The bill HB190 amends various sections of the Code of Alabama 1975 concerning the General Retirement System for Employees of Jefferson County. Key changes include clarifying the definitions of terms such as "designated beneficiary," "missing participants," and "missing beneficiaries," while also identifying the Personnel Board of Jefferson County as the civil service system. The bill establishes clearer categories of membership and benefits, specifying that members who are not vested are considered nonvested, with benefits becoming partially vested after 10 years and fully vested after 15 years of paid service. It also allows the pension board to manage administrative expenses and adopt rules for benefit administration. Additionally, the bill removes provisions that previously restricted members' participation in the plan and clarifies eligibility for disability benefits, while introducing new sections outlining the scope of immunity for the pension board and its members.

Furthermore, the bill updates various definitions and terminologies within the pension plan, such as replacing "person" with "individual" and clarifying the designation of beneficiaries. It modifies the treatment of post-termination compensation and establishes new limits on compensation for benefit accruals in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code. The bill also addresses the handling of missing participants or beneficiaries, requiring the pension board to conduct reasonable searches before forfeiting benefits. It repeals sections related to the termination of eligibility and the conversion of unpaid membership time, ensuring that vested pension benefits are nonforfeitable. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline the administration of the retirement system, enhance clarity regarding member rights and benefits, and ensure compliance with current legal standards. The act is set to take effect on June 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123
Engrossed: 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123
Enrolled: 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123, 45-37-123