(A) Eligibility for an increase under this section shall be determined as follows:

(1) For a person whose pension effective date is prior to January 7, 2013, an "eligible person" is one of the following:

(a) A person fifty-three years old or older who has been receiving a pension pursuant to division (B) of section 5505.16, division (A)(1) of section 5505.17, or division (B) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code for not less than twelve months;

(b) A person who has been receiving a pension pursuant to division (B) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code for not less than sixty months regardless of age;

(c) A person who has been receiving a pension pursuant to section 5505.162 or division (A) (3), (4), (5), or (6) of section 5505.17 of the Revised Code for not less than twelve months regardless of age.

(2) For a person whose pension effective date is on or after January 7, 2013, but before the effective date of this amendment, an "eligible person" is a person who is sixty years old or older who has been receiving a pension pursuant to division (B) of section 5505.16, section 5505.162, division (A)(1), (3), (4), (5), or (6) of section 5505.17, or division (B) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code for not less than twelve months.

(3) For a person whose pension effective date is on or after the effective date of this amendment, an "eligible person" is a person who is sixty years old or older who has been receiving a pension pursuant to division (B) of section 5505.16, section 5505.162, division (A)(1), (3)(a), (b), or (d), (4), (5), or (6) of section 5505.17, or division (B) of section 5505.18 of the Revised Code for not less than twelve months.

(B)

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the state highway patrol retirement board shall annually increase pensions payable to eligible persons under this chapter in accordance with the following:

(a) For each person sixty-five years of age or older who is receiving a pension not greater than one hundred eighty-five per cent of the federal poverty level for a family of two persons, as revised annually by the United States department of health and human services in accordance with section 673(2) of the "Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981," 95 Stat. 511, 42 U.S.C. 9902, as amended, the board shall increase the pension by three per cent.

(b) For persons other than those described in division (B)(1)(a) of this section, the board may increase the pension. Any increase shall be determined by the board based on compliance with the amortization period requirement of section 5505.121 of the Revised Code. The board's determination shall be based on the annual actuarial valuation required by section 5505.12 of the Revised Code. If the board determines that an increase may be made, the increase shall not exceed three per cent of the eligible person's pension.

(2) No increase under this section shall exceed the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 415, as amended.

(3) The date of the first increase paid under this section shall be the anniversary date for future increases. The pension used in the first calculation of an increase under this section shall remain as the base for all future increases paid under this section, unless a new base is established.

(C) If payment of a portion of a benefit is made to an alternate payee under section 5505.261 of the Revised Code, increases under this section granted while the order is in effect shall be apportioned between the alternate payee and the eligible person in the same proportion that the amount being paid to the alternate payee bears to the amount paid to the eligible person.

If payment of a portion of a benefit is made to one or more beneficiaries under "option 4" under division (A)(4) of section 5505.162 of the Revised Code, each increase under this section granted while the plan of payment is in effect shall be divided among the designated beneficiaries in accordance with the portion each beneficiary has been allocated.

(D) The board shall adopt, and may amend or rescind, any rule necessary to carry out this section.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 362, §1, eff. 5/11/2018.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 42, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.149, SB 345, §1, eff. 1/7/2013.

Effective Date: 02-01-2002; 2004 HB98 10-27-2006