GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

H 1

HOUSE BILL 277

Short Title: Retirement Admin. Changes Act of 2015.‑AB		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Ross, Gill, Goodman, and McNeill (Primary Sponsors). For a complete list of Sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly Web Site.
Referred to:	Pensions and Retirement.

March 19, 2015

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT TO enact the RETIREMENT administrative changes act of 2015.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.(a) The terms of office of the present members of the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees shall expire on June 30, 2016. Effective for terms to begin on July 1, 2016, the members of the Board shall be appointed as provided in G.S. 135‑96, as amended by this act.

SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 135‑96 reads as rewritten:

"§ 135‑96. Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees.

(a) The Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees is established to administer the Supplemental Retirement Income Plan established under the provisions of this Article and the North Carolina Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plan established under G.S. 143B‑426.24, and the North Carolina Public School Teachers' and Professional Educators' Investment Plan established under G.S. 115C‑341.2.

(b) The Board consists of nine voting members, as follows:

(1) Six persons appointed by the Governor who have experience in finance and investments, one of whom shall be a State employee, and one of whom shall be a retired State or local governmental employee;

(2) One person appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) One person appointed by the General Assembly upon the recommendation of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and

(4) The State Treasurer, ex officio, who shall be the Chair.

(c) The initial appointments by the General Assembly and two of the Governor's initial appointments shall be for one‑year terms. The remainder of the initial appointments shall be for two‑year terms. At the expiration of these initial terms, appointments shall be for two years and shall be made by the appointing authorities designated in subsection (b) of this section. Effective July 1, 2016:

(1) The appointments made by the General Assembly pursuant to subdivisions (2) and (3) of subsection (b) of this section shall be for initial terms of three years, to expire June 30, 2019.

(2) Three of the appointments made by the Governor pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be for initial terms of one year, to expire June 30, 2017.

(3) Three of the appointments made by the Governor pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section shall be for initial terms of two years, to expire June 30, 2018.

Upon the expiration of these initial terms, appointments for all members shall be for terms of three years beginning on the day following the expiration date of the previous member's term.

(c1) A member shall continue to serve until the member's successor is duly appointed, but a holdover under this provision does not affect the expiration date of the succeeding term. No member of the Board may serve ~~more than three~~longer than any of the following:

(1) Two consecutive ~~two‑year~~three‑year terms.

(2) Three consecutive terms of any length, in the event that one or more of the terms is for fewer than three years in duration or the member serves a partial term as result of filling a vacancy.

(3) Eight consecutive years, regardless of term lengths.

(d) Other than ex officio members, members appointed by the Governor shall serve at the Governor's pleasure. An ex officio member may designate in writing, filed with the Board, any employee of the member's department to act at any meeting of the Board from which the member is absent, to the same extent that the member could act if present in person at such meeting.

(e) The Board may retain the services of independent appraisers, auditors, actuaries, attorneys, investment counseling firms, statisticians, custodians, or other persons or firms possessing specialized skills or knowledge necessary for the proper administration of investment programs that the Board administers pursuant to this section."

SECTION 2. Article 3 of Chapter 111 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 111‑47.3 Food service at Department of State Treasurer.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article, the Department of State Treasurer may operate or contract for the operation of food or vending services at Department of State Treasurer offices. The net proceeds of revenue generated by food and vending services that are provided at the Department of State Treasurer by the agency or a vendor with whom the agency has contracted shall be credited to the Division of Services for the Blind of Department of Health and Human Services for the purposes specified in G.S. 111‑43."

SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 147‑69.2(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b) It shall be the duty of the State Treasurer to invest the cash of the funds enumerated in subsection (a) of this section in excess of the amount required to meet the current needs and demands on such funds. The State Treasurer may invest the funds as provided in this subsection. If an investment was authorized by this subsection at the time the investment was made or contractually committed to be made, then that investment shall continue to be authorized by this subsection, and none of the percentage or other limitation on investments set forth in this subsection shall be construed to require the State Treasurer to subsequently dispose of the investment or fail to honor any contractual commitments as a result of changes in market values, ratings, or other investment qualifications. For purposes of computing market values on which percentage limitations on investments in this subsection are based, all investments shall be valued as of the last date of the most recent fiscal quarter.

(1) Investments authorized by G.S. 147‑69.1(c)(1)‑(7).

(2) General obligations of other states of the United States.

(3) General obligations of cities, counties and special districts in North Carolina.

(4) Obligations of any company, other organization or legal entity incorporated or otherwise created or located within or outside the United States, including obligations that are convertible into equity securities, if the obligations bear one of the four highest ratings of at least one nationally recognized rating service when acquired.

(5) Repealed by Session Laws 2001‑444, s. 2, effective October 1, 2001.

(6) Asset‑backed securities (whether considered debt or equity) provided they bear ratings by nationally recognized rating services as provided in G.S. 147‑69.2(b)(4).

(6a) In addition to the limitations and requirements with respect to the investments of the Retirement Systems set forth in this subsection, the State Treasurer shall select investments of the assets of the Retirement Systems such that investments made pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section shall at all times equal or exceed twenty percent (20%) of the market value of all invested assets of the Retirement Systems.

(6b) Investments pursuant to subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section may be made directly by the State ~~Treasurer~~Treasurer, through investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, individual, common, or collective trust funds of banks and trust companies, group trusts and limited partnerships, limited liability companies or other limited liability investment vehicles that invest primarily in investments authorized by subdivisions (1) through (6) of this subsection, or through contractual arrangements in which the investment manager has full and complete discretion and authority to invest assets specified in such arrangements in investments authorized by subdivisions (b)(1) through (6) of this section, provided for each indirect investment, the investment manager has assets under management of at least one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000).

�."

SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 147‑77 reads as rewritten:

"§ 147‑77. Daily deposit of funds to credit of Treasurer.

All funds belonging to the State of North Carolina, in the hands of any head of any department of the State which collects revenue for the State in any form whatsoever, and every institution, agency, officer, employee, or representative of the State or any agency, department, division or commission thereof, except officers and the clerks of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, collecting or receiving any funds or money belonging to the State of North Carolina, shall daily deposit the same in some bank, or trust company, selected or designated by the State Treasurer, in the name of the State Treasurer, at noon, or as near thereto as may be, and shall report the same daily to said ~~Treasurer: Provided that the~~Treasurer. The State Treasurer may authorize exemptions from the provisions of this section so long as funds are deposited and reported pursuant to the provisions of this section at least once a week and, in addition, so long as funds are deposited and reported pursuant to the provisions of this section whenever as much as ~~two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)~~five thousand dollars ($5,000) has been collected and ~~received: Provided, that the~~ received. Each State agency that has custody of funds less than five thousand dollars ($5,000) shall provide adequate safekeeping of such funds. The Treasurer may refund the amount of any bad checks which have been returned to the department by the Treasurer when the same have not been collected after 30 days' trial."

SECTION 4. G.S. 135‑1(20) reads as rewritten:

"(20) "Retirement" under this ~~Chapter~~Chapter, except as otherwise provided, means the commencement of monthly retirement benefits along with termination of employment and the complete separation from active service with no intent or agreement, express or implied, to return to service. A retirement allowance under the provisions of this Chapter may only be granted upon retirement of a member. In order for a member's retirement to become effective in any month, the member must perform no work for an employer, including part‑time, temporary, substitute, or contractor work, at any time during the six months immediately following the effective date of retirement. For purposes of this subdivision, working as a member of a school board, board of trustees of a community college, board of trustees of any constituent institution of The University of North Carolina, as an unpaid bona fide volunteer in a local school administrative unit, or as an unpaid bona fide volunteer guardian ad litem in the guardian ad litem program shall not be considered ~~service.~~service or work, and volunteering in positions normally designated as unpaid bona fide volunteer positions during the six months immediately following the effective date of retirement shall not be considered service. A member who is a full‑time faculty member of The University of North Carolina may effect a retirement allowance under this Chapter, notwithstanding the six‑month requirement above, provided the member immediately enters the University's Phased Retirement Program for Tenured Faculty as that program existed on May 25, 2011."

SECTION 5.(a) G.S. 135‑8(f) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(4) In conjunction with the employee and employer contributions required under this section, the Board of Trustees shall direct employers to submit such information on a monthly basis as is necessary for proper administration of the Retirement System, actuarial valuation, and reporting under accounting standards set forth by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board of the Financial Accounting Foundation. Submission of such information by an employer to the Retirement System constitutes a certification of its accuracy."

SECTION 5.(b) G.S. 128‑30(g) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

SECTION 6.(a) G.S. 135‑8(f)(3) reads as rewritten:

"(3) In the event the employee or employer contributions required under this section are not received by the date set by the Board of Trustees, the Board shall assess the employer with a penalty, in lieu of interest, of 1% per month with a minimum penalty of twenty‑five dollars ($25.00). The Board may waive one penalty per employer every five years if the Board finds that the employer has consistently demonstrated good‑faith efforts to comply with the set deadline. If within 90 days after request therefor by the Board any employer shall not have provided the System with the records and other information required hereunder or if the full accrued amount of the contributions provided for under this section due from members employed by an employer or from an employer other than the State shall not have been received by the System from the chief fiscal officer of such employer within 30 days after the last due date as herein provided, then, notwithstanding anything herein or in the provisions of any other law to the contrary, upon notification by the Board to the State Treasurer as to the default of such employer as herein provided, any distributions which might otherwise be made to such employer from any funds of the State shall be withheld from such employer until notice from the Board to the State Treasurer that such employer is no longer in default.

In the event that an employer fails to submit payment of any required contributions or payments to the Retirement Systems Division, other than the 1% payment provided for in the first paragraph of this subdivision, within 90 days after the date set by the Board of Trustees, the Board shall notify the State Treasurer of its intent to collect the delinquent contributions and other payments due to the Retirement Systems Division and request an interception of State appropriations due to the participating employer. Upon such notification by the Board of Trustees to the State Treasurer and the Office of State Budget and Management as to the default of the employer, the Office of State Budget and Management shall withhold from any State appropriation due to that employer an amount equal to the sum of all delinquent contributions and other debts due to the Retirement Systems Division and shall transmit that amount to the Retirement Systems Division."

SECTION 6.(b) G.S. 128‑30(g)(3) reads as rewritten:

"(3) In the event the employee or employer contributions required under this section are not received by the date set by the Board of Trustees, the Board shall assess the employer with a penalty, in lieu of interest, of 1% per month with a minimum penalty of twenty‑five dollars ($25.00). The Board may waive one penalty per employer every five years if the Board finds that the employer has consistently demonstrated good‑faith efforts to comply with the set deadline. If within 90 days after request therefor by the Board any employer shall not have provided the System with the records and other information required hereunder or if the full accrued amount of the contributions provided for under this section due from members employed by an employer or from an employer shall not have been received by the System from the chief fiscal officer of such employer within 30 days after the last due date as herein provided, then, notwithstanding anything herein or in the provisions of any other law to the contrary, upon notification by the Board to the State Treasurer as to the default of such employer as herein provided, any distributions which might otherwise be made to such employer, or the municipality or county of which such employer is an integral part, from any funds of the State or any funds collected by the State shall be withheld from such employer until notice from the Board to the State Treasurer that such employer is no longer in default.

SECTION 6.(c) G.S. 115C‑438 reads as rewritten:

"§ 115C‑438. Provision for disbursement of State money.

The deposit of money in the State treasury to the credit of local school administrative units shall be made in monthly installments, and additionally as necessary, at such time and in such a manner as may be most convenient for the operation of the public school system. Before an installment is credited, the school finance officer shall certify to the State Board of Education the expenditures to be made by the local school administrative unit from the State Public School Fund during the month. This certification shall be filed on or before the fifth day following the end of the month preceding the period in which the expenditures will be made. The State Board of Education shall determine whether the moneys requisitioned are due the local school administrative unit, and upon determining the amount due, shall cause the requisite amount to be credited to the local school administrative unit. Upon receiving notice from the State Treasurer of the amount placed to the credit of the local school administrative unit, the finance officer may issue State warrants up to the amount so certified.

Upon notification by the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System to the State Treasurer and the Office of State Budget and Management as to the default of the local school administrative unit, the State Board of Education shall withhold from any State appropriation due to the local school administrative unit an amount equal to the sum of all delinquent contributions and payments due to the Retirement Systems Division and shall transmit that amount to the Retirement Systems Division.

The State Board of Education may withhold money for payment of salaries for administrative officers of local school administrative units if any report required to be filed with State school authorities is more than 30 days overdue. The State Board of Education shall withhold money for payment of salaries for the superintendent, finance officer, and all other administrative officers charged with providing payroll information pursuant to G.S. 115C‑12(18), if the local school administrative unit fails to provide the payroll information to the State Board in a timely fashion and substantially in accordance with the standards set by the State Board. The State Board of Education shall also withhold money used for payment of salaries for the superintendent, transportation director, and all other administrative officers or employees charged by the local board of education or the local superintendent with implementing the Transportation Information Management System, pursuant to G.S. 115C‑240(d), if the State Board finds that a local school administrative unit is not progressing in good faith and is not using its best efforts to implement the Transportation Information Management System.

Money in the State Public School Fund and State bond moneys shall be released only on warrants drawn on the State Treasurer, signed by such local official as may be required by the State Board of Education."

SECTION 7. G.S.150B‑21.3A is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(e1) Rules to Protect Inchoate or Accrued Rights of Retirement Systems Members. � Rules deemed by the Boards of Trustees established under G.S. 128‑28 and G.S. 135‑6 to protect inchoate or accrued rights of members of the Retirement Systems administered by the State Treasurer shall not expire as provided by this section. The Commission shall report annually to the Committee on any rules that do not expire pursuant to this subsection."

SECTION 8. G.S. 128‑21 is amended by adding two new subdivisions to read:

"(10a) "Regularly employed" shall mean employment in a position requiring not less than 1,000 hours of work in a calendar year, provided that the term shall not include any individuals whose employment is considered "temporary employment" as defined in subdivision (10b) of this section.

"(10b) "Temporary employment" shall mean employment for a limited term, normally not to exceed three to six months and in no case to exceed 12 consecutive months, for an employer as defined in subdivision (11) of this section. The term shall also include individuals whose employment for an employer as defined in subdivision (11) of this section occurs as a result of the individual's designation by the city council as an interim city manager, as provided in G.S. 160A‑150, or as a result of the individual's designation by the board of commissioners as an interim county manager, as provided in G.S. 153A‑84."

SECTION 9.(a) G.S. 135‑91(c) reads as rewritten:

"(c) The Department of State Treasurer and the Board of Trustees shall have full power and authority to adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, provided they are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Article. The Department of State Treasurer and Board of Trustees may appoint those agents, contractors, employees and committees as they deem advisable to carry out the terms and conditions of the Plan. In order to promote achievement of long‑term investment objectives and to retain key public employees with investment functions, the Board of Trustees shall authorize the State Treasurer to establish market‑oriented compensation plans, including salaries and performance‑related bonuses, for employees possessing specialized skills or knowledge necessary for the proper administration of the Plan, who shall be exempt from the classification and compensation rules established by the Office of State Human Resources. The design and administration of those compensation plans shall be based on compensation studies conducted by a nationally recognized firm specializing in public fund investment compensation. The compensation and other associated employee benefits shall be apportioned directly from the Plan."

SECTION 9.(b) G.S. 126‑5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(c13) Except as to G.S. 126‑13, 126‑14, 126‑14.1, and the provisions of Articles 6, 7, 14, 15, and 16 of this Chapter, the provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to employees of the Department of State Treasurer possessing specialized skills or knowledge necessary for the proper administration of the Supplemental Retirement Plans and compensated pursuant to G.S. 135‑91(c)."

SECTION 10.(a) G.S. 135‑5 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(m4) A member who has contributions in this System and is not eligible for a retirement benefit as set forth in G.S. 135‑5(a) shall be paid his contributions in a lump sum as provided in G.S. 135‑5(f) by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member (i) attains seventy and one half‑years of age or (ii) has ceased to be a teacher or State employee except by death. If such member fails, following reasonable notification, to complete a refund application by such required date, the requirement that a refund application be completed shall be waived and the refund shall be paid without a refund application as a single lump sum payment with applicable required North Carolina and federal income taxes withheld. For purposes of this subsection, a member shall not be considered to have ceased to be a teacher or state employee if the member is actively contributing to the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Legislative Retirement System. A lump sum refund shall not be paid under this subsection if the member is actively contributing to the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Legislative Retirement System.

A member who has contributions in this System and is eligible for a retirement benefit as set forth in G.S. 135‑5(a) shall begin to receive a monthly benefit no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member (i) attains seventy and one half‑years of age or (ii) has ceased to be a teacher or state employee except by death. If such member fails, following reasonable notification, to complete the retirement process as set forth under Chapter 135 of the General Statutes by such required beginning date, the requirement that a retirement application and an election of payment plan form be completed shall be waived and the retirement allowance shall be paid as a single life annuity. The single life annuity shall be calculated and processed in accordance with G.S. 135‑5. For purposes of this subsection, a member shall not be considered to have ceased to be a teacher or State employee if the member is actively contributing to the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Legislative Retirement System. A retirement benefit shall not be paid under this subsection if the member is actively contributing to the Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Legislative Retirement System."

SECTION 10.(b) G.S. 128‑27 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(m3) A member who has contributions in this System and is not eligible for a retirement benefit as set forth in G.S. 128‑27(b21) shall be paid his contributions in a lump sum as provided in G.S. 128‑27(f) by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member (i) attains seventy and one half‑years of age or (ii) has ceased to be an employee except by death. If such member fails, following reasonable notification, to complete a refund application by such required date, the requirement that a refund application be completed shall be waived and the refund shall be paid without a refund application as a single lump sum payment with applicable required North Carolina and federal income taxes withheld. For purposes of this subsection, a member shall not be considered to have ceased to be an employee if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, or Legislative Retirement System. A lump sum refund shall not be paid under this subsection if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, or Legislative Retirement System.

A member who has contributions in this System and is eligible for a retirement benefit as set forth in G.S. 128‑27(21) shall begin to receive a monthly benefit no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member (i) attains seventy and one half‑years of age or (ii) has ceased to be an employee except by death. If such member fails, following reasonable notification, to complete the retirement process as set forth under Chapter 128 of the General Statutes by such required beginning date, the requirement that a retirement application and an election of payment plan form be completed shall be waived and the retirement allowance shall be paid as a single life annuity. The single life annuity shall be calculated and processed in accordance with G.S. 128‑27(b21). For purposes of this subsection, a member shall not be considered to have ceased to be an employee if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, or Legislative Retirement System. A retirement benefit shall not be paid under this subsection if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Consolidated Judicial Retirement System, or Legislative Retirement System."

SECTION 10.(c) G.S. 135‑74 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(c1) A member who has contributions in this System and is not eligible for a retirement benefit as set forth in G.S. 135‑58(a6) shall be paid his contributions in a lump sum as provided in G.S. 135‑62 by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member (i) attains seventy and one half‑years of age or (ii) has ceased to be a judge, district attorney, public defender, the Director of Indigent Defense Services, or clerk of superior court as provided in G.S. 135‑53, except by death. If such member fails, following reasonable notification, to complete a refund application by such required date, the requirement that a refund application be completed shall be waived and the refund shall be paid without a refund application as a single lump sum payment with applicable required North Carolina and federal income taxes withheld. For purposes of this subsection, a member shall not be considered to have ceased to be a judge, district attorney, public defender, the Director of Indigent Defense Services, or clerk of superior court as provided in G.S. 135‑53 if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Consolidated Judicial Retirement System. A lump sum refund shall not be paid under this subsection if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Consolidated Judicial Retirement System.

A member who has contributions in this System and is eligible for a retirement benefit as set forth in G.S. 120‑4.21 shall begin to receive a monthly benefit no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member (i) attains seventy and one half‑years of age or (ii) has ceased to be a judge, district attorney, public defender, the Director of Indigent Defense Services, or clerk of superior court as provided in G.S. 135‑53, except by death. If such member fails, following reasonable notification, to complete the retirement process as set forth under Chapter 120 of the General Statutes by such required beginning date, the requirement that a retirement application and an election of payment plan form be completed shall be waived and the retirement allowance shall be paid as a single life annuity. The single life annuity shall be calculated and processed in accordance with G.S. 120‑4.21. For purposes of this subsection, a member shall not be considered to have ceased to be a judge, district attorney, public defender, the Director of Indigent Defense Services, or clerk of superior court as provided in G.S. 135‑53 if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Consolidated Judicial Retirement System. A retirement benefit shall not be paid under this subsection if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Consolidated Judicial Retirement System."

SECTION 10.(d) G.S. 120‑4.31 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(c1) A member who has contributions in this System and is not eligible for a retirement benefit as set forth in G.S. 120‑4.21 shall be paid his contributions in a lump sum as provided in G.S. 120‑4.25 by April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member (i) attains seventy and one half‑years of age or (ii) has ceased to be a member of the General Assembly, except by death. If such member fails, following reasonable notification, to complete a refund application by such required date, the requirement that a refund application be completed shall be waived and the refund shall be paid without a refund application as a single lump sum payment with applicable required North Carolina and federal income taxes withheld. For purposes of this subsection, a member shall not be considered to have ceased to be a member of the General Assembly if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Consolidated Judicial Retirement System. A lump sum refund shall not be paid under this subsection if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Consolidated Judicial Retirement System.

A member who has contributions in this System and is eligible for a retirement benefit as set forth in G.S. 120‑4.21 shall begin to receive a monthly benefit no later than April 1 of the calendar year following the later of the calendar year in which the member (i) attains seventy and one half‑years of age or (ii) has ceased to be a member of the General Assembly, except by death. If such member fails, following reasonable notification, to complete the retirement process as set forth under Chapter 120 of the General Statutes by such required beginning date, the requirement that a retirement application and an election of payment plan form be completed shall be waived and the retirement allowance shall be paid as a single life annuity. The single life annuity shall be calculated and processed in accordance with G.S. 120‑4.21. For purposes of this subsection, a member shall not be considered to have ceased to be a member of the General Assembly if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Consolidated Judicial Retirement System. A retirement benefit shall not be paid under this subsection if the member is actively contributing to the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System, Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, or Consolidated Judicial Retirement System."

SECTION 11.(a) G.S. 135‑5(l) reads as rewritten:

"(l) Death Benefit Plan. � There is hereby created a Group Life Insurance Plan (hereinafter called the "Plan") which is established as an employee welfare benefit plan that is separate and apart from the Retirement System and under which the members of the Retirement System shall participate and be eligible for group life insurance benefits. Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in their capacity as trustees under the Group Life Insurance Plan, of the death, in service, of a member who had completed at least one full calendar year of membership in the Retirement System, there shall be paid to such person as he shall have nominated by electronic submission prior to completing 10 years of service in a form approved by the Board of Trustees or by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the Board of Trustees, if such person is living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the member's legal representatives, a death benefit. Such death benefit shall be equal to ~~the greater of:~~

~~(1)~~ ~~The compensation on which contributions were made by the member during the calendar year preceding the year in which his death occurs, or~~

~~(2)~~ The greatest compensation on which contributions were made by the member during a 12‑month period of service within the 24‑month period of service ending on the last day of the month preceding the month in which his last day of actual service occurs;

~~(3),~~ ~~(4) Repealed by Session Laws 1983 (Regular Session, 1984), c. 1049, s. 2.~~

~~subject to a minimum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) and to a maximum of~~ fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Such death benefit shall be payable apart and separate from the payment of the member's accumulated contributions under the System on his death pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section. For the purpose of the Plan, a member shall be deemed to be in service at the date of his death if his death occurs within 180 days from the last day of his actual service.

The death benefit provided in this subsection (l) shall not be payable, notwithstanding the member's compliance with all the conditions set forth in the preceding paragraph, if his death occurs

(1) After December 31, 1968 and after he has attained age 70; or

(2) After December 31, 1969 and after he has attained age 69; or

(3) After December 31, 1970 and after he has attained age 68; or

(4) After December 31, 1971 and after he has attained age 67; or

(5) After December 31, 1972 and after he has attained age 66; or

(6) After December 31, 1973 and after he has attained age 65; or

(7) After December 31, 1978, but before January 1, 1987, and after he has attained age 70.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, the death benefit shall be payable on account of the death of any member who died or dies on or after January 1, 1974, but before January 1, 1979, after attaining age 65, if he or she had not yet attained age 65, if he or she had not yet attained age 66, was at the time of death completing the work year for those individuals under specific contract, or during the fiscal year for those individuals not under specific contract, in which he or she attained 65, and otherwise met all conditions for payment of the death benefit.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, the Board of Trustees may and is specifically authorized to provide the death benefit according to the terms and conditions otherwise appearing in this Plan in the form of group life insurance, either (i) by purchasing a contract or contracts of group life insurance with any life insurance company or companies licensed and authorized to transact business in this State for the purpose of insuring the lives of members in service, or (ii) by establishing a separate trust fund qualified under Section 501(c)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, for such purpose. To that end the Board of Trustees is authorized, empowered and directed to investigate the desirability of utilizing group life insurance by either of the foregoing methods for the purpose of providing the death benefit. If a separate trust fund is established, it shall be operated in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees and all investment earnings on the trust fund shall be credited to such fund.

In administration of the death benefit the following shall apply:

(1) For the purpose of determining eligibility only, in this subsection "calendar year" shall mean any period of 12 consecutive months or, if less, the period covered by an annual contract of employment. For all other purposes in this subsection "calendar year" shall mean the 12 months beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

(2) Last day of actual service shall be:

a. When employment has been terminated, the last day the member actually worked.

b. When employment has not been terminated, the date on which an absent member's sick and annual leave expire, unless he is on approved leave of absence and is in service under the provisions of G.S. 135‑4(h).

c. When a participant's employment is interrupted by reason of service in the Uniformed Services, as that term is defined in section 4303(16) of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, Public Law 103‑353, and the participant does not return immediately after that service to employment with a covered employer in this System, the date on which the participant was first eligible to be separated or released from his or her involuntary military service.

(3) For a period when a member is on leave of absence, his status with respect to the death benefit will be determined by the provisions of G.S. 135‑4(h).

(4) A member on leave of absence from his position as a teacher or State employee for the purpose of serving as a member or officer of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be in service during sessions of the General Assembly and thereby covered by the provisions of the death benefit. The amount of the death benefit for such member shall be the equivalent of the salary to which the member would have been entitled as a teacher or State employee during the 12‑month period immediately prior to the month in which death occurred, not to be less than twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) nor to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

The provisions of the Retirement System pertaining to Administration, G.S. 135‑6, and management of funds, G.S. 135‑7, are hereby made applicable to the Plan.

A member who is a beneficiary of the Disability Income Plan provided for in Article 6 of this Chapter, or a member who is in receipt of Workers' Compensation during the period for which he or she would have otherwise been eligible to receive short‑term benefits or extended short‑term benefits as provided in G.S. 135‑105 and dies on or after 181 days from the last day of his or her actual service but prior to the date the benefits as provided in G.S. 135‑105 would have ended, shall be eligible for group life insurance benefits as provided in this subsection, notwithstanding that the member is no longer an employee or teacher or that the member's death occurs after the eligibility period after active service. The basis of the death benefit payable hereunder shall be the higher of the death benefit computed as above or a death benefit based on compensation used in computing the benefit payable under G.S. 135‑105 and G.S. 135‑106, as may be adjusted for percentage post‑disability increases, all subject to the maximum dollar limitation as provided above. The amount of the death benefit for that member shall be fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). A member in receipt of benefits from the Disability Income Plan under the provisions of G.S. 135‑112 whose right to a benefit accrued under the former Disability Salary Continuation Plan shall not be covered under the provisions of this paragraph.

Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in its capacity under this subsection, of the death of a retired member of the Retirement System on or after July 1, 1988, but before January 1, 1999, there shall be paid a death benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased retired member or to the deceased retired member's legal representative if not survived by a spouse; provided the retired member has elected, when first eligible, to make, and has continuously made, in advance of his death required contributions as determined by the Board of Trustees on a fully contributory basis, through retirement allowance deductions or other methods adopted by the Board of Trustees, to a group death benefit trust fund administered by the Board of Trustees separate and apart from the Retirement System's Annuity Savings Fund and Pension Accumulation Fund. This death benefit shall be a lump‑sum payment in the amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000) upon the completion of twenty‑four months of contributions required under this subsection. Should death occur before the completion of twenty‑four months of contributions required under this subsection, the deceased retired member's surviving spouse or legal representative if not survived by a spouse shall be paid the sum of the retired member's contributions required by this subsection plus interest to be determined by the Board of Trustees.

Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in its capacity under this subsection, of the death of a retired member of the Retirement System on or after January 1, 1999, but before July 1, 2004, there shall be paid a death benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased retired member or to the deceased retired member's legal representative if not survived by a spouse; provided the retired member has elected, when first eligible, to make, and has continuously made, in advance of his death required contributions as determined by the Board of Trustees on a fully contributory basis, through retirement allowance deductions or other methods adopted by the Board of Trustees, to a group death benefit trust fund administered by the Board of Trustees separate and apart from the Retirement System's Annuity Savings Fund and Pension Accumulation Fund. This death benefit shall be a lump‑sum payment in the amount of six thousand dollars ($6,000) upon the completion of 24 months of contributions required under this subsection. Should death occur before the completion of 24 months of contributions required under this subsection, the deceased retired member's surviving spouse or legal representative if not survived by a spouse shall be paid the sum of the retired member's contributions required by this subsection plus interest to be determined by the Board of Trustees.

Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in its capacity under this subsection, of the death of a retired member of the Retirement System on or after July 1, 2004, but before July 1, 2007, there shall be paid a death benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased retired member or to the deceased retired member's legal representative if not survived by a spouse; provided the retired member has elected, when first eligible, to make, and has continuously made, in advance of his death required contributions as determined by the Board of Trustees on a fully contributory basis, through retirement allowance deductions or other methods adopted by the Board of Trustees, to a group death benefit trust fund administered by the Board of Trustees Fund and Pension Accumulation Fund. This death benefit shall be a lump‑sum payment in the amount of nine thousand dollars ($9,000) upon the completion of 24 months of contributions required under this subsection. Should death occur before the completion of 24 months of contributions required under this subsection, the deceased retired member's surviving spouse or legal representative if not survived by a spouse shall be paid the sum of the retired member's contributions required by this subsection plus interest to be determined by the Board of Trustees.

Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in its capacity under this subsection, of the death of a retired member of the Retirement System on or after July 1, 2007, but before January 1, 2015, there shall be paid a death benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased retired member or to the deceased retired member's legal representative if not survived by a spouse; provided the retired member has elected, when first eligible, to make, and has continuously made, in advance of his death required contributions as determined by the Board of Trustees on a fully contributory basis, through retirement allowance deductions or other methods adopted by the Board of Trustees, to a group death benefit trust fund administered by the Board of Trustees Fund and Pension Accumulation Fund. This death benefit shall be a lump‑sum payment in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) upon the completion of 24 months of contributions required under this subsection. Should death occur before the completion of 24 months of contributions required under this subsection, the deceased retired member's surviving spouse or legal representative if not survived by a spouse shall be paid the sum of the retired member's contributions required by this subsection plus interest to be determined by the Board of Trustees.

Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in its capacity under this subsection, of the death of a retired member of the Retirement System on or after January 1, 2015, there shall be paid a death benefit to the person or persons designated by the member or, if the member has not designated a beneficiary, to the surviving spouse of the deceased retired member or, if not survived by a designated beneficiary or spouse, to the deceased retired member's legal representative; provided the retired member has elected, when first eligible, to make, and has continuously made, in advance of his death required contributions as determined by the Board of Trustees on a fully contributory basis, through retirement allowance deductions or other methods adopted by the Board of Trustees, to a group death benefit trust fund administered by the Board of Trustees Fund and Pension Accumulation Fund. This death benefit shall be a lump‑sum payment in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) upon the completion of 24 months of contributions required under this subsection. Should death occur before the completion of 24 months of contributions required under this subsection, the deceased retired member's designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, or surviving spouse if there is no surviving beneficiary, or legal representative if not survived by a designated beneficiary or spouse, shall be paid the sum of the retired member's contributions required by this subsection plus interest to be determined by the Board of Trustees."

SECTION 11.(b) G.S. 128‑27(l) reads as rewritten:

"(l) Death Benefit Plan. � The provisions of this subsection shall become effective for any employer only after an agreement to that effect has been executed by the employer and the Director of the Retirement System. There is hereby created a Group Life Insurance Plan (hereinafter called the "Plan") which is established as an employee welfare benefit plan that is separate and apart from the Retirement System and under which the members of the Retirement System shall participate and be eligible for group life insurance benefits. Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the Board of Trustees in their capacity as trustees under the Group Life Insurance Plan, of the death, in service, of a member who had completed at least one full calendar year of membership in the Retirement System, there shall be paid to such person as he shall have nominated by electronic submission prior to completing 10 years of service in a form approved by the Board of Trustees or by written designation duly acknowledged and filed with the Board of Trustees, if such person is living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the member's legal representatives, a death benefit. Such death benefit shall be equal to ~~the greater of:~~

~~(1)~~ ~~The compensation on which contributions were made by the member during the calendar year preceding the year in which his death occurs, or~~

~~(3)~~ ~~Repealed by Session Laws 1983 (Regular Session, 1984), c. 1049, s. 2;~~

~~subject to a minimum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) and a maximum of~~ fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). Such death benefit shall be payable apart and separate from the payment of the member's accumulated contributions under the System on his death pursuant to the provisions of subsection (f) of this section. For the purpose of the Plan, a member shall be deemed to be in service at the date of his death if his death occurs within 180 days from the last day of his actual service.

The death benefit provided in this subsection shall not be payable, notwithstanding the member's compliance with all the conditions set forth in the preceding paragraph, if his death occurs

(1) After June 30, 1969 and after he has attained age 70; or

(2) After December 31, 1969 and after he has attained age 69; or

(3) After December 31, 1970 and after he has attained age 68; or

(4) After December 31, 1971 and after he has attained age 67; or

(5) After December 31, 1972 and after he has attained age 66; or

(6) After December 31, 1973 and after he has attained age 65; or

(7) After December 31, 1978, but before January 1, 1987, and after he has attained age 70.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, the death benefit shall be payable on account of the death of any member who died or dies on or after January 1, 1974, but before January 1, 1979, after attaining age 65, if he or she had not yet attained age 65, if he or she had not yet attained age 66, was at the time of death completing the work year for those individuals under specific contract, or during the fiscal year for those individuals not under specific contract, in which he or she attained age 65, and otherwise met all conditions for payment of the death benefit.

Notwithstanding the above provisions, the Board of Trustees may and is specifically authorized to provide the death benefit according to the terms and conditions otherwise appearing in this Plan in the form of group life insurance, either (i) by purchasing a contract or contracts of group life insurance with any life insurance company or companies licensed and authorized to transact business in this State for the purpose of insuring the lives of members in service, or (ii) by establishing a separate trust fund qualified under section 501(c)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, for such purpose. To that end the Board of Trustees is authorized, empowered and directed to investigate the desirability of utilizing group life insurance by either of the foregoing methods for the purpose of providing the death benefit. If a separate trust fund is established, it shall be operated in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Trustees and all investment earnings on the trust fund shall be credited to such fund.

In administration of the death benefit the following shall apply:

(1) For the purpose of determining eligibility only, in this subsection "calendar year" shall mean any period of 12 consecutive months. For all other purposes in this subsection "calendar year" shall mean the 12 months beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

(2) Last day of actual service shall be:

a. When employment has been terminated, the last day the member actually worked.

b. When employment has not been terminated, the date on which an absent member's sick and annual leave expire.

(3) For a period when a member is on leave of absence, his status with respect to the death benefit will be determined by the provisions of G.S. 128‑26(g).

(4) A member on leave of absence from his position as a local governmental employee for the purpose of serving as a member or officer of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be in service during sessions of the General Assembly and thereby covered by the provisions of the death benefit, if applicable. The amount of the death benefit for such member shall be the equivalent of the salary to which the member would have been entitled as a local governmental employee during the 12‑month period immediately prior to the month in which death occurred, not to be less than twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) nor to exceed fifty thousand dollars ($50,000).

The provisions of the Retirement System pertaining to administration, G.S. 128‑28, and management of funds, G.S. 128‑29, are hereby made applicable to the Plan."

SECTION 12.(a) G.S. 135‑3(8) is amended by adding a new sub‑subdivision to read:

"f. Should a beneficiary who retired on an early or service retirement allowance under this Chapter be reemployed by, or otherwise engaged to perform services for, an employer participating in the Retirement System on a part‑time, temporary, interim, or on a fee for service basis, whether contractual or otherwise at any time during the six months immediately following the effective date of retirement, then the option of the two listed below that has the lesser financial impact on the member, as determined by the Retirement System, shall be applied:

1. The member's retirement shall be deemed effective the month after the last month the member performed services for a participating employer, and the member shall repay all retirement benefits paid up to the deemed effective date, provided the member thereafter has satisfied the six‑month separation required by G.S. 135‑1(20).

2. The member shall make a lump sum payment to the Retirement System equal to three times the amount of compensation earned during the six months immediately following the effective date of retirement."

SECTION 12.(b) G.S. 128‑24(5) is amended by adding a new sub‑subdivision to read:

"e. Should a beneficiary who retired on an early or service retirement allowance under this Chapter be reemployed by, or otherwise engaged to perform services for, an employer participating in the Retirement System on a part‑time, temporary, interim, or on a fee for service basis, whether contractual or otherwise at any time during the six months immediately following the effective date of retirement, then the option of the two listed below that has the lesser financial impact on the member, as determined by the Retirement System, shall be applied:

2. The member shall make a lump sum payment to the Retirement System equal to three times the amount of compensation earned during the month immediately following the effective date of retirement."

SECTION 13. Section 11 of this act becomes effective January 1, 2016. The remainder of this act becomes effective October 1, 2015.