AN ACT relating to retirement.
     Amend KRS 16.505 to make technical corrections and to redefine creditable compensation and last day of paid employment; amend 16.560 to clarify that no funds are available prior to retirement, death, or refund; amend KRS 16.577 to clarify early retirement provision; amend KRS 16.582 to allow disability application to be within 24 months rather than 12 months, to define injury similar to Workers' Comp law, and to add the presumption that a condition is not permanent if the retiree fails to make a substantial attempt to make lifestyle changes that would be expected to lessen the incapacity; amend KRS 16.601 to clarify that there can be only one named beneficiary; amend KRS 16.640 to increase the per diem from $10 to $30; amend KRS 16.645 to cross reference a new direct deposit provision; create a new chapter of KRS 16 to provide a SPRS excess benefit plan; amend KRS 61.510 to make technical corrections and to redefine creditable compensation, full-time position, last day of paid employment, and month; amend KRS 61.520 to clarify that once a position participates it must continue to do so; amend KRS 61.525 to provide authority for a person who rejected participation to elect to participate at a later date; amend KRS 61.542 to clarify the effect of divorce on eligibility for benefits; amend KRS 61.545 to make technical change; amend KRS 61.552 to make technical clarifications, delete reference to parted employers, and clarify installment purchases and roll-over provisions; amend KRS 61.555 to remove provision that a beneficiary or retiree can purchase time and to allow CERS members to buy national guard and military reserve time; amend KRS 61.575 to clarify that no funds are available until termination; amend KRS 61.592 to clarify when an employer can pay hazardous conversion costs; amend KRS 61.590 to prohibit filing of retirement notification until 6 months prior to effective date; amend KRS 61.600 to make technical clarifications, to change deadline for application from 12 months to 24 months, to redefine injury to mirror Workers' Comp law, and to add a presumption that the injury is not permanent if the retiree failed to make a substantial attempt to make lifestyle changes which are expected to lessen the capacity; amend KRS 61.605 to add ADEA provision to limit maximum service to 27 years; amend KRS 61.607 to specify benefit formula based on Social Security and Workers' Comp; amend KRS 61.615 to authorize the system to hire disability investigators to investigate applicants; amend KRS 61.625 to remove provisions allowing refunds where a member has not terminated; amend KRS 61.637 to put reemployment regulations into statute; amend KRS 61.645 to clarify board procedures and to raise trustee per diem from $60 to $80; amend KRS 61.665 to require that medical examiners be licensed, allow the board to contract for mental health professionals, to require that disability applicants must provide names of all physicians consulted, and to make applications void if all information is not submitted; amend KRS 61.680 to change reference to 27 years; amend KRS 61.690 to remove retirement as a consideration in divorce and eliminate qualified domestic relations orders; amend KRS 61.701 to clarify that fringe benefits are detailed in KRS 61.702; amend KRS 61.702 to clarify hazardous member benefits and to authorize a medical insurance reimbursement plan; amend KRS 61.705 to specify that if a person has two accounts they receive only one death benefit and clarify ex-spouse nonentitlement; create new sections of KRS 61.515 to 61.705 to provide for direct deposit of retirement allowance, to establish a KERS excess benefit plan, and to establish the administration of a KRS excess benefit plan; amend KRS 78.510 to make technical clarifications, to redefine creditable compensation, and to define month; amend KRS 78.540 to clarify that an employee who rejects coverage may elect coverage at a later date; amend KRS 78.545 to add cross-reference to direct deposit plan; amend KRS 78.616 to clarify that employers pay for sick leave accrued with each employer; amend KRS 78.640 to clarify that funds are not available until termination; amend KRS 78.780 to increase per diem from $60 to $80; create a new section of KRS 78.520 to 78.852 to establish a CERS excess benefit plan; create a new section of KRS Chapter 61 to allow persons leaving the unified prosecutorial system and entering the executive branch to transfer all annual and sick leave; and repeal KRS 61.554 and KRS 61.596.

     Feb 1-introduced in House
     Feb 2-to State Government (H); posted in committee
     Feb 24-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute
     Feb 25-2nd reading, to Rules
     Mar 2-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Friday, March 3, 2000
     Mar 6-floor amendments (1) and (2) filed to Committee Substitute
     Mar 7-floor amendments (3) and (4) filed to Committee Substitute
     Mar 8-floor amendment (5) filed to Committee Substitute
     Mar 17-3rd reading; floor amendment (1) defeated ; passed 84-6 with Committee Substitute, floor amendments (2) (3) and (4)
     Mar 20-received in Senate
     Mar 21-to State and Local Government (S)
     Mar 22-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar with Committee Substitute
     Mar 23-2nd reading, to Rules
     Mar 27-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for Monday, March 27, 2000; passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day; 3rd reading, passed 38-0 with Committee Substitute ; received in House; posted for passage for concurrence in Senate Committee Substitute
     Mar 28-House concurred in Senate Committee Substitute ; passed 94-1
     Mar 29-enrolled, signed by each presiding officer, delivered to Governor
     Apr 7-signed by Governor (Acts ch. 385)