The bill amends section 12a of the 1851 PA 156, enhancing the powers and duties of county boards of commissioners in Michigan regarding employee insurance and retirement benefits. It allows these boards to provide various forms of insurance, including life, health, accident, hospitalization, and disability coverage, with provisions for counties with 100 or more employees to self-insure for health and disability. Key insertions include the requirement that at least 60% of total pension benefits come from county funds, guidelines for crediting government service for pension purposes, and mandates for maintaining actuarial reserves to finance pension liabilities. The bill aims to improve the retirement and insurance benefits for county employees while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

Additionally, the bill addresses the administration of pension and retirement benefits, allowing the creation of a board of trustees to manage these plans and invest funds according to state regulations. It introduces military service credit provisions, eligibility criteria for employees transitioning from public employment, and specific guidelines for judges and court employees regarding their retirement benefits. The bill also clarifies the conditions under which retirants can return to work while receiving their pensions, including limits on hours worked and recalculating benefits based on compensation changes. Overall, the bill seeks to clarify and expand retirement benefits for county employees while ensuring compliance with existing laws.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 46.12