§ 74-4958 — Retirement benefits; early retirement benefit reduction; death of retirant, lump-sum and annual spouse's benefit; refund of contributions to beneficiary

(1) Any member who retires on or after July 1, 1993, shall be entitled to receive an age and service retirement benefit equal to 2.5% of such member's final average salary multiplied by the number of years of credited service for which the member contributed at the contribution rate prescribed by subsection (1) of K.S.A. 74-4965, and amendments thereto, or for which such member made a lump sum repayment in accordance with the provisions of K.S.A. 74-4965, and amendments thereto, except that in no case shall such retirement benefit exceed 90% of such member's final average salary.
(2) Any member who is appointed or employed prior to July 1, 1989, who does not make an election pursuant to K.S.A. 74-4955a, and amendments thereto, and who retires before such member's normal retirement date shall receive an early retirement benefit equal to the annual retirement benefit payable had the member retired on the normal retirement date reduced by an amount equal to the product of (A) such annual retirement benefit payable had the member retired on the normal retirement date, multiplied by (B) the product of 0.4% multiplied by the number of months difference, to the nearest whole month, between the member's attained age at the time of retirement and age 55.
(3) Upon the death after retirement of a member who was covered, up to the entry date of the member's employer, by a pension system under the provisions of K.S.A. 12-5001 to 12-5007, inclusive, and amendments thereto, or K.S.A. 13-14a01 to 13-14a14, inclusive, and amendments thereto, or K.S.A. 14-10a01 to 14-10a15, inclusive, and amendments thereto, and who had not elected to retire under one of the options provided under K.S.A. 74-4964, and amendments thereto, the member's spouse, if such spouse was the member's lawfully wedded spouse for a period of not less than one year at the time of the member's retirement or if such spouse had been the member's lawfully wedded spouse for at least three years after the time of the member's retirement, shall receive: (A) Pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-49,128, and amendments thereto, a lump-sum benefit equal to 1 / 2 the member's final average salary at the time of the member's retirement; and (B) an annual spouse's benefit equal to 75% of the member's retirement benefit payable in monthly installments, to accrue from the last day of the month following the member's date of death and ending on the last day of the month in which the spouse dies. Commencing on the effective date of this act, any surviving spouse, who was receiving benefits pursuant to this section and who had such benefits terminated by reason of such spouse's remarriage, shall be entitled to once again receive benefits pursuant to this section, except that such surviving spouse shall not be entitled to recover any benefits not received after the termination of benefits by reason of such surviving spouse's remarriage but before the effective date of this act. If there is no surviving spouse, or if after the death of the spouse there remain one or more children under the age of 18 years or one or more children under the age of 23 years who is a full-time student as provided in K.S.A. 74-49,117, and amendments thereto, the spouse's benefit shall be payable, subject to the provisions of K.S.A. 74-49,123, and amendments thereto, in equal shares to such children and each child's share shall end on the last day of the month in which such child attains the age of 18 years or dies, whichever occurs earlier or in which such child attains the age of 23 years if such child is a full-time student as provided in K.S.A. 74-49,117, and amendments thereto. Commencing on the effective date of this act, any child who was receiving benefits pursuant to this section and who had such benefits terminated by reason of such child's marriage, shall be entitled to once again receive benefits pursuant to this section subject to the limitations contained in this section, except that such child shall not be entitled to recover any benefits not received after the termination of benefits by reason of such child's marriage but before the effective date of this act. All payments due under this section to a minor shall be made to a legally appointed conservator of such minor as provided in subsection (7) of K.S.A. 74-4902, and amendments thereto. No person shall be entitled to receive more than one benefit under the provisions of this subsection. Any person who otherwise meets the qualifications to receive more than one benefit under this subsection shall elect the benefit such person shall receive.
(4) Upon the death after retirement of a member who had not elected to retire under one of the options provided under K.S.A. 74-4964, and amendments thereto, such member's beneficiary shall receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of such member's accumulated contributions over the sum of all retirement benefit payments made.
(5) The provisions of law in effect on the retirement date of a member under the system shall govern the retirement benefit payable to the retirant, any joint annuitant and any beneficiary.

Legislative History

L. 1965, ch. 447, § 8; L. 1967, ch. 431, § 7; L. 1979, ch. 251, § 2; L. 1980, ch. 238, § 5; L. 1982, ch. 319, § 35; L. 1985, ch. 254, § 19; L. 1988, ch. 302, § 35; L. 1989, ch. 232, § 18; L. 1992, ch. 321, § 11; L. 1993, ch. 227, § 35; L. 1998, ch. 64, § 69; L. 2000, ch. 152, § 18; L. 2001, ch. 209, § 31; L. 2013, ch. 132, § 3; June 13.