A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 9-1-5 SO AS TO CLOSE THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM; BY ADDING CHAPTER 22 TO TITLE 9 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SHARED-RISK DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN" TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH A DEFINED BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLAN AND TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE PLAN; BY ADDING CHAPTER 24 TO TITLE 9 SO AS TO ESTABLISH THE "SOUTH CAROLINA WEALTHBUILDER-PRIMARY RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN" TO PROVIDE EMPLOYEES WITH A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT PLAN AND TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE PLAN; BY AMENDING SECTION 9-1-310, RELATING TO ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, SO AS TO ADD A REFERENCE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHARED-RISK DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN; BY AMENDING SECTION 9-1-1340, RELATING TO CERTAIN CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, SO AS TO ADD A REFERENCE TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHARED-RISK DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN; BY AMENDING SECTION 9-11-40, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SHARED-RISK DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN" TO THE DEFINITION OF "CORRELATED SYSTEM"; BY AMENDING SECTION 9-16-10, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD THE "SOUTH CAROLINA SHARED-RISK DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN" TO THE DEFINITION OF "RETIREMENT SYSTEM"; BY AMENDING SECTION 9-16-335, RELATING TO THE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN ON THE INVESTMENTS OF THE SYSTEM, SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE ASSUMED ANNUAL RATE OF RETURN ON INVESTMENTS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHARED-RISK DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN MAY NOT EXCEED THE LESSER OF SIX PERCENT OR THREE HUNDRED BASIS POINTS ABOVE THE THREE-YEAR AVERAGE OF TWENTY-YEAR TREASURY YIELDS; BY REPEALING CHAPTER 20, TITLE 9, RELATING TO THE STATE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT PROGRAM; AND TO DIRECT THE CODE COMMISSIONER TO MAKE CERTAIN CHANGES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.  Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 9 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    Section 9-1-5. (A) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the South Carolina Retirement System (SCRS) established pursuant to this chapter is closed to new members as of July 1, 2024, and except as provided in subsection (B), a person who otherwise would have been required or eligible to become a member of SCRS, instead shall join the South Carolina Shared-Risk Defined Benefit Plan or the South Carolina WealthBuilder-Primary Retirement Savings Plan in the manner provided by law.

    (B)