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                                 SENATE AMENDED
        PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 1686, 2183, 3059         PRINTER'S NO. 3981

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 1363 Session of 2001


        INTRODUCED BY S. H. SMITH, STABACK, NICKOL, SCHULER, McILHATTAN,
           FICHTER, GEORGE, CAPPELLI, ARMSTRONG, PERZEL, LAUGHLIN, WILT,
           CREIGHTON, SOLOBAY, DALEY, GEIST, CALTAGIRONE, YOUNGBLOOD,
           BASTIAN, WOJNAROSKI, C. WILLIAMS, THOMAS, LEWIS, PETRARCA,
           GRUCELA, BUNT, CURRY, JAMES, TRELLO, HUTCHINSON, GABIG,
           COLAFELLA, STEELMAN AND BELFANTI, APRIL 25, 2001

        SENATOR THOMPSON, APPROPRIATIONS, IN SENATE, RE-REPORTED AS
           AMENDED, JUNE 10, 2002

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of June 23, 1931 (P.L.932, No.317), entitled
     2     "An act relating to cities of the third class; and amending,
     3     revising, and consolidating the law relating thereto,"
     4     further providing FOR PAYMENTS UNDER EXISTING PENSION PLANS    <--
     5     AND for service increments to pensions of police and
     6     firefighters.

     7     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     8  hereby enacts as follows:
     9     Section 1.  Sections 4303(b) and 4322(b) of the act of June    <--
    10  23, 1931 (P.L.932, No.317), known as The Third Class City Code,
    11  reenacted and amended June 28, 1951 (P.L.662, No.164), are
    12  amended by adding clauses to read:
    13     Section 4303.  Allowances and Service Increments.--* * *
    14     SECTION 1.  SECTION 4303(A) OF THE ACT OF JUNE 23, 1931        <--
    15  (P.L.932, NO.317), KNOWN AS THE THIRD CLASS CITY CODE, REENACTED
    16  AND AMENDED JUNE 28, 1951 (P.L.662, NO.164) AND AMENDED DECEMBER

     1  17, 1990 (P.L.715, NO.178) IS AMENDED AND SUBSECTION (B) IS
     2  AMENDED BY ADDING A CLAUSE TO READ:
     3     SECTION 4303.  ALLOWANCES AND SERVICE INCREMENTS.--(A)
     4  PAYMENTS FOR ALLOWANCES SHALL NOT BE A CHARGE ON ANY OTHER FUND
     5  IN THE TREASURY OF THE CITY OR UNDER ITS CONTROL SAVE THE POLICE
     6  PENSION FUND HEREIN PROVIDED FOR. THE BASIS OF THE APPORTIONMENT
     7  OF THE PENSION SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE RATE OF THE MONTHLY
     8  PAY OF THE MEMBER AT THE DATE OF INJURY, DEATH, HONORABLE
     9  DISCHARGE, VESTING UNDER SECTION 4302.1 OR RETIREMENT, OR THE
    10  HIGHEST AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY WHICH THE MEMBER RECEIVED DURING
    11  ANY FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE PRECEDING INJURY, DEATH, HONORABLE
    12  DISCHARGE, VESTING UNDER SECTION 4302.1 OR RETIREMENT, WHICHEVER
    13  IS THE HIGHER, AND EXCEPT AS TO SERVICE INCREMENTS PROVIDED FOR
    14  IN SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION, SHALL [NOT IN ANY CASE EXCEED
    15  IN ANY YEAR] BE NO LESS THAN ONE-HALF THE ANNUAL PAY OF SUCH
    16  MEMBER COMPUTED AT SUCH MONTHLY OR AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE,
    17  WHICHEVER IS THE HIGHER.
    18     SECTION 1.  SECTION 4303(B) OF THE ACT OF JUNE 23, 1931        <--
    19  (P.L.932, NO.317), KNOWN AS THE THIRD CLASS CITY CODE, REENACTED
    20  AND AMENDED JUNE 28, 1951 (P.L.662, NO.164), IS AMENDED BY
    21  ADDING A CLAUSE AND THE SECTION IS AMENDED BY ADDING A
    22  SUBSECTION TO READ:
    23     SECTION 4303.  ALLOWANCES AND SERVICE INCREMENTS.--* * *
    24     (A.1)  THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (A) PROVIDING THAT THE
    25  APPORTIONMENT OF THE PENSION SHALL NOT IN ANY CASE EXCEED IN ANY
    26  YEAR ONE-HALF THE ANNUAL PAY OF SUCH MEMBER COMPUTED AT SUCH
    27  MONTHLY OR AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE, WHICHEVER IS THE HIGHER, SHALL
    28  NOT APPLY TO A CITY OF THE THIRD CLASS WHETHER OPERATING UNDER
    29  AN OPTIONAL CHARTER ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACT OF JULY
    30  15, 1957 (P.L.901, NO.399), KNOWN AS THE "OPTIONAL THIRD CLASS
    20010H1363B3981                  - 2 -

     1  CITY CHARTER LAW," OR UNDER A HOME RULE CHARTER ADOPTED IN
     2  ACCORDANCE WITH 53 PA.C.S. PT. III SUBPT. E (RELATING TO HOME
     3  RULE AND OPTIONAL PLAN GOVERNMENT), WHICH HAD IN EFFECT PENSION
     4  PLANS PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBSECTION THAT
     5  PROVIDED PENSIONS IN AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN FIFTY PERCENTUM OF
     6  SALARY.
     7     (b)  In addition to the retirement allowance which is
     8  authorized to be paid from the police pension fund by this act,
     9  and notwithstanding the limitations therein placed upon such
    10  retirement allowances and upon contributions, every contributor
    11  who shall become entitled to the retirement allowance shall also
    12  be entitled to the payment of a "service increment" in
    13  accordance with and subject to the conditions hereinafter set
    14  forth.
    15     * * *
    16     (6)  After the effective date of this clause, a city may
    17  agree to make service increment payments in excess of one
    18  hundred dollars ($100) per month, as long as such payments do
    19  not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per month, and in
    20  computing such service increments no employment after the
    21  contributor has reached the age of sixty-five years shall be
    22  included: Provided, That any agreement to provide an increase in
    23  service increment payments shall include a proportionate
    24  increase in the amount each contributor shall pay into the
    25  retirement fund under clause (2), not to exceed five dollars
    26  ($5) per month.
    27     * * *
    28     Section 4322.  Pensions and Service Increments.--* * *         <--
    29     SECTION 2.  SECTION 4322(A) OF THE ACT, AMENDED JUNE 16, 1993  <--
    30  (P.L.97, NO.21), IS AMENDED AND SUBSECTION (B) IS AMENDED BY
    20010H1363B3981                  - 3 -

     1  ADDING A CLAUSE TO READ:
     2     SECTION 4322.  PENSIONS AND SERVICE INCREMENTS.--(A)
     3  PAYMENTS OF PENSIONS SHALL NOT BE A CHARGE ON ANY FUND IN THE
     4  TREASURY OF THE CITY OR UNDER ITS CONTROL SAVE THE FIREMEN'S
     5  PENSION FUND HEREIN PROVIDED FOR. THE BASIS OF THE PENSION OF A
     6  MEMBER SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE MONTHLY SALARY OF THE MEMBER
     7  AT THE DATE OF VESTING UNDER SECTION 4320.1 OR RETIREMENT, OR
     8  THE HIGHEST AVERAGE ANNUAL SALARY WHICH HE RECEIVED DURING ANY
     9  FIVE YEARS OF SERVICE PRECEDING RETIREMENT, WHICHEVER IS THE
    10  HIGHER, WHETHER FOR DISABILITY, OR BY REASON OF AGE OR SERVICE,
    11  AND EXCEPT AS TO SERVICE INCREMENTS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBSECTION
    12  (B) OF THIS SECTION, SHALL BE NO LESS THAN ONE-HALF THE ANNUAL
    13  SALARY OF SUCH MEMBER AT THE TIME OF VESTING UNDER SECTION
    14  4320.1 OR RETIREMENT COMPUTED AT SUCH MONTHLY OR AVERAGE ANNUAL
    15  RATE, WHICHEVER IS THE HIGHER. IN THE CASE OF THE PAYMENT OF
    16  PENSIONS TO MEMBERS FOR PERMANENT INJURY INCURRED IN SERVICE,
    17  AND TO FAMILIES OF MEMBERS KILLED OR WHO DIE IN SERVICE, THE
    18  AMOUNT AND COMMENCEMENT OF THE PAYMENT OF PENSIONS SHALL BE
    19  FIXED BY REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD. SUCH REGULATIONS SHALL NOT
    20  TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE AMOUNT AND DURATION OF WORKMEN'S
    21  COMPENSATION ALLOWED BY LAW. PAYMENTS TO SURVIVING SPOUSES OF
    22  MEMBERS RETIRED ON PENSION OR KILLED IN THE SERVICE ON OR AFTER
    23  JANUARY 1, 1960, OR WHO DIE IN THE SERVICE ON OR AFTER JANUARY
    24  1, 1968, SHALL BE THE AMOUNT PAYABLE TO THE MEMBER OR WHICH
    25  WOULD HAVE BEEN PAYABLE HAD HE BEEN RETIRED AT THE TIME OF HIS
    26  DEATH.
    27     SECTION 2.  SECTION 4322(B) OF THE ACT IS AMENDED BY ADDING A  <--
    28  CLAUSE AND THE SECTION IS AMENDED BY ADDING A SUBSECTION TO
    29  READ:
    30     SECTION 4322.  PENSIONS AND SERVICE INCREMENTS.--* * *
    20010H1363B3981                  - 4 -

     1     (A.1)  THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (A) PROVIDING THAT THE
     2  BASIS OF THE PENSION SHALL BE ONE-HALF THE ANNUAL SALARY OF SUCH
     3  MEMBER AT THE TIME OF VESTING UNDER SECTION 4320.1 OR RETIREMENT
     4  COMPUTED AT SUCH MONTHLY OR AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE, WHICHEVER IS
     5  THE HIGHER, SHALL NOT APPLY TO A CITY OF THE THIRD CLASS WHETHER
     6  OPERATING UNDER AN OPTIONAL CHARTER ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
     7  THE ACT OF JULY 15, 1957 (P.L.901, NO.399), KNOWN AS THE
     8  "OPTIONAL THIRD CLASS CITY CHARTER LAW," OR UNDER A HOME RULE
     9  CHARTER ADOPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH 53 PA.C.S PT. III SUBPT. E
    10  (RELATING TO HOME RULE AND OPTIONAL PLAN GOVERNMENT), WHICH HAD
    11  IN EFFECT PENSION PLANS PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
    12  SUBSECTION THAT PROVIDED PENSIONS IN AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN
    13  FIFTY PERCENTUM OF SALARY.
    14     * * *
    15     (b)  In addition to the pension which is authorized to be
    16  paid from the firemen's pension fund by this act and
    17  notwithstanding the limitations therein placed upon such
    18  pensions and upon contributions, every contributor who shall
    19  become entitled to the pension shall also be entitled to the
    20  payment of a "service increment" in accordance with and subject
    21  to the conditions hereinafter set forth.
    22     * * *
    23     (6)  After the effective date of this clause, a city may
    24  agree to make service increment payments in excess of one
    25  hundred dollars ($100) per month, as long as such payments do
    26  not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) per month, and in
    27  computing such service increments no employment after the
    28  contributor has reached the age of sixty-five years shall be
    29  included: Provided, That any agreement to provide an increase in
    30  service increment payments shall include a proportionate
    20010H1363B3981                  - 5 -

     1  increase in the amount each contributor shall pay into the
     2  retirement fund under clause (2), not to exceed five dollars
     3  ($5) per month.
     4     Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.             <--
     5     SECTION 3.  INCREASES IN THE RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES OF MEMBERS  <--
     6  RESULTING FROM THE AMENDMENT OF SECTIONS 4303(A) AND 4322(A) OF
     7  THE ACT, WHICH EXCEED IN ANY YEAR ONE-HALF THE ANNUAL PAY OF THE
     8  MEMBER COMPUTED AT THE MONTHLY OR AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE, WHICHEVER
     9  IS THE HIGHER, AND THE USE OF ASSETS OF THE POLICE PENSION FUND
    10  OR FIREMAN'S PENSION FUND TO PROVIDE, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, TO
    11  RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS, FIREMAN OR THEIR DEPENDENTS, MAY NOT BE
    12  IMPLEMENTED EXCEPT UPON THE DETERMINATION BY THE PENSION FUND
    13  ACTUARY THAT CURRENT ASSETS OF THE PENSION FUND ARE, PURSUANT TO
    14  THE ACT OF DECEMBER 18, 1984 (P.L.1005, NO.205), KNOWN AS THE
    15  MUNICIPAL PENSION PLAN FUNDING STANDARD AND RECOVERY ACT,
    16  SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE THE INCREASE IN THE RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE
    17  OF MEMBERS, WITHOUT CREATING A CURRENT OR FUTURE UNFUNDED
    18  LIABILITY; AND THE FURTHER DETERMINATION OF THE PENSION FUND
    19  ACTUARY THAT, BASED UPON THE APPLICATION OF STANDARDS WIDELY
    20  ACCEPTED WITHIN THE ACTUARIAL INDUSTRY, THERE IS A DE MINIMIS
    21  RISK THAT THE PROPOSED INCREASES IN THE RETIREMENT ALLOWANCES OF
    22  MEMBERS WILL RESULT IN A FUTURE REQUIREMENT THAT THE CITY
    23  INCREASE PAYMENTS TO THE PENSION FUND IN ORDER TO MEET THE
    24  FUNDING REQUIREMENTS OF THE MUNICIPAL PENSION PLAN FUNDING
    25  STANDARD AND RECOVERY ACT.
    26     SECTION 4 3.  THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IMMEDIATELY.          <--



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