2023 Texas Statutes › Vernon's Civil Statutes › Title 109 - Pensions › Article 6243g-4. Police Officers Pension System in Certain Municipalities › Section 12. Retirement; Amount of Pension; Annual Adjustments

Sec. 12. RETIREMENT;  AMOUNT OF PENSION;  ANNUAL ADJUSTMENTS.    (a)  A member who separates from service after attaining normal retirement age is eligible to receive a monthly service pension, beginning in the month of separation from service.  A member who separates from service as a classified police officer with the city after November 23, 1998, after earning 10 or more but less than 20 years of service in the pension system and who complies with all applicable requirements of Section 19 of this article is eligible to receive a monthly service pension, beginning in the month the individual attains normal retirement age.  An individual may not receive a pension under this article while still an active member.  All service pensions end with the month in which the retired member dies.  The city shall supply all personnel, financial, and payroll records necessary to establish the member's eligibility for a benefit, the member's credited service, and the amount of the benefit.  The city must provide those records in the format specified by the pension system.
(b)  Except as otherwise provided by this section, including Subsection (b-3) of this section, the monthly service pension of a member who:
(1)  is hired before October 9, 2004, including a member hired before October 9, 2004, who involuntarily separated from service but has been retroactively reinstated under arbitration, civil service, or a court ruling, is equal to the sum of:
(A)  2.75 percent of the member's final average pay multiplied by the member's years or partial years of service for the member's first 20 years of service; and
(B)  two percent of the member's final average pay multiplied by the member's years or partial years of service for the member's years of service in excess of the 20 years of service described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision; or
(2)  except as provided by Subdivision (1) of this subsection and subject to Subsection (b-3) of this section, is hired or rehired as an active member on or after October 9, 2004, is equal to the sum of:
(A)  2.25 percent of the member's final average pay multiplied by the member's years or partial years of service for the member's first 20 years of service; and
(B)  two percent of the member's final average pay multiplied by the member's years or partial years of service in excess of 20 years of service described by Paragraph (A) of this subdivision.
(b-1)  A member who begins to receive a monthly service pension under Subsection (b)(1) of this section shall also receive a one-time lump-sum payment of $5,000 at the same time the first monthly pension payment is made.  The lump-sum payment under this subsection is not available to a member who has previously received a $5,000 payment under this section or Section 16 of this article.  A member described by Subsection (b)(2) of this section may not receive the lump-sum payment described by this subsection.
(b-2)  For purposes of Subsections (b) and (b-1) of this section, partial years shall be computed to the nearest one-twelfth of a year.
(b-3)  A member's monthly service pension determined under Subsection (b)(2) of this section may not exceed 80 percent of the member's final average pay.
(c)  Subject to Subsection (c-2) of this section, beginning with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2021, the pension payable to a retired member or survivor who is 55 years of age or older as of April 1 of the applicable fiscal year, a member or survivor who received benefits or survivor benefits before June 8, 1995, or a survivor of an active member who dies from a cause connected with the performance of the member's duties shall be adjusted annually, effective April 1 of each year, upward at a rate equal to the most recent five fiscal years' smoothed return, as determined by the pension system actuary, minus 500 basis points.
(c-1)  Subject to Subsection (c-2) of this section, for the pension system's fiscal years ending June 30, 2018, June 30, 2019, and June 30, 2020, the pension payable to each retired member or survivor who is 70 years of age or older shall be adjusted annually, effective April 1 of each year, upward at a rate equal to the most recent five fiscal years' smoothed return, as determined by the pension system actuary, minus 500 basis points.
(c-2)  The percentage rate prescribed by Subsections (c) and (c-1) of this section may not be less than zero percent or more than four percent, irrespective of the return rate of the pension system's investment portfolio.
(d)  A retired member who receives a service pension under this article is eligible to receive an additional amount each month equal to $150, beginning on the later of the date the retired member's pension begins or the date the first monthly payment becomes due after June 18, 2001, and continuing until the end of the month in which the retired member dies.  This amount is intended to defray the retired member's group medical insurance costs and will be paid directly by the fund to the retired member for the retired member's lifetime.
(e)  At the end of each calendar year beginning after 1998, and subject to the conditions provided by this subsection, the pension system shall make a 13th benefit payment to each member or survivor who is hired or rehired before October 9, 2004, including a member hired or rehired before October 9, 2004, who was reinstated under arbitration, civil service, or a court ruling after that date, and who is receiving a service pension.  The amount of the 13th payment shall be the same as the last monthly payment received by the retiree or survivor before issuance of the payment, except the payment received by any person who has been in pay status for less than 12 months shall be for a prorated amount determined by dividing the amount of the last payment received by 12 and multiplying this amount by the number of months the person has been in pay status.  The 13th payment may be made only for those calendar years in which the pension system's funded ratio is 120 percent or greater.
(f)  Repealed by Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 320 (S.B. 2190), Sec. 2.32, eff. July 1, 2017.
(g) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this article, service pensions that began before May 1, 2001, shall continue to be paid in accordance with applicable prior law, subject only to the adjustments that are specifically provided by this section.
(h)  Final average pay for a member who retires after participating in a phase-down program in which the member receives a periodic payment that is generated from the member's accumulated sick time, vacation time, and overtime balances shall be based on the final average pay the member received on the earlier of the date:
(1)  immediately preceding the date the member began phase-down participation; or
(2)  if the member began DROP participation on or after the year 2017 effective date, the member began participation in DROP.
(i)  The computation of final average pay shall be made in accordance with procedures and policies adopted by the board.
(j)  A member participating in the phase-down program, defined in the 2011 labor agreement between the city and the police officers' union, who has separated from service is eligible to receive a monthly service pension as if the member had attained normal retirement age.  Notwithstanding any other law, a member participating in option A or B of the phase-down program whose effective date of entry into DROP is on or before the year 2017 effective date is, on exiting the phase-down program and separating from service, eligible to receive a monthly service pension equal to the amount credited to the member's DROP account under Section 14(d) of this article immediately before the member separated from service.
(k)  If a member is hired on or after October 9, 2004, the member may elect to receive a partial lump-sum optional payment equal to not more than 20 percent of the actuarial value of the member's accrued pension at retirement.  The lump-sum payment under this subsection shall be actuarially neutral.  Notwithstanding any other law, if a member elects to receive a lump-sum payment under this subsection, the value of the member's monthly service pension shall be reduced actuarially to reflect the lump-sum payment.
(l)  A member who is receiving workers' compensation payments or who has received workers' compensation and subsequently retires or begins participation in DROP will have the member's pension or DROP benefit, as applicable, calculated on the pay that the member would have received had the member not been receiving workers' compensation benefits.
(m)  For a member who is promoted or appointed to a position above the rank of captain on or after the year 2017 effective date, the member's monthly service pension and member contributions shall be based on, as determined by the board:
(1)  the member's pay for the position the member held immediately before being promoted or appointed; or
(2)  the pay of the highest civil rank for classified police officers for those members who have no prior service with the city, which pay must be calculated based on the three-year average prior to retirement.