AN ACT relating to retirement benefits for employees participating in hazardous positions in the County Employees Retirement System.

Create a new section of KRS 78.510 to 78.852 to allow employers participating in the County Employees Retirement System (CERS) to make a one-time election to offer members who work in hazardous positions who are hired on or after January 1, 2014, but prior to July 1, 2027, so that, in lieu of continued participation in the hybrid cash balance plan (Tier III benefits), these members receive the benefits provided to members in a hazardous position who began participating immediately prior to January 1, 2014 (Tier II benefits); allow for employers in CERS to make a one-time election to opt in to the benefit change by July 1, 2027; allow members who are employed by an employer that makes a one-time election to make a one-time election to opt into the benefit change within 30 days of the employer election and allow a member to pay the costs to convert any other Tier III benefit service in a hazardous position to Tier II benefit service; provide that all new hires after July 1, 2027, in hazardous positions for any employer that makes a one-time election receive Tier II benefits; require that accumulated contributions in the hybrid cash balance plan remain in the member's account; provide that any member eligible to make a one-time irrevocable election to change their benefits shall not have the option to change or make a new election under any circumstances relating to a change in employment or reemployment with a participating employer; amend KRS 61.5955 to exempt members who are participating in Tier II benefits based upon an election of an employer pursuant to this Act; amend KRS 61.680 to allow members who have Tier II and Tier III service to consolidate that service for the purpose of determining eligibility and amount of benefits; amend KRS 78.510 to add December 31, 2013, to the definition of "membership date" for members whose benefit tier changes pursuant to this Act; amend KRS 78.5520 to allow members to pay the cost of converting any other Tier III service in a hazardous position to Tier II service and allow employers to pay the cost of converting any Tier III service that could be converted to Tier II service on behalf of the employee; amend KRS 78.635 to require employers who make a one-time irrevocable election to pay an additional actuarially accrued liability contribution that is sufficient to fund the conversion of benefits; amend KRS 78.640 to allow a member's accumulated employer credit attributable to service converted to Tier II benefits to be transferred to the retirement allowance account; EFFECTIVE July 1, 2027.