Sec. 5-155a. Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission. Membership. Powers and duties. Alternate retirement program. Regulations. Report by
Treasurer. Claims process. (a) Members. The general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the state employees retirement system is vested in a
single board of trustees to be known as the Connecticut State Employees Retirement
Commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-9a, the Retirement Commission shall consist of the following: (1) The Treasurer or a designee, who shall be a
nonvoting ex-officio member; (2) six trustees representing employees who shall be
appointed by the bargaining agents in accordance with the provisions of applicable
collective bargaining agreements. The trustees representing employees shall not be
members of the same bargaining unit. The trustees representing employees shall serve
three-year terms; (3) six management trustees who are members of the state employees
retirement system, who shall serve three-year terms. The management trustees shall be
appointed by the Governor; (4) two actuarial trustees who are enrolled actuaries and
Fellows of the Society of Actuaries. One actuarial trustee shall be nominated by the
management trustees and one shall be nominated by the trustees representing employees.
The Governor shall appoint the actuarial trustees for three-year terms; and (5) one neutral
trustee who shall be chairman of the State Employees Retirement Commission. Such
neutral trustee shall be enrolled in the National Academy of Arbitrators and shall be
nominated by the employee and management trustees and appointed by the Governor.
The neutral trustee shall serve a two-year term. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a
trustee, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the
office was previously filled. The trustees, with the exception of the chairman and the
actuarial trustees, shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed in accordance with the standard travel regulations for all necessary expenses that they may incur
through service on the commission. The chairman and the actuarial trustees shall be
compensated at their normal and usual per diem fee, plus travel expenses, from the funds
of the retirement system for each day of service to the commission. Each trustee shall,
within ten days after appointment or election, take an oath of office that so far as it
devolves upon the trustee, the trustee will diligently and honestly administer the affairs
of the commission, and will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to be violated
any of the provisions of law applicable to the state retirement system. Each trustee's
term shall begin from the date the trustee takes such an oath. The trustees shall appoint
a representative from among the municipalities that have accepted the provisions of part
II of chapter 113, who shall serve as a municipal liaison to the commission, at the
commission's pleasure and under such terms and conditions as the commission may
prescribe. Each trustee shall be entitled to one vote on the commission. A majority of
the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, the exercise
of any power or the performance of any duty authorized or imposed by law. The Retirement Commission shall be within the Retirement Division of the office of the Comptroller for administrative purposes only. The Comptroller, ex officio, shall be the nonvoting
secretary of the commission and shall provide secretariat support to the commission.
(b) Meetings. The Retirement Commission shall meet at least monthly and shall
report to the Governor as provided in section 4-60.
(c) Powers and duties. The Retirement Commission shall administer this retirement system, the municipal employees' retirement system established by part II of chapter 113 and all other state retirement and pension plans except the Teachers' Retirement
Fund. The Retirement Commission shall have general supervision of the operation of
the retirement system, shall conduct the business and activities of the system, in accordance with this chapter and applicable law and each trustee shall be a fiduciary with
respect to the retirement system and its members. The Retirement Commission shall
authorize the participation in an alternate retirement program by the eligible unclassified
employees of the constituent units of the state system of higher education and the central
office staff of the Board of Regents for Higher Education. Such program may be underwritten by a life insurance company licensed to do business in this state. In conducting
the business of the system, including its oversight functions, the Retirement Commission
shall act: (1) With the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then
prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters
would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; (2) in
accordance with strict fiduciary standards and responsibilities; and (3) in accordance
with the provisions of the general statutes and applicable collective bargaining
agreements.
(d) Social Security. The Retirement Commission shall act as agent for the state in
all matters relating to the Social Security Agreement, except those matters set forth in
parts four, nine and ten of said agreement. The Retirement Commission may make
regulations as to maintaining membership under Social Security or conduct referenda
as appropriate to secure Social Security coverage for state employees to the extent permitted by Section 218 of the Social Security Act.
(e) Regulations. The Retirement Commission may adopt such regulations, in
accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as are necessary to carry out the provisions
of this chapter and may establish rules and regulations which it deems necessary or
desirable to facilitate the proper administration of the retirement system. Rules and
regulations established by the commission shall be binding upon all parties dealing
with the Retirement Commission and all persons claiming any benefits from the system
provided that no regulation, rule, action or determination made or adopted by the Retirement Commission shall in any manner conflict or be inconsistent with any provision
of an applicable current collective bargaining agreement in effect between any state
employer and the unions representing employees.
(f) Allocation and delegation of fiduciary responsibilities. The Retirement Commission may, by resolution or regulation, allocate fiduciary responsibilities and various
administrative duties to committees or subcommittees of the Retirement Commission,
and may delegate such responsibilities and duties to other individuals as it deems appropriate or necessary in its sole discretion and consistent with this section.
(g) Hearings. The commission may hold hearings when deemed necessary in the
performance of its duty. The hearings shall be governed by rules and regulations of the
commission and the commission shall not be bound by technical rules of evidence.
(h) General counsel. The commission may hire a general counsel who shall serve
at the pleasure of the commission, have offices in the Retirement Division and perform
duties as directed by the commission. The commission may obtain such additional legal
advice and assistance as it deems advisable.
(i) Reporting and disclosure. (1) All plans, descriptions and reports and all legal,
financial and actuarial documents dealing with the general operations of the pension
plan shall be available for inspection and copying by members and their representatives.
The cost of any copying shall be borne by the member or representative, but shall not
exceed twenty-five cents per page.
(2) Each year the State Treasurer shall publish and forward to the commission a
consolidated report showing the fiscal transactions of the system for the preceding fiscal
year, including gain or loss by category of security, a reconciliation of assets showing
the progression of the fund from one year to the next, the amount of the accumulated cash
and securities of the system and the last balance sheet showing the financial condition of
the system by means of an actuarial valuation of its assets and liabilities. Assets shall
be shown at book and market value and by type or term of investment. Gain or loss shall
be reported by category of security type. This requirement shall be satisfied if an Internal
Revenue Service form 5500 is completed and submitted to the commission provided
that the information included therein is sufficient to allow the computation of the investment yield of the fund on an annual basis. Each member shall receive a summary plan
description within ninety days of employment and at least once in every four years
thereafter. The commission shall notify members of substantial statutory plan amendments, if any, within two hundred ten days after their effective date.
(3) Effective July 1, 1985, and annually thereafter, the commission shall provide
each member with a statement that shows the individual's vested benefits or the benefits
the member may be entitled to on vesting and the date on which the member will be
vested, shows the amount of the member's accrued benefits, shows the name of the
beneficiary, if any, of the member in case of death and shows the total amount of contributions paid by the member and the interest accrued, if any.
(j) Claims procedure. Any claim for a pension or any other benefit which may
become available in accordance with the provisions of this chapter may be submitted
to the commission provided it is submitted in writing. Any such claim will be reviewed
and decided by the commission. The claimant shall be advised of the processing status
of his claim upon reasonable request.
(k) Claims review and appeal procedure. If any claim is denied, a claimant may
request that the decision be reviewed and reconsidered by the commission. Thereafter,
any such case shall be decided as a contested case in accordance with chapter 54.
(P.A. 83-533, S. 3, 54; P.A. 84-544, S. 1, 8; 84-546, S. 128, 173; P.A. 85-510, S. 13, 35; 85-613, S. 17, 154; P.A. 86-348, S. 2, 8; P.A. 89-215, S. 1, 3; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1, S. 68, 130; P.A. 03-138, S. 1; P.A. 11-48, S. 285; 11-82, S. 5.)
History: P.A. 84-544 amended Subsec. (c) to replace provision allowing commission to authorize participation in an
alternate retirement program with provision requiring commission to authorize participation in one of four alternate retirement programs, added provision requiring each such program to be structured to allow transfer of membership and funds
to and from other such program, and added provision that no employee shall make more than one transfer between such
programs; P.A. 84-546 substituted "department of higher education" for obsolete reference to "board of higher education"
in Subsec. (c); P.A. 85-510 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions for the nomination and election of two trustees
representing employees and substituting provision for the appointment by bargaining agents in accordance with collective
bargaining agreements of six trustees representing employees, by increasing the number of management trustees from two
to six and made technical changes; P.A. 85-613 made technical changes in Subsec. (e); P.A. 86-348 amended Subsec. (c)
to reduce number of alternate retirement programs from four to one and to delete provisions re transfer between such
programs; P.A. 89-215 amended Subsec. (d) to clarify that retirement commission does not act as state's agent in matters
set forth in parts four, nine and ten of the Social Security agreement; May 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 94-1 amended Subsec. (k) by
making technical change, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 03-138 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provision requiring trustees
to appoint a municipal liaison to the Retirement Commission and making technical changes for the purpose of gender
neutrality, effective June 26, 2003; (Revisor's note: In 2005 a reference in Subsec. (c) to "chapter 113, part II" was changed
editorially by the Revisors to "part II of chapter 113"); pursuant to P.A. 11-48, "Department of Higher Education" was
changed editorially by the Revisors to "Board of Regents for Higher Education" in Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 2011;
P.A. 11-82 amended Subsec. (a) to add new Subdiv. (1) re Treasurer as member of commission and to redesignate existing
Subdivs. (1) to (4) as Subdivs. (2) to (5), effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 5-156g. Electronic direct deposit of pension payments. Unless otherwise
requested by the recipient, any pension payment made under (1) the retirement system
administered by the Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission pursuant to
this chapter, or (2) an alternate retirement program authorized by said commission shall
be made by electronic direct deposit to the recipient's account in a bank, Connecticut
credit union or federal credit union that has agreed to accept such payment.
(P.A. 11-48, S. 35.)
History: P.A. 11-48 effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 5-160. Eligibility. (a) Each state employee appointed to the classified service
shall become a member on the first day of the pay period following the date he receives
a permanent appointment in the classified service except that membership shall not
be required of such employees in positions funded in whole or in part by the federal
government as part of any public service employment program, on-the-job training
program or work experience program.
(b) Each officer elected by the people and each appointee of such officer exempt
from the classified service may elect to become a member, effective on the first day of
the pay period following the date his election is received by the Retirement Commission.
(c) Except for such members as elected to remain or be reinstated as members of
the state employees retirement system under section 5-166a, members of the judiciary
eligible for retirement under the provisions of section 51-50 or 51-50a and members of
the Teachers' Retirement Association not in state service are not eligible for membership
in the state retirement system.
(d) Each other state employee appointed to a position exempt from the classified
service, except positions funded in whole or in part by the federal government as part
of any public service employment program, on-the-job training program or work experience program, shall become a member on the first day of the pay period following the
date he has completed six months in such position, provided he has elected no other
Connecticut retirement plan.
(e) Each person who has been in state service since September 1, 1939, and who is
not a member may elect to become a member, effective on the first day of the pay period
following the date his election is received by the Retirement Commission.
(f) A temporary, emergency or provisional employee may elect to become a member, effective on the first day of the pay period following the date his election is received
by the Retirement Commission. At any time not later than the date six months after
his membership becomes mandatory under subsection (a) or (d) of this section, such
employee may elect to make retirement contributions for his salary received during the
period, not in excess of twelve months, prior to the effective date of his membership,
without interest. Such contributions shall be paid within six months after his membership
becomes mandatory.
(g) Any teacher in state service required as a condition of his employment to hold
an appropriate certificate of qualification issued by the State Board of Education under
the provisions of section 10-145a and any teacher or professional staff member employed by the Board of Regents for Higher Education or any of the constituent units
shall elect membership either in the retirement system or the teachers' retirement system
subject to the provisions of section 10-183p, provided on or after October 1, 1975, any
such employee who is appointed to a position which makes him eligible for membership
in an alternate retirement program as authorized by subsections (u) and (v) of section
5-154, sections 5-156 and 5-158f and this subsection, and who elects such membership,
shall not be required to become a member of the state employees retirement system or
the Teachers' Retirement Association. Each such teacher shall be notified of the above
option when he accepts his employment. If any such teacher shall not have made an
election within one month after employment, he shall be deemed to have elected membership in the state employees retirement system. In the administration of this section,
the board of trustees of the institution or unit employing the teacher and said board shall
each perform, for the persons employed by it, the duties prescribed by chapter 167a for
boards of education and the chief administrative officer of such institution, unit or board
shall perform those prescribed in said chapter for the superintendent of schools.
(h) Transfers between the state employees and teachers' retirement systems will
continue to be permitted until the first of the month following three months after June 28,
1985. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter to the contrary, no transfers
between the state employees retirement system, and either the Teachers' Retirement
Association or an alternate retirement program shall be permitted after such date, except
in the case of an employee who has had a bona fide change in employment. Such employee shall be eligible to transfer between systems only if such change is either (1) to
a position where participation in the Teachers' Retirement Association or an alternate
retirement program is permitted and such employee had not previously made such an
election or (2) to a position where participation in the Teachers' Retirement Association
or an alternate retirement program is not permitted and such employee was participating
in one of those systems. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 5-175b, any such
transferee shall receive credit for service rendered which is creditable in the system to
which he is transferring as of June 28, 1985, upon payment of the required employee
contributions plus required interest as provided in such system.
(i) Each state employee who first joins the state employees retirement system after
January 1, 1984, shall have his eligibility and membership determined under part V of
this chapter. A state employee who rejoins the state employees retirement system after
January 1, 1984, shall become a member of tier II if section 5-192e so indicates; otherwise such employee shall become a member of tier I. Any state employee hired on or
after July 1, 1982, and on or before July 1, 1984, shall be eligible to make a one-time
election for membership in either the tier I or the tier II plan. Such election shall be
made by January 2, 1984, or within ninety days after beginning such employment, or
by the first of the month following three months after June 28, 1985, whichever is later.
Any individual making such an election may receive credit for service on or after July
1, 1982, under terms utilized for other service credits.
(j) The provisions of this chapter shall apply to members of collective bargaining
units subject to the terms of the collective bargaining pension agreement approved by
the General Assembly on June 30, 1982, to members of collective bargaining units
adopting such terms in other collective bargaining agreements and to members of the
state employees retirement system who are excluded from collective bargaining and to
whom such terms have been extended by administrative action. All other persons shall
receive those benefits to which they are entitled under the provisions of this chapter,
revision of 1958, revised to January 1, 1983.
(k) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (j) of this section, each state employee collective bargaining unit which has not accepted the terms of such pension
agreement before July 7, 1983, shall have its dispute with the state employer over pension
issues submitted to the American Arbitration Association for arbitration. The dispute
shall be arbitrated by a single member of the association, selected in accordance with
the standard procedures of the association. The arbitration proceeding shall be conducted
in accordance with the standard procedures of the association which do not conflict with
the provisions of this subsection. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding on
both parties, except that the decision shall be submitted to the legislature for approval
or rejection pursuant to the provisions of section 5-278 in the same manner as agreements
are submitted under said section. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit
the arbitrator from endeavoring to mediate the dispute for which he has been selected.
The parties may continue to negotiate the disputed pension issues and may reach an
agreement at any time prior to the issuance of the arbitrator's decision. If such an
agreement is reached, the arbitration proceedings shall terminate.
(1949 Rev., S. 389, 393; 1949, 1955, S. 157d; 1953, S. 160d; 1955, S. 159d; 1957, P.A. 602, S. 1; 1958 Rev., S. 5-110,
5-113, 5-114; 1961, P.A. 234, S. 9; 1963, P.A. 642, S. 88; 1967, P.A. 505; 786, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 297, S. 1; P.A. 73-538,
S. 2, 3; P.A. 74-12, S. 2, 3; P.A. 75-636, S. 5; P.A. 77-390, S. 3, 8; 77-573, S. 21, 30; P.A. 78-208, S. 27, 35; 78-277, S.
2, 3, 6; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 83-533, S. 7, 54; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; 84-544, S. 4, 8; 84-546, S. 129, 173; P.A. 85-510, S. 23, 35; P.A. 05-288, S. 27; P.A. 11-48, S. 272, 285.)
History: 1961 act "restated" state employees retirement act "in a simpler, clearer and more orderly form"; 1963 act
amended Subsec. (b) by deleting the words "of the state" after the words "Each officer"; 1967 acts changed provisions in
Subsec. (f) for back contributions for period before attaining permanent statute so that election to claim credit and make
payments for allowed period must be made within six months of time when membership becomes mandatory and included
teachers and professional staff members employed by commission for higher education or its constituent units under
provisions of Subsec. (g); 1971 act provided in Subsec. (g) that teachers not electing an option within one month of their
employment automatically become members of state employees retirement system; P.A. 73-538 allowed members of
judiciary and of teachers' retirement association option of remaining members of state employees retirement system under
Subsec. (c); P.A. 74-12 amended Subsec. (c) to allow members of judiciary and teachers' retirement association to choose
reinstatement in state employees retirement system; P.A. 75-636 amended Subsec. (g) to exempt members of alternate
retirement program for higher education personnel from requirement of membership in state employees or teachers' retirement programs; P.A. 77-390 added exception to Subsec. (d); P.A. 77-573 replaced commission for higher education with
board of higher education and replaced reference to repealed Sec. 10-324 with "subsection (d) of section 10-323e" in
Subsec. (g); P.A. 78-208 replaced teachers' retirement association with teachers' retirement system and replaced references
to repealed Sec. 10-175 and repealed chapter 167 with "section 10-183p" and "chapter 167a"; P.A. 78-277 amended
Subsecs. (a) and (d) exempting employees in positions funded wholly or partly by federal government in employment,
job-training or work experience programs from membership in retirement system; P.A. 82-218 substituted board of governors for board of higher education in Subsec. (g) pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March
1, 1983; P.A. 83-533 added Subsecs. (h), (i), (j) and (k); P.A. 84-241 added "of higher education" to board's title; P.A.
84-544 amended Subsec. (h) to replace "the alternate retirement program" with "an alternate retirement program"; P.A.
84-546 made technical change to Subsec. (g) deleting reference to repealed Subsec. (d) of Sec. 10a-6; P.A. 85-510 amended
Subsec. (h) to extend deadline for transfers between the state employees and teachers' retirement systems from October
1, 1984, to the first of the month following three months after June 28, 1985, and to add provision that notwithstanding
Sec. 5-175b, any transferee shall receive credit for service rendered which is creditable in the system to which he is
transferring as of June 28, 1985, upon payment of the required employee contributions plus interest and amended Subsec.
(i) to extend hiring deadline for employees eligible to make a one-time election for membership in tier I or tier II from
January 1, 1984, to July 1, 1984, and to extend deadline for making such election from January 2, 1984, or within 90 days
after beginning such employment, to the first of the month following three months after June 28, 1985; P.A. 05-288 made
a technical change in Subsec. (f), effective July 13, 2005; P.A. 11-48 amended Subsec. (g) to replace reference to Board
of Governors of Higher Education or its constituent units with reference to Board of Regents for Higher Education or the
constituent units, effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 5-169. Disability retirement. Calculation. Board. Limitation of benefits.
Offset and maximum benefit limitation. Cost of living adjustment. Alternative disability compensation. Board petition. (a) If a member of the state employees retirement system, while in state service, becomes permanently disabled prior to the age of
sixty from continuing to render the service in which he has been employed, and if he
has then completed five years of state service, such member is eligible for disability
retirement for twenty-four months. Thereafter, disability retirement continues only if
such member is totally disabled for any suitable and comparable job. If the member's
disability occurs on or after October 1, 1982, such disability retirement income shall
equal three per cent of the member's base salary multiplied by years of service to date
of disability, subject to a maximum of one and two-thirds per cent times years of service
projected to age sixty-five and a minimum of one and two-thirds per cent times years
of service to the date of disability, except that such income of state policemen shall be
determined as provided by subsection (b) of section 5-173.
(b) If a member, while in state service, becomes permanently disabled from continuing to render the service in which he has been employed as a result of any injury received
while in the performance of his duty as a state employee, such member is eligible for
disability retirement regardless of his period of state service. If the member's disability
occurs on or after October 1, 1982, such disability retirement income shall equal one
and two-thirds per cent times years of service projected to age sixty-five with a maximum
based on not more than thirty years of such service and a minimum of one and two-thirds per cent times accrued service at the date of disability, except that such income
of state policemen shall be determined as provided by subsection (b) of section 5-173,
provided, for the purposes of the formulas in said subsection, his rate of salary at the
time of his disability retirement shall be used if greater than his base salary. If such
injury occurred on or after October 1, 1982, and such member has completed at least
five years of state service, his disability retirement income shall in no event be less than
that provided under subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The Governor shall appoint a board of seven physicians, each of whom is a
current or retired state employee and two of whom shall be experienced in psychiatry,
to serve at his pleasure as a medical examining board to determine whether each applicant
for disability retirement is entitled thereto. Three of such members, one of whom shall
be the elected chairman or the elected secretary of the board, shall constitute a quorum
for the determination of any applicant's entitlement. The chairman or the secretary shall
report the findings of the board to the Retirement Commission from time to time as
requested by the commission as to the entitlement of each applicant or the continuance
of disability of members so retired. The Comptroller is authorized to pay for stenographic
and professional services as requested and approved by the board.
(d) No reconsideration of a decision concerning eligibility for a disability retirement
allowance or the discontinuance of such allowance shall be made by the board unless
a member, upon application to the board for a redetermination, discloses additional facts
concerning his condition at the date of termination of employment.
(e) Retirement income being paid for disability retirement shall end when and if
the disability ends. In such event, such member shall receive credit for the years he was
disabled, subject to a maximum total credit of twenty-five years or actual years of service
to the date of disability, whichever is greater. Such member shall then (1) retire on
normal or early retirement, if eligible, or (2) retain a vested right to a deferred pension,
if eligible.
(f) No credit for a period of service of any kind prior to the months in which contribution therefor is made shall be given under this chapter or any special act in determining
state service in connection with an application for disability retirement other than for
injury received in performance of duty as a state employee, if such disability occurred
within five years after payment of a single lump sum or commencement of payroll
deductions pursuant to subsection (c) of section 5-167. The foregoing limitation shall
not apply to credit obtained immediately after transfer from the teachers' retirement
system under section 10-183p for service previously credited in said system; but in that
case no benefit for retirement on account of disability occurring within such five-year
period, other than for injury received in performance of duty as a state employee, shall
exceed the benefit which would have been payable by said system if transfer had not
been made.
(g) Twenty per cent of all outside earned salary or wages shall be offset against the
disability retirement payments by the state during the first two years of disability. On
or after October 1, 1987, at the expiration of such period, if the total disability benefits
and outside earnings exceed one hundred per cent of the pay of such member at the date
of disability, adjusted annually by a percentage increase equal to the cost of living
allowances applied to the member's disability retirement benefits pursuant to this chapter, the disability payment will be reduced by the amount such total exceeds such adjusted
earnings. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the following maximum benefit limitations shall apply if the member's date of disability occurs on or after
January 1, 1984. Such maximum benefit limitations shall apply coincident with the
receipt of benefits under subsection (d) of section 5-142 by any member of the Division
of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.
To verify the operation of the maximums, members shall authorize the Social Security
Administration to provide the Retirement Commission, on an ongoing basis, any information with regard to covered earnings or Social Security benefits payable. In the event
both of the maximums indicated below apply, the lesser disability benefit shall be payable. Such maximums shall be subject to reexamination annually, as indicated in subsection (h) of this section.
(1) The disability benefit provided under this section shall not exceed one hundred
per cent of the member's base salary or the rate of salary of the member on his date of
disability, whichever is greater, less any periodic cash benefit payments being made to
a member under the Workers' Compensation Act, less any federal disability Social
Security benefits, including primary and family, paid on account of the member's Social
Security earnings history, less all outside earned salary or wages, unless the Retirement
Commission determines that such salary or wages are being paid as part of the rehabilitation of the disabled member. Any such determination that such earned salary or wages
is for rehabilitation must be reapproved by the Retirement Commission no less frequently than every eighteen months, or the offset shall apply. The offset for workers'
compensation and federal Social Security disability benefits shall apply when such benefits commence even if such benefits initially commence after the member's disability
retirement date.
(2) The disability benefit provided under this section shall not exceed eighty per
cent of the member's base salary or the rate of salary of the member on the date of
disability, whichever is greater, less any periodic cash benefit payments being made to
a member under the Workers' Compensation Act, less any federal disability Social
Security benefits, including primary and family, being paid on account of the member's
Social Security earnings history. The offsets shall apply when such benefits commence
even if such benefits initially commence after the member's disability retirement date.
(3) The offsets for workers' compensation and federal Social Security disability
benefits shall be reduced by the amount of any attorney's fees a member incurs to obtain
such benefits.
(h) As of each anniversary date, as defined in section 5-162d, of such retired employee, the benefits provided under this section shall be subject to the following adjustments: (1) The benefits provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall be subject
to the increase provided in section 5-162d or 5-162h, whichever is appropriate; (2) the
net maximum benefit provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (g) of this section shall
be subject to the increase provided in section 5-162d or 5-162h, whichever is appropriate;
(3) this subdivision shall apply only to the maximum benefit provided in subdivision
(1) of subsection (g) of this section which shall only be considered if the member had
outside earned salary or wages. The salary as described in subdivision (1) of subsection
(g) of this section shall be increased by the percentage compensation increase that would
have applied to an employee in the position and "step" of the member, at the date of
disability had that employee continued to be employed and continued automatic progression to the maximum "step" for his classification. On the date of recomputation of
benefits, the offsets for workers' compensation and federal Social Security shall be
increased by that same percentage or the percentage increase granted under the cost-of-living provision of the Workers' Compensation Act and the Social Security Act respectively, whichever is less. This offset amount shall be adjusted to reflect any change
in these benefits other than those resulting from the cost-of-living provisions of the
Workers' Compensation Act or the Social Security Act. In no case shall the offset be
greater than the actual benefits paid. Outside earned salary or wages shall reflect actual
amounts earned during the preceding calendar year. In no event shall the application of
this subdivision and subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of this section result in an income
from all sources that would be less than the income that would have been paid had the
member remained in service and progressed to the maximum "step" for his classification; (4) except as specifically indicated in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the maximum disability income determined under subsection (g) of this section will not be affected, when the workers' compensation benefits or the Social Security benefits are
increased by cost-of-living provisions in the Workers' Compensation Act or the Social
Security Act; (5) the maximum disability income under subdivision (2) of subsection
(g) of this section will be recalculated if either the workers' compensation benefits
or the Social Security benefits are decreased or discontinued. Any such recalculated
maximum shall not reflect any increases arising after the initial application of the offset
because of the cost-of-living provisions in the Workers' Compensation Act or the Social
Security Act, except as specifically indicated in subdivision (3) of this subsection.
(i) If a member qualifies for disability compensation under section 5-142, such
member shall continue to be credited with service hereunder, and shall not be deemed
to have retired until he elects to retire. While the member is receiving compensation
under section 5-142, the disability retirement benefits under this section shall be payable
only if greater than the compensation paid under section 5-142. In such event, the benefits
under this section shall be temporarily reduced by the amount of benefits payable under
section 5-142 for the period of receipt of benefits under section 5-142. If a member is
granted disability compensation under section 5-142 retroactively for the same period
of time such member received disability retirement benefits under this section, such
disability compensation benefits shall be reduced by the amount of disability retirement
benefits received during such period, except that if the disability retirement benefits
received during such period were greater than the retroactive payment of disability
compensation benefits for such period, no disability compensation payments shall be
paid to the member for such period.
(j) A member whose date of disability occurs prior to January 1, 1984, shall have
his benefits calculated in accordance with the provisions of law in effect at the time of
such occurrence. A member's date of disability shall be his last date of active employment by the state prior to such disability or the date as of which his benefits under this
section are payable, whichever is earlier. A leave of absence for medical reasons shall
not be deemed to be active employment.
(k) If after review of all testimony and documentary evidence, including medical
reports, presented in connection with any determination or recommendation concerning
entitlement to or continuation of disability retirement, any member of the board who
believes that an individual was treated by a physician who is or may be unable to practice
medicine with reasonable skill or safety, shall file a petition, pursuant to section 20-13d, with the Department of Public Health for investigation under section 20-13e. The
record of the board concerning any such petition, and the proceedings of the board in
connection therewith, shall remain confidential to the same extent as a record of the
Department of Public Health under section 20-13e.
(1949 Rev., S. 382; 1951, S. 150d; 1957, P.A. 595, S. 7; 670, S. 1; 1958 Rev., S. 5-101; 1961, P.A. 234, S. 18; 1963,
P.A. 399; 407; February, 1965, P.A. 509, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 798; 1971, P.A. 627, S. 1; 628, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-628, S. 1, 5; P.A.
77-390, S. 4, 8; P.A. 78-208, S. 28, 35; 78-331, S. 32, 58; P.A. 79-376, S. 6; P.A. 80-301; P.A. 83-533, S. 16, 54; P.A. 85-510, S. 7, 10, 17, 35; P.A. 87-248; 87-317; P.A. 89-52; P.A. 90-308, S. 11, 15; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12,
21, 58; P.A. 05-208, S. 3; 05-288, S. 34; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; 11-82, S. 7.)
History: 1961 act "restated" state employees retirement act "in a simpler, clearer and more orderly form"; 1963 acts
amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to make separate provision for state policemen and added Subsec. (e); 1965 act amended
Subsec. (b) to delete reference to the determination of social security earnings and excess earnings of state policemen and
to provide that their salaries at the time of disability retirement are to be used "if greater than" rather than "instead of"
their base salaries; 1967 act reduced from 15 to 10 the number of years of service needed for disability retirement in Subsec.
(a); 1971 acts increased number of members of examining board from three to seven, two of whom should be psychiatrists
and added provisions concerning quorum, chairman, and stenographic and professional services in Subsec. (c); P.A. 75-628 added to Subsecs. (a) and (b) provisions specifying disability occurring "prior to the age of sixty", specifying maximum
payment allowed for disability, and providing new basis for calculating benefits to replace former determination "in
accordance with subsection (c)(3) of section 5-162", act further reduced years of state service applicable to Subsec. (a)
from 10 years to 5 and placed conditional 24-month limit on payments, added provisions in Subsec. (d) re credit for years
of disability re other retirement benefits and added Subsecs. (f) and (g) re offsetting outside earning and applicability of
section; P.A. 77-390 inserted new Subsec. (d) re reconsideration upon disclosure of additional information and relettered
remaining Subsecs. accordingly; P.A. 78-208 substituted teachers' retirement system for teachers' retirement association
in Subsec. (f); P.A. 78-331 replaced "prior law" with "the law in effect prior to July 1, 1975" in Subsec. (h); P.A. 79-376 replaced "workmen's" compensation with "workers'" compensation in Subsecs. (a) and (b); P.A. 80-301 substituted
"redetermination" for "rehearing" in Subsec. (d); P.A. 83-533 changed method of calculation of retirement income in cases
of disability occurring on or after October 1, 1982, and on or after January 1, 1984; P.A. 85-510 amended Subsec. (b) to
delete provision which restricted applicability of Subsec. to a member who becomes permanently disabled "prior to the
age of sixty", amended Subsec. (g) to provide that such maximum benefit limitations shall apply coincident with the receipt
of benefits under Sec. 5-142(d) by any member of the division of state police and amended Subsec. (i) to delete provision
that a member who qualifies for compensation under Sec. 5-142 shall continue to make employee contributions in order
to continue to be credited with service and to delete provision that contributions shall be required only for the period during
which the member receives full salary; P.A. 87-248 added Subsec. (k) re the reporting of unskilled or unsafe medical
practice; P.A. 87-317 amended Subsec. (g) to change the method of calculation of the outside earnings offset against
disability retirement payments in order to limit the amount of reduction of disability payments caused by the offset; P.A.
89-52 provided for a reduction in disability compensation benefits if a member receives both disability retirement benefits
and retroactive disability compensation for the same period of time; P.A. 90-308 amended 5-year ineligibility period in
Subsec. (f) re credit for prior service purchased by an applicant for disability retirement to provide that 5-year period begins
after payment of a lump sum or commencement of payroll deductions, rather than after contributions are paid in full; P.A.
93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1,
1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner
and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 05-208 amended Subsec. (g) by adding new Subdiv. (3)
requiring offsets for workers' compensation and Social Security benefits to be reduced by attorney's fees incurred to obtain
those benefits, effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 05-288 made technical changes in Subsec. (h), effective July 13, 2005; pursuant
to P.A. 11-51, "Department of Public Safety" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "Department of Emergency
Services and Public Protection" in Subsec. (g), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 11-82 amended Subsec. (c) to change "state
employee" to "current or retired state employee" re membership of board, effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 5-175a. Operators of vending stands in public buildings. Credit for prior
years of service. (a) Vending stand operators, operating stands under permits held by
the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services pursuant to section 10-303, shall be members of
the state employees retirement system, part A, exclusive of the Social Security option
and benefits in the state employees' retirement system dependent thereon. Each such
person shall annually, on or before June thirtieth, pay five per cent of his adjusted gross
income, arising out of the operation of such stand, as determined under the Internal
Revenue Code, during the calendar year preceding to the Bureau of Rehabilitative Services which shall, as the state administering agency for such persons, certify such payment and pay it over to the State Retirement Commission, provided membership of such
persons in said system shall be exclusive of disability retirement upon the grounds of
defects of vision.
(b) Any member of the state employees retirement system who operated vending
stands under permits held by the State Board of Education and Services for the Blind
pursuant to section 10-303, prior to October 1, 1971, may obtain credit for such period
or periods of service for retirement purposes; provided he has been in the active full-time employment of the state continuously for twelve months next preceding his written
request to the Retirement Commission for such credit, and by making retirement contributions of five per cent of his adjusted gross income arising out of the operation of such
stands for each of such years with interest thereon at the rate of five per cent per year
from the time of such operation to the date of payment, all as certified by the State Board
of Education and Services for the Blind. Such payments may be made in twelve equal
monthly installments but such service credit shall not be granted unless payment of
installments is completed.
(1971, P.A. 847, S. 1, 2; 1972, P.A. 71, S. 4; 215; P.A. 11-44, S. 5.)
History: 1972 acts specified that 5% of gross income arising out of the operation of the stand be paid to retirement
system, thereby excluding outside income and clarified provisions of Subsec. (b) re previous years of operation by specifying
years prior to October 1, 1971; P.A. 11-44 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing "Board of Education and Services for the
Blind" with "Bureau of Rehabilitative Services", effective July 1, 2011.
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Sec. 5-182. Miscellaneous service credits. (a) A member who has made contributions on all his salary received from September 1, 1939, to his retirement date, and who
began to make his retirement contributions before September 1, 1941, shall receive credit
for his service before September 1, 1939, with the National Reemployment Service.
(b) A member who was an employee of the United States Employment Service in
Connecticut shall receive credit for his service with the United States Employment
Service if he complies with all the requirements for obtaining service credit in section
5-181.
(c) The retirement salary of any employee of the Department of Transportation who
was employed by the state at the Charter Oak Bridge, transferred to employment with
the Greater Hartford Bridge Authority and subsequently taken back into state service
shall be computed as though such employee were a member of part A of the state employees retirement system, provided an amount equal to the percentage of any Social Security
payments made to such employee, which percentage is attributable to his employment
by the state, shall be deducted from such retirement salary.
(d) Any employee of the radiological maintenance and calibration facility shall be
credited for retirement purposes under this chapter with such employee's period of full-time service commencing with the date upon which such employee began work at said
facility under individual contract with the Commissioner of Emergency Services and
Public Protection upon payment into the State Employees Retirement Fund of such
contributions as such employee would have paid if such employee had been a state
employee during the period of such service and such employee's salary for such service
had been paid by the state, with five per cent interest on such contribution from the date
of such employee's entry into such service to the date of payment.
(e) Any former employee of the Connecticut Development Commission or the Connecticut interregional planning program who is an employee in the state classified service and who has had continuous state service since employment or reemployment in
the state classified service shall be credited for retirement purposes under this chapter
with his period of full-time service during the period commencing January 1, 1961, and
ending December 31, 1966, including service under individual contract with the state
and for the time period covering his transition between contract service and classified
service. Such employee shall make payment into the State Employees Retirement Fund
of such contributions as he would have paid if he had been a member of the state employees retirement system during the period of such service, with five per cent interest on
such contributions from the date of his entry into such service to the date of payment.
(1949 Rev., S. 388; 1949, S. 156d; 1951, 1955, S. 164d; 1957, P.A. 549, S. 1; 1958 Rev., S. 5-102, 5-124; 1961, P.A.
234, S. 31; 422; 438; 1969, P.A. 768, S. 62; P.A. 78-240, S. 1; P.A. 90-230, S. 10, 101; P.A. 04-219, S. 3; P.A. 11-51, S. 145.)
History: 1961 acts removed limitation from Subsec. (b) that qualification for credit be state employment on December
31, 1941, added Subsec. (c) and "restated" state employees retirement act "in a simpler, clearer and more orderly form";
1969 act substituted department of transportation for highway department in Subsec. (c); P.A. 78-240 added Subsecs. (d)
and (e) re employees of radiological maintenance and calibration facility and of Connecticut development commission or
interregional planning program; P.A. 90-230 corrected a reference to the director of emergency management in Subsec.
(d); P.A. 04-219 amended Subsec. (d) to substitute Commissioner of Emergency Management and Homeland Security for
Director of Emergency Management, effective January 1, 2005; P.A. 11-51 amended Subsec. (d) to replace "Commissioner
of Emergency Management and Homeland Security" with "Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection"
and make technical changes, effective July 1, 2011.
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