The bill amends section 12a of the 1851 PA 156, enhancing the powers and duties of county boards of commissioners in Michigan regarding employee benefits. It allows these boards to provide various insurance coverages, including group life, health, accident, hospitalization, and disability for county employees and their dependents. Counties with 100 or more employees are permitted to self-insure for health and disability coverage. The bill also establishes guidelines for retirement benefits, requiring that at least 60% of these benefits be based on a percentage of the employee's average final compensation, and outlines eligibility criteria for pension benefits upon termination or disability. Additionally, it allows for the creation of a board of trustees to manage retirement plans and mandates the maintenance of actuarial reserves for financial stability.

Further amendments include provisions for members who have served in the Armed Services, enabling them to purchase credited service for up to five years of active military service, and specific guidelines for county employees who are judges regarding the calculation of their retirement benefits. The bill also addresses the continuation of pension benefits for certain retirants who were previously employees of the state judicial council and allows counties to adjust the percentage of the highest average monthly compensation used for benefit calculations. It includes stipulations for the impact of divorce on retirement benefits and permits county boards in larger counties to include employees of an employee credit union in the retirement plan. The bill aims to enhance the retirement benefits framework while ensuring compliance with existing laws and is set to take immediate effect upon approval.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-2): 46.12
House Introduced Bill: 46.12
As Passed by the House: 46.12
As Passed by the Senate: 46.12
House Concurred Bill: 46.12
House Enrolled Bill: 46.12