local board finds the retired member no longer meets the requirements for ordinary disability retirement.

E. A member does not qualify for an ordinary disability pension if the local board determines that the member's disability results from any of the following:

1. An injury suffered while engaged in a felonious criminal act or enterprise.

2. Service in the armed forces of the United States that entitles the member to a veteran's disability pension.

3. A physical or mental condition or injury that existed or occurred before the member's date of membership in the plan.

F. Local boards shall base a finding of ordinary disability on medical evidence that is obtained by a medical doctor or clinic selected by the local board and shall disregard any other medical evidence or opinions. If the local board retains more than one medical doctor or clinic in connection with the application, the local board shall resolve any material conflicts presented in the medical evidence that is presented by the medical doctors or clinics.

G. For the purposes of this section, "ordinary disability" means a physical condition that the local board determines will prevent an employee from totally and permanently performing a reasonable range of duties within the employee's department or a mental condition that the local board determines will prevent an employee from totally and permanently engaging in any substantial gainful activity. END_STATUTE

Sec. 27. Section 38-891, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-891. Employer and member contributions

A. As determined by actuarial valuations reported to the employers and the local boards by the board, each employer shall make level per cent of salary contributions sufficient under the actuarial valuations to meet both the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability over, beginning July 1, 2005, a rolling period of at least twenty and not more than thirty years that is established by the board taking into account the recommendation of the plan's actuary, except that, beginning with fiscal year 2006‑2007, except as otherwise provided, the employer contribution rate shall not be less than six per cent of salary. For any employer whose actual contribution rate is less than six per cent of salary for fiscal year 2006‑2007 and each year thereafter, that employer's contribution rate shall be at least five per cent and not more than the employer's actual contribution rate. An employer may pay a higher level per cent of salary thereby reducing its unfunded past service liability. All contributions made by the employers and all state taxes allocated to the fund shall be irrevocable and shall be used to pay benefits under the plan or to pay expenses of the plan and fund. The minimum employer contribution that is paid and that is in excess of the normal cost plus the actuarially determined amount required to amortize the unfunded accrued liability as calculated pursuant to this subsection shall be used to reduce future employer contribution increases and shall not be used to pay for an increase in benefits that are otherwise payable to members. The board shall separately account for these monies in the fund. Forfeitures arising because of severance of employment before a member becomes eligible for a pension or for any other reason shall be applied to reduce the cost to the employer, not to increase the benefits otherwise payable to members. After the close of any fiscal year, if the plan's actuary determines that the actuarial valuation of an employer's account contains excess valuation assets other than excess valuation assets that were in the employer's account as of fiscal year 2004‑2005 and is more than one hundred per cent funded, the board shall account for fifty per cent of the excess valuation assets in a stabilization reserve account. After the close of any fiscal year, if the plan's actuary determines that the actuarial valuation of an employer's account has a valuation asset deficiency and an unfunded actuarial accrued liability, the board shall use any valuation assets in the stabilization reserve account for that employer, to the extent available, to limit the decline in that employer's funding ratio to not more than two per cent.

B. Except as provided by subsection I, Each member shall contribute 7.96 per cent of the member's salary the amount prescribed in subsection H to the retirement plan. Member contributions shall be made by payroll deduction. Continuation of employment by the member constitutes consent and agreement to the deduction of the applicable member contribution. Payment of the member's salary less the deducted contributions constitutes full and complete discharge and satisfaction of all claims and demands of the member relating to salary for services rendered during the period covered by the payment.

C. Each participating employer shall cause the member contributions to be deducted from the salary of each member. The deducted member contributions shall be paid to the retirement plan within five working days and shall be credited to the member's individual account.

D. During a period when an employee is on industrial leave and the employee elects to continue contributions during the period of industrial leave, the employer and employee shall make contributions based on the salary the employee would have received in the employee's job classification if the employee was in normal employment status.

E. The local board of the state department of corrections or the local board of the department of juvenile corrections may specify a position within that department as a designated position if the position is filled by an employee who has at least five years of credited service under the plan, who is transferred to temporarily fill the position and who makes a written request to the local board to specify the position as a designated position within ninety days of being transferred. On the employee leaving the position, the position is no longer a designated position. For the purposes of this subsection, "temporarily filled" means an employee is transferred to fill the position for a period of not more than one year.

F. The local board of the state department of corrections or the local board of the department of juvenile corrections may specify a designated position within the department as a nondesignated position if the position is filled by an employee who has at least five years of credited service under the Arizona state retirement system and who makes a written request to the local board to specify the position as a nondesignated position within ninety days of accepting the position. On the employee leaving the position, the position reverts to a designated position.

G. The local board of the judiciary may specify positions within the administrative office of the courts that require direct contact with and primarily provide training or technical expertise to county probation, surveillance or juvenile detention officers as a designated position if the position is filled by an employee who is a member of the plan currently employed in a designated position as a probation, surveillance or juvenile detention officer and who has at least five years of credited service under the plan. An employee who fills such a position shall make a written request to the local board to specify the position as a designated position within ninety days of accepting the position. On the employee leaving the position, the position reverts to a nondesignated position.

H. Beginning with fiscal year 2008‑2009, if the aggregate computed employer contribution rate that is calculated pursuant to subsection A is less than six per cent of salary, beginning on July 1 of the following fiscal year the member contribution rate prescribed in subsection B or I is permanently reduced by an amount that is equal to the difference between six per cent and the aggregate computed employer contribution rate. Notwithstanding this subsection, the member contribution rate shall not be less than 7.65 per cent of the member's salary.

I. Notwithstanding subsection B, except for a full-time dispatcher, a member shall contribute 8.41 per cent of the member's salary to the retirement plan. After the close of any fiscal year, if the plan's actuary determines that the aggregate ratio of the funding value of accrued assets to the accrued liabilities of the fund is at least one hundred per cent, from and after June 30 of the following year, except for a full-time dispatcher, a member shall contribute 7.96 per cent of the member's salary to the retirement plan. Additionally, the member's contribution to the retirement plan may also be permanently reduced pursuant to subsection H.

H. The amount contributed by a member pursuant to subsection B is:

1. Through June 30, 2011, 8.41 per cent of the member's salary, except for a full‑time dispatcher. The amount contributed by a full‑time dispatcher through June 30, 2011 is 7.96 per cent of the member's salary.

2. For fiscal year 2011‑2012, 8.91 per cent of the member's salary, except for a full‑time dispatcher. The amount contributed by a full‑time dispatcher for fiscal year 2011‑2012 is 8.46 per cent of the member's salary.

3. For fiscal year 2012‑2013 and each fiscal year thereafter, 8.91 per cent of the member's salary or fifty per cent of the sum of the member's contribution rate from the preceding fiscal year and the aggregate computed employer contribution rate that is calculated pursuant to subsection A, whichever is lower, except that the member contribution rate shall not be less than 7.65 per cent of the member's salary and the employer contribution rate shall not be less than the rate prescribed in subsection A.

I. Notwithstanding subsection H, paragraph 3, the contribution rate for a full‑time dispatcher is forty‑five basis points less than the member contribution amount calculated pursuant to subsection H, paragraph 3, except that after the close of any fiscal year, if the plan's actuary determines that the aggregate ratio of the funding value of the accrued assets to the accrued liabilities of the fund is at least one hundred per cent, from and after June 30 of the following year the member contribution rate for a full‑time dispatcher is equal to the member contribution rate for a member who is not a full‑time dispatcher.

J. For fiscal year 2011‑2012 and each fiscal year thereafter, the amount of the member's contribution that exceeds 8.41 per cent of the member's salary for a member other than a full‑time dispatcher or 7.96 per cent of the member's salary for a full‑time dispatcher shall not be used to reduce the employer's contributions that are calculated pursuant to subsection A. END_STATUTE

Sec. 28. Title 38, chapter 5, article 6, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 38-891.01, to read:

START_STATUTE38-891.01. Retired member; return to work; employer contributions

A. An employer shall pay contributions at an alternate contribution rate on behalf of a retired member who returns to work in any capacity in a position ordinarily filled by an employee of the employer in a designated position. This section applies to a retired member who has been retired for more than twelve consecutive months.

B. The alternate contribution rate shall be equal to that portion of the total required contribution that is applied to the amortization of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability for the fiscal year beginning July 1, based on the fund's actuary's calculation of the total required contribution for the preceding fiscal year ended on June 30. The alternate contribution rate shall be applied to the compensation, gross salary or contract fee of a retired member who meets the requirements of this section.

C. The alternate contribution rate shall not be less than six per cent in any fiscal year.

D. All contributions made by the employer and allocated to the fund established by section 38-882 are irrevocable and shall be used as benefits under this article or to pay the expenses of the plan. Payments made pursuant to this section by employers become delinquent after the due date prescribed in section 38-891, subsection C, and thereafter shall be increased by interest from and after that date until payment is received by the plan.

Sec. 29. Section 38-905, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-905. Benefit increases; definition

A. Effective July 1 of each year, each retired member or survivor of a retired member is entitled to receive a permanent benefit increase in the base benefit equal to the amount determined pursuant to this section if either:

1. The retired member or survivor of the retired member was receiving benefits on or before July 31 of the previous two years.

2. The retired member or survivor of the retired member was fifty‑five years of age or older on July 1 of the current year and was receiving benefits on or before July 31 of the previous year.

B. The monthly amount of a permanent increase provided by subsection A is determined as follows:

1. Determine the excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund.

2. Determine the excess investment earnings account balance.

3. Determine the actuarial present value, as of June 30 of the preceding calendar year, of a five dollar per month increase in the amount of each pension eligible for an increase.

4. Add the amounts determined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection and divide that sum by the amount determined in paragraph 3 of this subsection.

5. From the quotient obtained in paragraph 4 of this subsection, drop any fraction.

6. Multiply the number obtained in paragraph 5 of this subsection by five dollars.

C. The excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund are equal to the total assets of the fund less any amount allocated to the excess investment earnings account multiplied by one‑half of the positive difference, if any, between the total return of the plan and nine per cent the excess investment earnings amount. The excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund are zero if the total average annual return of the plan over the period of years established by the board for use in the calculation of the actuarial value of assets is less than or equal to nine per cent.

D. As used in this section: , total

1. Average annual return and net assets of the fund are the amounts published in the annual report of the plan for the fiscal year ending June 30 of the calendar year preceding the July 1 of the increase.

E. All excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund are available for benefit increases as provided in this section. Any excess investment earnings on the net assets of the fund from any year which that are not used for benefit adjustments for that year are available for future benefit increases in the following years. Earnings on the excess investment earnings account balance at the rate of the total return as published in the annual report of the plan shall be added each year to the excess investment earnings account and shall be available for future benefit increases.

F. The maximum benefit increase under this section is limited to four per cent of the benefit being received on the preceding June 30.

G. For the purposes of this section, "excess investment earnings amount" means:

1. If the ratio of the market value of assets to the actuarial accrued liability of the fund is seventy per cent or less, zero.

Sec. 30. Section 38-911, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-911. Deferred annuity; eligibility; amount; exception

a. If any member who has at least ten years of credited service terminates employment for reasons other than retirement or disability, the person may elect to receive a deferred annuity, except that if the person withdraws the person's accumulated contributions from the plan, all rights to a deferred annuity are forfeited. A deferred annuity is a lifetime monthly payment that is actuarially equivalent to the annuitant's accumulated contributions in the plan plus an equal amount paid by the employer and commences on application on or after the sixty-second birthday of the annuitant. The deferred annuity is not a retirement benefit and annuitants are not entitled to receive any amount prescribed by section 38‑887, 38‑888, 38‑904, 38‑905 or 38‑906.

B. This section does not apply to a member who becomes a member of the plan on or after January 1, 2012. Such a person who attains a normal retirement date is eligible for retirement and a retirement benefit even if the member terminates employment with an employer before the age requirement for normal retirement if the member attains the service requirement for normal retirement. END_STATUTE

Sec. 31. Section 38-912, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE38-912. Civil liability; restitution or payment of fine; forfeiture of benefits; violation; classification; offset of benefits

A. A person who defrauds the plan or who takes, converts, steals or embezzles monies owned by or from the plan and who fails or refuses to return the monies to the plan on the board's written request is subject to civil suit by the plan in the superior court in Maricopa county. On entry of an order finding the person has defrauded the plan or taken, converted, stolen or embezzled monies owned by or from the plan, the court shall enter an order against that person and for the plan awarding the plan all of its costs and expenses of any kind, including attorney fees, that were necessary to successfully prosecute the action. The court shall also grant the plan a judicial lien on all of the nonexempt property of the person against whom judgment is entered pursuant to this subsection in an amount equal to all amounts awarded to the plan, plus interest at the rate prescribed by section 44-1201, subsection A, until all amounts owed are paid to the plan.

B. If a member is convicted of, or discharged because of, theft, embezzlement, fraud or misappropriation of an employer's property or property under the control of the employer, the member is subject to restitution and fines imposed by a court of competent jurisdiction. The court may order the restitution or fines to be paid from any payments otherwise payable to the member from the plan. If a member is convicted of a felony pursuant to this subsection, the member is entitled to receive a lump sum payment of the member's accumulated contributions but forfeits any future compensation and benefits that would otherwise accrue to the member or the member's estate under this article.

C. A person who knowingly makes any false statement or who falsifies or permits to be falsified any record of the plan with an intent to defraud the plan is guilty of a class 6 felony. If any change or error in the records results in any member or beneficiary receiving from the plan more or less than the member or beneficiary would have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, the local board shall correct the error, and as far as practicable shall adjust the payments in a manner that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which the member or beneficiary was correctly entitled shall be paid. If a member is convicted of a crime pursuant to this subsection the member is entitled to receive a lump sum payment of the member's accumulated contributions but forfeits any future compensation and benefits that would otherwise accrue to the member or the member's estate under this article.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the board may offset against any benefits otherwise payable by the plan to a member or survivor any court ordered amounts awarded to the board and plan and assessed against the member or survivor. END_STATUTE

Sec. 32. Repeal

Laws 2005, chapter 324, section 2 is repealed.

Sec. 33. Severability

If a provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.

Sec. 34. Legislative findings

The Legislature finds:

1. That the current structure of the public safety personnel retirement system, the corrections officer retirement plan and the elected officials' retirement plan does not lead to the goal of attaining one hundred per cent funded status and jeopardizes the future payment of benefits to current and future retirees of these three retirement programs.

2. That the current structure of the public safety personnel retirement system, the corrections officer retirement plan and the elected officials' retirement plan requires a contribution rate from employees that is too low in relation to the cost associated with the benefits required by the plan design and therefore places a greater financial burden on employers.

3. That the current method of funding benefit increases to retirees decreases the probability of the funds achieving their actuarially assumed earning rate in positive and negative investment environments and invariably leads to greater investment risk on the part of the fund's trustees. It is fundamentally unsound to provide a benefit increase during times when the funded status of the retirement programs is less than seventy per cent. The suspension of benefit increases is intended to improve the funded status of the retirement programs to preserve future benefits for plan participants.

4. It is necessary to change the current benefit structure to take into consideration the increased life expectancy of members and future employees and make the reforms necessary to preserve the funded status of the retirement programs in future years.

5. To protect the future benefits of retired, active and future employees it is necessary to make the changes outlined in this act to preserve the funded status of these three retirement programs and return the programs to fiscal solvency.

Sec. 35. Defined contribution study committee; delayed repeal

A. The defined contribution study committee is established consisting of the members of the state board of investment established by section 35‑311, Arizona Revised Statutes.

B. The committee shall study and make recommendations as to the feasibility and cost of transferring existing members of a public retirement system or plan to a new defined contribution plan as well as providing for a defined contribution plan for newly hired public employees.

C. On or before December 31, 2011, the committee shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate and the governor. The committee shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.

D. This section is repealed from and after September 30, 2012.

Sec. 36. Retroactivity

A. Sections 38-818, 38-856 and 38-905, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, apply retroactively to from and after June 29, 2011.

B. Sections 38‑810, 38‑843 and 38‑891, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, apply retroactively to from and after June 30, 2011.