Section 476.601

Title XXXII COURTS

Chapter 476

Effective - 28 Aug 1997   

  476.601.  Special consultants, duties, compensation. — 1.  Beginning January 1, 1989, any person who was employed prior to August 28, 1997, who is receiving or thereafter shall receive retirement benefits pursuant to section 476.450, 476.530, 476.545, or 476.595, upon application to the board of trustees of the Missouri state employees' retirement system shall be made, constituted, appointed, and employed by the board as a special consultant on the problems of retirement, aging and other state matters for the remainder of the person's life.  Upon request of the board or the court from which the person retired, the consultant shall give opinions or be available to give opinions in writing or orally in response to such requests.  As compensation the consultant shall receive in addition to all other compensation provided by law a percentage increase in compensation each year computed upon the total amount that the consultant received in the previous year from state retirement benefits of eighty percent of the increase in the consumer price index calculated in the manner specified in section 104.415.  Any such annual increase in compensation, however, shall not exceed five percent, nor be less than four percent.  The total increase in compensation pursuant to the provisions of this subsection to each special consultant who also receives benefits pursuant to section 476.530 or 476.545 shall not exceed sixty-five percent of the initial benefit that the person receives after August 13, 1986.  The total increase in compensation pursuant to the provisions of this subsection to each special consultant who also receives benefits pursuant to section 476.450 or 476.595 shall not exceed sixty-five percent of the initial benefit that the person receives after January 1, 1989.

  2.  As additional compensation for the services described in subsection 1 of this section, each special consultant shall receive an annual percentage increase in the retirement benefit payable equal to eighty percent of the increase in the consumer price index.  Such benefit increase, however, shall not exceed five percent of the retirement benefit payable prior to the increase.  The annual benefit increase described in this subsection shall not be effective until the year in which the special consultant reaches the limit on total annual increases provided by subsection 1 of this section.  During that year on the anniversary date of the special consultant's retirement, the special consultant shall receive the benefit increase described in subsection 1 of this section or this subsection, whichever is greater.  After that year, the special consultant shall receive the annual benefit increase described in this subsection.  Any special consultant who reaches the limit on total annual benefit increases provided by subsection 1 of this section prior to October 1, 1996, shall receive the benefit increase described in this subsection on September 1, 1997.  Any special consultant who reaches the limit on total annual benefit increases provided by subsection 1 of this section on or after October 1, 1996, but before September 1, 1997, shall receive the benefit increase described in this subsection beginning on the anniversary date of the special consultant's retirement following September 1, 1997.  In no event shall any retroactive annual benefit increases be paid under this subsection to any special consultant who reached the limit provided in subsection 1 of this section prior to August 28, 1997.

  3.  Each person who is employed for the first time as a judge on or after August 28, 1997, and retires shall be entitled annually to a percentage increase in the retirement benefit payable equal to eighty percent of the increase in the consumer price index.  Such benefit increase, however, shall not exceed five percent of the retirement benefit payable prior to the increase.

  4.  Survivors of members described in subsection 3 of this section shall be entitled to the annual benefit increase described in subsection 3 of this section.

  5.  The compensation provided for in this section shall be payable in equal monthly installments and shall be consolidated with any retirement benefits.

  6.  The compensation provided for in this section and any benefits consolidated with the compensation shall be treated like any other state retirement benefits payable by the Missouri state employees' retirement system and shall not be subject to execution, garnishment, attachment, writ of sequestration, or any other process or claim whatsoever, and shall be unassignable.

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(L. 1986 H.B. 1496 § 476.600, A.L. 1995 H.B. 416, et al., A.L. 1997 H.B. 356)