19-3-1605. Guaranteed annual benefit adjustment. (1) Subject to subsection (2), on January 1 of each year, the permanent monthly benefit payable during the preceding January to each recipient who is eligible under subsection (3) must be increased by the applicable percentage provided in subsection (4).

(2) (a) If a recipient's benefit payable during the preceding January has been increased by one or more adjustments not provided for in this section and the adjustments amount to less than an annualized increase of the applicable percentage provided in subsection (4), then the recipient's benefit must be adjusted by an amount that will provide a total annualized increase of the applicable percentage in the benefit paid since the preceding January.

(b) If a recipient's benefit payable during the preceding January has been increased by one or more adjustments not provided for in this section and the increases amount to more than an annualized increase of the applicable percentage provided in subsection (4), then the benefit increase provided under this section must be 0%.

(c) If a benefit recipient is a contingent annuitant receiving an optional benefit upon the death of the original payee that occurred since the preceding January, the new recipient's monthly benefit must be increased to the applicable percentage provided in subsection (4)(b) more than the amount that the contingent annuitant would have received had the contingent annuitant received a benefit during the preceding January.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), a benefit recipient is eligible for and must receive the minimum annual benefit adjustment provided for in this section if the benefit's commencement date is at least 12 months prior to January 1 of the year in which the adjustment is to be made.

(4) (a) Subject to subsection (5), the applicable percentage rate is 1.5% for benefit recipients hired or assuming office:

(i) before July 1, 2007;

(ii) on or after July 1, 2007, and prior to July 1, 2013, if the benefit recipient is an existing member of a benefit plan for which the applicable percentage before July 1, 2013, was either 3% or 1.5%; or

(iii) on or after July 1, 2013.

(b) The applicable percentage rate for a contingent annuitant described in subsection (2)(c) is the same as the applicable percentage rate applicable to the original payee under subsection (4)(a).

(5) (a) Except as provided in subsection (5)(b), if the most recent actuarial valuation of the retirement system shows that retirement system liabilities are less than 90% funded, the applicable percentage rate in subsection (4) must be reduced by 0.1% for each 2% below that 90% funding level.

(b) If the amortization period is 40 years or greater, the applicable percentage rate is 0% and the retirement allowance may not be increased.

(6) The board shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of this section.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 287, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 39, Ch. 562, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 62, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 149, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 309, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 371, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 390, L. 2013.