RETIREMENT

Conn. Gen. Stat. tit. 7, ch. 113, pt. PART II

in effect

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-425 Definitions.

7-425. Definitions. The following words and phrases as used in this part, except as otherwise provided, shall have the following meanings: (1) “Municipality” means any town, city, borough, school district, regional school district, taxing district, fire district, district department of health, probate district, housing authority, regional workforce development board established under section 31-3k, regional emergency telecommunications center, tourism district established under section 10-397, flood commission or authority established by special act or regional council of governments; (2) “Participating municipality” means any municipality that has accepted this part, as provided in section 7-427; (3) “Legislative body” means, for towns having a town council, the council; for other towns, the selectmen; for cities, the common council or other similar body of officials; for boroughs, the warden and burgesses; for regional school districts, the regional board of education; for district departments of health, the board of the district; for probate districts, the judge of probate; for regional councils of governments, the council; for regional emergency telecommunications centers, a representative board; for tourism districts, the board of directors of such tourism district; and in all other cases the body authorized by the general statutes or by special act to make ordinances for the municipality; (4) “Retirement Commission” means the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission established under section 7-448a; (5) “Member” means any regular employee or elective officer receiving pay from a participating municipality, and any regular employee of a free public library that receives part or all of its income from municipal appropriation, who has been included by such municipality in the pension plan as provided in section 7-427, but shall not include any person who customarily works less than twenty hours a week if such person entered employment after September 30, 1969, any police officer or firefighter who will attain the compulsory retirement age after less than five years of continuous service in fund B, any teacher who is eligible for membership in the state teachers retirement system, any person eligible for membership in any pension system established by or under the authority of any special act or of a charter adopted under the provisions of chapter 99, or any person holding a position funded in whole or in part by the federal government as part of any public service employment program, on-the-job training program or work experience program, provided persons holding such federally funded positions on July 1, 1978, shall not be excluded from membership but may elect to receive a refund of their accumulated contributions without interest; (6) “Pay” means the salary, wages or earnings of an employee, including any payments received pursuant to chapter 568 and the money value as determined by the Retirement Commission of any board, lodging, fuel or laundry provided for such employee by the municipality but not including any fees or allowances for expenses; (7) “Fund” or “fund B” means the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B; (8) “Continuous service” or “service” means active service as a member, or active service prior to becoming a member if such service (A) was in a department for which participation was subsequently accepted and not subsequently withdrawn, (B) was continuous to the date of becoming a member except service for which credit is granted pursuant to section 7-436a, and (C) would have been as a member if the department had then been participating, all subject to the provisions of section 7-434; (9) “Active service” means service with a participating municipality for which a member makes contributions pursuant to section 7-440; (10) “Aggregate service” means active service plus any other form of service for which a member obtains credit under sections 7-427b, 7-436b, 7-442a and 7-442b; (11) “System” means the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System under Title II of the Social Security Act, as amended; (12) “Social Security Act” means the Act of Congress, approved August 14, 1935, Chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620, officially cited as the Social Security Act, including regulations and requirements issued pursuant thereto, as such act has been and may from time to time be amended; (13) “Regional emergency telecommunications center” means any entity authorized by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection as a public safety answering point responsible for the receipt and processing of 9-1-1 calls for at least three municipalities. (1949 Rev., S. 885; 1951, S. 403d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 45; 447, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 152, S. 17; 360; 612, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 344, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 549, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 402, S. 1; 408; P.A. 73-302; P.A. 75-293, S. 1; P.A. 78-118, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-100, S. 2; P.A. 86-243, S. 2, 10; P.A. 89-46, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-356, S. 1; P.A. 97-152, S. 1; P.A. 00-162; P.A. 01-80, S. 5; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 236; P.A. 06-79, S. 4, 5; P.A. 07-217, S. 26; P.A. 10-32, S. 17; P.A. 11-51, S. 134; P.A. 13-163, S. 1; 13-247, S. 270; P.A. 21-40, S. 4; P.A. 23-182, S. 1; P.A. 24-151, S. 88, 103.) History: 1959 acts deleted references relating to counties, redefined “continuous service”, and included probate districts in definitions of “municipality” and “legislative body”; 1963 act included district departments of health in definitions of “municipality” and “legislative body”; 1965 act included regional planning agencies in definitions of “municipality” and “legislative body”; 1969 acts divided section into subdivisions, excluded persons working less than 20 hours a week employed after September 30, 1969, from consideration as “members” and redefined “service”; P.A. 73-302 distinguished between members of fund A and fund B in definition of “member”; P.A. 75-293 specified “active” service in definition of “continuous service”; P.A. 78-118 redefined “member” to include employees in public service, on-the-job training or work experience programs funded partly or wholly by federal government; P.A. 80-100 added exception to Subpara. (b) in definition of “continuous service”; P.A. 86-243 amended Subdiv. (6) to include workers' compensation payments within the definition of “pay”; P.A. 89-46 redefined “member” to mean only police officers or firefighters who will attain the compulsory retirement age after less than 15 years of service in fund A or after less than 10 years in fund B; P.A. 93-356 redefined “member” to exclude police officers and firefighters who reach compulsory retirement age after less than 15 years of participation in fund A, deleted the definition of “fund A”, redefined “fund” to refer exclusively to fund B, and renumbered remaining Subdivs. accordingly; P.A. 97-152 redefined “municipality” to include regional work force development boards; P.A. 00-162 added provisions re regional emergency telecommunications centers and tourism districts in Subdivs. (1) and (3) and added new Subdiv. (11) defining “regional emergency telecommunications center”; P.A. 01-80 amended Subdiv. (5) by replacing “ten years” with “five years” and making a technical change; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subdiv. (1) to change section reference for tourism district, effective August 20, 2003; P.A. 06-79 redefined “municipality” to include regional school districts and redefined “legislative body” to include a regional board of education for a regional school district, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subdiv. (3), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 10-32 made a technical change in Subdiv. (3), effective May 10, 2010; pursuant to P.A. 11-51, “Department of Public Safety” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection” in Subdiv. (11), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 13-163 amended Subdiv. (11) by replacing “an entity” with “any entity” and replacing “the public safety answering point” with “a public safety answering point” in definition of “regional emergency telecommunications center”; P.A. 13-247 amended Subdiv. (1) by substituting “council of governments” for “planning agency” in definition of “municipality”, made a technical change in Subdiv. (2) and amended Subdiv. (3) by substituting “councils of governments” for “planning agencies” and “council” for “regional planning board” in definition of “legislative body”, effective January 1, 2015; P.A. 21-40 made a technical change in Subdiv. (1); P.A. 23-182 added new Subdivs. (9) and (10) defining “active service” and “aggregate service” and redesignated existing Subdivs. (9) to (11) as Subdivs. (11) to (13), effective June 27, 2023; P.A. 24-151 amended Subdiv. (4) by redefining “Retirement Commission”, effective January 1, 2025, and made technical changes in Subdivs. (7) and (8), effective October 1, 2024.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-427 Participation by municipalities.

7-427. Participation by municipalities. (a) Any municipality except a housing authority, which is governed by subsection (b) of this section or a regional workforce development board established under section 31-3k, which is governed by section 7-427a, may, by resolution passed by its legislative body and subject to such referendum as may be hereinafter provided, accept this part as to any department or departments of such municipality as may be designated therein, including elective officers if so specified, free public libraries which receive part or all of their income from municipal appropriation, and the redevelopment agency of such municipality whether or not such municipality is a member of the system, as defined in section 7-452, but such acceptance shall not repeal, amend or replace, or affect the continuance of, any pension system established in such municipality by or under the authority of any special act and all such special acts shall remain in full force and effect until repealed or amended by the General Assembly or as provided by chapter 99. The acceptance of this part as to any department or departments of a municipality shall not affect the right of such municipality to accept it in the future as to any other department or departments. In any municipality other than a district department of health, housing authority, flood commission or authority, regional council of governments or supervision district board of education, such resolution shall not take effect until it has been approved by a majority of the electors of the municipality voting thereon at the next regular election or meeting or at a special election or meeting called for the purpose. The effective date of participation shall be at least ninety days subsequent to the receipt by the Retirement Commission of the certified copy of such resolution. The Retirement Commission shall furnish to any municipality contemplating acceptance of this part, at the expense of such municipality, an estimate of the probable cost to such municipality of such acceptance as to any department or departments thereof. (b) Unless the board of commissioners of a housing authority votes against such participation, employees of housing authorities who are eligible under section 7-425 and who are not members of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B shall become members thereof on July 1, 1972, and membership in any other retirement fund, except the federal old age and survivors insurance, shall terminate on said date. Housing authorities whose employees are enrolled on or before May 21, 1971, in any other retirement system shall arrange for termination of such system on July 1, 1972, which arrangements shall include provision that the rights of members who retired prior to July 1, 1972, under such system shall not be affected and provision that any refunds of employee contributions made to such other retirement system shall be transferred to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B and the appropriate amount credited to the account of each transferring employee's benefit. (1949 Rev., S. 886; 1951, S. 404d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 46; 447, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 152, S. 18; 1963, P.A. 344, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 549, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 402, S. 2; 725, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 268; 1972, P.A. 71, S. 1; P.A. 84-90; P.A. 93-356, S. 2; P.A. 97-152, S. 2; P.A. 13-247, S. 271; P.A. 21-40, S. 5.) History: 1959 act deleted county provisions; 1963 act added district department of health provisions; 1965 act added provisions re regional planning agencies; 1969 acts deleted provisions regarding district departments of health and regional planning agencies and included redevelopment agencies; 1971 act added Subsec. (b) re employees of housing authorities; 1972 act amended Subsec. (b) to specify that credit be transferred to account of each employee earning credit rather than simply to housing authority's account; P.A. 84-90 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that employees of any supervision district board of education may become eligible for membership in the municipal employees retirement system without the need of a referendum; P.A. 93-356 amended Subsec. (a) to delete a provision requiring municipalities electing membership in the municipal employees retirement system to specify whether participation is in fund A or fund B and to delete a provision requiring that such membership begin on the first day of July; P.A. 97-152 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to regional work force development boards established under Sec. 31-3k; P.A. 13-247 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting “council of governments” for “planning agency”, effective January 1, 2015; P.A. 21-40 made a technical change in Subsec. (a).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-427a Enrollment procedures for employees of regional workforce development boards. Rights of previously retired members unaffected. Transfer of contributions.

7-427a. Enrollment procedures for employees of regional workforce development boards. Rights of previously retired members unaffected. Transfer of contributions. If the majority of the members of a regional workforce development board vote to participate in this part, employees of a regional workforce development board who are eligible under section 7-425, and who are not members of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B shall become members thereof on July 1, 1998. Membership in any other retirement system shall terminate on said date. The members of a regional workforce development board shall arrange for termination of such systems, which arrangements shall include provision that the rights of members who retired prior to July 1, 1998, under such system shall not be affected and provision that any refunds of employee contributions made to such other retirement system shall be transferred to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund B and the appropriate amount credited to the account of each transferring employee's benefit. Each employee of the regional workforce development board shall pay his pro rata share of the actual cost of such transfer at no additional cost to the municipality or board. (P.A. 97-152, S. 3; P.A. 21-40, S. 6.) History: P.A. 21-40 made technical change.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-427b Credit for prior service with private industry council or regional workforce development board.

7-427b. Credit for prior service with private industry council or regional workforce development board. (a) Any employee of a regional workforce development board which has voted to participate in this part who previously was an employee of a private industry council shall receive credit for the purposes of retirement under the provisions of this part for the period of his service with the private industry council upon payment to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund of a sum equal to that which he would have paid had such service been covered by the provisions of this part, provided such sum is paid within one year of the date of such board's first participation in this part. (b) Any employee of a regional workforce development board which has voted to participate in this part shall receive credit for the purposes of retirement under the provisions of this part for the period of his service with such board when such board was not participating under the provisions of this part upon payment to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund of a sum equal to that which he would have paid had such service been covered by the provisions of this part, provided such sum is paid within one year of the date of such board's first participation in this part. (P.A. 97-152, S. 4; P.A. 21-40, S. 7.) History: P.A. 21-40 made technical change.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-428 Retirement on account of length of service and age.

7-428. Retirement on account of length of service and age. Any member of fund B shall be eligible for retirement and to receive a retirement allowance upon completing twenty-five years of aggregate service in a participating municipality or upon attaining the age of fifty-five years, provided such employee has had five years of continuous service or fifteen years of active aggregate service in a participating municipality. (1949 Rev., S. 887; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 4; March, 1958, P.A. 16, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 346, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 816; P.A. 75-293, S. 2; P.A. 93-356, S. 3; P.A. 01-80, S. 6.) History: 1965 act authorized retirement of Fund A members after 35 years of aggregate service; 1967 act reduced requirement for 30 years' service under fund B to 25 years' service; P.A. 75-293 allowed retirement under fund B at age 55 with 10 years' continuous service in addition to retirement at 55 with 15 years' active aggregate service; P.A. 93-356 deleted provisions re retirement for fund A members; P.A. 01-80 replaced “ten years” with “five years”.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-429 Retirement of elective officers.

7-429. Retirement of elective officers. If any member of a participating municipality who is an elective officer is separated from the service of the municipality by which he is employed, except for cause or by resignation, after attaining the age of sixty years and after completing at least twenty years of continuous service but before reaching the voluntary retirement age, he shall be entitled to a retirement allowance upon reaching the voluntary retirement age; provided, at the option of the elective officer, the retirement allowance may commence on the date of such separation and be payable in such an amount as may be determined by the Retirement Commission to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement allowance that would have been payable except for the election of such option. (1957, P.A. 130.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-430 Involuntary retirement; temporary retention.

7-430. Involuntary retirement; temporary retention. Any member, other than an elective officer, shall be retired at any time after such member has become eligible for retirement upon the recommendation of the legislative body of the municipality by which he is employed. Any member, except an elective officer, who has attained the age of sixty-five years if employed as a policeman or fireman shall be retired on the day following the attainment of such age, except that any such member, at his request and with the annual approval of the legislative body, may be retained in the employ of the participating municipality, but such person shall receive no pension payments during the period he is so retained; provided, for any member, except an elective officer, who at or before the end of three years after the effective date of participation has attained the age of sixty-five years if employed as a policeman or fireman, the compulsory retirement date shall be the end of such three years after such effective date, unless application for retirement is made before such compulsory date by the legislative body of the municipality. (1949 Rev., S. 889; 1953, S. 405d; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 47; P.A. 89-162, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-356, S. 4.) History: P.A. 89-162 allowed policemen and firemen to work after the age of 65 with the annual approval of the legislative body of the employing municipality; P.A. 93-356 deleted a provision prohibiting police officers and firefighters from retaining active membership in the municipal employees' retirement system upon attaining age 65.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-431 Separation from service before voluntary retirement age.

7-431. Separation from service before voluntary retirement age. Any member of fund B separated from the service of the municipality by which the member is employed, except for cause, after completing at least five years of continuous service but before reaching the voluntary retirement age, shall be entitled to a retirement allowance upon reaching the voluntary retirement age; provided, at the option of the member, the retirement allowance may commence on the date of such separation and be payable in such an amount as may be determined by the Retirement Commission to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement allowance that would have been payable except for the election of such option. (1955, S. 406d; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 5; 1967, P.A. 815; P.A. 93-356, S. 5; P.A. 01-80, S. 7.) History: 1967 act changed years of service from 15 to 10 re fund B employees; P.A. 93-356 deleted provisions re fund A members separated from municipal service prior to reaching voluntary retirement age; P.A. 01-80 replaced “ten years” with “five years” and made a technical change for the purpose of gender neutrality.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-432 Disability retirement: Application; continuance; calculation of income. Reconsideration.

7-432. Disability retirement: Application; continuance; calculation of income. Reconsideration. (a) Any member shall be eligible for disability retirement and for a disability retirement allowance who has completed at least ten years of continuous service if such member becomes permanently and totally disabled from rendering service in the position in which such member has been employed. (b) In order to obtain a retirement allowance under this section, a member shall apply in writing for such allowance to the medical examining board established pursuant to subsection (c) of section 5-169, not later than one year after incurring the disability. The disability retirement allowance may be made retroactive to the date of the last day of municipal service. (c) If such disability is shown to the satisfaction of the medical examining board to have arisen out of and in the course of such member's employment by the municipality, as defined by the Workers' Compensation Act, the member shall be eligible for retirement irrespective of the duration of his employment. Such retirement allowance shall continue during the period of such disability. (d) After twenty-four months, the existence and continuance of disability shall be determined by the medical examining board upon such medical evidence and other documentation as it requires, demonstrating that such member is totally disabled from rendering service in the position in which such member has been employed in the service of the municipality. (e) If the disabled retiree becomes disabled after January 1, 2013, and is not working, the total income he receives cannot exceed eighty per cent of the higher of his average salary or his salary at the time of disability. Such eighty per cent limitation shall be the combined income from the Municipal Employee Retirement System; Social Security disability payments, including payments to the individual's spouse and children; and temporary total or temporary partial benefits under the Workers' Compensation Act. (f) If the disabled retiree becomes disabled after January 1, 2013, and is working, the total income he receives cannot exceed one hundred per cent of the higher of his average salary or his salary at the time of disability. The one hundred per cent limitation shall be the combined income from the Municipal Employee Retirement System; Social Security disability payments, including payments to the individual's spouse and children; temporary total or temporary partial benefits under the Workers' Compensation system and his gross income from outside employment. (g) No reconsideration of a decision concerning eligibility for a disability retirement allowance or the discontinuance of such allowance shall be made by the medical examining board unless a member, upon application to the medical examining board for a redetermination, discloses additional facts concerning the member's condition. (h) Retirement income being paid for disability retirement shall end when and if the disability ends. Such member shall then retire at normal or early retirement age, if eligible, or retain a vested right to a deferred pension, if otherwise eligible. (1949 Rev., S. 888; P.A. 79-376, S. 11; P.A. 11-251, S. 2; P.A. 13-247, S. 385.) History: P.A. 79-376 substituted “workers' compensation” for “workmen's compensation”; P.A. 11-251 defined “gainful employment” to exclude positions of less than 20 hours per week, effective July 13, 2011, and applicable to members who retire on or after January 1, 2000; P.A. 13-247 designated existing provisions as Subsecs. (a), (c) and (d), amended Subsec. (a) to delete definition of “gainful employment” and replace reference to defined term with “rendering service in the position in which such member has been employed”, added Subsec. (b) re application for retirement allowance, amended Subsecs. (c) and (d) to replace references to Retirement Commission with references to medical examining board, amended Subsec. (d) to add provision re documentation demonstrating member is totally disabled, to delete provision prohibiting payment for disability caused by wilful misconduct or intoxication and to delete provision re retroactive payment to date pay ended, added Subsec. (e) re retirees disabled after January 1, 2013, and not working and calculation of income, added Subsec. (f) re retirees disabled after January 1, 2013, and working and calculation of income, added Subsec. (g) re reconsideration of eligibility decision, added Subsec. (h) re end of payment for disability retirement, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2013.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-433b Survivors' benefits for firemen and policemen. Maximum cumulative payment.

7-433b. Survivors' benefits for firemen and policemen. Maximum cumulative payment. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, charter or special act to the contrary affecting the noncontributory or contributory retirement systems of any municipality of the state, or any special act providing for a police benefit fund or other retirement system, the survivors of any uniformed or regular member of a paid fire department or any regular member of a paid police department whose death has been suffered in the line of duty shall be eligible to receive such survivor benefits as are provided for in the Workers' Compensation Act, and, in addition, they shall receive such survivor benefits as may be provided for in the retirement system in which such department member was a participant at the time of his death; provided such pension benefits (1) shall not terminate upon the remarriage of the spouse of such member, and (2) shall be adjusted so that the total weekly benefits received by such survivors shall not exceed one hundred per cent of the weekly compensation being paid, during their compensable period, to members of such department at the maximum rate for the same position which was held by such deceased at the time of his or her death. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prevent any town, city or borough from paying money from its general fund to any such survivors, provided total weekly benefits paid shall not exceed said one hundred per cent of the weekly compensation. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, charter or special act to the contrary affecting the noncontributory or contributory retirement systems of any municipality of the state, or any special act providing for a police or firemen benefit fund or other retirement system, the cumulative payments, not including payments for medical care, for compensation and retirement or survivors benefits under section 7-433c shall be adjusted so that the total of such cumulative payments received by such member or his dependents or survivors shall not exceed one hundred per cent of the weekly compensation being paid, during their compensable period, to members of such department in the same position which was held by such member at the time of his death or retirement. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prevent any town, city or borough from paying money from its general fund to any such member or his dependents or survivors, provided the total of such cumulative payments shall not exceed said one hundred per cent of the weekly compensation. (1959, P.A. 604; P.A. 77-520, S. 2, 3; P.A. 79-376, S. 12; P.A. 07-161, S. 1.) History: P.A. 77-520 added Subsec. (b) for bidding payment of benefits which would exceed 100% of weekly compensation of workers in same position as member; P.A. 79-376 substituted “workers' compensation” for “workmen's compensation”; P.A. 07-161 amended Subsec. (a) by providing that pension benefits to survivors shall not terminate upon remarriage of spouse and requiring amount of benefits not to exceed maximum rate of compensation paid for position held by deceased at time of death, and made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-433c Benefits for policemen or firemen disabled or dead as a result of hypertension or heart disease.

7-433c. Benefits for policemen or firemen disabled or dead as a result of hypertension or heart disease. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 568 or any other general statute, charter, special act or ordinance to the contrary, in the event a uniformed member of a paid municipal fire department or a regular member of a paid municipal police department who successfully passed a physical examination on entry into such service, which examination failed to reveal any evidence of hypertension or heart disease, suffers either off duty or on duty any condition or impairment of health caused by hypertension or heart disease resulting in his death or his temporary or permanent, total or partial disability, he or his dependents, as the case may be, shall receive from his municipal employer compensation and medical care in the same amount and the same manner as that provided under chapter 568 if such death or disability was caused by a personal injury which arose out of and in the course of his employment and was suffered in the line of duty and within the scope of his employment, and from the municipal or state retirement system under which he is covered, he or his dependents, as the case may be, shall receive the same retirement or survivor benefits which would be paid under said system if such death or disability was caused by a personal injury which arose out of and in the course of his employment, and was suffered in the line of duty and within the scope of his employment. If successful passage of such a physical examination was, at the time of his employment, required as a condition for such employment, no proof or record of such examination shall be required as evidence in the maintenance of a claim under this section or under such municipal or state retirement systems. The benefits provided by this section shall be in lieu of any other benefits which such policeman or fireman or his dependents may be entitled to receive from his municipal employer under the provisions of chapter 568 or the municipal or state retirement system under which he is covered, except as provided by this section, as a result of any condition or impairment of health caused by hypertension or heart disease resulting in his death or his temporary or permanent, total or partial disability. As used in this section, “municipal employer” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-467. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, those persons who began employment on or after July 1, 1996, shall not be eligible for any benefits pursuant to this section. (1971, P.A. 524, S. 1; P.A. 77-520, S. 1, 3; P.A. 92-81, S. 1, 3; P.A. 96-230, S. 2, 3; 96-231, S. 1, 2; P.A. 14-122, S. 72.) History: P.A. 77-520 provided that benefits under section be in lieu of others except as specified; P.A. 92-81 added Subsec. (b) re benefits for police officers and firefighters who begin employment on or after July 1, 1992; P.A. 96-230 amended Subsec. (b) to read “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, those persons who began employment on or after the effective date of this act (July 1, 1996) shall not be eligible for any benefits pursuant to this section.”, effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 96-231 deleted legislative finding from Subsec. (a) and amended Subsec. (b) to read “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, only those persons employed on the effective date of this act (July 1, 1996) shall be eligible for any benefits provided by this section.”, effective July 1, 1996 (Revisor's note: Pursuant to the provisions of Sec. 2-30b the amendment to Subsec. (b) of this section contained in P.A. 96-231 did not take effect since it was deemed repealed by the conflicting amendment to said Subsec. (b) contained in P.A. 96-230 which passed the General Assembly later than P.A. 96-231); P.A. 14-122 made technical changes in Subsec. (a).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-433d Injury or death of fireman while engaged in fire duties with another company.

7-433d. Injury or death of fireman while engaged in fire duties with another company. Any uniformed member of a paid fire department who offers his services to an officer or person in charge of another fire company which is actively engaged in fire duties, and whose services are accepted by such officer or person, shall be entitled to receive benefits under chapter 568, and under the contributory or noncontributory retirement system of the municipality for which such services were performed, in the event of his injury or death arising out of such services, as if he were a member of the fire department of such municipality. (1971, P.A. 520.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-434 Continuity of service.

7-434. Continuity of service. Periods of absence of not more than ninety days in any one calendar year shall not be considered as breaking continuity of service. Periods of absence of more than ninety days by reason of a leave of absence granted by the appropriate authority of the municipality or where the absence is occasioned by disability necessitating the regular attendance of a physician, unless such attendance is declared unnecessary by medical authority satisfactory to the Retirement Commission, or by reason of layoff, shall not be considered as breaking continuity of service, but such periods shall not be included in determining the amount of the retirement allowance. Any member who entered any branch of the armed forces of the United States between September 16, 1940, and July 26, 1945, or who enters any of said services while the United States is at war, or engaged in any hostilities or during times of national emergency, whether declared or undeclared, or any acts incident thereto, and who is reemployed by the municipality within six months following the termination of such service, unless this period is further extended by reason of disability incurred in the course of such service, shall be credited with the period of such service to the same extent as though he had been continuously employed by the municipality and shall be considered to have made the contributions required by this part based on his regular rate of pay at the time of the commencement of such service. The period of service of any member as a full-time employee of any municipality merged or consolidated either before or after the acceptance of this part with a participating municipality shall be counted for the purpose of qualifying such member for retirement and for the purpose of computing the amount of his retirement allowance, provided such combined services shall have been continuous as defined above. (1949 Rev., S. 890; 1967, P.A. 853; P.A. 84-106, S. 1.) History: 1967 act qualified members joining armed forces when country is “engaged in any hostilities or during times of national emergency”, etc. for credit for service; P.A. 84-106 provided that absence from employment by reason of layoff shall not be considered a break in the continuity of service of the member.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-434a Continuation of membership during service as elected official.

7-434a. Continuation of membership during service as elected official. Any member of the municipal employees' retirement system elected to serve as an official of the state or any political subdivision of the state during the 1988 calendar year or thereafter may elect, during the time he so serves, but no longer than ten years, to continue his membership in said system. Any such member shall continue to make contributions to said system and shall be ineligible for membership in any other state or municipal retirement system during such time. (P.A. 90-308, S. 13, 15.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-436 Retirement benefits, monthly allowances.

7-436. Retirement benefits, monthly allowances. (a) Members not covered by Social Security. After retirement, in accordance with the provisions of this part and except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, each member of the municipal employees' retirement system who is not covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System shall receive, during such member's lifetime, a retirement allowance payable in monthly installments at an annual rate equal to one-twelfth of two per cent of the member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service, multiplied by the number of months of such member's aggregate service. (b) Members covered by Social Security who are not yet eligible to receive Social Security benefits. After retirement, in accordance with the provisions of this part and except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, each member of the municipal employees' retirement system who (1) is covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System, (2) retires before attaining the age at which such member first becomes eligible to receive Social Security benefits, and (3) who has not qualified for a Social Security disability award, shall receive, until such member attains such age or qualifies for a Social Security disability award, if earlier, a retirement allowance payable in monthly installments at an annual rate equal to one-twelfth of two per cent of the member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service, multiplied by the number of months of such member's aggregate service. (c) Members eligible to receive Social Security benefits. On and after January 1, 2002, except as provided in subsection (h) of this section, the following formula shall be used for the purpose of calculating the monthly allowance of each member covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System on the first of the month after such member attains the age at which such member first becomes eligible to receive Social Security benefits or qualifies for a Social Security disability award, if earlier: One-twelfth of one and one-half per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service up to the breakpoint for the year in which such member separated from service, plus one-twelfth of two per cent of such member's final average annual pay in excess of the breakpoint for the year in which such member separated from service, multiplied by such member's years of retirement credit and fractions thereof. Such allowance shall be reduced in recognition of any optional form of retirement income elected in accordance with section 7-439g. For the purposes of this section, “breakpoint” has the same meaning as “year's breakpoint” as provided in section 5-192f. (d) Disability retirees. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section, the retirement allowance for permanent and total disability arising out of and in the course of such member's employment, as defined in the Workers' Compensation Act, shall not be less than one-twelfth of one-half of the member's annual pay at the time such member's disability was incurred. Any amount or amounts received under the Workers' Compensation Act shall be deducted from such allowance, except that any member who has received a specific indemnity award under section 31-307 or 31-308 shall not have the amount of such indemnity award deducted from such member's allowance. The retirement allowance provided under this subsection shall be reduced by the amount of any retirement allowance concurrently payable under the provisions of section 7-431, and by the amount of any retirement allowance concurrently payable by the state employees' retirement system or the retirement system of any municipality not participating under the provisions of this part, on account of a period of service for which credit has been transferred to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund under the provisions of section 7-442b, or the monthly equivalent thereof if payable other than monthly. No retirement allowances under this section, before the reduction prescribed in the preceding sentence plus workers' compensation payments and benefits under the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System on account of service in a participating municipality, if any, shall exceed one-twelfth of the member's average annual pay during the three highest-paid years of municipal service, and, subject to the foregoing maximum limit, no such allowance plus payments shall be less than one thousand dollars annually. (e) Additional cost of living allowances for certain retirees. Each employee or spouse of a deceased employee retired under the Municipal Employees' Retirement Act Fund B prior to July 1, 1971, shall be entitled, in addition to his or her original monthly retirement allowance, to an additional cost of living monthly allowance computed on the basis of his or her monthly retirement allowance, less any prior cost of living increases to which he or she was previously entitled, using the table in subdivision (1) of this subsection. (1) Such cost of living allowances shall commence on July 1, 1973, and shall be computed at the rates set forth in the following table: Fiscal YearOf Retirement YearEnding June 30th | Rates %Of Increase 1949 | 40.0 1950 | 42.7 1951 | 41.2 1952 | 33.9 1953 | 30.9 1954 | 30.4 1955 | 30.0 1956 | 30.4 1957 | 28.3 1958 | 24.8 1959 | 21.9 1960 | 21.1 1961 | 19.5 1962 | 18.1 1963 | 16.8 1964 | 15.1 1965 | 14.6 1966 | 14.1 1967 | 12.9 1968 | 6.0 1969 | 4.0 1970 | 4.0 1971 | 4.0 (2) The limitation of the maximum retirement allowance provided in subsection (a) of this section shall not be applicable to increases under this subsection. (f) Part-time employees. For purposes of determining eligibility for retirement benefits for part-time employees under this section, a member's part-time service shall be payable to a member whose service consists solely of part-time service without variation in the number of hours worked during all periods of his municipal service, such member's service shall be treated as full-time service. For purposes of computing the retirement benefit payable to a member whose service consists of part-time and full-time service or whose service consists of part-time service rendered in different proportions to a full-time schedule, such member's years of service and average salary shall be proportionately adjusted to produce a retirement benefit equivalent to that payable if his service had been rendered at an unvarying rate. As used in this subsection, “part-time service” means service by a member who customarily works less than a full-time schedule but no less than twenty hours per week. (g) Certain members not covered by Social Security who satisfy additional age and service requirements. (1) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to members of the municipal employees' retirement system who (A) are not covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System, and (B) retire on or after July 1, 2025, after (i) attaining the age of sixty years and completing at least thirty years of aggregate service, or (ii) attaining the age of fifty-five years and completing at least twenty-seven years of active service as a member of a paid municipal fire department or as a regular member of a paid municipal police department. (2) The monthly allowance for each such member shall be equal to the sum of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision as follows: (A) One-twelfth of two per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service, multiplied by three hundred sixty or, for a member of a municipal fire or police department, by three hundred twenty-four; and (B) one-twelfth of two and two-tenths per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service, multiplied by the number of months of the member's aggregate service in excess of three hundred sixty or, for a member of a municipal fire or police department, in excess of three hundred twenty-four. (h) Certain members covered by Social Security who satisfy additional age and service requirements. (1) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to members of the municipal employees' retirement system who (A) are covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System, and (B) retire on or after July 1, 2025, after (i) attaining the age of sixty years and completing at least thirty years of aggregate service, or (ii) attaining the age of fifty-five years and completing at least twenty-seven years of active service as a member of a paid municipal fire department or as a regular member of a paid municipal police department. (2) For a member who retires before attaining the age at which such member first becomes eligible to receive Social Security benefits and who has not qualified for a Social Security disability award, the monthly allowance for each such member until such member attains such age or qualifies for a Social Security disability award, if earlier, shall be equal to the sum of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision as follows: (A) One-twelfth of two per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service, multiplied by three hundred sixty or, for a member of a municipal fire or police department, by three hundred twenty-four; and (B) one-twelfth of two and two-tenths per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service, multiplied by the number of months of the member's aggregate service in excess of three hundred sixty or, for a member of a municipal fire or police department, in excess of three hundred twenty-four. (3) For a member who attains the age at which such member first becomes eligible to receive Social Security benefits or qualifies for a Social Security disability award, if earlier, the monthly allowance for each such member shall be equal to the sum of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision as follows: (A) One-twelfth of one and one-half per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service up to the breakpoint for the year in which such member separated from service, plus one-twelfth of two per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service in excess of the breakpoint for the year in which such member separated from service, multiplied by three hundred sixty or, for a member of a municipal fire or police department, by three hundred twenty-four; and (B) one-twelfth of one and seven-tenths per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service up to the breakpoint for the year in which such member separated from service, plus one-twelfth of two and two-tenths per cent of such member's average annual pay for the three highest-paid years of service in excess of the breakpoint for the year in which such member separated from service, multiplied by the number of months of the member's aggregate service in excess of three hundred sixty or, for a member of a municipal fire or police department, in excess of three hundred twenty-four. (1957, P.A. 447, S. 7; 1959, P.A. 316; 471, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 547, S. 1; 722, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 406; 1971, P.A. 644, S. 2; P.A. 73-619, S. 1, 3; P.A. 75-293, S. 5; P.A. 76-314; P.A. 77-102, S. 1, 2; P.A. 79-376, S. 14; P.A. 84-106, S. 3; P.A. 86-243, S. 1, 10; P.A. 93-356, S. 6; P.A. 01-80, S. 3; P.A. 07-217, S. 27; P.A. 23-182, S. 2; P.A. 24-151, S. 104.) History: 1959 acts provided for computation of retirement benefits on basis of five highest-paid years of municipal service rather than five years immediately preceding retirement and included benefits under old age and survivors insurance system in restriction on maximum allowance payable; 1967 acts based calculations on three highest-paid years rather than five highest-paid years and added provision concerning benefits for fund B members retired before January 1, 1960; 1969 act deleted provisions concerning temporary retirement allowances; 1971 act simplified description of formula; P.A. 73-619 added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re cost-of-living increases and benefits for retirees whose municipalities later join fund B; P.A. 75-293 replaced “three highest-paid years of service” in Subdiv. (1) with “last ten years of service”; P.A. 76-314 amended Subsec. (c) to include members of fund B as well as retirees whose municipality transfers to fund B and added reference to Sec. 7-436a; P.A. 77-102 amended Subsec. (a) replacing “is not so derived” with “exceeds the average obtained in Subdivision (1)”; P.A. 79-376 substituted “workers' compensation” for “workmen's compensation”; P.A. 84-106 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that any workers' compensation specific indemnity award shall not be deducted from the member's retirement allowance; P.A. 86-243 amended Subsec. (a) to equalize the percentage of pay used to calculate benefits for all service years and to provide that a member's retirement allowance, plus workers' compensation and Social Security benefits, may not exceed 100%, instead of 75%, of his average annual pay and added Subsec. (d), establishing how part-time service shall be treated for benefit eligibility and calculation purposes; P.A. 93-356 amended Subsec. (c) to exclude retirees whose municipality transfers to fund B; P.A. 01-80 added new Subsec. (e) re formula for calculating the monthly allowance of each member covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System; P.A. 07-217 made technical changes in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective July 12, 2007; P.A. 23-182 amended Subsec. (a) to replace provisions re monthly retirement allowance with provisions re monthly retirement allowance for members not covered by Old Age and Survivors Insurance System and redesignate provisions re disability retirees as Subsec. (d) and make technical and conforming changes therein, added new Subsec. (b) re members covered by Old Age and Survivors Insurance System who retire before being eligible to receive Social Security benefits, added new Subsec. (c) re members covered by Old Age and Survivors Insurance System who are eligible to receive Social Security benefits, redesignated former Subsecs. (b) and (d) as Subsecs. (e) and (f), deleted former Subsec. (c) re allowance increase and former Subsec. (e) re monthly allowance for members covered by Old Age and Survivors Insurance System who are eligible to receive Social Security benefits, and added Subsecs. (g) and (h) re monthly allowances for members who satisfy additional age and service requirements, effective June 27, 2023; P.A. 24-151 made a technical change in Subsec. (c).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-436a Exclusion of period when service was eligible for special act pension system in computation of retirement credit. Inclusion of certain periods of such service.

7-436a. Exclusion of period when service was eligible for special act pension system in computation of retirement credit. Inclusion of certain periods of such service. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in computing the length of service for municipal retirement in accordance with the provisions of section 7-436, no period of employment during which a member was eligible for membership in any pension system established by or under the authority of any special act shall be counted as service with respect to the computation of his retirement allowance. (b) A member may receive retirement credit for a period of employment described in subsection (a) of this section if (1) such member is not receiving or entitled to receive a retirement benefit based on such employment, (2) such employment was in a municipality or department for which participation under this part has subsequently been accepted and (3) such member contributes an amount determined by the Retirement Commission to be necessary to fund any increase in benefits resulting from receipt of such credit to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund. (1959, P.A. 238; P.A. 80-100, S. 1; P.A. 93-356, S. 7.) History: P.A. 80-100 added Subsec. (b) re credit for period of employment during which membership in system established under special act was held; P.A. 93-356 amended Subsec. (a) to delete reference to Sec. 7-435 re computation of retirement credit for fund A members.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-436b Credit for military service for members of fund B.

7-436b. Credit for military service for members of fund B. (a) Any member of fund B of the municipal employees' retirement system, who, prior to such member's date of employment with a municipality that is participating in said fund B, served in any branch of the armed forces of the United States during the times set forth in section 27-103 shall be credited with the period of such service to the extent that such member makes contributions to said fund for all or any part of the period of such service, except that any veteran who becomes a member on or after October 1, 1984, shall not receive credit for such war service if such member has received or is entitled to receive any retirement allowance for the same years of service from the federal government. Such contributions shall be computed at a rate of two per cent of such member's first year's salary as such employee, with interest at five per cent per annum, payable within one year of such employment, or on or before January 1, 1992, whichever is later, provided such contributions are made prior to the date of retirement. The period of such service for which contributions to said fund are made shall be counted for the purpose of computing the amount of such member's retirement allowance, provided such member shall have completed five years of continuous service or fifteen years of active aggregate service with a participating municipality or shall be retired prior thereto due to disability incurred in the course of employment. Any member who purchases credit pursuant to this section and who later receives a retirement allowance for permanent and total disability under this part shall, upon written request, be refunded all such contributions paid under this section, provided such military service credit did not serve to increase the amount of disability retirement benefits for which such member was eligible. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the municipal employer of any member who applies on or after July 1, 1986, for such military service credit shall pay all contributions required under said subsection which are attributable to that portion of the member's military service time during which he was a prisoner of war, provided such member submits with his application for such credit sufficient proof from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs that he is a former prisoner of war. Any municipal employer which pays the contributions required under this subsection for a member who later receives a retirement allowance for permanent and total disability under this part shall, upon its written request, be refunded all such contributions paid under this subsection, provided such military service credit did not serve to increase the amount of disability retirement benefits for which the member was eligible. (1969, P.A. 770; P.A. 75-293, S. 3; P.A. 83-16; P.A. 84-106, S. 4; 84-157, S. 1; P.A. 86-243, S. 8, 10; P.A. 88-141; 88-149, S. 1, 5; P.A. 91-213, S. 1, 8; P.A. 01-80, S. 8; P.A. 18-72, S. 21.) History: P.A. 75-293 replaced requirement for 25 years of employment with requirement for 10 years' continuous service or 15 years' active aggregate service; P.A. 83-16 extended the time period for the purchase of military service credit to October 1, 1984, or within one year of employment, whichever is later and specified that contributions must be made prior to retirement date; P.A. 84-106 provided that veterans who become members on or after October 1, 1984, shall not receive war service credit if they are otherwise eligible for retirement benefits from the federal government for such service years; P.A. 84-157 provided that any member on disability retirement whose previous purchase of military service credit did not increase his disability allowance shall be refunded all contributions made for such credit; P.A. 86-243 added Subsec. (b), requiring the municipal employer to pay for any military service credit attributable to the time the member was a prisoner of war; P.A. 88-141 extended the time period for the purchase of military service credit to October 1, 1989; P.A. 88-149 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that any municipal employer who made contributions under this section for a member on disability retirement shall be refunded all contributions made for such credit if the purchased credit does not increase the member's disability allowance; P.A. 91-213 amended Subsec. (a) by changing payment date from October 1, 1989, to January 1, 1992; P.A. 01-80 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “ten years” with “five years” and make technical changes for the purposes of gender neutrality; P.A. 18-72 amended Subsec. (b) to replace reference to Veterans' Administration with reference to United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-436i MERS 2.0 retirement benefit tier.

7-436i. MERS 2.0 retirement benefit tier. (a) As used in this section: (1) “Active service” means service with a participating municipality for which contributions are required pursuant to subsection (f) of this section; (2) “Aggregate service” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-425; (3) “Average annual pay” means the average annual amount of the regular pay an employee received during the five years of active service in which the employee received the highest amount of regular pay; (4) “Base pay” means the annual salary, wages or earnings of an employee, not including other pay, payments received pursuant to chapter 568 or payouts for accrued vacation time, sick leave or compensatory time; (5) “Continuous service” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-425; (6) “Fund” has the same meaning as provided in section 7-425; (7) “Member” means a member of the municipal employees retirement plan under this part; (8) “MERS 2.0” means the set of rules applicable to members who first become eligible for membership on or after the applicable date set forth in subsection (b) of this section; (9) “Other pay” means overtime pay, bonuses and all other compensation of an employee other than an employee's regular pay; (10) “Public safety employee” means a uniformed member of a municipality's paid fire department or a regular member of a municipality's paid police department; and (11) “Regular pay” means the base pay of an employee, plus other predictable ongoing compensation as determined pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54 by the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission, provided overtime pay shall not be included as predictable ongoing compensation. (b) The set of rules set forth under this section shall be known as MERS 2.0, which shall operate as another benefit tier within the municipal employees retirement plan set forth in this part. (1) Any municipality not participating in the municipal employees retirement system may enroll in MERS 2.0 on any date on or after the later of (A) July 1, 2026, or (B) the date of the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement that was applicable to such municipality and in effect on July 1, 2026. For a municipality that has enrolled in MERS 2.0 pursuant to this subdivision, any member who first becomes eligible for membership in the municipal employees retirement system on any date on or after the date of such enrollment shall be enrolled in MERS 2.0. (2) For a participating municipality, any member who first becomes eligible for membership in the municipal employees retirement system on any date on or after the later of (A) July 1, 2027, or (B) the date of the expiration of a collective bargaining agreement that was applicable to the member's position and in effect on July 1, 2027, shall be enrolled in MERS 2.0. (c) The provisions of this part shall apply to MERS 2.0 in the same manner and with the same force and effect as if the provisions of said part had been incorporated in full into this section and had expressly referred to MERS 2.0, unless excepted under this section. Where there is a conflict between a provision of said part and this section, the provisions of this section shall prevail with respect to MERS 2.0. (d) Any member participating in MERS 2.0 shall be eligible for retirement and, provided such member has had five years of continuous service or fifteen years of active aggregate service in a participating municipality, to receive a retirement allowance upon completing the following: (1) (A) Thirty years of aggregate service in a participating municipality, or (B) five years of continuous service and upon attaining the age of sixty-five years; and (2) For members who are public safety employees, (A) twenty-five years of aggregate service in a participating municipality, or (B) five years of continuous service and upon attaining the age of fifty-five years. (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, any member of MERS 2.0, other than a public safety employee, who (1) is separated from the service of the municipality by which the member is employed, except for cause, (2) has completed at least five years of continuous service but fewer than thirty years of aggregate service, and (3) has not attained the age of sixty-five years, shall have the option of receiving a retirement allowance at any time on or after attaining the age of fifty-five years, provided the retirement allowance shall be payable in such amount as determined by the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement allowance that would have been payable except for the election of such option. Retirement allowances under subsection (d) of this section shall not be subject to the actuarial reduction under this subsection. (f) Each member participating in MERS 2.0 shall contribute to the fund five per cent of such member's regular pay, except that each member who is a public safety employee shall contribute to the fund eight per cent of such member's regular pay. (g) (1) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, after retirement, in accordance with the provisions of this section, each member participating in MERS 2.0 shall receive, during such member's lifetime, a retirement allowance payable in monthly installments equal to one-twelfth of one and eight-tenths per cent of the member's average annual pay or, for members who are public safety employees, one-twelfth of two and two-tenths per cent of such employee's average annual pay, multiplied by the number of months of such member's aggregate service. (2) For the purpose of calculating a member's average annual pay, the member's regular pay for a year in which such member held more than one position or in which the regular pay for such member's position changed shall be the sum of the regular pay for all positions held by the member during such year, except that the regular pay for each position shall be multiplied by the fraction of one year for which the member held such position. (h) The provisions of the following sections shall apply to members participating in MERS 2.0, as applicable: (1) Section 7-432 concerning disability retirement allowances; (2) section 7-433b concerning survivors' benefits for firemen and policemen; (3) subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 7-439g concerning preretirement death benefits; and (4) subsection (a) and subparagraph (G) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 7-439b concerning cost of living adjustments. (P.A. 25-174, S. 183.) History: P.A. 25-174 effective June 30, 2025.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-437 Retirement allowance and Social Security benefits to equal sum payable under retirement system alone, when.

7-437. Retirement allowance and Social Security benefits to equal sum payable under retirement system alone, when. If the commission finds that the sum of (a) any retirement allowance payable to a member under section 7-436 and (b) any concurrent benefit payable to such member under the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System on account of service in a participating municipality is less than the allowance that would have been payable if the member were not participating in such system, his allowance shall be increased accordingly during the period when the lower sum would otherwise be payable. When any person retires under the terms of section 7-436 prior to the age at which he would be eligible to receive an old age insurance benefit under the system, he shall be entitled to receive an additional temporary retirement allowance payable to the age at which he would be so eligible, or payable until he qualifies for a social security disability allowance, if earlier. The total retirement allowance payable during the temporary period shall be computed as if such person was not covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System. The first sentence of this section shall not apply to any employee who was hired by a municipality after the date when the municipality included its employees in such system, or to any employee who transfers from a nonparticipating department to a participating department of a municipality after said date, or to any employee of a municipality which had included its employees in such system not later than the effective date of participation as defined in section 7-427. (1957, P.A. 447, S. 8; 1959, P.A. 319; February, 1965, P.A. 559, S. 1; P.A. 84-157, S. 2; P.A. 93-356, S. 8.) History: 1959 act included reference to Sec. 7-436 in Subdiv. (a), added provisions re additional temporary retirement allowance to Subdiv. (b) and added provisions re employees who transferred from nonparticipating to participating departments and employees of municipalities which had included their employees in the system not later than the effective date of participation as defined in Sec. 7-427; 1965 act provided restrictions in last sentence apply only to first sentence of section; P.A. 84-157 provided that the temporary retirement allowance shall be computed as if the person were not covered by the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System, instead of calculating the allowance in accordance with the law prior to May 28, 1957; P.A. 93-356 deleted references to Sec. 7-435 re calculation of retirement allowance for fund A members.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-438 Continuation of retirement allowance upon other public employment. Participation in state or municipal retirement system.

7-438. Continuation of retirement allowance upon other public employment. Participation in state or municipal retirement system. (a) Any member retired under this part who again accepts employment from the state or from any municipality of the state other than a participating municipality shall continue to receive his or her retirement allowance while so employed, and shall be eligible to participate, and shall be entitled to credit, in the state retirement system or such retirement system of such municipality, as applicable, for the period of such employment. (b) If a member is retired under this part and again accepts employment from the same municipality from which he or she was retired or any other participating municipality, he or she shall be eligible to participate, and shall be entitled to credit, in the municipal employees' retirement system for the period of such municipal employment. Such member shall receive no retirement allowance while so employed except if (1) such employment is for less than twenty hours per week, (2) his or her services are rendered for not more than ninety working days in any one calendar year, provided any member reemployed for a period of more than ninety working days in one calendar year shall reimburse the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund for retirement income payments received during such ninety working days, or (3) such member does not participate in the municipal employees' retirement system during the period of his or her reemployment. (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section, if a uniformed member of a paid municipal fire department or regular member of a paid municipal police department is retired under this part and subsequently accepts employment in a public safety position from any school district or regional school district, which district is a participating municipality, he or she shall continue to receive his or her retirement allowance while so subsequently employed, but he or she shall not be eligible to further participate or be entitled to additional credit in the municipal employees' retirement system for the period of such subsequent employment. (1949 Rev., S. 892; P.A. 73-519; P.A. 77-122; P.A. 86-243, S. 6, 10; P.A. 87-83, S. 2; P.A. 11-251, S. 3; P.A. 22-39, S. 1; P.A. 24-151, S. 83; P.A. 25-39, S. 8.) History: P.A. 73-519 permitted retirees resuming employment with state or municipality to continue to receive benefits if not employed by same department or agency from which they retired, reversing previous provisions and deleting restriction concerning number of months to be employed, and excluded resumed work period from credit in system or contributions; P.A. 77-122 added Subsec. (b) re reemployment in same department or agency; P.A. 86-243 permitted retired members who become employed by the state to participate in the state retirement system for the period of state service; P.A. 87-83 amended Subsec. (a) to be applicable to retired members who are employed by a nonparticipating municipality or the state and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that any retired member employed by a participating municipality shall be entitled to retirement credit for such service; (Revisor's note: In 2003 a reference in Subsec. (b) to “Municipal Retirement Fund” was replaced editorially by the Revisors with “Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund” for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 11-251 amended Subsec. (b) to exclude employment of less than 20 hours per week from prohibition on receiving a retirement allowance while employed by municipality, effective July 13, 2011, and applicable to members who retire on or after January 1, 2000; P.A. 22-39 amended Subsec. (b) by adding Subdiv. (3) re participation in municipal employees' retirement system during reemployment, added Subsec. (c) re receipt of retirement allowance and prohibition on eligibility for additional credit for retired uniformed member of paid municipal fire department or regular member of paid municipal police department who accepts subsequent employment in public safety capacity, and made technical changes; P.A. 24-151 amended Subsec. (a) to allow retired member who accepts employment from a municipality other than a participating municipality to participate and be entitled to credit in such municipality's retirement system, effective June 6, 2024; P.A. 25-39 made a technical change in Subsec. (a).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-439b Cost of living adjustment to retirement allowance.

7-439b. Cost of living adjustment to retirement allowance. (a) On July 1, 1986, and on July first of each subsequent year the State Retirement Commission shall adjust the retirement allowance of each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund and any annuitant who is receiving benefits under the provisions of this part to include a cost of living increase. There shall be an annual actuarial determination of the increase by determining the annual yield on the assets of the fund. In determining the yield, the actuary shall use an adjusted asset value, such that the market values of assets are adjusted to recognize a portion of realized and unrealized gains or losses each year until fully recognized. The amount of the increase, as a percentage of retirement allowance, shall be the excess of the annual yield over a six per cent yield, provided no increase granted under the provisions of this section shall be less than three per cent nor more than five per cent. Each such member shall receive the increases beginning on the first July first following the member's sixty-fifth birthday. Each such annuitant shall receive the increases beginning on the first July first following the date the deceased member would have reached the age of sixty-five. Any member who retired for disability under the provisions of section 7-432 shall receive the increases beginning July 1, 1986. (b) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes: (A) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who retires prior to January 1, 2002, and has not attained age sixty-five shall receive on July 1, 2002, and on July first of each subsequent year a cost of living increase equal to two and one-half per cent. In the event that a member who retires prior to January 1, 2002, becomes deceased, such cost of living increase shall be applied to the allowance of the annuitant, if any. The cost of living increase provided for in this subsection shall continue until the July first following the member's sixty-fifth birthday, at which point the formula set forth in subsection (a) of this section shall become operative; (B) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who retires on or after January 1, 2002, and prior to July 1, 2025, shall receive a cost of living increase beginning on the first July first following such member's retirement date and on each subsequent July first. Such increase shall be not less than two and one-half per cent and not more than six per cent, based upon the following formula: Sixty per cent of the annual increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the immediately preceding twelve-month period up to six per cent, plus seventy-five per cent of the annual increase in such index for the same period over six per cent. In the event a member who retires on or after January 1, 2002, and prior to July 1, 2025, becomes deceased, such cost of living adjustment shall be applied to the allowance of the annuitant, if any; (C) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who retires on or after July 1, 2025, and prior to July 1, 2026, shall receive a cost of living adjustment beginning on the first July first following the completion of twelve months of retirement and on each subsequent July first. Such increase shall be not less than two per cent and not more than seven and one-half per cent, based upon the following formula: Sixty per cent of the annual increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the immediately preceding twelve-month period up to six per cent, plus seventy-five per cent of the annual increase in such index for the same period over six per cent. In the event a member who retires on or after January 1, 2025, and prior to July 1, 2026, becomes deceased, such cost of living adjustment shall be applied to the allowance of the annuitant, if any; (D) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who retires on or after July 1, 2026, and prior to July 1, 2027, shall receive a cost of living adjustment beginning on the first July first following the completion of twelve months of retirement and on each subsequent July first. Such increase shall be not less than one and one-half per cent and not more than seven and one-half per cent, based upon the following formula: Sixty per cent of the annual increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the immediately preceding twelve-month period up to six per cent, plus seventy-five per cent of the annual increase in such index for the same period over six per cent. In the event a member who retires on or after January 1, 2026, and prior to July 1, 2027, becomes deceased, such cost of living adjustment shall be applied to the allowance of the annuitant, if any; (E) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who retires on or after July 1, 2027, and prior to July 1, 2028, shall receive a cost of living adjustment beginning on the first July first following the completion of twelve months of retirement and on each subsequent July first. Such increase shall be not less than one per cent and not more than seven and one-half per cent, based upon the following formula: Sixty per cent of the annual increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the immediately preceding twelve-month period up to six per cent, plus seventy-five per cent of the annual increase in such index for the same period over six per cent. In the event a member who retires on or after January 1, 2027, and prior to July 1, 2028, becomes deceased, such cost of living adjustment shall be applied to the allowance of the annuitant, if any; (F) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who retires on or after July 1, 2028, and prior to July 1, 2029, shall receive a cost of living adjustment beginning on the first July first following the completion of twelve months of retirement and on each subsequent July first. Such increase shall be not less than one-half per cent and not more than seven and one-half per cent, based upon the following formula: Sixty per cent of the annual increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for the immediately preceding twelve-month period up to six per cent, plus seventy-five per cent of the annual increase in such index for the same period over six per cent. In the event a member who retires on or after January 1, 2028, and prior to July 1, 2029, becomes deceased, such cost of living adjustment shall be applied to the allowance of the annuitant, if any; (G) Each member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who retires on or after July 1, 2029, shall receive a cost of living adjustment beginning on the first July first following the completion of twelve months of retirement and on each subsequent July first. If the national consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers increases by two per cent or less for the twelve-month period immediately preceding any such adjustment, such adjustment shall equal the actual percentage change in such index. If the national consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers increases by more than two per cent for the twelve-month period immediately preceding any such adjustment, such adjustment shall be equal to the higher of (i) two per cent, or (ii) sixty per cent of the amount of such increase for the first six per cent plus seventy-five per cent of the amount of such increase over six per cent, provided any such adjustment shall not exceed seven and one-half per cent. In the event a member who retires on or after July 1, 2029, becomes deceased, such cost of living adjustment shall be applied to the allowance of the annuitant, if any. (2) The provisions of this subsection do not apply to members who retired under the provisions of section 7-432. (P.A. 77-584, S. 1, 5; P.A. 79-305, S. 1, 4; P.A. 80-37, S. 1, 3; P.A. 81-112; P.A. 82-472, S. 19, 182, 183; P.A. 83-3, S. 2, 5; 83-383, S. 1, 2; P.A. 86-243, S. 4, 10; P.A. 88-149, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-356, S. 9; P.A. 01-80, S. 4; P.A. 23-182, S. 3; P.A. 24-151, S. 105.) History: P.A. 79-305 added Subsec. (b) re adjustments in benefits to provide 3% cost-of-living increase; P.A. 80-37 added reference to July 1, 1981; P.A. 81-112 added Subsec. (c) re annual cost of living increases beginning July 1, 1982; P.A. 82-472 repealed P.A. 81-112 (which was codified as Subsec. (c)) re cost-of-living increases effective on July 1, 1982 and thereafter; P.A. 83-3 inserted new Subsec. (c) re cost-of-living adjustments in retirement allowances, incorrectly repealed by authority of P.A. 82-472; P.A. 83-383 amended Subsec. (c) to provide for a mandatory annual cost-of-living adjustment for all recipients, beginning July 1, 1983, replacing former limited applicability, and imposed 3% minimum for increase amount; P.A. 86-243 deleted obsolete language, clarified the procedure for calculating the cost-of-living adjustment annually, and specifically provided for the funding of any liability caused by the payment of the mandatory minimum adjustment; P.A. 88-149 substituted “annuitant” for “spouse”; P.A. 93-356 deleted provisions re adjustments to municipalities' past service amortizations to fund liability resulting from cost-of-living increases provided to members receiving retirement allowances; P.A. 01-80 designated existing language as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re certain members who retire on or after January 1, 2002, and Subsec. (c) re certain members who have retired prior to January 1, 2002, and have not attained age 65; P.A. 23-182 amended Subsec. (b) to add Subdiv. designator (1), add provision re member who retires prior to January 1, 2002, and has not attained age 65 as Subpara. (A), redesignate existing provision re member who retires on or after January 1, 2002, as Subpara. (B) and add “and prior to July 1, 2025,”, add Subparas. (C) to (G) re cost of living adjustments for members who retire on or after July 1, 2025, and redesignate existing provision re inapplicability to members who retired under provisions of Sec. 7-432 as Subdiv. (2), and deleted former Subsec. (c) re member who retires prior to January 1, 2002, and has not attained age 65, effective June 27, 2023; P.A. 24-151 made technical changes in Subsec. (b)(1)(G).

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-439c Discharge of liability for increases of retirement allowance.

7-439c. Discharge of liability for increases of retirement allowance. The liability for the increase in benefits provided by sections 7-439b to 7-439d, inclusive, for retirement allowances based on service rendered before July 1, 1979, shall be discharged by extending the period required for the annual amortization payments being made by the municipality under section 7-441 before July 1, 1977, until the date when the total past service liability shall be discharged. Such date shall not be subject to the limits provided in subsection (b) of section 7-441. The proportion of contributions paid to the Retirement Commission monthly under the terms of subsection (c) of said section shall, effective July 1, 1979, include the cost of applying the adjustments of sections 7-439b to 7-439d, inclusive, to retirement allowances credited for service rendered after July 1, 1979. (P.A. 77-584, S. 2, 5; P.A. 02-89, S. 8; P.A. 17-107, S. 2.) History: P.A. 02-89 replaced references to Sec. 7-439e with references to Sec. 7-439d, reflecting the repeal of Sec. 7-439e by the same public act; P.A. 17-107 replaced reference to Sec. 7-441(a) with reference to Sec. 7-441(b) and replaced reference to Sec. 7-441(b) with reference to Sec. 7-441(c), effective July 1, 2017.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-439d Section 7-436 limitation not applicable.

7-439d. Section 7-436 limitation not applicable. The limitation of the maximum retirement allowance provided in subsection (d) of section 7-436, shall not be applicable to increases under sections 7-439b, and 7-439c. (P.A. 77-584, S. 3, 5; P.A. 93-356, S. 10; P.A. 02-89, S. 9; P.A. 23-182, S. 4.) History: P.A. 93-356 deleted a reference to Sec. 7-435 re cost-of-living adjustments for fund A members; P.A. 02-89 replaced reference to Sec. 7-439e with reference to Sec. 7-439d, reflecting the repeal of Sec. 7-439e by the same public act; P.A. 23-182 replaced reference to Sec. 7-436(a) with reference to Sec. 7-436(d) and reference to Secs. 7-439b to 7-439d with reference to Secs. 7-439b and 7-439c, effective June 27, 2023.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-439g Optional forms of retirement income. Preretirement death benefit.

7-439g. Optional forms of retirement income. Preretirement death benefit. (a) On and after July 1, 1986, a member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund may elect one of the following optional forms for retirement income by filing with the Retirement Commission a written election on a form provided by the commission. A member who has been married at least one year shall be presumed to have elected the option provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection unless a contrary election is made by the member. All other members will be presumed to elect the option provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection unless a contrary election is made by the member. Any election or change of election must be filed before retirement income payments begin. Any election of the options provided in subdivision (2), if, under said subdivision the member's spouse is not named as contingent annuitant, subdivision (3) or subdivision (4) of this subsection by a member who has been married at least one year shall not be effective unless the member's spouse consents in writing to the election and such written consent acknowledges the effect of the election and is witnessed by a representative of the municipality or a notary public; or unless it is established to the satisfaction of the Retirement Commission that such consent cannot be obtained because the spouse cannot be located or due to such other circumstances as the commission may prescribe by regulations adopted in accordance with chapter 54. Any such consent or determination that consent cannot be obtained shall be effective only with respect to the spouse who has given such consent or from whom consent cannot be obtained. No option shall be effective until a member has retired, and in the event a member dies prior to the effective date of commencement of benefits, any election of an option shall be deemed cancelled except as provided in subsection (d) of this section. Any reduced retirement allowance under this subsection shall be in such amount as the Retirement Commission determines to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirement allowance that would have been payable had the election not been made. The retirement income options are as follows: (1) A reduced amount payable to the member for his lifetime, with the provision that after his death his spouse, if surviving, shall be entitled to receive a lifetime income equal to fifty per cent of the reduced monthly amount payable to the member; (2) A reduced amount payable to the member for his lifetime, with the provision that after his death, his contingent annuitant shall be entitled to receive a lifetime income equal to either fifty or one hundred per cent of the reduced amount payable to the member; (3) A reduced amount payable to the member for his lifetime, with the provision that if he shall die within either a ten or twenty-year period following the date his retirement income commences, whichever is selected by the member, the reduced amount continues to his contingent annuitant for the balance of the ten or twenty-year period; or (4) An amount payable to the member for his lifetime, with no payments continuing after the member's death, except for a lump sum death benefit as provided in section 7-440. (b) If a member who is continuing to accrue municipal service or who is on a leave authorized by the municipality, dies on or after July 1, 1985, and (1) after completion of the age and service requirements for retirement under section 7-428, 7-431 or 7-432 or, (2) after completing twenty-five years of service, his spouse, provided they are lawfully married at the time of the member's death and have been lawfully married for at least twelve months preceding his death, shall receive a lifetime income in an amount equal to fifty per cent of the average of the retirement income that the member would have been entitled to if he had retired the day he died had his benefits been paid under the option specified in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section and the retirement income that the member would have been entitled to if he had retired the day he died and had his benefit been paid under the option specified in subdivision (1) of said subsection. The spouse's eligibility for such benefits shall commence from the day next following the member's date of death. If such member was not eligible to retire at the time of his death, such benefit shall be calculated as if he had reached age fifty-five, but based on his service and final average earnings at his date of death. (c) If a member who has terminated with at least twenty-five years of service or retired pursuant to section 7-428, 7-431 or 7-432, but whose benefits in either event are not yet being paid, dies prior to the commencing date of his benefits, his spouse, provided they have been lawfully married for at least the twelve months preceding his death, shall receive a lifetime income equal to fifty per cent of the average of the retirement income that the member would have been entitled to if his benefits had commenced the date he died had his benefit been paid under the option specified in subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section and the retirement income that the member would have been entitled to with such benefits being paid under the option specified in subdivision (1) of said subsection. If such member was not eligible to retire at the time of his death, such benefit shall be calculated as if he had reached age fifty-five. The spouse's eligibility for such benefits shall commence from the day next following the member's date of death. (d) On and after July 1, 1986, if a member who has completed the age and service requirements for retirement under section 7-428, 7-431 or 7-432, and who has elected to receive his retirement benefits under subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of this section, dies prior to the effective date of commencement of benefits but within ninety days after he first elects to receive his retirement benefits under subdivision (2) or (3) of said subsection (a), then his beneficiary or contingent annuitant shall receive an income in an amount equal to the benefit that would have been payable to the survivor had the member retired the day he died and had his benefit been paid under the option he had elected at the time of his death. This subsection shall not apply after ninety days after the date the member first elects to receive his benefit under subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection (a) of this section. In the event that income payments to a surviving beneficiary or contingent annuitant are payable under this subsection, such payments shall be in lieu of payments under subsections (b) and (c) of this section. (P.A. 86-243, S. 3, 10; P.A. 87-83, S, 1; P.A. 88-186; P.A. 91-86; P.A. 93-356, S. 14.) History: P.A. 87-83 amended Subsecs. (b) and (c) to specify that the spouse's eligibility for death benefits commences on the day after the members' death, and to include spouses of members who retired or who were eligible to retire pursuant to Sec. 7-431 within its provisions; P.A. 88-186 added Subsec. (d) providing an additional retirement income option; P.A. 91-86 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re spousal consent; P.A. 93-356 amended Subsec. (b)(2) to make a spouse eligible for death benefits if the spouse is married to a member at the time of his death and had been married to the member for a total of 12 months, and not necessarily the 12 consecutive months, preceding the member's death.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-439h Erroneous payments; adjustment; waiver of repayment; regulations.

7-439h. Erroneous payments; adjustment; waiver of repayment; regulations. (a) Should any change or error in records result in any member or beneficiary receiving from the municipal employees' retirement system more or less than he would have been entitled to receive had the records been correct, then upon discovery of any such error the Retirement Commission shall notify the member or beneficiary affected and correct the same, and as far as practicable shall adjust the payments in such manner that the actuarial equivalent of the benefit to which such member or beneficiary was correctly entitled shall be paid, provided if such change or error results in any member or beneficiary receiving less than he would have been eligible to receive, such member or beneficiary may elect to have such benefit paid in a single payment. (b) If a member or beneficiary has been overpaid through no fault of his own, and he could not reasonably have been expected to detect the error, the Retirement Commission may waive any repayment which it believes would cause hardship. (c) The Retirement Commission shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 establishing criteria for the waiver of repayment. (P.A. 88-144.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-440 Contributions by members; interest; refunds to municipalities; payment to beneficiaries.

7-440. Contributions by members; interest; refunds to municipalities; payment to beneficiaries. (a) Each member shall contribute to the fund five per cent of his pay as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are not to be deducted under section 7-453 and two and one-quarter per cent as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are to be so deducted, to be deducted from such pay by the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund. (b) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2019, each member shall contribute to the fund five and one-half per cent of such member's pay as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are not to be deducted under section 7-453 and two and three-quarters per cent as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are to be so deducted from such pay by the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund. (c) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2020, each member shall contribute to the fund six per cent of such member's pay as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are not to be deducted under section 7-453 and three and one-quarter per cent as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are to be so deducted, to be deducted from such pay by the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund. (d) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, each member shall contribute to the fund six and one-half per cent of such member's pay as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are not to be deducted under section 7-453 and three and three-quarters per cent as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are to be so deducted from such pay by the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund. (e) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, each member shall contribute to the fund seven per cent of such member's pay as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are not to be deducted under section 7-453 and four and one-quarter per cent as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are to be so deducted from such pay by the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund. (f) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, each member shall contribute to the fund seven and one-half per cent of such member's pay as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are not to be deducted under section 7-453 and four and three-quarters per cent as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are to be so deducted from such pay by the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund. (g) For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2024, and each year thereafter, each member shall contribute to the fund eight per cent of such member's pay as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are not to be deducted under section 7-453 and five and one-quarter per cent as to that portion of pay with respect to which contributions are to be so deducted from such pay by the municipality and forwarded not less frequently than once a month to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund. (h) In the case of members serving with the armed forces of the United States in time of war, hostilities or national emergency or any acts incident thereto, as provided in section 7-434, the municipality shall forward to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund a like contribution on behalf of such member based upon his pay at the time of entering such service. Any member leaving the employment of the municipality before becoming eligible for retirement may withdraw on request to the Retirement Commission the total of all contributions made by him, including contributions made to another system and transferred to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund under the provisions of section 7-442b, less any retroactive contributions payable by such member under section 7-453 to the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System which have been paid from the fund under the provisions of section 7-451, provided, if no request is made within ten years, such contributions shall revert to the fund. The withdrawal of contributions shall include interest credited from July 1, 1983, or the first of the fiscal year following the date of actual contribution, whichever is later, to the first of the fiscal year coincident with or preceding the date the employee leaves municipal service. Such interest shall be credited at the rate of five per cent per year. In addition, for the partial year during which the employee leaves municipal service or withdraws his contributions, whichever is later, interest shall be credited at the rate of five-twelfths of one per cent multiplied by the full number of months completed during that year, such interest rate to be applied to the value of contributions including any prior interest credits as of the first day of that year. Any employee who withdraws his contributions from the fund and is subsequently reinstated shall not receive credit for service for such prior employment in the computation of his eventual retirement allowance unless the withdrawn contributions plus interest, if any, have been repaid with additional interest at a rate to be determined by the commission. Any municipality which has made contributions on behalf of any member serving in the armed forces who is not reemployed by the municipality within six months following the termination of such service, unless this period is further extended by reason of disability incurred in such service, shall be entitled to receive from the fund on application to the Retirement Commission the amount of such contributions. Any municipality which has made contributions in accordance with subsection (b) of section 7-436b on behalf of any member who leaves the employment of the municipality and withdraws from the municipal employees' retirement system before becoming eligible for retirement shall be entitled to receive from the fund on application to the Retirement Commission the amount of such contributions. In case of the death of a member before retirement, who has not elected a retirement income option in accordance with the provisions of this part or who has made such election but has not completed the age and service requirements that would permit him to retire on his own application, or after retirement without having made such election, or in case of the death of the survivor of a member who has made such election and his spouse after a retirement allowance has become payable, his contributions to the fund plus such five per cent interest, if any, less any retirement allowance paid to him or his spouse, and less any retroactive contributions paid by such member to the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System which have been paid from the fund under the provisions of section 7-451, shall be paid from the fund on the order of the Retirement Commission to the beneficiary or beneficiaries, if any, named by such member. If no named beneficiaries survive the member, or the survivor of the member and his spouse, payment shall be made to the executors or administrators of such member or his spouse, as the case may be, except that, if the amount is less than five hundred dollars, the refund may be made, at the option of the Retirement Commission, in accordance with the terms of section 45a-273. (1949 Rev., S. 894; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 9; 1959, P.A. 310; 1967, P.A. 399; 1969, P.A. 244; P.A. 84-106, S. 5, 8; P.A. 86-243, S. 5, 10; P.A. 87-72; P.A. 88-149, S. 3, 5; P.A. 19-124, S. 1.) History: 1959 act added provision re service credit for reemployed member who had withdrawn his contributions and added qualification re nonelection of option in providing for disposition of contributions where member dies before retirement; 1967 act allowed refunds to beneficiaries of deceased members who have not completed age and service requirements; 1969 act allowed withdrawal of contributions originally made to another system and transferred to municipal employees' retirement fund; P.A. 84-106 provided that interest at the rate of 5% per year shall be credited to contributions withdrawn from the fund, and to contributions paid to eligible beneficiaries of deceased members and that such interest shall be repaid by members attempting to reinstate previous service credits in the system; P.A. 86-243 provided that upon withdrawal of contributions, interest shall be included and shall be calculated from July 1, 1983, instead of July 1, 1984; P.A. 87-72 provided that members who leave municipal service but do not immediately withdraw their contributions shall continue to earn interest on such contributions until they are withdrawn; P.A. 88-149 provided for the refund of contributions made by a municipal employer for the purchase of wartime military service credit for an employee who leaves the employment of the municipality and withdraws from the municipal retirement system; P.A. 19-124 designated existing provisions re member contribution to fund and members serving in armed forces as Subsecs. (a) and (h), respectively, and added Subsecs. (b) to (g) re member contributions for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2019, July 1, 2020, July 1, 2021, July 1, 2022, July 1, 2023 and July 1, 2024, respectively, effective July 1, 2019.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-440a Certain contributions by members treated as employer contributions.

7-440a. Certain contributions by members treated as employer contributions. Each participating employer may pick up the member contributions required by section 7-440 for all compensation earned on and after January 1, 2002, and the contributions so picked up shall be treated as employer contributions in determining tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended, and chapter 229. The employer shall pay such member contributions from the same source of funds that is used to pay the member. The employer may pick up such contributions by a reduction in the cash salary of the member, or by an offset against a future salary increase, or by a combination of a reduction in salary and offset against a future salary increase. If member contributions are picked up, they shall be treated for all purposes of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund in the same manner and to the same extent as member contributions made prior to the date picked up. Municipalities participating in fund B may adopt this section for their members. Such election shall be made in a manner prescribed by the Retirement Commission. (P.A. 01-80, S. 9; P.A. 03-278, S. 18.) History: P.A. 03-278 made technical changes, effective July 9, 2003.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-441 Definitions. Contributions by municipalities. Municipal issuance of employees' retirement system funding bonds. Issuance of refunding bonds. Regulations.

7-441. Definitions. Contributions by municipalities. Municipal issuance of employees' retirement system funding bonds. Issuance of refunding bonds. Regulations. (a) For purposes of this section: (1) “General obligation” means an obligation issued by a municipality and secured by the full faith and credit and taxing power of such municipality; (2) “Municipal employees' retirement system pension funding bond” means an obligation issued by a municipality to fund, in whole or in part, an outstanding unfunded accrued liability to the system; (3) “Obligation” means any bond or any other transaction which constitutes debt in accordance with both municipal reporting standards in section 7-394a and the regulations prescribing municipal financing reporting adopted by the secretary pursuant to section 7-394a; (4) “Unfunded accrued liability to the system” means the amount necessary for the payment of future pensions based upon the service of members rendered prior to their becoming members of the system, less any amount transferred to the fund from any other retirement fund on account of such members, as determined by the Retirement Commission upon sound actuarial principles consistently applied; and (5) “Weighted average maturity” means (A) the sum of the products, determined separately for each maturity or sinking fund payment date and taking into account any mandatory redemptions of the obligation, of (i) with respect to a serial obligation, the principal amount of each serial maturity of such obligation and the number of years to such maturity, or (ii) with respect to a term obligation, the dollar amount of each mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to such obligation and the number of years to such payment, divided by (B) the aggregate principal amount of such obligation. (b) Each participating municipality shall be liable to the fund for an amount determined by the Retirement Commission on sound actuarial principles to be necessary for the payment of future pensions based upon the service of members rendered prior to their becoming members, less any amount transferred to the fund from any other retirement fund on account of such members, and for any increases in future benefits provided by amendments to this chapter to the extent that such increases are based on service prior to the effective date of such amendments; and in the case of a transfer of service credit between two participating municipalities under the provisions of section 7-442a where an increase in benefits results, the municipality to which the employee is transferred shall be liable to the fund for an amount so determined to be necessary for the payment of the increase in future pensions, based upon the service of the transferred member rendered subsequent to the commencement of his membership and prior to the effective date of transfer. The municipality shall pay annually to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund such amounts fixed by said commission as shall discharge such liability over a period not exceeding thirty years from the earliest effective date of participation as to any department in the Connecticut Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund, or a period not exceeding twenty years from the date of such transfer or increase in benefits, or entrance of a member into membership, whichever period shall be longer, except that the Retirement Commission may approve one consolidated amortized payment for the discharge of two or more separate liabilities running for different periods, such payments to be made over a period terminating not later than the latest date prescribed for the discharge of any one of such liabilities. (c) All participating municipalities shall pay monthly to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund such proportion of the pay of all members employed by such municipality as is determined from time to time by the Retirement Commission on sound actuarial principles to be necessary in addition to the contributions by members to provide future pensions based on service rendered by members subsequent to the effective date of participation as defined in section 7-427 other than the excess pensions referred to in subsection (b) of this section. In the case of members serving with the armed forces of the United States in time of war or hostilities or national emergency, whether declared or undeclared, or any acts incident thereto, as provided in section 7-434, the municipality shall forward to the Retirement Commission to be credited to the fund a like contribution based on the pay of such member at the time of entering such service, in addition to paying the member's contribution as provided in section 7-440. If such member is not reemployed within six months following the termination of such service, unless this period is further extended by reason of disability incurred in such service, the municipality shall be entitled to receive from the fund, on application to the Retirement Commission, the amount of such contributions. If the Retirement Commission should find that the payments made to it under this subsection by any municipality have been more than sufficient because such municipality has elected to provide Social Security coverage for its employees, the commission, using sound actuarial principles, shall determine a refund, or a credit which shall be applied to the payments required of the same municipality under subsection (b) of this section in a manner to be determined by the commission. (d) All municipalities shall contribute on account of retirement allowances for disability an additional proportion of the pay of members employed in such municipality to be determined by the Retirement Commission upon sound actuarial principles. (e) Each municipality shall also pay to the Retirement Commission annually a proportionate share of the cost of the administration of the fund or funds in which it participates, as determined by the commission on the basis of the number of members employed by such municipality and the number of members retired from employment with such municipality, or their beneficiaries, who are currently receiving benefits from the retirement system established by this part. (f) The rates of contribution provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall be varied among policemen and firemen in fund B participating in the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System, other members of fund B so participating, policemen and firemen in fund B not so participating and other members of fund B not so participating, but each rate shall be uniform within each such class. (g) If any payment due under this section is not paid within two months from the date when due, interest shall be added to such payment at the prevailing rate of interest as determined by the Retirement Commission. Such interest shall be paid by the municipality. (h) A municipality shall pay annually to the Retirement Commission, to be credited to fund B, such amounts fixed by the commission as shall discharge said municipality's liabilities for its contributions under this subsection and section 7-436 over a period not exceeding twenty years, provided no such payments shall be due until July 1, 1974. (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of the general statutes, any special act, charter, special act charter, home-rule ordinance, local ordinance or local law governing the authorization and issuance of bonds, notes or other obligations and the appropriation of the proceeds thereof, a municipality participating in the system that has an unfunded accrued liability to the system as of July 1, 2017, may authorize and issue municipal employees' retirement system pension funding bonds to fund all or a portion of such municipality's outstanding unfunded accrued liability to the system, as determined by the Retirement Commission upon sound actuarial principles consistently applied, and the payment of costs related to the issuance of such bonds, in accordance with the following requirements: (1) The municipality shall, not later than thirty days prior to the issuance of municipal employees' retirement system pension funding bonds, notify the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, State Treasurer and Retirement Commission of such municipality's intent to issue such bonds, and include with such notice (A) the amount of the outstanding unfunded accrued liability to the system based on the existing schedule of pension amortization payments, as determined by the Retirement Commission based on sound actuarial principles consistently applied; (B) the amount of any remaining annual pension amortization payments scheduled for payment by the municipality for the portion of the outstanding unfunded accrued liability to the system that will not be defrayed by such bonds; (C) a comparison of the anticipated effects of funding the outstanding unfunded accrued liability to the system through the issuance of such bonds with the funding of such liability through the annual payments scheduled for payment as determined by the Retirement Commission pursuant to subsection (b) of this section; (D) documentation of the municipality's authorization of the issuance of such bonds, including, but not limited to, a certified copy of the resolution or ordinance of the municipality authorizing the issuance of such bonds and the opinion of nationally recognized bond counsel as to the due authorization of the issuance of such bonds; and (E) other information and documentation required or requested by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, State Treasurer or Retirement Commission to carry out the provisions of this section; and (2) Not later than ten days after the sale of such bonds, the municipality shall provide the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, State Treasurer and Retirement Commission with a final financing summary. Such final financing summary shall include, but not be limited to, (A) the final official statement, if any, with respect to the issuance of such bonds, and (B) a comparison of the anticipated effects of funding the outstanding unfunded accrued liability to the system through the issuance of such bonds with the funding of such liability through the annual payments scheduled for payment, as determined by the Retirement Commission pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. (j) Except as otherwise provided by this section, the provisions of this chapter apply to any municipal employees' retirement system pension funding bonds issued pursuant to this section. Such bonds shall be general obligations of the municipality, and shall be serial bonds maturing in annual or semiannual installments of principal or term bonds with mandatory annual or semiannual deposits of sinking fund payments into a sinking fund. Notwithstanding the provisions of the general statutes, any special act, charter, special act charter, home-rule ordinance, local ordinance or local law, (1) the first installment of any series of such bonds shall mature or the first sinking fund payment of any series of such bonds shall be due not later than eighteen months from the date of issuance of such series, and the last installment of any series of such bonds shall mature or the last sinking fund payment of any series of such bonds shall be due not later than thirty years from the date of issuance of such series; (2) any such bonds may be sold at public sale on sealed proposal, by negotiation or private placement in such manner and at such price or prices, at such time or times and on such terms or conditions as the municipality or the officers or board of the municipality delegated the authority to issue such bonds, determines to be in the best interest of the municipality; and (3) no municipality shall issue temporary notes in anticipation of the receipt of proceeds from the sale of such bonds. (k) Proceeds of municipal employees' retirement system pension funding bonds, to the extent not applied to the payment of costs related to the issuance thereof, shall be paid to the Retirement Commission, not later than thirty days after the date of issuance of such bonds, to fund all or a portion of the outstanding unfunded accrued liability to the system for which such bonds were issued. (l) A municipality may, pursuant to section 7-370c, authorize and issue refunding bonds to pay, fund or refund prior to maturity any municipal employees' retirement system pension funding bonds, provided, notwithstanding the provisions of section 7-370c, the weighted average maturity of such refunding bonds shall not exceed the weighted average maturity of the municipal employees' retirement system pension funding bonds being paid, funded or refunded by such refunding bonds. The municipality shall notify the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, State Treasurer and Retirement Commission of such municipality's intention to issue refunding bonds pursuant to this subsection not less than ten days prior to the issuance of such bonds, and shall provide said Secretary, State Treasurer and Retirement Commission with copies of the final official statement, if any, prepared for such bonds not later than ten days after the issuance of such bonds. (m) The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, in consultation with the State Treasurer, may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish guidelines concerning compliance by municipalities with the provisions of this section. (1949 Rev., S. 895; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 10; September, 1957, P.A. 10, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 320; 1967, P.A. 398; 1969, P.A. 277; 283; 407, S. 1, 2; P.A. 73-232, S. 1, 2; 73-234; 73-619, S. 2, 3; P.A. 75-29; P.A. 87-269, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-356, S. 11; P.A. 17-107, S. 1.) History: 1959 act changed the phrase at the end of Subsec. (a) from “the earliest effective date of participation in any of the Connecticut municipal employees' retirement fund, fund A or fund B” to “... participation as to any department in the Connecticut municipal employees' retirement fund”, amended Subsec. (b) to authorize refunds as well as credits and amended Subsec. (e) to distinguish between policemen and firemen participating in fund A as well as those not so participating; 1967 act added to provision concerning municipality's liability to fund to include increases in future benefits based on service prior to effective date of any changes to provisions by amendment, less any amount transferred from other retirement fund; 1969 acts required monthly payments rather than annual payments under Subsec. (b) and added provisions re payments for members serving in armed forces, added Subsec. (f) re interest on overdue payments and amended Subsec. (a) re liability for payments to cover increased future benefits when service credit transferred between two participating municipalities; P.A. 73-232 amended Subsec. (c) reducing from minimum of 1% to 0.5% of members' pay contributed to cover disability retirement benefits; P.A. 73-234 rephrased Subsec. (e) for clarity; P.A. 73-619 added Subsec. (g) re annual payments to cover municipality's liabilities for contributions over period not exceeding 20 years; P.A. 75-29 amended Subsec. (a) to allow for consolidated amortized payment to discharge two or more liabilities; P.A. 87-269 amended Subsec. (d) to include the number of retirees from a municipality receiving benefits from the system when calculating that municipality's share of administrative costs; P.A. 93-356 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provisions re contributions by municipalities which transfer from fund A to fund B, amended Subsec. (c) to delete provision establishing minimum contribution payable by municipalities of 1/2% of pay, and amended Subsec. (e) to delete references to fund A; P.A. 17-107 added new Subsec. (a) re definitions, redesignated existing Subsecs. (a) to (g) as Subsecs. (b) to (h), added Subsecs. (i) to (m) re municipal employees' retirement system pension funding bonds and adoption of regulations, and made conforming changes, effective July 1, 2017.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-442a Transfer of retirement credit between municipalities.

7-442a. Transfer of retirement credit between municipalities. Any municipal employee who is a member of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund and who accepts employment with another municipality in a department which, on the date he commences employment participates or, within two years thereafter, elects to participate in said fund shall be credited for retirement purposes with his entire period of service, as defined in section 7-425, with all municipalities which are members of said fund, provided, if he had withdrawn his contributions from the fund, he shall not receive credit for such prior employment in the computation of his eventual retirement allowance unless the withdrawn contributions plus interest, if any, have been repaid with additional interest at a rate to be determined by the commission. When a member has obtained credit for prior service in another municipality, and the department in which he so served has subsequently been withdrawn from the fund, such member may, upon request to the commission, withdraw the total of all contributions made during such prior service, and such credit for prior service shall thereupon be withdrawn. The withdrawal of such contributions shall include five per cent interest credited in accordance with the provisions of section 7-440. The Retirement Commission may make regulations as to such matters relating to such transfers of employment as the Retirement Commission finds necessary for the uniform and equitable administration of this section, having regard to the welfare of transferring employees and the interests of the municipalities. (1963, P.A. 597; 1969, P.A. 278; P.A. 84-106, S. 6, 8; P.A. 93-356, S. 12.) History: 1969 act applied provisions of section to transfers in which municipality elects to participate in fund B within two years of transfer date, clarified credit procedure where employee had withdrawn contributions after leaving prior employment or wishes to withdraw such prior contributions and deleted former general references to powers of commission to apportion contributions between municipalities and to determine payments required of each; P.A. 84-106 provided that the repayment of withdrawn contributions shall include any withdrawn interest plus additional interest as determined by the commission and that the withdrawal of contributions shall include 5% interest; P.A. 93-356 deleted provisions re transfer of retirement credit between fund A and fund B.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-442b Transfer of retirement credit between municipal and state systems. Purchase of credit for prior state service.

7-442b. Transfer of retirement credit between municipal and state systems. Purchase of credit for prior state service. (a) Any person who became a member of the municipal employees' retirement system after December 31, 1964, and who previously was a member of the state employees retirement system or the retirement system of any municipality not participating under the provisions of this part shall receive credit for the purposes of retirement under the provisions of this part for the period of service with the state or such municipality if the state or municipality voluntarily chooses to transfer to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund from the retirement fund of the state or such municipality, by the authority having control thereof, on application of such employee, the entire amount paid into such state fund by the employee or the entire amount paid into such municipal fund by the employer and the employee as a result of the service of such employee, plus interest at the rate being paid by the retirement fund from which such amount is transferred from the date of each payment into such fund to the date such employee became a member of the municipal employees' retirement system. No transfer of employee contributions or interest shall be required whenever a former member of the tier II plan in the state employees retirement system applies for such retirement credit. If a municipality not participating under the provisions of this part declines to transfer the entire amount paid into such municipal fund by the employer and the employee as a result of the service of such employee, the member may purchase all or a portion of the credit for the member's prior service to such nonparticipating municipality by paying into the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund (1) two and one-quarter per cent or five per cent, as appropriate, of the member's salary for the period of such service, and (2) the actuarial cost determined by the Retirement Commission as necessary to fund the increased benefits payable by reason of such purchase, together with interest at the rate of six and one-half per cent, compounded annually, on such payment. No credit shall be granted under this subsection for any period of service for which any governmental unit is or will be paying a retirement benefit or if such credit would result in multiple service credit for the same period of service. In the case of an employee who withdraws from the municipal employees' retirement system and wishes to return to a municipality not participating under provisions of this part, there shall be transferred to the retirement fund of the municipality to which such employee is returning the entire amount paid into the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund by the employer and the employee, together with interest at the rate being paid by the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund as the result of the services of such employee. (b) Any member of the municipal employees' retirement system who was previously a member of tier I of the state employees retirement system and who, pursuant to section 5-166, withdrew all his contributions in the State Employees Retirement Fund upon leaving state employment shall be credited, for retirement purposes under this chapter, with such period of prior state service upon payment into the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund of an amount equal to the total of all contributions and interest refunded to him from the State Employees Retirement Fund plus five per cent interest on such refunded amount from the effective date of his withdrawal from the state fund to the date of his application for credit under this subsection. Any application for such credit shall be made to the Retirement Commission on or before January 1, 1992, or within one year after the applicant becomes a member of the municipal employees' retirement system, whichever is later. (February, 1965, P.A. 565; 1967, P.A. 401; 1969, P.A. 688, S. 4; P.A. 82-377, S. 2, 3; P.A. 83-533, S. 51, 54; P.A. 84-106, S. 7; P.A. 86-243, S. 7, 10; P.A. 91-241, S. 1, 2; P.A. 03-138, S. 2.) History: 1967 act required 3% interest annually rather than 3% “compounded”; 1969 act deleted reference to 3% interest and substituted “the rate being paid by the retirement fund from which they are transferred” and added provision allowing transfer of contributions to retirement fund of nonparticipating municipality if employee withdraws from system and is employed by such a municipality; P.A. 82-377 eliminated requirement that share of contributions paid by the state or a nonparticipating municipality be transferred to municipal employees' retirement fund upon transfer of employee to municipal system; P.A. 83-533 amended section to provide that transfer of employee contributions are not required in case of employee who is a member of tier II; P.A. 84-106 made it clear that the transfer of funds from a state or municipal retirement system to the municipal employees retirement system at a member's request is voluntary on the part of the former employer and that in transfers between municipal systems, the entire amount contributed by the employer and employee shall be transferred; P.A. 86-243 added Subsec. (b), permitting any member of the municipal employees' retirement system to purchase credit for any period of prior membership in tier I of the state employees' retirement system, from which he had previously withdrawn all contributions; P.A. 91-241 amended Subsec. (b) by changing the time by which an application shall be made from January 1, 1987, to January 1, 1992, or one year after the applicant becomes a member; P.A. 03-138 amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions specifying how members may purchase retirement credit for prior service to a non-MERF municipality that has declined to transfer such member's retirement contributions to MERF, adding provision re when credit will not be granted under Subsec. and making technical changes for the purpose of gender neutrality, effective June 26, 2003.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-442c Credit for prior service with redevelopment agency.

7-442c. Credit for prior service with redevelopment agency. Any employee of a redevelopment agency of a municipality which has included such agency within the provisions of this part shall be given retirement credit for prior service to such agency upon payment of a sum equal to that which he would have paid had such service been covered by the provisions of this part, plus five per cent interest per annum for each year of service prior to passage of such resolution, such sum to be paid within one year of the passage of such resolution. (1969, P.A. 725, S. 2.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-442e Credit for prior service with Connecticut Housing Authority.

7-442e. Credit for prior service with Connecticut Housing Authority. Any employee of the Connecticut Housing Authority who became a member of the municipal employees' retirement system on July 1, 1986, and who had continuous service with said authority prior to participation in the system shall be credited for retirement purposes under this chapter with such period of continuous service. The Connecticut Housing Authority shall make contributions to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund for eligible employees in accordance with section 7-441. (P.A. 88-149, S. 4, 5.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-443 Initial rates of contribution by municipality.

7-443. Initial rates of contribution by municipality. The Retirement Commission shall fix the initial rates of contribution by municipalities on account of future pensions based on services rendered prior and subsequent to the acceptance of this part on an actuarial study of the municipalities whose acceptance is necessary to the taking effect of this part. It shall make a complete actuarial study of the experience of the retirement system established by this part at intervals of not more than five years and shall thereupon readjust the contributions to be made by municipalities. (1949 Rev., S. 896.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-444 Withdrawal by a municipality.

7-444. Withdrawal by a municipality. A municipality may withdraw one or more departments from the retirement system established by this part by the procedure provided in section 7-427 for acceptance of this part; provided such withdrawal shall not relieve the municipality from liability arising from retirement allowances already granted. The employees of the department or departments shall be entitled to the return of their contributions, plus interest as provided in section 7-440, and the same shall be paid to the municipality for that purpose. In addition, the municipality shall be entitled to receive any balance from the sums contributed by it for such department or departments after deducting any payments already made or then due on account of administrative expenses and retirement allowances, with a sum sufficient, as determined by the commission on sound actuarial principles, to provide for the payment of all future retirement allowances and refunds already vested by the retirement of members from the municipality. For this purpose, such retirement allowances and future retirement allowances shall exclude an amount equal to the total contributions, plus interest as provided in section 7-440, of members previously retired under this part. If there is a deficit in such sum, it shall be paid in full into the fund by the municipality seeking to withdraw and its liability in this regard shall be enforceable as provided in section 7-445. (1949 Rev., S. 897; 1959, P.A. 315; 1967, P.A. 402; P.A. 87-85; P.A. 90-232, S. 1, 2.) History: 1959 act allowed withdrawal of one or more departments in lieu of complete withdrawal; 1967 act excluded from retirement allowances and future allowances payments, an amount equaling total contributions of members previously retired when municipality or one or more of its departments withdraws; P.A. 87-85 provided that employees shall receive interest on their returned contributions after the withdrawal of their employer from the system; P.A. 90-232 added interest to the exclusion from returned contributions of contributions of previously retired members.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-445 Liability of municipality.

7-445. Liability of municipality. Each participating municipality shall be liable to the fund for the cost of maintaining for its employees the retirement system herein provided for, including all contributions collected from employees. The liability of a municipality under this part shall be enforceable by the Retirement Commission against such municipality through appropriate action in the Superior Court. (1949 Rev., S. 898.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-446 Assignments prohibited.

7-446. Assignments prohibited. Any assignment by a member or beneficiary of any allowance or benefit payable under the terms of this part shall be null and void. Each such allowance and benefit shall be for the support of the member or beneficiary entitled thereto and shall be exempt from the claims of creditors of such member and beneficiary, provided, if the provisions of this section are contrary to the laws governing a particular set of circumstances, as to that set of circumstances, any allowance or benefit payable hereunder shall be exempt to the maximum extent permitted by law. (1949 Rev., S. 899.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-447 Custody and investment of funds.

7-447. Custody and investment of funds. All contributions received from members and municipalities shall be paid over daily by the Retirement Commission to the State Treasurer, who shall be the custodian of the fund with power to invest and reinvest as much of said fund as is not required for current disbursement in accordance with the provisions of part I of chapter 32. All benefits, allowances and other payments authorized by this part shall be made from the fund upon vouchers approved by the Retirement Commission. (1949 Rev., S. 900; 1969, P.A. 191, S. 2; P.A. 81-343, S. 4, 7.) History: 1969 act allowed investments in trust funds; P.A. 81-343 substituted “Part I of Chapter 32” for previous language allowing investments in accordance with statutes governing savings banks or trust funds investments.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-448 Administration of part. Penalty for failure to provide necessary information to Retirement Commission.

7-448. Administration of part. Penalty for failure to provide necessary information to Retirement Commission. The administration of the system of retirement allowances established by this part, except as the same relate to the custody and investment of the fund, shall be entrusted to the Retirement Commission, which may employ actuarial, clerical and other assistance necessary for the purpose and which may make reasonable regulations for carrying out the provisions of this part including designation of the times at and manner in which the participating municipalities shall make the several payments required by this part. Each participating municipality shall furnish, at such times and in such manner as the Retirement Commission directs, information concerning the names, ages, length of service and pay of members employed by such municipality and any other data which the Retirement Commission determines to be necessary for the proper execution of this part and to give prompt notice of all appointments, removals, deaths, resignations, leaves of absence and changes in pay of members. If any participating municipality fails to provide such information, the Retirement Commission shall send written notice of such failure to the municipality by registered or certified mail. If such municipality fails to provide such information within thirty days after receipt of such notice, the Retirement Commission may assess a penalty of one hundred dollars per day against the municipality for each day of such failure beyond such thirty-day period. Such penalties shall be paid to the State Comptroller for deposit in the fund, and shall be used to help defray any additional expenses incurred by the Retirement Commission due to such failure to provide information. (1949 Rev., S. 901; P.A. 87-269, S. 2, 3.) History: P.A. 87-269 established penalties for municipalities which fail to provide the necessary information requested by the commission on a timely basis.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-448a Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission.

7-448a. Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission. (a) Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission. (1) On and after January 1, 2025, the general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund under part V of chapter 104 and the municipal employees' retirement system under this part is vested in a board of trustees to be known as the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall constitute a successor commission to the Connecticut State Employees Retirement Commission, with respect to the provisions of part V of chapter 104 and this part, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d and 4-39. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall be within the Retirement Services Division of the office of the State Comptroller for administrative purposes only. (2) The Retirement Services Division shall (A) provide record keeping, reporting and related administrative and clerical functions for the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission to the extent deemed necessary by the State Comptroller, (B) disseminate for said commission any required notices or rules or orders adopted, amended or repealed by said commission, and (C) provide staff for said commission subject to the provisions of subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 4-38f. The office of the State Comptroller shall include in its budget the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission's budgetary request, if any, as a separate part of such budget, exactly as prepared and submitted to the office by said commission. (3) The State Comptroller shall serve as secretary of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission and provide secretariat support to said commission. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall meet at least monthly and shall report to the Governor in accordance with the provisions of section 4-60. (b) Members. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 4-9a, the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall consist of the following: (1) The State Comptroller, or the State Comptroller's designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member and shall preside at meetings of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission; (2) The State Treasurer, or the State Treasurer's designee, who shall be a nonvoting, ex-officio member; (3) Four trustees who represent employees and shall be appointed by the Governor from a list of four nominees submitted to the Governor by a federation of labor organizations in the state that represent private and public employees and workers in the building trades, (A) one of whom shall be (i) a municipal public safety employee who is a member of the municipal employees' retirement system, or (ii) an elected leader of a labor organization representing such public safety employees, (B) two of whom shall be (i) a municipal employee, other than a public safety employee, who is a member of the municipal employees' retirement system, or (ii) an elected leader of a labor organization representing such municipal employees, and (C) one of whom shall be a retired member of the municipal employees' retirement system; (4) Four trustees who represent government employers, who shall not be required to represent or be in the active service of a participating municipality, as defined in section 7-425, (A) one of whom shall represent a municipal employer and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents small towns, (B) two of whom shall represent municipal employers and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents municipalities, and (C) one of whom shall represent municipal housing authorities in the state and shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of an organization in the state that represents housing and redevelopment officials in the state; (5) Two trustees who shall be appointed by the State Comptroller, with the approval by simple majority of the trustees appointed under subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection, who possess expertise and experience in financial management, actuarial science or pension management; and (6) One neutral trustee who shall serve as the chairperson of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission and be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the trustees appointed under subdivisions (3) and (4) of this subsection. The chairperson shall cast a vote on a matter before said commission only in the event of a tie vote. (c) Trustee terms. (1) All initial appointments to the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall be made not later than October 1, 2024, and shall terminate, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, on September 30, 2028, regardless of when the initial appointment was made. (2) Two of the trustees appointed under subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of this section, two of the trustees appointed under subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section and one of the trustees appointed under subdivision (5) of subsection (b) of this section, as selected by the appointing authority, shall serve an initial term of two years, which shall terminate on September 30, 2026, regardless of when the initial appointment was made. (3) Subsequent terms shall be for four years. Any vacancy shall be filled by the appointing authority in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section. Any vacancy occurring other than by expiration of term shall be filled for the balance of the unexpired term. (d) Trustees' fiduciary duties. Oath. (1) Each trustee shall act as a fiduciary with respect to the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system and the members of said fund and such retirement system. The trustees shall discharge their duties solely in the interest of the members and the beneficiaries and contingent annuitants of said fund and such retirement system, for the exclusive purposes of providing benefits to such members, beneficiaries and annuitants and defraying reasonable expenses of administering said fund and such retirement system. (2) Each trustee shall, not later than ten days after appointment, take an oath of office that so far as it devolves upon the trustee, the trustee will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system and will not knowingly violate or willingly permit to be violated any provision of law applicable to said fund or such retirement system. (e) Fiduciary training for trustees. The State Comptroller shall establish an orientation program and fiduciary training for new trustees. Each trustee shall, not later than thirty days after appointment, complete such program and training and shall annually complete continuing education hours, as required by the State Comptroller, in financial management, actuarial science or pension management. The State Comptroller shall publish the activities and courses the State Comptroller deems acceptable for purposes of fulfilling the continuing education requirement under this subsection. (f) Quorum. A majority of the members of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty authorized or imposed by law. (g) Trustee compensation. The trustees of the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall, within the limits of available funds, be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. (h) Management and control of assets. All assets of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system shall be held in trust by the State Treasurer, who shall act as a fiduciary of said fund and such retirement system. The State Treasurer shall manage and control such assets, except as the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission or a municipal retirement plan expressly may otherwise provide. The State Treasurer shall discharge the State Treasurer's duties solely in the interest of the members and the beneficiaries and contingent annuitants of said fund and such retirement system, for the exclusive purposes of providing benefits to such members, beneficiaries and annuitants, by diversifying the investments of said fund and such retirement system so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless, under the circumstances, it is clearly prudent not to do so. (i) Powers and duties. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall have general supervision of the operation of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system and shall conduct the business and activities of said fund and such retirement system in accordance with the provisions of part V of chapter 104 and this part, as applicable, and applicable law. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall act, in conducting the business of said fund and such retirement system, including said commission's supervisory functions: (1) With the care, skill, prudence and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; (2) in accordance with strict fiduciary standards and responsibilities; and (3) in accordance with the provisions of the general statutes and applicable collective bargaining agreements. (j) Allocation and delegation of fiduciary responsibilities. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may, by resolution or regulation, allocate fiduciary responsibilities and various administrative duties to committees or subcommittees of said commission and may delegate such responsibilities and duties to the Retirement Services Division of the office of the State Comptroller or to other individuals the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission deems appropriate or necessary, provided such delegation is consistent with the provisions of this section. (k) Hearings. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may hold hearings when said commission deems them necessary in the performance of its duties. The hearings shall be governed by rules and regulations adopted by said commission and said commission shall not be bound by technical rules of evidence. (l) General counsel. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may hire a general counsel who shall serve at the pleasure of said commission, have offices in the Retirement Services Division of the office of the State Comptroller and perform duties as directed by said commission. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may obtain such additional legal advice and assistance as it deems advisable. (m) Disclosure and reporting. (1) All municipal retirement plans, descriptions and reports and all legal, financial and actuarial documents dealing with the general operations of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system shall be available for inspection and copying by members of said fund or such retirement system, as applicable, and their representatives. The cost of any copying shall be borne by the member or representative but shall not exceed twenty-five cents per page. (2) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall notify members of any substantial statutory amendments to the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund or to the municipal employees' retirement system, not later than two hundred ten days after the effective date of such amendments. (3) Not later than December 31, 2025, and annually thereafter, the State Treasurer shall publish and forward to the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission a consolidated report showing the fiscal transactions of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system for the preceding fiscal year, including gain or loss by category of security, a reconciliation of assets showing the progression of the funds of said fund and such retirement system from one year to the next, the amount of the accumulated cash and securities of said fund and such retirement system and the last balance sheet showing the financial condition of said fund and such retirement system by means of an actuarial valuation of their assets and liabilities. Assets shall be shown at book and market value and by type or term of investment. Gain or loss shall be reported by category of security type. The reporting requirement under this subdivision shall be satisfied if the State Treasurer completes an Internal Revenue Service form 5500 and submits it to the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission, provided the information included therein is sufficient to allow the computation of the investment yields of the funds of said fund and such retirement system on an annual basis. (n) Regulations. The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may adopt such regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as are necessary to carry out the provisions of part V of chapter 104 and this part and may establish rules and regulations that said commission deems necessary or desirable to facilitate the proper administration of the Policemen and Firemen Survivors' Benefit Fund and the municipal employees' retirement system. Rules and regulations established by the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall be binding upon all parties dealing with said commission and all persons claiming any benefits from said fund or such retirement system. (P.A. 24-151, S. 82.) History: P.A. 24-151 effective July 1, 2024.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-449 Effect of amendment or repeal of part.

7-449. Effect of amendment or repeal of part. In case of the amendment or repeal of this part, the liability of fund B shall be limited in the case of a member or person claiming through such member to the contributions made by such member, without interest, and in the case of a municipality to contributions made by such municipality, subject to the deductions provided in the case of withdrawal by a municipality in accordance with section 7-444. All future retirement allowances vested by the retirement of members prior to such repeal or amendment shall be paid in full in accordance with the terms of this part and the rights of the Retirement Commission to compel the payment by any municipality of the sum or sums necessary to provide such retirement allowances granted to members formerly employed by such municipality shall not be affected by such repeal or amendment. (1949 Rev., S. 902; P.A. 93-356, S. 13.) History: P.A. 93-356 deleted reference to liability of fund A upon repeal or amendment of part II of chapter 113.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-450 Establishment of pension and retirement systems or other past employment health and life benefit systems.

7-450. Establishment of pension and retirement systems or other past employment health and life benefit systems. (a) Any municipality or subdivision thereof may, by ordinance, or with respect to a municipality not having the authority to make ordinances, by resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members of its legislative body, establish pension, retirement, or other postemployment health and life benefit systems for its officers and employees and their beneficiaries, or amend any special act concerning its pension, retirement, or other postemployment health and life benefit systems, toward the maintenance in sound condition of a pension, retirement, or other postemployment health and life benefit fund or funds, provided the rights or benefits granted to any individual under any municipal pension or retirement system shall not be diminished or eliminated. The legislative body of any such municipality, by resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of its members, may provide for pensions to persons, including survivors' benefits for widows of such persons, not included in such pension or retirement system. (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of the general statutes or of any special act, charter, special act charter, home-rule ordinance, local ordinance or other local law, any municipality or subdivision thereof may, by ordinance and amendment thereto, or with respect to a municipality not having the authority to make ordinances, by resolution adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members of its legislative body, (1) establish one or more trusts, or determine to participate in a multiemployer trust, to hold and invest the assets of such pension, retirement or other postemployment health and life benefit system; (2) provide for the management and investment of such system and any such trust, including the establishment of a board or commission or the designation of an existing board or commission for such purposes; or (3) provide for the organization of and the manner of election or appointment of the members of such board or commission. Notwithstanding any limitations on the investment of municipal funds set forth in section 7-400, funds held in any trust described in subdivision (1) of this subsection may be invested (A) in accordance with the terms of the pension, retirement or other postemployment health and life benefit plan, as such terms may be amended from time to time; or (B) in any trust fund administered, held or invested by the Treasurer pursuant to chapter 32 and for which the Treasurer may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to allow for the investment of funds held in any trust described in said subdivision. The investment and management of the assets of any trust described in said subdivision shall be in compliance with the prudent investor rule as set forth in sections 45a-541 to 45a-541l, inclusive. (c) The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not operate to invalidate the establishment by any municipality or subdivision thereof, pursuant to the provisions of any public or special act, charter, special act charter, home-rule ordinance, local ordinance or local law, of any postemployment health and life benefit system duly established prior to October 1, 2005, or of any trust duly established or board or commission duly established or designated prior to July 1, 2006, with respect to a pension, retirement or other postemployment health and life benefit system. (1949 Rev., S. 903; 1957, P.A. 13, S. 48; February, 1965, P.A. 338, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 568; 642, S. 1; P.A. 05-202, S. 2; P.A. 06-79, S. 6; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 292.) History: 1965 act included provisions for survivors' benefits for widows of officials and employees; 1967 acts deleted phrase concerning specific appropriations for pensions to persons not included in retirement system or their widows and protected rights and benefits under system from diminishment or elimination as a result of any amendments to the system; P.A. 05-202 divided section into Subsecs. (a) and (b) and added provisions re postemployment health and life benefit systems; P.A. 06-79 amended Subsec. (a) to add provisions re establishment of pension and retirement systems by municipalities without authority to make ordinances and re adoption of resolution to provide pensions to persons not included in system, amended Subsec. (b) to replace former provisions re pension and retirement systems established before October 1, 2005, with new provisions re authority of municipalities to establish pension and retirement systems and added new Subsec. (c), effective July 1, 2006; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (b) to replace “funds held in any such trust” with “funds held in any trust described in subdivision (1) of this subsection”, designate provision re investment in accordance with plan terms as Subpara. (A) and added Subpara. (B) re trust funds administered, held or invested in by the Treasurer, effective June 23, 2021.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-450a Actuarial evaluation of pension and retirement systems or other postemployment health and life benefit systems.

7-450a. Actuarial evaluation of pension and retirement systems or other postemployment health and life benefit systems. (a) Any municipality, in which a pension, retirement, or other postemployment health and life benefit system applicable with respect to any employees of such municipality has been established by ordinance or under the authority of any public or special act, charter or special act charter, shall have prepared, no less often than once every five years commencing July 1, 1977, an actuarial evaluation of such system, including evaluation of accumulated or past service liability and the annual liability related to benefits currently earned under such system. Such evaluation shall be prepared by an actuary enrolled by the joint board for the enrollment of actuaries established under Subtitle C of Title III of the federal act entitled Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and such evaluation shall be prepared on the basis of such assumptions as to interest earnings, mortality experience, employee turnover and any other factors affecting future liabilities under such system, which in the judgment of such actuary represent the best estimate as to future experience under such system. (b) No ordinance, resolution or other act altering the pension, retirement, or other postemployment health and life benefit system shall be enacted until the legislative body of the municipality has requested and received a qualified cost estimate from such enrolled actuary. (c) Any municipality subject to the requirements in subsection (a) of this section shall have prepared, within six months following the adoption of any amendment to such system increasing benefits to any extent, in addition to such evaluations as required under subsection (a) of this section, a revision of the last preceding evaluation reflecting the increase in potential municipal liability under such system. If such amendment is adopted within one year preceding a date on which an actuarial evaluation is required under subsection (a) of this section, an additional evaluation shall not be required. (d) Any actuarial evaluation prepared for a municipality in accordance with this section shall be delivered to the chief fiscal officer of such municipality who shall file a certified copy thereof with the municipal clerk and, with respect to any municipality constituting a multitown district, with the municipal clerk of each such town, for custody in the manner of other public records. A summary of such evaluation, including a statement prepared by the actuary as to the amount of annual payment that should be made for proper funding on the basis of such evaluation with respect to benefits currently earned and the accumulated or past service liability, shall be included in the first annual report of the municipality next following completion of each such evaluation. (P.A. 77-468, S. 1, 2; P.A. 05-202, S. 3; P.A. 06-79, S. 7; 06-196, S. 42.) History: P.A. 05-202 added provisions re postemployment health and life benefit systems in Subsecs. (a) and (b) and made a technical change in Subsec. (c); P.A. 06-79 made conforming changes in Subsecs. (b) and (d) consistent with other provisions of the same act, effective July 1, 2006; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 7, 2006.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-450b Cost of living allowance.

7-450b. Cost of living allowance. Notwithstanding the provisions of any municipal charter or any special act to the contrary, any municipality which has established a retirement system for its officers and employees and their beneficiaries may, by ordinance, provide a cost of living allowance for such persons or their surviving widows or beneficiaries in an amount deemed appropriate by the municipality. (P.A. 89-162, S. 2, 3.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-450c Diminishment or reduction of rights or benefits under pension and retirement systems.

7-450c. Diminishment or reduction of rights or benefits under pension and retirement systems. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or special act 01-1, no municipality or special taxing district that provides, as of July 11, 2007, a pension and retirement system for its officers and employees and their beneficiaries shall diminish or eliminate any right or benefit granted to any retiree under such retirement or pension system that was in effect on the date of such retiree's retirement. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prohibit a municipality or special taxing district from changing the administration of such retiree's retirement benefits as long as the rights and benefits provided to such retiree after any change in the administration are at least equivalent to the rights and benefits provided prior to such change. (P.A. 07-221, S. 1.) History: P.A. 07-221 effective July 11, 2007.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-451 Retroactive coverage.

7-451. Retroactive coverage. Any agreement or modification entered into under sections 7-452 to 7-455, inclusive, to cover services of employees of municipalities in positions covered by the fund may be made retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 218(f) of the Social Security Act, but not prior to January 1, 1956. Any contributions payable by such a municipality or by the employees of such a municipality for such retroactive coverage shall be paid from the fund. The commission shall adjust the prior service contributions by such municipalities to reflect over the remainder of the amortization period the municipality's share of the cost of such retroactive coverage. (September, 1957, P.A. 10, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 303.) History: 1959 act provided for adjustments to reflect cost of retroactive coverage.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-452 Participation in federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance System: Definitions.

7-452. Participation in federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance System: Definitions. Terms used in sections 7-452 to 7-459, inclusive, shall be construed as follows, unless another meaning is clearly apparent from the language or context: (1) “Municipality” means any town, consolidated town and city, consolidated town and borough, borough, fire district, school district, district department of health, regional council of governments, probate district, housing authority, flood commission or authority established by special act or other municipal association created by special law or by general law or an instrumentality of any of these, if such instrumentality is a distinct juristic entity legally separate from any of the above and its employees are not, through this relation, employees of one of the above; (2) “Commission” means the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission established under section 7-448a; (3) “System” means the Old Age and Survivors Insurance System under Title II of the Social Security Act, as amended; (4) “Legislative body”, unless otherwise provided by special act or by charter adopted under the provisions of chapter 99, as applied to unconsolidated towns, means the town meeting; as applied to cities and to consolidated towns and cities, means the board of aldermen, council or other body charged with the duty of making annual appropriations; as applied to boroughs and consolidated towns and boroughs, means the board of burgesses; as applied to fire districts, means the district meeting; as applied to district departments of health, means the district board; as applied to probate districts, means the judge of probate; as applied to regional councils of governments, means the council, and, in all other cases, means the body authorized by the general statutes or by special act to make bylaws or ordinances for the municipality; (5) “Wages” means all remuneration for employment, including the cash value of all remuneration paid in any medium other than cash, except that the term shall not include that part of such remuneration which, even if it were paid for employment within the meaning of the federal Insurance Contributions Act, would not constitute wages within the meaning of that act; (6) “Social Security Act” means that Act of Congress, approved August 14, 1935, Chapter 531, 49 Stat. 620, officially cited as the Social Security Act, including regulations and requirements issued pursuant thereto, as such act has been and may from time to time be amended; (7) “Federal Insurance Contributions Act” means Subchapter A of Chapter 9 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1939 and Subchapters A and B of Chapter 21 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended; (8) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States and includes any individual to whom the Secretary has delegated any of his functions under the Social Security Act with respect to coverage under said act of employees of states and their political subdivisions; and (9) “Employee” includes an officer of a municipality. (1951, 1955, S. 408d; 1957, P.A. 204; 1959, P.A. 152, S. 19; 612, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 344, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 549, S. 3; 1967, P.A. 666; 1969, P.A. 402, S. 3; P.A. 89-211, S. 12; P.A. 13-247, S. 272; P.A. 24-151, S. 89.) History: 1959 acts deleted counties from the definitions of municipality and legislative body and added probate provisions to the same definitions; 1963 act added district health department provisions to same definitions; 1965 act added regional planning agency provisions to same definitions; 1967 act added reference to charter provisions in definition of “legislative body”; 1969 act divided section into subdivisions; P.A. 89-211 clarified reference to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; P.A. 13-247 amended Subdiv. (1) by substituting “council of governments” for “planning agency” in definition of “municipality” and amended Subdiv. (4) by substituting “councils of governments” for “planning agencies” and “council” for “regional planning board” in definition of “legislative body”, effective January 1, 2015; P.A. 24-151 amended Subdiv. (2) by redefining “Commission”, effective January 1, 2025.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-453 Membership in system. Contributions.

7-453. Membership in system. Contributions. Any municipality of the state may, by vote of its legislative body and with the approval of the commission, apply for membership in the system or provide coverage for employees in any of the services which it may have elected to exclude under section 7-454. The commission is appointed agent for the state and is authorized to act in such capacity in all matters relating to the system and to the municipalities entering it. All agreements to be entered into between the state and the Secretary and between the state and the municipality shall be subject to the examination and approval of the Attorney General before being consummated. The commission is authorized to make regulations governing the procedure to be followed by municipalities in entering and maintaining membership in the system. A municipality shall deduct an amount from the wages of its employees whose services are covered under the system by federal-state agreement and shall contribute an equal amount for each employee on its own behalf so that the sum of these amounts shall be equivalent to the taxes which would be imposed by the federal Insurance Contributions Act if the services of employees covered by the agreement constituted employment as defined in that act. The commission, upon receipt of such contributions, shall, in accordance with applicable regulations, verify them for correctness and endorsement and deliver them to the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States. The state shall pay to the Secretary of the Treasury, at such time or times as may be prescribed under the Social Security Act, contributions equal to the taxes which would be imposed by the federal Insurance Contributions Act if the services covered by the agreement constituted employment within the meaning of that act. (1951, 1955, S. 409d; 1963, P.A. 344, S. 4; February, 1965, P.A. 549, S. 4; 1967, P.A. 404; 1969, P.A. 402, S. 4.) History: 1963 act added provisions re district health departments; 1965 act added provisions re regional planning agencies; 1967 act added phrase allowing provision of coverage for employees in services it may previously have excluded; 1969 act deleted provisions requiring, in cases regarding district departments of health or regional planning agencies, approval of electors for their inclusion in system.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-454 Employees not included.

7-454. Employees not included. In determining the municipal employees entitled to participate in the system and the extent of their participation, all service performed by an employee in the employ of any municipality which joins the system, for such employer, shall be included except as provided in this section. The following services shall be excluded: (1) Services which, in the absence of federal-state agreement, would constitute “employment” as defined in the Social Security Act, (2) services of individuals in positions covered under the Connecticut State Teachers' Retirement Association other than services performed by individuals to whom Section 218(c)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act is applicable; services performed prior to August 16, 1994, of individuals in police officers' or firefighters' positions covered under fund A or fund B or local retirement systems, and (3) services which, under the Social Security Act, may not be included in an agreement between the state and the Secretary entered into under sections 7-452 to 7-459, inclusive. Service which under the Social Security Act may be included in an agreement only upon certification by the Governor in accordance with Section 218(d) of said act shall be included if and when the Governor issues, with respect to such service, a certificate to the Secretary pursuant to section 7-455. Any municipality applying for membership in the system may elect to exclude from membership in the system the following: (a) All services in any class or classes of elective positions, part-time positions or positions the compensation for which is on a fee basis, (b) student service to the fullest extent such coverage is permitted under Section 218 of the Social Security Act, (c) services performed by individuals to whom Section 218(c)(3) (B) of the Social Security Act is applicable, or (d) any services which may be optionally excluded under Section 218(c) of the Social Security Act. Any municipality which joined the system prior to July 8, 1955, shall be deemed to have elected exclusion (c). Where any municipality covers under the agreement the services described in exclusion (c), the services of any individual thereby covered shall cease to be covered by the agreement if he thereafter becomes eligible to be a member of a retirement plan, but only if the agreement is not already applicable to such plan pursuant to Section 218(d) of the Social Security Act. Nothing in sections 7-451 to 7-459, inclusive, shall prevent coverage under the system in accordance with Section 218(d)(8) of the Social Security Act of services of individuals in positions covered by more than one retirement system. Where, prior to June 29, 1959, services in positions covered by a retirement system have been covered under the system, the legislative body of a municipality may request that services of individuals excluded from such coverage because such positions were covered by another retirement system be included under the system, and such services shall be covered under the system in accordance with Section 218(d)(8) of the Social Security Act. (1951, 1955, S. 410d; 1957, P.A. 447, S. 12; 1959, P.A. 518, S. 1; 612, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 110; 337, S. 1; P.A. 73-597, S. 1, 3; P.A. 13-153, S. 1.) History: 1959 acts deleted from Subdiv. (2) “services of individuals in positions covered under any retirement plan established by or under the authority of any special act other than services performed by individuals to whom section 218 (c)(3)(C) is applicable, unless and until the special act provides or is amended to provide specifically that such services need not be excluded in determining coverage under the system,” deleted the qualification “(3)” after references to section 218(d) in Subdiv. (3) and specifically prohibited denial of coverage for persons in positions covered by more than one retirement system; 1965 acts added services of individuals in local retirement systems to exception in Subdiv. (2) and added Subdiv. (d); P.A. 73-597 substituted “(B)” for “(C)” in references to “section 218(c)(3)(B) of the Social Security Act”, permitted exclusion of services of emergency nature from coverage at municipality's option and allowed exclusion of student service to extent coverage is permitted under section 218; P.A. 13-153 amended Subdiv. (2) to limit exclusion of services of police officers and firefighters to services “performed prior to August 16, 1994,” and make a technical change, effective June 21, 2013.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-455 Referendum.

7-455. Referendum. (1) With respect to the employees of any municipality, the Governor shall authorize a referendum upon request of the legislative body of such municipality and shall designate the commission to supervise the conduct of such referendum, in accordance with the requirements of Section 218(d)(3) of the Social Security Act, on the question of whether service in positions covered by a retirement system established by the state or by a municipality should be excluded from or included under an agreement under sections 7-452 to 7-455, inclusive; but no such referendum shall be held with respect to services the exclusion of which is required by subdivision (2) of section 7-454. Pursuant to Section 218(d)(6) of the Social Security Act, each retirement system covering positions of employees of more than one municipality shall, for the purposes of sections 7-452 to 7-455, inclusive, be deemed to constitute a separate retirement system with respect to each municipality having positions covered thereby. (2) The legislative body of any municipality which has a retirement system, whether the system was established by special act or otherwise, may subdivide the system into two parts, each of which parts shall be deemed to constitute a separate retirement system; one part, which shall be known as Part A, shall be composed of positions of members of such system who have not expressed a desire for social security coverage, and the positions covered by such system of individuals who are ineligible to become members of such system; the second part, which shall be known as Part B, shall be composed of the positions of members of such system who have expressed their desire for social security coverage, and the positions of all individuals becoming members of such system after the date social security coverage is extended. Whenever the legislative body of a municipality has authorized the subdivision of its retirement system in this manner, the Governor shall authorize a vote among the members of such system on the question of whether they wish to be covered under an agreement under sections 7-452 to 7-455, inclusive. The Governor shall designate the commission to supervise the conduct of such vote in accordance with the requirements of Section 218(d)(7) of the Social Security Act. For purposes of such vote, an individual in a position to which an agreement under sections 7-452 to 7-455, inclusive, already applies or in a position excluded pursuant to Section 218(d)(5) of the Social Security Act shall not be considered a member of the retirement system with respect to which the vote is being conducted. For the purposes of such vote and of coverage under the system, an individual who is in a position covered by such retirement system and who is not a member thereof, but who is eligible to be such a member, shall be considered to be such a member, and such coverage shall be obtained for any such individual to the extent permitted by Section 218(d)(6)(E) of the Social Security Act. The position of any member of Part A may be transferred to Part B in the manner and to the extent permitted by Section 218 of the Social Security Act. Nothing in this part shall be construed as permitting a referendum among the members of the Teachers' Retirement Association in accordance with Section 218(d)(3) of the Social Security Act, or vote of said members in accordance with Section 218(d)(7) of said act. (3) The notice of referendum or vote required by Section 218(d)(3)(c) or Section 218(d)(7) of the Social Security Act, as the case may be, to be given to employees shall contain or shall be accompanied by a statement, in such form and such detail as the commission deems necessary and sufficient, to inform the employees of the rights which will accrue to them and their dependents and survivors, and the liabilities to which they shall be subject, if their services are included under an agreement under sections 7-452 to 7-455, inclusive. Upon receiving evidence satisfactory to him that the conditions of Section 218(d)(3) of the Social Security Act have been met with respect to a referendum or the conditions of Section 218(d)(1) have been met with respect to a vote, the Governor shall so certify to the Secretary. (1955, S. 411d; September, 1957, P.A. 10, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 612, S. 4; 1967, P.A. 656, S. 65; P.A. 79-631, S. 92, 111.) History: 1959 act provided that eligible individuals who are not members of system be considered as members for voting purposes, that transfers from A to B be allowed and that nothing contained in provisions be construed to allow referendum among teachers' retirement association members; 1967 act added Subsec. (3) re notice of referendum or vote (replacing former Subsec. (3) which at some point was dropped without intent as were some of the sentences originally in Subsec. (2) at its creation in 1957); P.A. 79-631 made technical changes.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-456 Deductions from wages.

7-456. Deductions from wages. The legislative body of each municipal member of the system shall direct the treasurer or other financial officer of the municipality to make deductions from the wages of its employees as required by section 7-453. The total amount of such deductions and an equal amount appropriated by the municipality shall be forwarded to the commission within the time fixed by the commission; and if any municipality fails to make such payment within the time specified, the commission shall notify the Comptroller of such default and he shall withhold from such municipality the whole or any part of any sum due from the state until such payment is made. The commission is authorized to bring a civil action, in the name of the state, against any municipality so in default. (1951, S. 412d.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-457 Agreement between commission and municipality.

7-457. Agreement between commission and municipality. The agreement between the commission and the municipality shall describe in detail all conditions which must be fulfilled to meet the applicable requirements of the federal Social Security Act, including a stipulation that the cost to the state of administering sections 7-452 to 7-459, inclusive, shall be paid by the municipalities and apportioned among them quarterly, by the commission, in the ratio which each municipality's quarterly total payment to the system bears to the total payments of all municipalities made in the same quarter; and each municipality shall include in its annual budget a sum sufficient to meet the amount due as its contribution to the commission. (1951, S. 413d; P.A. 86-312, S. 2, 21.) History: P.A. 86-312 required inclusion by each municipality in its annual budget of sum sufficient to meet amount due as its contribution to the “commission” rather than the “fund”.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-458 Refund of amounts recovered from federal government.

7-458. Refund of amounts recovered from federal government. Any amount recovered by the state from the federal government by virtue of payments made under the federal-state agreement shall be equitably refunded by the state to the contributors as the commission directs. (1951, S. 414d.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-459 Retroactivity.

7-459. Retroactivity. The provisions of sections 7-452 to 7-458, inclusive, and this section shall be retroactive to January 1, 1951, and any agreement or modification thereof between the state and the federal government may be made retroactive in accordance with the provisions of Section 218(f) of the federal Social Security Act, as amended. (1951, 1953, S. 416d.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-459a Survivors' benefits authorized.

7-459a. Survivors' benefits authorized. Any municipality participating in this part may, by vote of its legislative body, provide survivors' benefits for the widows of persons covered by this part. (February, 1965, P.A. 338, S. 2.)

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-459b Deferred retirement option plan.

7-459b. Deferred retirement option plan. (a) On or after July 1, 2025, the Retirement Commission may create a deferred retirement option plan for members of a municipality participating in the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund. Any plan created shall permit members of the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund who are eligible for a service retirement allowance to elect participation in such plan. (b) Any deferred retirement option plan created shall include a fixed period of time for member participation, not to exceed five years, and a specified rate of interest credit for member accounts. All other provisions of the deferred retirement option plan shall be as determined by the Retirement Commission, provided the structure of such plan is certified by the consulting actuary to the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund as having no anticipated impact that would increase the contribution rates for municipalities participating in said fund. Not later than four years after the creation of such plan, the Retirement Commission shall obtain an evaluation of such plan from the consulting actuary and review and assess such evaluation to determine the cost to the fund associated with such plan. After receiving such evaluation, the Retirement Commission may discontinue such plan. (P.A. 00-73, S. 1, 2; 00-192, S. 98, 102; P.A. 23-182, S. 5; P.A. 24-151, S. 84.) History: P.A. 00-73 and P.A. 00-192 effective July 1, 2000 (Revisor's note: Sec. 1 of P.A. 00-73 and Sec. 98 of P.A. 00-192 are, for the most part, identical except that P.A. 00-192 includes a provision in Subsec. (a) authorizing the Retirement Commission to “prescribe the manner in which such option plan may be adopted by a municipality participating in the Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund, provided the method of adoption is in accordance with subsection (c) of this section” which is not found in P.A. 00-73, and further differs from P.A. 00-73 in Subsec. (c) in providing for adoption “in a manner prescribed by the Retirement Commission” where P.A. 00-73 provides for adoption “by a majority vote of the local legislative body”. The later act, P.A. 00-192, was deemed by the Revisors to have repealed by implication the conflicting earlier provision enacted in P.A. 00-73); P.A. 23-182 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “July 1, 2000” with “July 1, 2025” and provisions re adoption of deferred retirement option plan by participating municipalities with provisions re offering of such plan to members by such municipalities, amended Subsec. (b) to replace reference to impact on contribution rates with reference to impact that would increase contribution rates, add provisions re evaluation by Retirement Commission of deferred retirement option plan and authorization for commission to discontinue such plan, and make conforming changes, and deleted former Subsec. (c) re municipal adoption of deferred retirement option plan, effective June 27, 2023; P.A. 24-151 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provision re Retirement Commission prescribing manner of offering deferred retirement option plan, effective June 6, 2024.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-459c Retiree group health insurance benefits. Restriction on diminishment or elimination.

7-459c. Retiree group health insurance benefits. Restriction on diminishment or elimination. Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or special act 01-1, no municipality or subdivision of a municipality that provides group health insurance benefits to a retiree of the municipality or subdivision as of June 2, 2006, shall diminish or eliminate such retiree's benefits in violation of any collective bargaining agreement. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit such municipality or subdivision from selecting an alternative insurance carrier to provide such retiree's benefits as long as the benefits provided by the alternative insurance carrier are at least equivalent to the benefits previously provided by such municipality or subdivision to such retiree, unless such retiree, as of the effective date of such employee's retirement, is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, negotiated in accordance with the provisions of sections 7-467 to 7-477, inclusive, with a provision specifying that such retiree is entitled to the same health insurance benefits provided to active employees of the municipality as a result of collective bargaining. (P.A. 06-123, S. 1.) History: P.A. 06-123 effective June 2, 2006.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-459d Defined contribution retirement plan.

7-459d. Defined contribution retirement plan. (a) On or after July 1, 2025, the State Comptroller shall create a municipal defined contribution retirement plan and prescribe the manner in which such retirement plan may be adopted by any municipality, as defined in section 7-425. (b) Any such retirement plan shall provide that a municipality that adopts such plan shall have the option to transfer to such plan the accounts and assets of any defined contribution retirement plan previously adopted by such municipality. Payroll deductions for each member of the defined contribution plan created under this section shall be made by the appropriate municipal employer. (c) The State Comptroller shall serve as the administrator of the retirement plan created under this section. The State Comptroller may (1) enter into contractual agreements on behalf of the state with members of such plan to defer any portion of such member's compensation from the adopting municipality, (2) make deposits or payments to such plan, subject to the terms of such plan, and (3) contract with a private corporation or private institution for the provision of consolidated billing services and other administrative services for such plan. (P.A. 24-151, S. 85.) History: P.A. 24-151 effective June 6, 2024.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-459e Retirement Commission-created defined contribution retirement plan.

7-459e. Retirement Commission-created defined contribution retirement plan. (a) Not later than July 1, 2026, the Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall create a defined contribution retirement plan to be known as the MERS defined contribution plan. (b) (1) Each member of the municipal employees retirement system shall contribute one-fourth of one per cent of such member's pay to the MERS defined contribution plan. (2) In addition to the contributions under subdivision (1) of this subsection, each member participating in MERS 2.0 shall contribute five per cent of such member's other pay to the MERS defined contribution plan, except that each member who is a public safety employee shall contribute eight per cent of such member's other pay to the MERS defined contribution plan. (3) Payroll deductions for each member of the MERS defined contribution plan shall be made by the appropriate municipal employer. (4) Each participating municipality shall contribute to the MERS defined contribution plan an amount equal to the contributions required under subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section from members participating in MERS 2.0 who are employees of such municipality. (5) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission shall serve as the administrator of the MERS 2.0 defined contribution plan. Said commission may (A) make deposits or payments to such plan, subject to the terms of such plan, and (B) contract with a private corporation or private institution for the provision of consolidated billing services and other administrative services for such plan. (6) As used in this section, “MERS 2.0”, “other pay” and “public safety employee” have the same meanings as provided in section 7-436i. (P.A. 25-174, S. 184.) History: P.A. 25-174 effective June 30, 2025.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 7-459f Alternative annuity plan.

7-459f. Alternative annuity plan. (a) The Connecticut Municipal Employees Retirement Commission may establish and implement an annuity plan that shall be an alternative to the municipal employees retirement system under this part, provided any such annuity plan is approved with the unanimous vote of the trustees set forth in subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (b) of section 7-448a. No municipality participating in the municipal employees retirement system as of the date such plan is implemented shall be eligible to participate in such annuity plan. The commission shall prescribe the manner in which such annuity plan may be adopted by any municipality, as defined in section 7-425, that is not participating in the municipal employees retirement system. (b) Any such annuity plan shall provide that a municipality that adopts such plan shall have the option to transfer to such plan the accounts and assets of any defined contribution retirement plan previously adopted by such municipality. Payroll deductions for each member of the annuity plan implemented under this section shall be made by the appropriate municipal employer. (c) The State Comptroller shall serve as the administrator of the annuity plan established under this section. The State Comptroller may (1) enter into contractual agreements on behalf of the state with members of such plan to defer any portion of such member's compensation from the adopting municipality, (2) make deposits or payments to such plan, subject to the terms of such plan, and (3) contract with a private corporation or private institution for the provision of consolidated billing services and other administrative services for such plan. (P.A. 25-174, S. 185.) History: P.A. 25-174 effective June 30, 2025.

Source: Connecticut General Assembly (cga.ct.gov)URL: https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/sup/chap_113.htmFetched: 10/20/2026