97A.6  Benefits.

1.  Service retirement benefit.  Retirement of a member on a service retirement allowance shall be made by the board of trustees as follows:

a.  Any member in service may retire upon the member's written application to the board of trustees, setting forth at what time, not less than thirty nor more than ninety days subsequent to the execution and filing therefor, the member desires to be retired, provided that the said member at the time so specified for retirement shall have attained the age of fifty-five and shall have completed twenty-two years or more of creditable service, and notwithstanding that, during such period of notification, the member may have separated from the service. However, a member may retire at fifty years of age and receive a reduced retirement allowance pursuant to subsection 2A.

b.  Any member in service who has been a member of the retirement system four or more years and whose employment is terminated prior to the member's retirement, other than by death or disability, shall upon attaining retirement age, receive a service retirement allowance of four twenty-seconds of the retirement allowance the member would receive at retirement if the member's employment had not been terminated, and an additional one twenty-second of such retirement allowance for each additional year of service not exceeding twenty-two years of service. The amount of the retirement allowance shall be calculated in the manner provided in this paragraph using the average final compensation at the time of termination of employment.

c.  Once a person commences receiving a service retirement allowance pursuant to this section, if the person is reemployed, as defined in section 97A.3, the service retirement allowance shall not be recalculated based upon the person's reemployment.

2.  Allowance on service retirement.

a.  Upon retirement from service prior to July 1, 1990, a member shall receive a service retirement allowance which shall consist of a pension which equals fifty percent of the member's average final compensation.

b.  Upon retirement from service on or after July 1, 1990, but before July 1, 1992, a member shall receive a service retirement allowance which shall consist of a pension which equals fifty-four percent of the member's average final compensation.

c.  Commencing July 1, 1992, the board of trustees shall increase the percentage multiplier of the member's average final compensation by an additional two percent each July 1 until reaching sixty percent of the member's average final compensation.

d.  Commencing July 1, 1990, if the member has completed more than twenty-two years of creditable service, the service retirement allowance shall consist of a pension which equals the amount provided in paragraphs "b" and "c", plus an additional percentage as set forth below:

(1)  For a member who terminates service, other than by death or disability, on or after July 1, 1990, but before July 1, 1991, and who does not withdraw the member's contributions pursuant to section 97A.16, upon the member's retirement there shall be added three-tenths percent of the member's average final compensation for each year of service over twenty-two years, excluding years of service after the member's fifty- fifth birthday. However, this subparagraph does not apply to more than eight additional years of service.

(2)  For a member who terminates service, other than by death or disability, on or after July 1, 1991, but before October 16, 1992, and who does not withdraw the member's contributions pursuant to section 97A.16, upon the member's retirement there shall be added six-tenths percent of the member's average final compensation for each year of service over twenty-two years, excluding years of service after the member's fifty-fifth birthday. However, this subparagraph does not apply to more than eight additional years of service.

(3)  For a member who terminates service, other than by death or disability, on or after October 16, 1992, but before July 1, 1996, and who does not withdraw the member's contributions pursuant to section 97A.16, upon the member's retirement there shall be added six-tenths percent of the member's average final compensation for each year of service over twenty-two years. However, this subparagraph does not apply to more than eight additional years of service.

(4)  For a member who terminates service, other than by death or disability, on or after July 1, 1996, but before July 1, 1998, and who does not withdraw the member's contributions pursuant to section 97A.16, upon the member's retirement there shall be added one and one-half percent of the member's average final compensation for each year of service over twenty-two years. However, this subparagraph does not apply to more than eight additional years of service.

(5)  For a member who terminates service, other than by death or disability, on or after July 1, 1998, and who does not withdraw the member's contributions pursuant to section 97A.16, upon the member's retirement there shall be added one and one-half percent of the member's average final compensation for each year of service over twenty-two years. However, this subparagraph does not apply to more than ten additional years of service.

2A.  Early retirement benefits.

a.  Notwithstanding the calculation of the service retirement allowance under subsection 2, beginning July 1, 1996, a member who has completed twenty-two years or more of creditable service and is at least fifty years of age, but less than fifty-five years of age, who has otherwise completed the requirements for retirement under subsection 1, may retire and receive a reduced service retirement allowance pursuant to this subsection. The service retirement allowance for a member less than fifty-five years of age shall be calculated in the manner prescribed in subsection 2, except that the percentage multiplier of the member's average final compensation used in the determination of the service retirement allowance shall be reduced by the board of trustees pursuant to paragraph "b".

b.  On July 1, 1996, and on each July 1 thereafter, the board of trustees shall determine for the respective fiscal year the percent by which the percentage multiplier under subsection 2 shall be reduced for each month that a member's retirement date precedes the member's fifty-fifth birthday. The board of trustees shall make this determination based upon the most recent actuarial valuation of the system, the calculation of the actuarial cost for each month of retirement of a member prior to age fifty-five, and the premise that the provision of a service retirement allowance to a member who is less than fifty-five years of age will not result in any increase in cost to the system.

3.  Ordinary disability retirement benefit.  Upon the application of a member in service or of the commissioner of public safety, any member shall be retired by the board of trustees, not less than thirty and not more than ninety days next following the date of filing such application, on an ordinary disability retirement allowance, provided that the medical board after a medical examination of such member shall certify that said member is mentally or physically incapacitated for further performance of duty, that such incapacity is likely to be permanent, and that such member should be retired. However, if a person's membership in the system first commenced on or after July 1, 1992, the member shall not be eligible for benefits with respect to a disability which would not exist, but for a medical condition that was known to exist on the date that membership commenced. A member who is denied a benefit under this subsection, by reason of a finding by the medical board that the member is not mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, shall be entitled to be restored to active service in the same position held immediately prior to the application for disability benefits.

4.  Allowance on ordinary disability retirement.

a.  Upon retirement for ordinary disability prior to July 1, 1998, a member shall receive an ordinary disability retirement allowance which shall consist of a pension which shall equal fifty percent of the member's average final compensation unless either of the following conditions exist:

(1)  If the member has not had five or more years of membership service, the member shall receive a disability pension equal to one-fourth of the member's average final compensation.

(2)  If the member has had twenty-two or more years of membership service, the member shall receive a disability retirement allowance that is equal to the greater of the benefit that the member would receive under subsection 2 if the member were fifty-five years of age or the disability pension otherwise calculated under this subsection.

b.  Upon retirement for ordinary disability on or after July 1, 1998, a member who has five or more years of membership service shall receive a disability retirement allowance in an amount equal to the greater of fifty percent of the member's average final compensation or the retirement allowance that the member would receive under subsection 2 if the member had attained fifty-five years of age. A member who has less than five years of membership service shall receive a pension equal to one-fourth of the member's average final compensation.

5.  Accidental disability benefit.

a.  Upon application of a member in service or of the commissioner of public safety, any member who has become totally and permanently incapacitated for duty as the natural and proximate result of an injury, disease, or exposure occurring or aggravated while in the actual performance of duty at some definite time and place shall be retired by the board of trustees, provided that the medical board shall certify that such member is mentally or physically incapacitated for further performance of duty, that such incapacity is likely to be permanent, and that such member should be retired. However, if a person's membership in the system first commenced on or after July 1, 1992, the member shall not be eligible for benefits with respect to a disability which would not exist, but for a medical condition that was known to exist on the date that membership commenced. A member who is denied a benefit under this subsection, by reason of a finding by the medical board that the member is not mentally or physically incapacitated for the further performance of duty, shall be entitled to be restored to active service in the same position held immediately prior to the application for disability benefits.

b.  Should a member in service become incapacitated for duty as a natural and proximate result of an injury, disease, or exposure incurred or aggravated while in the actual performance of duty at some definite time or place, the member shall, upon being found to be temporarily incapacitated following an examination by the board of trustees, be entitled to receive the member's fixed pay and allowances until re- examined by the board and found to be fully recovered or permanently disabled.

c.  Disease under this section shall mean heart disease or any disease of the lungs or respiratory tract and shall be presumed to have been contracted while on active duty as a result of strain, exposure, or the inhalation of noxious fumes, poison, or gases. However, if a person's membership in the system first commenced on or after July 1, 1992, and the heart disease or disease of the lungs or respiratory tract would not exist, but for a medical condition that was known to exist on the date that membership commenced, the presumption established in this paragraph shall not apply.

6.  Retirement after accident.

a.  Upon retirement for accidental disability prior to July 1, 1990, a member shall receive an accidental disability retirement allowance which shall consist of a pension equal to sixty-six and two-thirds percent of the member's average final compensation.

b.  Upon retirement for accidental disability on or after July 1, 1990, but before July 1, 1998, a member shall receive an accidental disability retirement allowance which shall consist of a pension equal to sixty percent of the member's average final compensation. However, if the member has had twenty-two or more years of membership service, the member shall receive a disability retirement allowance that is equal to the greater of the retirement allowance that the member would receive under subsection 2 if the member were fifty-five years of age or the disability retirement allowance calculated under this paragraph.

c.  Upon retirement for accidental disability on or after July 1, 1998, a member shall receive an accidental disability retirement allowance which shall consist of a pension in an amount equal to the greater of sixty percent of the member's average final compensation or the retirement allowance that the member would receive under subsection 2 if the member has attained fifty-five years of age.

7.  Re-examination of beneficiaries retired on account of disability.   Once each year during the first five years following the retirement of a member on a disability retirement allowance, and once in every three-year period thereafter, the board of trustees may, and upon the member's application shall, require any disability beneficiary who has not yet attained age fifty-five to undergo a medical examination at a place designated by the medical board. Such examination shall be made by the medical board or in special cases, by an additional physician or physicians designated by such board. Should any disability beneficiary who has not attained the age of fifty-five refuse to submit to such medical examination, the beneficiary's allowance may be discontinued until the beneficiary's withdrawal of such refusal, and should the beneficiary's refusal continue for one year all rights in and to the beneficiary's pension may be revoked by the board of trustees.

a.  Should any beneficiary for either ordinary or accidental disability, except a beneficiary who is fifty-five years of age or over and would have completed twenty-two years of service if the beneficiary had remained in active service, be engaged in a gainful occupation paying more than the difference between the member's net retirement allowance and one and one-half times the current earnable compensation of an active member at the same position on the salary scale within the member's rank as the member held at retirement, then the amount of the retirement allowance shall be reduced to an amount such that the member's net retirement allowance plus the amount earned by the member shall equal one and one-half times the amount of the current earnable compensation of an active member at the same position on the salary scale within the member's rank as the member held at retirement. Should the member's earning capacity be later changed, the amount of the retirement allowance may be further modified, provided that the new retirement allowance shall not exceed the amount of the retirement allowance originally granted adjusted by annual readjustments of pensions pursuant to subsection 14 of this section nor an amount which would cause the member's net retirement allowance, when added to the amount earned by the beneficiary, to equal one and one-half times the amount of the current earnable compensation of an active member at the same position on the salary scale within the member's rank as the member held at retirement. A beneficiary restored to active service at a salary less than the average final compensation upon the basis of which the member was retired at age fifty- five or greater, shall not again become a member of the retirement system and shall have the member's retirement allowance suspended while in active service. If the rank or position held by the retired member is subsequently abolished, adjustments to the allowable limit on the amount of income which can be earned in a gainful occupation shall be computed in the same manner as provided in subsection 14, paragraph "c", of this section for readjustment of pensions when a rank or position has been abolished. If the salary scale associated with a member's rank at retirement is changed after the member retires, earnable compensation for purposes of this section shall be based upon the salary an active member currently would receive at the same rank and with seniority equal to that of the retired member at the time of retirement. For purposes of this paragraph, "net retirement allowance" means the amount determined by subtracting the amount paid during the previous calendar year by the beneficiary for health insurance or similar health care coverage for the beneficiary and the beneficiary's dependents from the amount of the member's retirement allowance paid for that year pursuant to this chapter. The beneficiary shall submit sufficient documentation to the board of trustees to permit the system to determine the member's net retirement allowance for the applicable year.

A beneficiary retired under the provisions of this paragraph in order to be eligible for continued receipt of retirement benefits shall no later than May 15 of each year submit to the board of trustees a copy of the beneficiary's state income tax return for the preceding year.

Retroactive to July 1, 1976, the limitations on pay of a member engaged in a gainful occupation who is retired under accidental disability prescribed in this paragraph shall not apply to a member who retired before July 1, 1976.

b.  Should a disability beneficiary under age fifty-five be restored to active service at a compensation not less than the disability beneficiary's average final compensation, the disability beneficiary's retirement allowance shall cease, the disability beneficiary shall again become a member and shall contribute thereafter at the same rate payable by other members of comparable rank, seniority, and age, and former service on the basis of which the disability beneficiary's service was computed at the time of retirement shall be restored to full force and effect. Upon subsequent retirement the disability beneficiary shall be credited with all service as a member, and also with the period of disability retirement.

c.  The commissioner of public safety may, subject to approval of the medical board, assign any former member of the division of highway safety, uniformed force, and radio communications or the division of criminal investigation and bureau of identification or an arson investigator who is retired and drawing a pension for disability under the provisions of this chapter, to the performance of light duties in such division.

8.  Ordinary death benefit.

a.  Upon the receipt of proof of the death of a member in service, or a member not in service who has completed four or more years of service as provided in subsection 1, paragraph "b", there shall be paid to the person designated by the member to the board of trustees as the member's beneficiary if the member has had one or more years of membership service and no pension is payable under subsection 9, an amount equal to fifty percent of the compensation earned by the member during the year immediately preceding the member's death if the member is in service, or an amount equal to fifty percent of the compensation earned by the member during the member's last year of service if the member is not in service.

b.  In lieu of the payment specified in paragraph "a", a beneficiary meeting the qualifications of paragraph "c" may elect to receive a monthly pension equal to one-twelfth of forty percent of the average final compensation of the member, but not less than an amount equal to twenty percent of the monthly earnable compensation paid to an active member having the rank of senior patrol officer of the Iowa state patrol if the member was in service at the time of death. For a member not in service at the time of death, the pension shall be reduced as provided in subsection 1, paragraph "b".

For a member not in service at the time of death, the pension shall be paid commencing when the member would have attained the age of fifty-five except that if there is a child of the member, the pension shall be paid commencing with the member's death until the children reach the age of eighteen, or twenty-two if applicable. The pension shall resume commencing when the member would have attained the age of fifty-five.

For a member in service at the time of death, the pension shall be paid commencing with the member's death. In addition to the pension, there shall also be paid for each child of a member, a monthly pension equal to six percent of the monthly earnable compensation payable to an active member having the rank of senior patrol officer of the Iowa state patrol.

For the purpose of this chapter, a senior patrol officer is a person who has completed ten years of service in the Iowa state patrol.

Notwithstanding section 97A.6, subsection 8, Code 1985, effective July 1, 1990, for a member's surviving spouse who, prior to July 1, 1986, elected to receive pension benefits under this paragraph, the monthly pension benefit shall be equal to the higher of one-twelfth of forty percent of the average final compensation of the member, or the amount the surviving spouse was receiving on July 1, 1990.

c.  The pension under paragraph "b" may be selected only by the following beneficiaries:

(1)  The spouse.

(2)  If there is no spouse, or if the spouse dies and there is a child of a member, then the guardian of the member's child or children, divided as the board of trustees determines, to continue as a joint and survivor pension until every child of the member dies or attains the age of eighteen, or twenty-two if applicable.

(3)  If there is no surviving spouse or child, then the member's dependent father or mother, or both, as the board of trustees determines, to continue until remarriage or death.

d.  If there is no nomination of beneficiary, the benefits provided in this subsection shall be paid to the member's estate.

9.  Accidental death benefit.  If, upon the receipt of evidence and proof that the death of a member in service was the natural and proximate result of an accident, disease, or exposure occurring or aggravated at some definite time and place while the member was in the actual performance of duty, the board of trustees shall decide that death was so caused in the performance of duty there shall be paid, in lieu of the ordinary death benefit provided in subsection 8 of this section, to the member's estate or to such person having an insurable interest in the member's life as the member shall have nominated by written designation duly executed and filed with the board of trustees:

a.  A pension equal to one-half of the average final compensation of such member shall be paid to the surviving spouse, children or dependent parents as provided in paragraphs "c", "d", and "e" of subsection 8 of this section.

b.  If there is no surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent surviving a deceased member, the death shall be treated as an ordinary death case and the benefit payable under subsection 8, paragraph "a" of this section, in lieu of the pension provided in paragraph "a" of this subsection, shall be paid to the member's estate.

c.  In addition to the benefits for the surviving spouse enumerated in this subsection, there shall also be paid for each child of a member a monthly pension equal to six percent of the monthly earnable compensation payable to an active member having the rank of senior patrol officer of the Iowa state patrol.

10.  Optional allowance.  With the provision that no optional selection shall be effective in case a beneficiary dies within thirty days after retirement, in which event such a beneficiary shall be considered as an active member at the time of death, until the first payment on account of any benefit becomes normally due, any beneficiary may elect to receive the beneficiary's benefit in a retirement allowance payable throughout life, or may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent at that time of the beneficiary's retirement allowance in a lesser retirement allowance payable throughout life with the provision that an amount in money not exceeding the amount of the beneficiary's accumulated contributions shall be immediately paid in cash to such member or some other benefit or benefits shall be paid either to the member or to such person or persons as the member shall nominate, provided such cash payment or other benefit or benefits, together with the lesser retirement allowance, shall be certified by the actuary to be of equivalent actuarial value to the member's retirement allowance and shall be approved by the board of trustees; provided, that a cash payment to such member or beneficiary at the time of retirement of an amount not exceeding fifty percent of the member's or beneficiary's accumulated contributions shall be made by the board of trustees upon said member's or beneficiary's election.

11.  Pensions offset by compensation benefits.  Any amounts which may be paid or payable by the state under the provisions of any workers' compensation or similar law to a member or to the dependents of a member on account of any disability or death, shall be offset against and payable in lieu of any benefits payable out of funds provided by the state under the provisions of this chapter on account of the same disability or death. In case the present value of the total commuted benefits under said workers' compensation or similar law is less than the pension reserve on the benefits otherwise payable from funds provided by the state under this chapter, then the present value of the commuted payments shall be deducted from the pension reserve and such benefits as may be provided by the pension reserve so reduced shall be payable under the provisions of this chapter.

12.  Pension to surviving spouse and children of deceased pensioned members.  In the event of the death of any member receiving a retirement allowance under the provisions of subsections 2, 2A, 4, or 6 of this section there shall be paid a pension:

a.  To the member's surviving spouse, equal to one-half the amount received by the deceased beneficiary, but in no instance less than an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the monthly earnable compensation paid to an active member having the rank of senior patrol officer of the Iowa state patrol, and in addition a monthly pension equal to the monthly pension payable under subsection 9, paragraph "c", of this section for each child under eighteen years of age or twenty-two years of age if applicable; or

b.  If the spouse dies either prior or subsequent to the death of the member, to the guardian of each surviving child, a monthly pension equal to the monthly pension payable under subsection 9, paragraph "c", of this section for the support of the child.

13.  Judicial review of action of the board of trustees.  Judicial review of any action of the board of trustees may be sought in accordance with the terms of the Iowa administrative procedure Act. Notwithstanding the terms of the Iowa administrative procedure Act, the petition for judicial review must be filed within thirty days after the member receives written notice of the trustees' action. The board of trustees shall be represented by the attorney general. An appeal may be taken by the petitioner or the board of trustees to the supreme court of this state irrespective of the amount involved.

14.  Pensions payable.  Pensions payable under this section shall be adjusted as follows:

a.  Effective July 1, 1980, and on each July 1 thereafter, the monthly pensions authorized in this section payable to retired members and to beneficiaries, except children of a deceased member, shall be adjusted as provided in this paragraph. An amount equal to the following percentages of the difference between the monthly earnable compensation payable to an active member of the department, of the same rank and position on the salary scale as was held by the retired or deceased member at the time of the member's retirement or death, for July of the preceding year and the monthly earnable compensation payable to an active member of the department of the same rank and position on the salary scale for July of the year just beginning shall be added to the monthly pension of each retired member and each beneficiary as follows:

(1)  Thirty percent for members receiving a service retirement allowance and for beneficiaries receiving a pension under subsection 9 of this section.

(2)  Thirty percent for members with five or more years of membership service who are receiving an ordinary disability retirement allowance.

(3)  Fifteen percent for members with less than five years of membership service who are receiving an ordinary disability retirement allowance, and for beneficiaries receiving a pension under subsection 8 of this section.

(4)  Thirty-three and one-third percent for members receiving an accidental disability allowance.

The adjusted monthly pension shall not be less than the amount which was paid at the time of the member's retirement or death.

The amount added to the monthly pension of a surviving spouse receiving a pension under subsection 12, paragraph "a" of this section shall be equal to one-half the amount that would have been added to the monthly pension of the retired member.

As of the first of July of each year, the monthly pension payable to each surviving child under the provisions of subsections 8, 9, and 12 of this section shall be adjusted to equal six percent of the monthly earnable compensation payable on that July 1 to an active member having the rank of senior patrol officer of the Iowa state patrol.

b.  All monthly pensions adjusted as provided in this subsection shall be payable beginning on July 1 of the year in which the adjustment is made and shall continue in effect until the next following July 1 at which time the monthly pensions shall again be adjusted in accordance with paragraph "a" of this subsection.

c.  The adjustment of pensions required by this subsection shall recognize the retired or deceased member's position on the salary scale within the member's rank at the time of the member's retirement or death. In the event that the rank or position held by the retired or deceased member at the time of retirement or death is subsequently abolished, adjustments in the pensions of the member or of the member's spouse or children shall be computed by the board of trustees as though such rank or position had not been abolished and salary increases had been granted to such rank or position on the same basis as increases granted to other ranks and positions in the department.

d.  A retired member eligible for benefits under the provisions of subsection 1 is not eligible for the annual readjustment of pensions provided in this subsection unless the member served at least twenty-two years prior to the member's termination of employment.

15.  Remarriage of surviving spouse.   Effective July 1, 1990, for a member who died prior to July 1, 1988, if the member's surviving spouse remarried prior to July 1, 1988, the remarriage does not make the spouse ineligible under subsection 8, paragraph "c", subparagraphs (1) and (2), to receive benefits under subsections 8, 9, 12, and 14.

Section History: Early form

  [C50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 97A.6; 82 Acts, ch 1261, § 3-8]

Section History: Recent form

  84 Acts, ch 1285, § 2; 86 Acts, ch 1243, § 1, 2; 88 Acts, ch 1242, § 3-6; 90 Acts, ch 1240, § 3-9; 91 Acts, ch 41, §1; 92 Acts, ch 1201, § 2-5; 92 Acts, ch 1232, § 507; 94 Acts, ch 1183, §6-8; 96 Acts, ch 1178, § 1, 2; 96 Acts, ch 1187, § 83-91; 98 Acts, ch 1074, §13-16; 98 Acts, ch 1183, §1-6

Internal References

  Referred to in § 97A.3, 97A.5, 97A.14, 97A.15

Footnotes

  1998 amendment to subsection 7, paragraph a, unnumbered paragraph 1 is applicable to amounts earned by a beneficiary after December 31, 1997; 98 Acts, ch 1183, §7


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