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Bill 618

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

Indicates Matter Stricken

Indicates New Matter

COMMITTEE REPORT

May 11, 2005

S. 618

Introduced by Senators Alexander, Setzler, Short, Verdin, Drummond and Knotts

S. Printed 5/11/05--H.

Read the first time April 13, 2005.

To whom was referred a Bill (S. 618) to enact the State Retirement System Preservation and Investment Reform Act by amending Section 9-1-1790, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

Amend the bill, as and if amended, by striking all after the enacting words and inserting:

/    Section    1.    Section 8-11-40 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 295 of 2004, is further amended by adding a new subsection at the end to read:

"(D)    A retired member of the South Carolina Retirement System who is hired by an agency to fill all or some fraction of a full-time equivalent (FTE) position is allowed fifteen working days sick leave each calendar year for use during the calendar year. Such an employee hired after the beginning of a calendar year is allowed a pro-rata share of sick leave at the rate of one and one-fourth working days leave for each full month remaining in the calendar year. A retired member of the south Carolina Retirement System who is granted sick leave according to this subsection may not carry over sick leave into future years."

SECTION    2.    Section 8-11-610 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding a new paragraph at the end to read:

"A retired member of the South Carolina Retirement System who is hired by an agency to fill all or some fraction of a full-time equivalent (FTE) position is allowed fifteen working days annual leave each calendar year for use during the calendar year. Such an employee who is hired after the beginning of a calendar year is allowed a pro-rata share of annual leave at the rate of one and one-fourth working days leave for each full month remaining in the calendar year. An employee allowed annual leave pursuant to this paragraph may not carry over annual leave into future years."

SECTION    3.    Section 8-11-620(A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 356 of 2002, is further amended to read:

"(A)(1)    Upon termination from state employment, an employee may take both annual leave and a lump-sum payment for unused leave, but in no event shall such this combination may not exceed forty-five days in a calendar year except as provided for in Section 8-11-610. If an employee dies, his the employee's legal representative shall be is entitled to a lump-sum payment for his the employee's unused leave, not to exceed forty-five working days, except as provided for in Section 8-11-610.

(2)    Upon retirement from state employment, or upon the death of an employee if the member does not elect to participate in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program, a lump-sum payment will be made must be paid for unused leave, not to exceed forty-five days, unless a higher maximum is approved under the provisions of pursuant to Section 8-11-610, and without regard to the earned leave taken during the calendar year in which the employee retires.

(3)    Upon retirement from state employment, if the employee participates in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program, the employee shall not receive payment for unused annual leave until the employee terminates from state employment and ends participation in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program. Upon termination of state employment and participation in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program, a lump-sum must be paid for unused leave, not to exceed forty-five days, unless a higher maximum is approved pursuant to Section 8-11-610, and without regard to the earned leave taken during the calendar year in which the employee retires."

SECTION    4.    A.    Items (14), (15), and (16) of Section 8-17-370 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 356 of 2002, are further amended to read:

"(14)    employees of the Medical University Hospital Authority, provided the Medical University Hospital Authority has promulgated an employee grievance plan in accordance with its enabling provision; and

(15)    presidents of the South Carolina Technical College System.;

(16)    a retired member of the South Carolina Police Officers Retirement System or a retired member of the South Carolina Retirement System who is hired by an agency to fill all or some fraction of a full-time equivalent (FTE) position covered by the State Employee Grievance Procedure Act; and"

B.    Section 8-17-370 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 356 of 2002, is further amended by adding a new item at the end to read:

"(17)    notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9-1-2210(E), any participant in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program."

SECTION    5.    The third undesignated paragraph of Section 9-1-1020 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 475 of 1988, is further amended to read:

"The rates of the deductions must be, without regard to a member's coverage under the Social Security Act, as follows: in the case of Class One members, five percent of earnable compensation and, in the case of Class Two members, six percent of earnable compensation. The rates of the deductions, without regard to a member's coverage under the Social Security Act, must be the percentage of earnable compensation as provided in the following schedule:

Class One            Class Two

Before July 1, 2005        5                            6

July 1, 2005 through

June 30, 2006                    5.25                        6.25

After June 30, 2006        5.50                        6.50"

Section    6.    A.    Article 9, Chapter 1, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 9-1-1175.    Effective July 1, 2006, the board shall increase the employer contribution rate for the system by one-half percent of the earnable compensation of all members employed by an employer participating in the system. The board shall further increase the employer contribution rate by one-half percent effective July 1, 2007. The employer rate provided in this section also applies to payments for unused annual leave under the circumstances provided in Section 9-1-1020. The employer rate provided in this section includes the system's normal contribution rate and accrued liability contribution rate, but does not include contributions for group life insurance or other benefits that are remitted to the Retirement Systems. Contributions for group life insurance or other benefits are in addition to the applicable employer contribution rate. After June 30, 2007, the board, in its discretion, may increase or decrease the employer contribution rate set by this section based on the actuarial valuation provided to the board by the system's actuaries and considering the normal contribution rate determined pursuant to Section 9-1-1060 and the accrued liability contribution rate determined pursuant to Section 9-1-1070."

B.    Section 9-20-50 of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 54 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 9-20-50.    Each participant shall contribute monthly to the program the same amount he would be required to contribute to the South Carolina Retirement System if the participant were a member of that system. Participant contributions must be made by employer pick up in accordance with Section 9-1-1160(B) and any applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Each employer shall contribute on behalf of each participant five percent of compensation. Deductions must not be made from this five percent contribution. Each employer shall remit to the designated companies, for application to participants' contracts or accounts, or both, an amount equal to the participant's contribution plus the employer's contribution in accordance with the guidelines established by the Internal Revenue Service for payroll tax remittance. The employer shall remit to the retirement system two and fifty-five hundredths percent the percentage of the employee's compensation that is the difference between the system employer contribution rate set in Section 9-1-1175 and the five percent allocated to member accounts in this section, in accordance with the guidelines established for remitting retirement contributions to the South Carolina Retirement System. The South Carolina Retirement System may retain from this employer contribution an amount as determined by the director to defray any reasonable expenses incurred in performing services regarding the plan. These services may include, but are not limited to:

(1)    participant education regarding the merits and risks associated with selection of defined contribution plans versus defined benefit plans;

(2)    on-going investment education, where appropriate;

(3)    recordkeeping; and

(4)    monitoring contract compliance."

C.    Sections 9-1-1200 and 9-1-1220 of the 1976 Code are repealed.

Section    7.    Section 9-1-1770 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 1 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 9-1-1770.    (A)    Effective July 1, 1968, There shall be is created the Preretirement Death Benefit Program, which shall be effective as of that date to for all employers under the system except counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions, as well as those and those state departments, agencies, or other institutions which pay directly to the system the total employer contributions for the participating members in their employ.

(B)    The program shall be is available to those employers exempted in the preceding paragraph subsection (A) by written application of such the employer. An application shall be is an irrevocable commitment to participate under the program. For applications received by the System prior to October 1, 1968, the effective date of the coverage shall be July 1, 1968. For all other applications the Applications are effective date shall be July first next following the date of receipt by the system of the application.

(C)(1)    Upon receipt of proof, satisfactory to the board, of the death of: (a) a contributing member in service who had completed at least one full year of membership in the system or of the death of a contributing member as a result of an injury arising out of and in the course of the performance of his duties regardless of length of membership, as of the effective date of his employer's participation, or (b) a retired contributing member of the system, there must be paid to the person he nominated for the refund of his accumulated contributions, unless he has nominated a different beneficiary by written designation filed with the board, in the event of his death pursuant to Section 9-1-1650, if the person is living at the time of the member's death, otherwise to the member's estate, a death benefit equal to the annual earnable compensation of the member at the time his death occurs. The death benefit is payable apart and separate from the payment of the member's accumulated contributions on his death pursuant to Sections 9-1-1650 or 9-1-1660.

(2)    For purposes of this section subsection, a member described in item (1)(a) is considered to be in service at the date of his death if the last day the member was employed in a continuous, regular pay status, while earning regular or unreduced wages and regular or unreduced retirement service credit, whether the member was physically working on that day or taking continuous accrued annual leave or sick leave while receiving a full salary, occurred not more than ninety days before the date of his death and he has not retired.

(3)    For purposes of this subsection, a member described in (1)(b) is considered a retired contributing member if the last day the member was employed in a continuous, regular pay status, while earning regular or unreduced wages and paying retirement system contributions whether the member was physically working on that day or taking continuous accrued annual leave or sick leave while receiving a full salary, occurred not more than ninety days before the date of his death.

(D)    The board is authorized to may take such the action as may be necessary to provide the death benefit under this section in the form of group life insurance upon a determination that to do so would guarantee a more favorable tax treatment of the benefit to beneficiaries to whom such the benefit is payable.

(E)    Upon the death of a retired member who is not a retired contributing member after December 31, 2000, there must be paid to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries, if living at the time of the retired member's death, otherwise to the retired member's estate, a life insurance benefit of one two thousand dollars if the retired member had ten years of creditable service but less than twenty years, two four thousand dollars if the retired member had twenty years of creditable service but less than twenty-eight, and three six thousand dollars if the retired member had at least twenty-eight years of creditable service at the time of retirement, provided if the retired member's most recent employer, prior to before the member's retirement, is covered by the Group Life Insurance Program.

Upon the death of a retired member after June 30, 2000, the life insurance benefit otherwise due the member's beneficiary, beneficiaries, or estate under the above paragraph is increased as follows: one thousand dollars is increased to two thousand dollars, two thousand dollars is increased to four thousand dollars, and three thousand dollars is increased to six thousand dollars."

SECTION    8.    Section 9-1-1790 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 25 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 9-1-1790.    (A)    A retired member of the system who has been retired for at least sixty fifteen consecutive calendar days may be hired and return to employment covered by the this system or any other system provided in this title and earn up to fifty thousand dollars a fiscal year without affecting the monthly retirement allowance he is receiving from the system. If the retired member continues in service after having earned fifty thousand dollars in a fiscal year, his retirement allowance must be discontinued during his period of service in the remainder of the fiscal year. If the employment continues for at least forty-eight consecutive months, the provisions of Section 9-1-1590 apply. If a retired member of the system returns to employment covered by the this system or any other system provided in this title sooner than sixty fifteen days after retirement, the member's retirement allowance is suspended while the member remains employed by the participating employer. If an employer fails to notify the system of the engagement of a retired member to perform services, the employer shall reimburse the system for all benefits wrongly paid to the retired member.

(B)    An employer shall pay to the system the employer contribution for active members prescribed by law with respect to any retired member engaged to perform services for the employer, regardless of whether the retired member is a full-time or part-time employee or a temporary or permanent employee. If an employer who is obligated to the system pursuant to this subsection fails to pay the amount due, as determined by the system, the amount must be deducted from any funds payable to the employer by the State.

(C)    A retired member shall pay to the system the employee contribution as if the member were an active contributing member if an employer participating in the system employs the retired member. The retired member does not accrue additional service credit in the system by reason of the contributions required pursuant to this subsection and subsection (B) of this section."

SECTION    9.    Section 9-1-1810 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 1 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 9-1-1810.    (A)    As of the end of each calendar year, the increase in the ratio of the Consumer Price Index to the index as of the prior December thirty-first must be determined,. and

(B)(1)    If the increase equals or exceeds four Consumer Price Index as determined pursuant to subsection (A) of this section increases by no more than one percent, the retirement allowance, inclusive of the supplemental allowances payable under the provisions of Sections 9-1-1910, 9-1-1920, and 9-1-1930, of each beneficiary in receipt of an allowance must be increased by four percent. If the increase in the index is less than four percent, the retirement allowance, inclusive of supplemental allowances, all as determined above, must be increased by a percentage equal to the increase in the index.

(2)    If the Consumer Price Index as determined pursuant to subsection (A) of this section increases by more than one percent, then:

(a)    the retirement allowance of each beneficiary in receipt of an allowance, inclusive of the supplement allowances payable under the provisions of Section 9-1-1910, 9-1-1920, and 9-1-1930, must be increased by one percent; and

(b)    the retirement allowance may be further increased beyond one percent up to the lesser of the total percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index or four percent, to the extent that the additional liabilities because of the increase in allowances would not extend the amortization period to liquidate the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the South Carolina Retirement System beyond thirty years.

(C)    The increase in retirement allowances commences the July first immediately following the December thirty-first that the increase in ratio was determined, and all increases in retirement allowances must be granted to these beneficiaries in receipt of a retirement allowance on July first immediately preceding the effective date of the increase. Any increase in allowances is effective only if the additional liabilities because of the increase in allowances do not require an increase in the total employer rate of contribution. Any increase in allowance granted pursuant to this section must be included in the determination of any subsequent increases, irrespective of any subsequent decrease in the Consumer Price Index.

(D)    The allowance of a surviving annuitant of a beneficiary whose allowance is increased under this section must, when and if payable, be increased by the same percent.

(E)    For purposes of this section, 'Consumer Price Index' means the Consumer Price Index for Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics."

SECTION    10.    Section 9-1-2210 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 1 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 9-1-2210.    (A)    An active contributing member who is eligible for service retirement under this chapter and complies with the requirements of this article may elect to participate in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program (program). A member electing to participate in the program retires for purposes of the system, and the member's normal retirement benefit is calculated on the basis of the member's average final compensation and service credit at the time the program period begins. The program participant shall agree to continue employment with an employer participating in the system for a program period, not to exceed five years. The member shall notify the system before the beginning of the program period. Participation in the program does not guarantee employment for the specified program period.

(B)    After June 30, 2005, and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9-1-10(4), a payment for unused annual leave is not included in calculating a member's deferred program benefit during the program period. The member's average final compensation for the purpose of calculating the deferred program retirement benefit must be solely the average of the member's highest twelve consecutive quarters of earnable compensation at the time the member enters the program. During the specified program period, receipt of the member's normal retirement benefit is deferred. The member's deferred monthly benefit must be placed in the system's trust fund on behalf of the member. No interest is paid on the member's deferred monthly benefit placed in the system's trust fund during the specified program period.

(C)    During the specified program period, the employer shall pay to the system the employer contribution for active members prescribed by law with respect to any program participant it employs, regardless of whether the program participant is a full-time or part-time employee, or a temporary or permanent employee. The program participant shall pay to the system the employee contribution as if the program participant were an active contributing member, but the program participant does not accrue additional service credit in the system for these employer and employee contributions. If an employer who is obligated to the system pursuant to this subsection fails to pay the amount due, as determined by the system, the amount must be deducted from any funds payable to the employer by the State.

(D)    A program participant is retired from the retirement system as of the beginning of the program period. A program participant makes no further employee contributions to the system, accrues no service credit during the program period, and is not eligible to receive group life insurance benefits or disability retirement benefits. Accrued annual leave and sick leave used in any manner in the calculation of the program participant's retirement benefit is deducted from the amount of such leave accrued by the participant.

(E)    A program participant is retired for retirement benefit purposes only. For employment purposes, a program participant is considered to be an active employee, retaining all other rights and benefits of an active employee except for grievance rights pursuant to Section 8-17-370, and is not subject to the earnings limitation of Section 9-1-1790 during the program period.

(F)    Upon termination of employment either during or at the end of the program period, the member must receive the balance in the member's program account by electing one of the following distribution alternatives:

(1)    a lump-sum distribution, paying appropriate taxes; or

(2)    to the extent permitted under law, a tax sheltered rollover into an eligible plan.

For members who began participation in the program before July 1, 2005, the member also must receive the previously determined normal retirement benefits based upon the member's average final compensation and service credit at the time the program period began, plus any applicable cost of living increases declared during the program period. The program participant is thereafter subject to the earnings limitation of Section 9-1-1790.

Upon termination of employment of members who began participation in the program after June 30, 2005, the Retirement Systems shall recalculate the average final compensation of the member to determine the benefit the member receives after participation in the program. the average final compensation calculated at the commencement of the program must be increased by an amount up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave received by the member at termination of employment, divided by three. The member's benefit after participation in the program must be calculated in accordance with Section 9-1-1550, utilizing the recalculated average final compensation determined in this subsection, and the member's service credit, including sick leave, as of the date the member began participation in the program, plus any cost-of-living increases declared during the program period with respect to the amount of the member's deferred program benefit.

(G)    If a program participant dies during the specified program period, the member's designated beneficiary must receive the balance in the member's program account by electing one of the following distribution alternatives:

(1)    a lump-sum distribution, paying appropriate taxes; or

(2)    to the extent permitted under law, a tax sheltered rollover into an eligible plan.

In accordance with the form of system benefit selected by the member at the time the program commenced, the member's designated beneficiary must receive either a survivor benefit or a refund of contributions from the member's system account.

If a program participant who began participation in the program before July 1, 2005, elected either Option B or Option C under Section 9-1-1620, the average final compensation calculated when the member commenced the program must be used in determining the survivor benefit.

If a program participant who began participation in the program after June 30, 2005, elected either Option B or C under Section 9-1-1620, then the designated survivor beneficiary shall receive a survivor benefit based on a recalculated average final compensation. The average final compensation calculated at the commencement of the program must be increased by an amount up to and including forty-five days termination pay for unused annual leave received by the member's legal representative at the member's death, divided by three. The survivor benefit must be calculated in accordance with Section 9-1-1550, utilizing the recalculated average final compensation determined in this subsection, and the member's service credit, including sick leave, as of the date the member began participation in the program, plus any cost-of-living increases declared during the program period with respect to the amount of the member's deferred program benefit.

(H)    If a program participant fails to terminate employment with an employer participating in the retirement system within one month after the end of the specified program period, the member must receive the previously determined normal retirement benefits based upon the member's average final compensation and service credit at the time the program began, plus any applicable cost of living increases declared during the program period. The program participant is thereafter subject to the earnings limitation of Section 9-1-1790. The program participant also must receive the balance in the member's program account by selecting one of the following alternatives:

(1)    a lump-sum distribution, paying appropriate taxes; or

(2)    to the extent permitted under law, a tax sheltered rollover into an eligible plan.

    A program participant shall terminate employment no later than the day before the fifth annual anniversary of the date the member commenced participation in the program.

(I)    A member is not eligible to participate in the program if the member has participated previously in and received a benefit under this program or any other state retirement system. "

SECTION    11.    Section 9-16-90 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 371 of 1998, is amended by adding a new subsection at the end to read:

"(C)    the panel and the Office of the State Treasurer jointly and not less than quarterly shall report to the board on the status of the investments of the retirement system."

SECTION    12.    A.    Section 9-16-320(A) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 371 of 1998, is amended to read:

"(A)    The panel shall develop an annual investment plan for the retirement systems for the next fiscal year. The panel shall submit a draft of the annual investment plan to the State Treasurer for review and comment no later than April thirtieth of each year. The comments of the State Treasurer must be delivered directly to the other board members on or before the date the approval of the annual investment plan is on the board's agenda. The panel shall meet no later than May first fifteenth of each year to adopt the proposed annual investment plan for the retirement systems for the next fiscal year. The annual investment plan must be developed by the panel. No later than June first of each year, the panel shall submit the proposed plan to the board. Amendments may be made to the plan by the panel during the fiscal year with the approval of the board."

B.    Section 9-16-340(C)(1) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 371 of 1998, is amended to read:

"(1)    the target allocation of system assets between equity investments and fixed-income investments. The target allocation to either equity or fixed-income investments may not exceed sixty percent of system assets. Appreciation of either the equity or fixed-income assets above sixty percent of system assets does not require an immediate reduction in allocation; however, the actual allocation to either equity or fixed income may not exceed the target allocation by more than five percent at the start of any fiscal year; the minimum and maximum portions of system assets that may be allocated to equity investments on an ongoing basis not to exceed forty percent and the minimum and maximum portions of system assets not to exceed ten percent that may be allocated to additional equity investment during the plan fiscal year. When investments in equities attain the maximum allocation allowed by this item, up to forty percent of current member and employer contributions to the retirement system may be invested in equities. If, due to growth in value of equity investments, equity investments exceed forty percent of the total assets of the retirement system, this subsection does not require the sale of equities to reduce the percentage of equities to forty percent;"

C.    Notwithstanding the general effective date of this act, this section takes effect upon approval of this act by the Governor. Following the effective date of this section, the State Retirement Systems Investment Panel shall develop an amendment to the annual investment plan for submission to the State Budget and Control Board for implementing the revised limits provided pursuant to this section.

SECTION    13.    Article 3, Chapter 16, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 9-16-315.    The Retirement and Pre-Retirement Advisory Board shall elect from its membership a retired member of the South Carolina Retirement System to serve as an advisor to the State Retirement Systems Investment Panel. In addition, the State budget and Control Board shall select an active member of the South Carolina Retirement System to serve as an advisor to the panel. Before making its selection, the board shall solicit input from those organizations representing public employees as the board considers appropriate. These advisors may participate in all panel discussions and deliberations and have access to any information available to the panel; however, these advisors are not authorized to vote or otherwise make any decisions on behalf of the panel."

SECTION    14.    Article 3, Chapter 16, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 9-16-345.    In hiring and procurement in the implementation and administration of this chapter, and consistent with its duties as trustee and fiduciary under this title, the board shall strive to assure that minorities and minority-owned businesses are represented."

SECTION    15.    A.    Section 9-1-10(17) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"(17)    [Reserved]    'Medical board' means the board of physicians provided for in Section 9-1-220."

b.    Section 9-9-10 of the 1976 Code is amended by deleting item (16) which reads:

"(16)    'Medical board' shall mean the board of physicians provided for in Section 9-9-35. "

C.    Section 9-11-10(18) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"(18)    [Reserved]    'Medical board' means the board provided for in Section 9-11-30(2)."

D.    Section 9-11-30(2) of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"(2)    [Reserved]    The Board shall designate a medical board to be composed of three physicians who are not members of the System. If required, other physicians who are not members of the System may be employed to report on special cases. The medical board shall arrange for and pass upon all medical examinations required under the System, shall investigate all essential statements and certificates by or on behalf of a member in connection with an application for disability retirement, and shall report in writing to the Board its conclusions and recommendations upon all matters referred to it."

E.    Sections 9-1-220 and 9-9-35 of the 1976 Code are repealed.

F.    In Title 9 of the 1976 Code, wherever the phrase 'medical board' or any variant of 'medical board' appears, it must be construed to mean the 'system' unless the context clearly requires otherwise. The Code Commissioner shall replace the reference in future code supplements and replacement volumes as the Code Commissioner determines appropriate.

SECTION    16    This act takes effect July 1, 2005.    /

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

ROBERT W. HARRELL, JR. for Committee.

TO ENACT THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PRESERVATION AND INVESTMENT REFORM ACT BY AMENDING SECTION 9-1-1790, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE EARNING LIMIT APPLICABLE TO RETIRED MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM WHO RETURN TO COVERED EMPLOYMENT, SO AS TO REQUIRE THESE MEMBERS TO PAY THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-11-620, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO LUMP SUM PAYMENTS FOR ANNUAL LEAVE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES, SO AS TO POSTPONE THIS LUMP SUM FOR TERI PARTICIPANTS UNTIL THE EMPLOYEE ENDS TERI PARTICIPATION; BY AMENDING SECTION 9-1-2210, RELATING TO THE TERI PROGRAM, SO AS TO REQUIRE TERI PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO PAY THE EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTION FOR ACTIVE MEMBERS, TO DELAY UNTIL A MEMBER ENDS PARTICIPATION THE INCLUSION OF THE APPLICABLE AMOUNT OF THE MEMBERS UNUSED ANNUAL LEAVE IN THE CALCULATION OF AVERAGE FINAL COMPENSATION, TO PROVIDE FOR THE RECALCULATION OF AVERAGE FINAL COMPENSATION WHEN THE MEMBER ENDS PARTICIPATION IN TERI FOR PURPOSES OF THE MEMBERS' FUTURE RETIREMENT BENEFITS OR OF A BENEFICIARY OF FUTURE BENEFITS ON THE DEATH OF A TERI PARTICIPANT WHO ELECTED A SURVIVOR OPTION, TO PROVIDE THAT A TERI PARTICIPANT UPON ENDING TERI PARTICIPATION MUST LEAVE COVERED EMPLOYMENT AND IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO RETURN TO COVERED EMPLOYMENT WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT OR THE SOUTH CAROLINA POLICE OFFICERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS FOR CERTAIN TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS; BY ADDING SECTIONS 9-1-490 AND 9-1-1520 SO AS TO ESTABLISH TWO CLASSES OF SERVICE FOR PERSONS BECOMING SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM MEMBERS AFTER 2005 AND PROVIDE A RETIREMENT OPTION FOR THESE PERSONS AT ANY AGE WITH TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF CREDITABLE SERVICE WITH A PENALTY FACTOR FOR THEIR EARLY RETIREMENT, BY AMENDING SECTIONS 9-1-10, 9-1-1020, 9-1-1140, 9-1-1510, 9-1-1515, 9-1-1550, AND 9-1-1660, ALL AS AMENDED, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS, SERVICE CREDIT, RETIREMENT AND EARLY RETIREMENT, AND CALCULATION OF BENEFITS FOR PURPOSES OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM, SO AS TO CLOSE TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS OF CREDITABLE SERVICE RETIREMENT AT ANY AGE FOR PERSONS BEGINNING PARTICIPATION IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA RETIREMENT SYSTEM AFTER 2005, TO PROVIDE EXCEPTIONS, TO DESIGNATE THOSE PERSONS "GRANDFATHERED" AS SCRS28 PARTICIPANTS, TO DESIGNATE PARTICIPANTS AFTER 2005 AS SCRS30 PARTICIPANTS AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR RETIREMENT QUALIFICATIONS, SERVICE REQUIREMENTS, INCLUDING THE ELECTION OF CLASS B SERVICE WITH A HIGHER MULTIPLIER, HIGHER EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS, AND PENALTY FOR RETIREMENT BEFORE THIRTY YEARS OF CREDITABLE SERVICE AND TO MAKE CONFORMING AMENDMENTS; BY AMENDING 9-1-1310, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD AS TRUSTEE OF THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, SO AS TO CONFORM THIS REFERENCE TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENT COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN THIS ACT AND ALLOW EQUITY INVESTMENTS AS PERMITTED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THIS STATE; BY AMENDING SECTIONS 9-16-10, 9-16-80, AND 9-16-90, RELATING TO DEFINITIONS, MEETINGS, AND REPORTING FOR PURPOSES OF INVESTMENTS OF RETIREMENT SYSTEM FUNDS BY THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, SO AS TO CONFORM THESE PROVISIONS TO THE ROLE OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENT COMMISSION ESTABLISHED IN THIS ACT; BY AMENDING ARTICLE III, CHAPTER 9 OF THE 1976 CODE, SO AS TO REVISE THE DUTIES OF THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS INVESTMENT PANEL, ESTABLISH THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENT COMMISSION AND PROVIDE FOR ITS MEMBERS, POWERS, AND DUTIES AS TRUSTEE OF THE ASSETS AND INVESTOR OF THE FUNDS OF THE STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM, CONFORM THE INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS TO THE ROLE OF THIS COMMISSION INCLUDING THE VESTING IN IT OF ALL INVESTMENT AUTHORITY AND THE ELIMINATION OF A MAXIMUM LIMIT ON EQUITY INVESTMENTS AND ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL STANDARDS OF CONDUCT FOR FIDUCIARIES; BY AMENDING SECTION 8-17-310, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO EXEMPTIONS FROM THE STATE EMPLOYEE GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE ACT, SO AS TO EXEMPT EMPLOYEES OF THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM INVESTMENT COMMISSION; BY AMENDING SECTION 30-4-70, AS AMENDED, RELATING TO MEETINGS EXEMPT FROM THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, SO AS TO CONFORM THE EXEMPTION TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, TO PROVIDE FOR AN ASSUMED INVESTMENT RETURN ON RETIREMENT SYSTEM ASSETS OF NOT LESS THAN EIGHT PERCENT A YEAR, AND TO PROVIDE TRANSITION PROVISIONS.

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

SECTION    1.    This act may be cited as the State Retirement System Preservation and Investment Reform Act.

SECTION    1.    Section 9-1-1790 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 25 of 2001, is further amended by adding a new subsection at the end to read:

"(C)    A retired member shall pay to the system the employee contribution for active members if an employer participating in the system employs the retired member. The retired member does not accrue additional service credit in the system by reason of the contributions required pursuant to this subsection and subsection (B) of this section."

SECTION    2.    A.    Section 8-11-620(A) of the 1976 Code, as amended by Act 356 of 2002, is further amended to read:

"(A)(1)    Upon termination from state employment, an employee may take both annual leave and a lump-sum payment for unused leave, but in no event shall such this combination may not exceed forty-five days in a calendar year except as provided for in Section 8-11-610. If an employee dies, his the employee's legal representative shall be is entitled to a lump-sum payment for his the employee's unused leave, not to exceed forty-five working days, except as provided for in Section 8-11-610.

(2)    Upon retirement from state employment or upon the death of an employee if the member does not elect to participate in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program, a lump-sum payment will be made must be paid for unused leave, not to exceed forty-five days, unless a higher maximum is approved under the provisions of pursuant to Section 8-11-610, and without regard to the earned leave taken during the calendar year in which the employee retires.

(3)    Upon retirement from state employment, if the employee participates in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program, the employee shall not receive payment for unused annual leave until the employee terminates from state employment and ends participation in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program. Upon termination of state employment and participation in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program, a lump-sum must be paid for unused leave, not to exceed forty-five days, unless a higher maximum is approved pursuant to Section 8-11-610, and without regard to the earned leave taken during the calendar year in which the employee retires."

B.    Section 9-1-2210 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 1 of 2001, is amended to read:

"Section 9-1-2210.    (A)    An active contributing member who is eligible for service retirement under this chapter and complies with the requirements of this article may elect to participate in the Teacher and Employee Retention Incentive Program (program). A member electing to participate in the program retires for purposes of the system, and the member's normal retirement benefit is calculated on the basis of the member's average final compensation and service credit at the time the program period begins. The program participant shall agree to continue employment with an employer participating in the system for a program period, not to exceed five years. The member shall notify the system before the beginning of the program period. Participation in the program does not guarantee employment for the specified program period.

(B)    After June 30, 2005, and notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9-1-10(4), a payment for unused annual leave is not included in calculating a member's deferred program benefit during the program period. The member's average final compensation for the purpose of calculating the deferred program retirement benefit must be solely the average of the member's highest twelve consecutive quarters of earnable compensation at the time the member enters the program. During the specified program period, receipt of the member's normal retirement benefit is deferred. The member's deferred monthly program benefit must be placed in the system's trust fund on behalf of the member. No interest is paid on the member's deferred monthly program benefit placed in the system's trust fund during the specified program period.

(C)    During the specified program period, the employer shall pay to the system the employer contribution for active members prescribed by law with respect to any program participant it employs, regardless of whether the program participant is a full-time or part-time employee, or a temporary or permanent employee. The program participant shall pay to the system the employee contribution for active members. The program participant does not accrue additional service credit in the system. If an employer who is obligated to the system pursuant to this subsection fails to pay the amount due, as determined by the system, the amount must be deducted from any funds payable to the employer by the State.

(D)    A program participant is retired from the retirement system as of the beginning of the program period. A program participant accrues no service credit during the program period, and is not eligible to receive group life insurance benefits or disability retirement benefits. Accrued annual leave and sick leave used in any manner in the calculation of the program participant's retirement benefit is deducted from the amount of such sick leave accrued by the participant.

(E)    A program participant is retired for retirement benefit purposes only. For employment purposes, a program participant is considered to be an active employee, retaining all other rights and benefits of an active employee and is not subject to the earnings limitation of Section 9-1-1790 during the program period.

(F)    Upon termination of employment either during or at the end of the program period, the member must receive the balance in the member's program account by electing one of the following distribution alternatives:

(1)    a lump-sum distribution, paying appropriate taxes; or

(2)    to the extent permitted under law, a tax sheltered rollover into an eligible plan.

For members who began participation in the program before July 1, 2005, the member also must receive the previously determined normal retirement benefits based upon the member's average final compensation and service credit at the time the program period began, plus any applicable cost of living increases declared during the program period. The program participant is thereafter subject to the earnings limitation of Section 9-1-1790.

Upon termination of employment of members who began participation in the program after June 30, 2005, the Retirement Systems shall recalculate the average final compensation of the member to determine the benefit the member receives after participation in the program. The average final compensation calculated at the commencement of the program must be increased by: an amount up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave received by the member at termination of employment, divided by three. The member's benefit after participation in the program must be calculated in accordance with Section 9-1-1550, utilizing the recalculated average final compensation determined in this subsection, and the member's service credit, including sick leave, as of the date member began participation in the program, plus any cost of living increases declared during the program period with respect to the amount of the member's deferred program benefit.

(G)    If a program participant dies during the specified program period, the member's designated beneficiary must receive the balance in the member's program account by electing one of the following distribution alternatives:

(1)    a lump-sum distribution, paying appropriate taxes; or

(2)    to the extent permitted under law, a tax sheltered rollover into an eligible plan.

In accordance with the form of system benefit selected by the member at the time the program commenced, the member's designated beneficiary must receive either a survivor benefit or a refund of contributions from the member's system account.

If a program participant who began participation in the program before July 1, 2005, elected either Option B or Option C under Section 9-1-1620, the average final compensation calculated when the member commenced the program must be used in determining the survivor benefit.

If a program participant who began participation in the program after June 30, 2005 elected a survivor option, then the survivor shall receive a survivor benefit based on a recalculated average final compensation. The average final compensation calculated at the commencement of the program must be increased by an amount up to and including forty-five days' termination pay for unused annual leave received by the member's legal representative at the member's death, divided by three. The survivor benefit must be calculated in accordance with Section 9-1-1550, utilizing the recalculated average final compensation determined in this subsection, and the member's service credit, including sick leave, as of the date the member began participation in the program, plus any cost of living increases declared during the program period with respect to the amount of the member's deferred program benefit.

(H)    If a program participant fails to terminate employment with an employer participating in the retirement system within one month after the end of the specified program period, the member must receive the previously determined normal retirement benefits based upon the member's average final compensation and service credit at the time the program began, plus any applicable cost of living increases declared during the program period. The program participant is thereafter subject to the earnings limitation of Section 9-1-1790. The program participant also must receive the balance in the member's program account by selecting one of the following alternatives:

(1)    a lump-sum distribution, paying appropriate taxes; or

(2)    to the extent permitted under law, a tax sheltered rollover into an eligible plan. (1)    A program participant must terminate employment no later than the fifth annual anniversary of the date the member commenced participation in the program.

(2)    Notwithstanding Section 9-1-1790 or any other provision of law, a program participant who began TERI participation after June 30, 2005, is ineligible to be employed by an employer covered under this chapter or Chapter 11 of this title except:

(a)    a member returning to a position of teacher specialist or principal specialist as provided in Section 59-18-1530;

(b)    a certified teacher returning to employment as provided in Section 9-1-1795; or

(c)    a teacher who terminates employment during the school year and, with the written approval of the district superintendent, returns to employment to complete the school year.

(I)    A member is not eligible to participate in the program if the member has participated previously in and received a benefit under this program or any other state retirement system."

SECTION    3.    9-1-1790 (A) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 25 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"(A) A retired member of the system who has been retired for at least sixty days may return to employment covered by the system. and earn up to fifty thousand dollars a fiscal year without affecting the monthly retirement allowance he is receiving from the system. If the retired member continues in service after having earned fifty thousand dollars in a fiscal year, his retirement allowance must be discontinued during his period of service in the remainder of the fiscal year. If the employment continues for at least forty-eight consecutive months, the provisions of Section 9-1-1590 apply. If a retired member of the system returns to employment covered by the system sooner than sixty days after retirement, the member's retirement allowance is suspended while the member remains employed by the participating employer. If an employer fails to notify the system of the engagement of a retired member to perform services, the employer shall reimburse the system for all benefits wrongly paid to the retired member."

SECTION    1.    Article 5, Chapter 1, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 9-1-495.    Effective January 1, 2006, there are two classes of service credit that may be earned by SCRS30 participants: Class A Service and Class B Service. SCRS30 participants shall not participate in SCRS under Class I or Class II membership, but rather will earn either Class A Service or Class B Service. SCRS28 participants shall not earn either Class A Service or Class B Service.

The employer contribution rate for all SCRS30 participants is the same as the employer contribution rate for Class II SCRS28 participants.

An SCRS30 participant of the South Carolina Retirement System who began membership in the system after December 31, 2005, within thirty consecutive days after joining the system, shall file with the system an election form designating whether the member will earn Class A Service or Class B Service. The election form described in this section must be prescribed by the system. If a member fails to make the election specified in this section within the period required by this section, the member is considered to have elected to earn Class A Service."

SECTION    2.    Article 13, Chapter 1, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 9-1-1520.    (A)    In addition to other types of retirement provided by this chapter, an SCRS30 participant may elect early retirement if the SCRS30 participant:

(1)    has five or more years of earned service;

(2)    has at least twenty-eight years of creditable service; and

(3)    has separated from service.

A member electing early retirement shall apply in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1510.

(B)    The benefits for an SCRS30 participant electing early retirement under this section must be calculated in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1550, except that in lieu of any other reduction factor, the SCRS30 participant's early retirement allowance is reduced by twelve percent a year, prorated for periods less than one year, for each year of creditable service less than thirty years.

(C)    An SCRS30 participant who elects early retirement under this section is ineligible to receive any cost-of-living increase provided by law to retirees until the earlier of the:

(1)    second July first after the date the SCRS30 participant attains age sixty; or

(2)    second July first after the date an SCRS30 participant would have thirty years creditable service had he not retired."

SECTION    3.    A.    Section 9-1-10(18) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"(18)    'Member' means a teacher or employee included in the membership of the system as provided in Article 5 of this chapter. The term member includes SCRS28 participants and SCRS30 participants."

B.    Section 9-1-10 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 77 of 2003, is further amended by adding two new items at the end to read:

"(31)    'SCRS28 participant' means a member of the South Carolina Retirement System who began membership in the system before January 1, 2006, and had contributions on account with the system as of December 31, 2005. However, an active contributing participant in the State Optional Retirement Program as of December 31, 2005, may become an SCRS28 participant in the system if the participant is eligible to join the South Carolina Retirement System pursuant to Section 9-20-40(B) during the open enrollment period from January 1, 2006, through March 1, 2006, and elects to join the system no later than March 1, 2006. If a member of the South Carolina Retirement System who had contributions on account with the system as of December 31, 2005, withdraws those contributions after December 31, 2005, the member is no longer an SCRS28 participant and upon subsequently rejoining the system, shall join the system as an SCRS30 participant.

(32)    'SCRS30 participant' means a member of the South Carolina Retirement System who began membership in the system after December 31, 2005. However, an active contributing participant in the State Optional Retirement Program as of December 31, 2005, may become an SCRS28 participant of the system if the participant is eligible to join the South Carolina Retirement System under Section 9-20-40(B) during the open enrollment period from January 1, 2006 to March 1, 2006, and elects to join the system no later than March 1, 2006. If a member of the South Carolina Retirement System who had contributions on account with the system as of December 31, 2005, withdraws those contributions after December 31, 2005, the participant is no longer an SCRS28 participant and subsequently upon rejoining the system, shall join the system as an SCRS30 participant."

SECTION    4.    The third undesignated paragraph of Section 9-1-1020 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 475 of 1988, is further amended to read:

"The rates of the deductions must be, without regard to a member's coverage under the Social Security Act, as follows:

(a)    in the case of Class One members SCRS28 participants, five percent of earnable compensation; and

(b)    in the case of Class Two members SCRS28 participants and SCRS30 participants earning Class A Service, six percent of earnable compensation; and

(c)    in the case of SCRS30 participants earning Class B Service, eight and sixty-six hundredths percent of earnable compensation."

SECTION    5.    Section 9-1-1140 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 77 of 2003, is further amended by adding three new subsections at the end to read:

"(N)    An active member who is an SCRS30 participant may establish Class A Service for the same types of service, at the same cost, and under the same conditions provided in items (A) through (M) of this section.

(O)    An active member who is an SCRS30 participant may establish Class B Service for the same types of service and under the same conditions provided in items (A) through (M) of this section, however, the cost for each type of service purchased as Class B Service under this subsection must be determined by the board, based on the recommendation of the system's actuary.

(P)    An active member who is an SCRS30 participant and is currently earning Class B Service, may convert the member's Class A Service into Class B Service by paying an amount to be determined by the board, based on the recommendation of the system's actuary."

SECTION    6.    Section 9-1-1510 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 1 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 9-1-1510.    (A)    A member An SCRS28 participant may retire upon written application to the system setting forth at what time, no more than ninety days before nor more than six months after the execution and filing of the application, the member SCRS28 participant desires to be retired, if the member SCRS28 participant at the time specified for the member's service retirement has:

(1)    five or more years of earned service;

(2)    attained the age of sixty years or has twenty-eight or more years of creditable service; and

(3)    separated from service.

(B)    An SCRS30 participant may retire upon written application to the system setting forth at what time, no more than ninety days before nor more than six months after the execution and filing of the application, the SCRS30 participant desires to be retired, if the SCRS30 participant at the time specified for the member's service retirement has:

(1)    five or more years of earned service;

(2)    attained the age of sixty years or has thirty or more years of creditable service; and

(3)    separated from service.

(C)    A member who is an elected official whose annual compensation is less than the earnings limitation pursuant to Section 9-1-1790 and who is otherwise eligible for service retirement may retire for purposes of this section without a break in service."

SECTION    7.    Subsections (B) and (C) of Section 9-1-1515 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 1 of 2001, are further amended to read:

"(B)    The benefits for a member electing early retirement under this section must be calculated in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1550, except that in lieu of any other reduction factor, the member's early retirement allowance is reduced by four percent a year, prorated for periods less than one year, for each year of creditable service less than twenty-eight for SCRS28 participants and thirty for SCRS30 participants.

(C)    A member who elects early retirement under this section is ineligible to receive any cost-of-living increase provided by law to retirees until the earlier of the:

(1)    second July first after the date the member attains age sixty; or

(2)    second July first after the date the member an SCRS28 participant would have twenty-eight years creditable service had he not retired, whichever is earlier or the date an SCRS30 participant would have thirty years creditable service had he not retired."

SECTION    8.    Section 9-1-1550 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 1 of 2001, is further amended to read:

"Section 9-1-1550.    (A) Upon retirement from service on or after July 1, 1964, a Class One member SCRS28 participant shall receive a service retirement allowance, which shall consist of:

(1)    an employee annuity which shall be the actuarial equivalent of his accumulated contributions at the time of his retirement; and

(2)    an employer annuity equal to the employee annuity allowable at the age of sixty-five years or at age of retirement, whichever is less, computed on the basis of contributions made prior to the age of sixty-five years; and

(3)    if he has a prior service certificate in full force and effect, an additional employer annuity which must be equal to the employee annuity which would have been provided at age sixty-five or at age of retirement, whichever is less, by twice the contributions which he would have made during his entire period of prior service had the system been in operation and had he contributed thereunder during such entire period.

Upon retirement from service after December 31, 2000, a Class One member SCRS28 participant shall receive a service retirement allowance computed as follows: If the member's service retirement date occurs on or after his sixty-fifth birthday, or after he has completed twenty-eight or more years of creditable service, the allowance must be equal to one and forty-five hundredths percent of his average final compensation multiplied by the number of years of his creditable service.

If the member's SCRS28 participant's service retirement date occurs before his sixty-fifth birthday and before he completes twenty-eight years of creditable service, his service retirement allowance is computed as above, but is reduced by five-twelfths of one percent thereof for each month by which his retirement date precedes the first day of the month, prorated for periods less than a month, coincident with or next following his sixty-fifth birthday.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any Class One member SCRS28 participant who retires on or after July 1, 1976, shall receive not less than the benefit provided under the formula in effect before July 1, 1976.

(B)    Upon retirement from service after December 31, 2000, a Class Two member SCRS28 participant shall receive a service retirement allowance computed as follows:

(1)    If the member SCRS28 participant's service retirement date occurs on or after his sixty-fifth birthday or after he has completed twenty-eight or more years of creditable service, the allowance must be equal to one and eighty-two hundredths percent of his average final compensation, multiplied by the number of years of his creditable service.

(2)    If the member's SCRS28 participant's service retirement date occurs before his sixty-fifth birthday and before he completes the twenty-eight years of creditable service, his service retirement allowance is computed as in item (1) above but is reduced by five-twelfths of one percent thereof for each month, prorated for periods less than a month, by which his retirement date precedes the first day of the month coincident with or next following his sixty-fifth birthday.

(3)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a Class Two member SCRS28 participant whose creditable service began before July 1, 1964, shall receive not less than the benefit provided by subsection (A) of this section.

(C)    Upon retirement from service after December 31, 2005, an SCRS30 participant shall receive a service retirement allowance computed as follows:

(1)    If an SCRS30 participant's service retirement date occurs on or after his sixty-fifth birthday or after he has completed thirty or more years of creditable service, the allowance must be equal to the sum of:

(a)    one and eighty-two hundredths percent of his average final compensation, multiplied by the number of years of his Class A Service; and

            (b)    two and thirty-nine hundredths percent of his average final compensation, multiplied by the number of years of his Class B Service.

(2)    If an SCRS30 participant's service retirement date occurs before his sixty-fifth birthday and before he completes the thirty years of creditable service, his service retirement allowance is computed as in item (1) above but is reduced by five-twelfths of one percent thereof for each month, prorated for periods less than a month, by which his retirement date precedes the first day of the month coincident with or next following his sixty-fifth birthday."

SECTION    9.    Section 9-1-1660(A)(3) of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 387 of 2000, is further amended to read:

"(3)    has either attained the age of sixty years or has accumulated fifteen years or more of creditable service, elect to receive in lieu of the accumulated contributions an allowance for life in the same amount as if the deceased member had retired at the time of the member's death and had named the person as beneficiary under an election of Option B of Section 9-1-1620(A). For purposes of the benefit calculation, a member an SCRS28 participant under age sixty with less than twenty-eight years credit is assumed to be sixty years of age. For purposes of the benefit calculation, an SCRS30 participant under age sixty with less than thirty years credit is assumed to be sixty years of age."

SECTION    1.    Section 9-1-1310 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

"Section 9-1-1310.    (A)    The board is the trustee of the funds of the system, and may shall invest and reinvest the these funds, subject to all the terms, conditions, limitations, and restrictions imposed by Article 7, Chapter 9, Title 11, upon the investment of sinking funds of the State, and, subject to like terms, conditions, and limitation, and restrictions, may hold, purchase, sell, assign, transfer, and dispose of any of the securities and investments in which the funds created in this chapter have been invested, plus the proceeds of these investments and any monies belonging to these funds. Additionally, and without regard to the limitations imposed pursuant to Article 7, Chapter 9, Title 11, the board may invest and reinvest the funds of the system in equity securities of a corporation within the United States that is registered on a national stock exchange as provided in the Securities Exchange Act, 1934, or a successor act, or quoted through the National Association of Securities Dealers Automatic Quoting System, or similar service Section 16, Article X of the South Carolina Constitution, subsection (B) of this section, and Chapter 16 of this Title.

(B)    Except as prohibited by Section 16, Article X of the South Carolina Constitution and Chapter 16 of this Title, the funds of the system may be invested in, including but not limited to, the following:

(1)    bonds of this State, other states of the United States, the United States, or any political subdivisions or agency thereof;

(2)    banks and savings and loan institutions;

(3)    top-rated commercial paper;

(4)    funds of funds;

(5)    foreign certificates of deposit;

(6)    short-term debt;

(7)    investment trust securities;

(8)    real estate securities;

(9)    foreign fixed-income obligations;

(10)    futures and options regulated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission;

(11)    private equity;

(12)    domestic and foreign group trusts;

(13)    investment vehicles of Federal Deposit Insurance;

(14)    bonds of foreign countries designated industrialized by the International Monetary Fund;

(15)    collateralized mortgage obligations;

(16)    World Bank bonds;

(17)    debt of the United States or Canadian corporations collateralized at least fifty percent;

(18)    equipment trust debt;

(19)    purchase money mortgages received for real estate; or

(20)    real estate investment trusts.

(C)    The funds and assets of the various state retirement systems are not funds of the State, but are instead held in trust as provided in Section 9-16-20."

SECTION    2.    Section 9-16-10 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 371 of 1998, is amended to read:

"Section 9-16-10.    As used in this chapter, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context:

(1)    'Assets' means all funds, investments, and similar property of the retirement system.

(2)    'Beneficiary' means a person, other than the participant, who is designated by a participant or by a retirement program to receive a benefit under the program.

(3)    'Board Commission' means the State Budget and Control Board acting as trustee of the retirement system Retirement System Investment Commission.

(4)    'Fiduciary' means a person who:

(a)    exercises any authority to invest or manage assets of a system;

(b)    provides investment advice for a fee or other direct or indirect compensation with respect to assets of a system or has any authority or responsibility to do so; or

(c)    is a member of the State Budget and Control Board when it acts as trustee for the retirement system. commission; or

(d)    is the commission's chief investment officer.

(5)    'Participant' means an individual who is or has been an employee enrolled in a retirement program and who is or may become eligible to receive or is currently receiving a benefit under the program. The term does not include an individual who is no longer an employee of an employer as defined by laws governing the retirement system and who has withdrawn his contributions from the retirement system.

(6)    [Reserved]'Panel' means the State Retirement Systems Investment Panel established pursuant to Section 9-16-310.

(7)    'Retirement program' means a program of rights and obligations which a retirement system establishes or maintains and which, by its express terms or as a result of surrounding circumstances:

(a)    provides retirement benefits to qualifying employees and beneficiaries; or

(b)    results in a deferral of income by employees for periods extending to the termination of covered employment or beyond.

(8)    'Retirement system' means the South Carolina Retirement System, Retirement System for Judges and Solicitors, Retirement System for Members of the General Assembly, and Police Officers Retirement System established pursuant to Chapters 1, 8, 9, and 11 of this title.

(9)    'Trustee' means the State Budget and Control Board commission."

SECTION    3.    Section 9-16-80 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 371 of 1998, is amended to read:

"Section 9-16-80.    (A)    Meetings by the board while acting as trustee of the retirement system commission or by its fiduciary agents to deliberate about, or make tentative or final decisions on, investments or other financial matters may be in executive session if disclosure of the deliberations or decisions would jeopardize the ability to implement a decision or to achieve investment objectives.

(B)    A record of the board commission or of its fiduciary agents that discloses deliberations about, or a tentative or final decision on, investments or other financial matters is exempt from the disclosure requirements of Chapter 4 of Title 30, the Freedom of Information Act, to the extent and so long as its disclosure would jeopardize the ability to implement an investment decision or program or to achieve investment objectives."

SECTION    4.    Section 9-16-90 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 371 of 1998, is amended to read:

"Section 9-16-90.    (A)    The trustees shall provide investment reports at least quarterly during the fiscal year to the panel State Budget and Control Board, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and other appropriate officials and entities.

(B)    In addition to the quarterly reports provided in subsection (A), the trustees shall provide an annual report to the panel State Budget and Control Board, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, members of the House of Representatives or Senate, but only upon their request, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and other appropriate officials and entities of the investment status of the retirement systems. The report must contain:

(1)    a description of a material interest held by a trustee, fiduciary, or an employee who is a fiduciary with respect to the investment and management of assets of the system, or by a related person, in a material transaction with the system within the last three years or proposed to be effected;

(2)    a schedule of the rates of return, net of total investment expense, on assets of the system overall and on assets aggregated by category over the most recent one-year, three-year, five-year, and ten-year periods, to the extent available, and the rates of return on appropriate benchmarks for assets of the system overall and for each category over each period;

(3)    a schedule of the sum of total investment expense and total general administrative expense for the fiscal year expressed as a percentage of the fair value of assets of the system on the last day of the fiscal year, and an equivalent percentage for the preceding five fiscal years; and

(4)    a schedule of all assets held for investment purposes on the last day of the fiscal year aggregated and identified by issuer, borrower, lessor, or similar party to the transaction stating, if relevant, the asset's maturity date, rate of interest, par or maturity value, number of shares, costs, and fair value and identifying an asset that is in default or classified as uncollectible.

These disclosure requirements are cumulative to and do not replace other reporting requirements provided by law."

SECTION    5.    Article 3, Chapter 16, Title 9 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

Section 9-16-310.    There is created the State Retirement Systems Investment Panel, consisting of five members, one each appointed by the Governor, State Treasurer, Comptroller General, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives, and the chairman of the Senate Finance Commission. The member appointed by the Governor shall serve as chairman. All members appointed to the panel must possess substantial financial investment experience. No person may be appointed or continue to serve who is an elected or appointed officer or employee of the State or any of its political subdivisions, including school districts. Members shall serve for terms of two years and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Vacancies must be filled for the unexpired term in the manner of the original appointment. Members shall serve without compensation, but may receive the mileage, subsistence, and per diem authorized by law for members of state boards, commissions, and committees as a retirement system expense to be paid from approved accounts of the retirement system. The panel shall advise the chief investment officer of the Retirement System Investment Commission in the preparation of the annual investment plan in the manner that the chief investment officer determines appropriate.

Section 9-16-315.    (A)    There is established the Retirement System Investment Commission (RSIC) consisting of six members as follows:

(1)    one member appointed by the Governor;

(2)    one member appointed by the State Treasurer;

(3)    one member appointed by the Comptroller General;

(4)    one member appointed by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee;

(5)    one member appointed by the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the House of Representatives;

(6)    one member who is a retired member of the retirement system who shall serve without voting privileges. This representative member must be appointed by unanimous vote of the voting members of the commission.

Members shall serve for terms of five years and until their successors are appointed and qualify, except that of those first appointed, the appointees of the Comptroller General and the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee shall serve for terms of three years and the appointee of the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means and the representative appointee shall serve for terms of one year. Terms are deemed to expire after June thirtieth of the year in which the term is due to expire. Members are appointed for a term and may be removed before the term expires only by the Governor for the reasons provided in Section 1-3-240(C).

The commission shall select one of the voting members to serve as chairman and shall select those other officers it determines necessary.

(B)    Each member shall receive three thousand dollars quarterly as compensation for his service on the commission during the preceding three months. Each member is allowed the mileage, subsistence, and per diem allowed by law for members of state boards, committees, and commissions.

(C)    A person may not be appointed to the commission unless the person possesses at least one of the following qualifications:

(1)    the Chartered Financial Analyst credential of the CFA Institute;

(2)    the Certified Financial Planner credential of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards;

(3)    at least ten years professional securities broker experience;

(4)    at least ten years professional actuarial experience;

(5)    at least ten years professional teaching experience in economics or finance; or

(6)    an earned Ph.D. in economics or finance.

No person may be appointed or continue to serve who is an elected or appointed officer or employee of the State or any of it political subdivisions, including school districts.

(D)    The Retirement System Investment Commission is established to serve as the trustee of the retirement system and to invest the funds of the retirement system. All of the powers and duties of the State Budget and Control Board and State Treasurer with respect to the commission's function as trustee and investor in equity securities and the State Treasurer's function of investing in fixed income instruments are transferred to and devolved upon the Retirement System Investment Commission. To assist the commission in its investment function, it shall employ a chief investment officer, who under the direction and supervision of the commission, and as its agent, shall develop and maintain annual investment plans and invest and oversee the investment of retirement system funds. The chief investment officer serves at the pleasure of the commission and must receive the compensation the commission determines appropriate. The commission may employ the other professional, administrative, and clerical personnel it determines necessary and fix their compensation. All employees of the commission are employees-at-will. The compensation of the chief investment officer and other employees of the commission is not subject to the state compensation plan.

(E)    The administrative costs of the Retirement System Investment Commission must be paid from the earnings of the state retirement system in the manner provided in Section 9-1-1310.

Section 9-16-320.    (A)    The panel commission shall meet no later than May first of each year to adopt the proposed annual investment plan for the retirement systems for the next fiscal year. The annual investment plan must be developed by the panel chief investment officer. No later than June April first of each year, the panel chief investment officer shall submit the proposed plan to the board commission. Amendments may be made to the plan by the panel commission during the fiscal year with the approval of the board.

(B)    The panel commission shall meet at least once during each fiscal year quarter for the purposes of reviewing the performance of investments, assessing compliance with the annual investment plan, and determining whether to recommend amendments to amend the plan to the board. The panel commission shall meet at such other times as are set by the panel commission or the chairman or requested by the board commission.

(C)    The panel commission may discuss, deliberate on, and make decisions on a portion of the annual investment plan or other related financial or investment matters in executive session if disclosure thereof would jeopardize the ability to implement that portion of the plan or achieve investment objectives.

(D)    A record of the panel or of the Retirement System commission that discloses discussions, deliberations, or decisions on portions of the annual investment plan or other related financial or investment matters is not a public record under Section 30-4-20 to the extent and so long as its disclosure would jeopardize the ability to implement that portion of the plan or achieve investment objectives.

(E)    [Reserved]    The costs of administering the duties of the panel must be paid from the investment earnings of these systems. Administrative and clerical assistance to the panel must be provided. The board must approve all reasonable expenses of the panel in performing its duties under this section.

(F)    [Reserved]    The panel does not act as a fiduciary with respect to the funds of the retirement system, but must exercise reasonable care and skill in carrying out its duties.

(G)    The panel commission may retain independent advisors to assist it and periodically shall provide for an outside evaluation of the investment strategy of the board.

Section 9-16-330.    (A)    The board commission shall provide the panel chief investment officer with a statement of actuarial assumptions and general investment objectives. The board commission shall review the statement annually for the purpose of affirming or changing it and advise the panel chief investment officer of its actions.

(B)    The annual investment plan must be consistent with actions taken by the board commission pursuant to subsection (A) and must include, but is not limited to, the following components:

(1)    general operational and investment policies;

(2)    investment objectives and performance standards;

(3)    investment strategies, which may include indexed or enhanced indexed strategies as the preferred or exclusive strategies for equity investing, and an explanation of the reasons for the selection of each strategy;

(4)    industry sector, market sector, issuer, and other allocations of assets that provide diversification in accordance with prudent investment standards, including desired rates of return and acceptable levels of risks for each asset class;

(5)    policies and procedures providing flexibility in responding to market contingencies;

(6)    procedures and policies for selecting, monitoring, compensating, and terminating investment consultants, equity investment managers, and other necessary professional service providers; and

(7)    methods for managing the costs of the investment activities.

(C)    In developing the annual investment plan, the panel chief investment officer shall:

(1)    diversify the investments of the retirement systems, unless the panel commission reasonably determines that, because of special circumstances, it is clearly not prudent to do so; and

(2)    make a reasonable effort to verify facts relevant to the investment of assets of the retirement systems.

Section 9-16-340.    (A)    The State Budget and Control Board commission, as trustee of the retirement system, acting through the chief investment officer shall invest and reinvest the assets of the retirement systems as provided in Section 9-1-1310. The State Treasurer shall serve as the agent of the board with respect to investments made pursuant to Article 7, Chapter 9, Title 11. Investments allowed by law in equities may be made by the board in the manner it shall determine, consistent with Section 9-16-330 and consistent with its fiduciary duties with respect to the retirement funds. The board commission may employ or retain administrators, agents, consultants, or other advisors it considers necessary with respect to making equity investments. The board is subject to the provisions of Chapter 23 of Title 1, the Administrative Procedures Act, in the implementation of this article The chief investment officer may use the services of the State Treasurer in making nonequity security investments as the chief investment officer determines appropriate.

(B)    After receiving the proposed plan of the panel chief investment officer, the board commission shall adopt an annual investment plan, which must be implemented by the board commission through the chief investment officer. The board commission shall regularly review the plan implementation and makes amendments as it considers appropriate. The plan must include the minimum and maximum portions of system assets that may be allocated to equity investments on an ongoing basis not to exceed seventy percent.

(C)    The plan adopted must provide:

(1)    the minimum and maximum portions of system assets that may be allocated to equity investments on an ongoing basis not to exceed forty percent and the minimum and maximum portions of system assets not to exceed ten percent that may be allocated to additional equity investment during the plan fiscal year. When investments in equities attain the maximum allocation allowed by this item, up to forty percent of current member and employer contributions to the retirement system may be invested in equities. If, due to growth in value of equity investments, equity investments exceed forty percent of the total assets of the retirement system, this subsection does not require the sale of equities to reduce the percentage of equities to forty percent;

(2)    preference to brokerage firms domiciled in this State for conducting nondiscretionary brokerage transactions if these brokerage firms are able to meet the test of equal service and best execution in the purchase and sale of authorized investments.

Section 9-16-345.    In hiring and procurement, and consistent with its duties as trustee and fiduciary, the commission shall strive to assure that minorities and minority-owned businesses are represented.

Section 9-16-350.    (A)    It is unlawful for a member, employee, or agent of the panel commission or anyone acting on his behalf to use any information concerning panel commission activities to obtain any economic interest for himself, a member of his immediate family, an individual with whom he is associated, or a business with which he is associated.

(B)    If a member of the panel commission, an employee of the panel commission, or a member of his immediate family holds an economic interest in a blind trust, he is not considered to have violated the provisions of subsection (A) even if the acquisition of the economic interest by the blind trust would otherwise violate the provisions of subsection (A), if the existence of the blind trust and the manner of its control is disclosed to the State Ethics Commission and the Budget and Control Board commission.

(C)    A person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, must be imprisoned for not more than ten years and fined not more than one hundred thousand dollars.

(D)    The provisions of this section are cumulative to, and not in lieu of, any other provisions of law applicable to the panel commission and its members in the performance of official duties including, but not limited to, Chapter 13 of Title 8.

Section 9-16-360.    (A)    In addition to and not in lieu of the provisions of Section 9-16-350 and Chapter 13 of Title 8, and for the purposes of this article, there are the standards of conduct provided in subsection (B) of this section that apply for a fiduciary or employee of a fiduciary.

(B)    A fiduciary or employee of a fiduciary shall:

(1)    take no action to purchase or acquire services or property for the commission or the retirement system where the fiduciary or employee of the fiduciary, their family, or their business associates have a financial interest in the services or property;

(2)    take no action to invest retirement system funds in any share, or other security if the fiduciary or employee of the fiduciary, their family, or their business associates have an interest in, are underwriters of, or receive any fees from the investment;

(3)    have no interest in the profits or receive any benefit from a contract entered into by the fiduciary;

(4)    not use their positions to secure, solicit, or accept things of value, including gifts, travel, meals and lodging, and consulting fees for payment for outside employment, from parties doing or seeking to do business with or interested in matters before the fiduciary;

(5)    not represent, while serving as or in the employment of the fiduciary and for one year after leaving the fiduciary, any person, in any fashion, before any public agency, with respect to any matters in which the fiduciary personally participated while serving as or employed by the fiduciary;

(6)    not take any official action on matters that will result in a benefit to themselves, their family members, or their business associates;

(7)    not, during or after their term of service, disclose or use confidential information acquire in their official capacity as fiduciary or employee of the fiduciary, without proper authorization;

(8)    not use assets of the system for their own interests;

(9)    not act on behalf of a party whose interests are adverse to the system or the fiduciary, even if the member receives no personal gain;

(10)    not have any direct or indirect interest in the gains or profits of any system investment;

(11)    not make investments through or purchases from, or otherwise do any business with a former fiduciary member or employee or with a business that is owned or controlled by a former fiduciary member or employee, for a period of three years after the fiduciary member or employee leaves the fiduciary.

(C)    A breach of the standards provided in this section is grounds for the removal of a commission member as a conflict of interest pursuant to the Governor's removal powers under Section 1-3-240(C), for the dismissal of an employee of the commission, and in the case of a corporate fiduciary, at the commission's option, voiding any contract with the fiduciary."

SECTION    6.    Section 8-17-370 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 356 of 2002, is further amended by adding an appropriately numbered item at the end to read:

"( )    the chief investment officer and all other employees of the Retirement System Investment Commission."

SECTION    7.    Section 30-4-70(a)(6) of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 371 of 1998, is amended to read:

"(6)    The State Budget and Control Board, while meeting as the trustee of the State Retirement System, or of the State Retirement Systems Investment Panel Retirement System Investment Commission, if the meeting is in executive session specifically pursuant to Section 9-16-80(A) or 9-16-320(C)."

SECTION    8.    Upon implementation of the provisions of this Part, it is the intent of the General Assembly that the Retirement System Investment Commission shall seek to maximize the rate of return on retirement system assets.

SECTION    9.    Notwithstanding the general effective date provided for this act, the transfer of the trustee and investor functions provided by this Part occur October 1, 2005. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Part, the commission established by this Part shall adopt and implement an interim investment plan for the period October 1, 2005, through June 30, 2006.

SECTION    1.    (A)    Beginning October 1, 2005:

(1)    The Retirement System Investment Commission is the successor in interest in every respect of the State Budget and Control Board as trustee of the various state retirement systems. All assets and liabilities, appropriations, FTE's, employees, contracts, real and personal property, records, and archives of the State Budget and Control Board with respect to its duties as trustee of the various state retirement systems are transferred to and devolved upon the commission.

(2)    All legal and administrative claims filed against or with the State Budget and Control Board with respect to its capacity as trustee of the various state retirement systems are deemed to have been filed with or against the Retirement System Investment Commission and where appropriate, parties may be substituted.

(3)    All regulations promulgated and policies and procedures prescribed or otherwise adopted by the State Budget and Control Board, with respect to its capacity as trustee, are deemed to have been promulgated, prescribed, or adopted, as appropriate, by the Retirement System Investment Commission. References in any statute, regulation, or other document to the State Budget and Control Board in its capacity as trustee of the various state retirement systems are deemed to be references to the Retirement System Investment Commission established by this act.

(B)    It is the intention of the General Assembly that transfer required by this act occur seamlessly, and to this end, the Executive Director of the State Budget and Control Board and the State Treasurer shall insure an orderly transfer that allows no hiatus in the investment of the funds of the retirement systems.

SECTION    1.    If any part, section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this act is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this act, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this act, and each and every part, section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other parts, sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective.

SECTION    1.    This act takes effect July 1, 2005.

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