Chapter 742 | Police And Fire Pension Fund

Section 742.01 | Police and fire pension fund definitions.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

As used in this chapter:

(A)(1) "Police department" means the police department of a municipal corporation.

(2) "Member of a police department" means any of the following:

(a) Any person who receives an original appointment as a full-time regular police officer in a police department from a duly established civil service eligible list or pursuant to section 124.411 of the Revised Code, or who is described in section 742.511 of the Revised Code, or who transfers from the public employees retirement system to the Ohio police and fire pension fund pursuant to section 742.513 of the Revised Code, or who is appointed pursuant to section 737.15 or 737.16 of the Revised Code as a full-time regular police officer and is paid solely out of public funds of the employing municipal corporation;

(b) Any person who, on October 1, 1965, was contributing four per cent of the person's annual salary to a police relief and pension fund established under former section 741.32 of the Revised Code;

(c) Any person who commences employment on or after September 16, 1998, as a full-time police officer with a police department in a position in which the person is required to satisfactorily complete a peace officer training course in compliance with section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) "Fire department" means a fire department of the state or an instrumentality of the state or of a municipal corporation, township, joint fire district, or other political subdivision.

(2) "Member of a fire department" means all of the following:

(a) Any person who commences employment after November 8, 1990, as a full-time firefighter with a fire department, in a position in which the person is required to satisfactorily complete or have satisfactorily completed a firefighter training course approved under former section 3303.07 or section 4765.55 or conducted under section 3737.33 of the Revised Code;

(b) Any person who has elected under section 742.515 of the Revised Code to be transferred from the public employees retirement system to the Ohio police and fire pension fund;

(c) Any full-time firefighter who, on November 8, 1990, is a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

(C) "Employee" means any person who is a member of a police department or a member of a fire department.

(D) "Employer" means the government entity by which an employee is employed and paid.

(E) "Member of the fund" means any person, except an other system retirant as defined in section 742.26 of the Revised Code, who is contributing a percentage of the person's annual salary to the Ohio police and fire pension fund or who is receiving a disability benefit or pension from the fund as a result of service in a police or fire department. A person, other than an other system retirant, who is contributing a percentage of the person's annual salary to the fund and is dismissed, resigns, or is granted a leave of absence from a police or fire department shall be considered a "member of the fund" for a period of twelve months after the first day of the dismissal, resignation, or leave of absence, provided the sum deducted from the person's salary and credited to the person's account in the fund remains on deposit in the fund.

A member of the Ohio national guard, the Ohio military reserve, the Ohio naval militia, or a reserve component of the armed forces of the United States who is absent from employment due to active military duty because of an executive order issued by the president of the United States or an act of congress shall be considered a member of the fund for the duration of the active military duty.

(F) "Year," for the purpose of determining benefits, means any twelve consecutive calendar months of active service as a member of the fund, or, in the case of a member whose salary is paid weekly or biweekly, fifty-two consecutive weeks of active service as a member.

(G) "Average annual salary" means the highest average annual salary of a member of the fund during any of the number of years of contributions specified in section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, as appropriate, and determined by dividing the member's total salary as an employee during those years by that number.

For the purpose of determining average annual salary for members who, as of July 1, 2013, have fifteen or more years of service credit, "salary" has the same meaning as in division (L)(2) of this section, except that it does not include any amounts that exceed the salary benchmark, determined as follows:

(1) Divide by three the total of the member's salaries for the contiguous three-year period immediately preceding the contiguous three-year period immediately prior to the member's effective date of retirement under section 742.37 or effective date of participation in a deferred option retirement plan under section 742.44 of the Revised Code;

(2) Multiply the amount determined under division (G)(1) of this section by one hundred ten per cent;

(3) Multiply the amount determined under division (G)(2) of this section by one hundred ten per cent;

(4) Multiply the amount determined under division (G)(3) of this section by one hundred ten per cent;

(5) The amount determined under division (G)(4) of this section is the salary benchmark.

(H) "Normal service pension benefit" means the pension benefit payable to a member of the fund under division (C)(1) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code upon attainment of the applicable age listed in that section.

(I) "Retirement allowance" means the total pension benefit or disability benefit to which a member of the fund may be entitled under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code.

(J) "Fiduciary" means a person who does any of the following:

(1) Exercises any discretionary authority or control with respect to the management of the system, or with respect to the management or disposition of its assets;

(2) Renders investment advice for a fee, direct or indirect, with respect to money or property of the system;

(3) Has any discretionary authority or responsibility in the administration of the system.

(K) Except as provided in rules authorized by section 742.013 of the Revised Code, "terminal pay" means the following payments made by an employer to an employee regardless of whether the payments are made before or after termination:

(1) Payments for accrued but unused leave, including sick leave, vacation, personal leave, and compensatory time;

(2) Payments deferred more than one year compensating the employee for holidays worked or for longevity;

(3) Payments for overtime worked that are not included in the payroll for the period in which the overtime is worked or the payroll for any period ending not later than sixty days after the overtime is worked;

(4) Other payments that are not compensation for services rendered in the last pay period in which services were rendered and are designated as terminal pay by rule of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The board shall not designate as terminal pay payments deferred one year or less compensating an employee for holidays worked or for longevity.

(L)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division or in rules authorized by section 742.013 of the Revised Code, "salary" means all compensation, wages, and other earnings paid to an employee by reason of employment, but without regard to whether compensation, wages, or other earnings are treated as deferred income for federal income tax purposes. "Salary" includes payments for overtime that are included in the payroll for the period in which the overtime is worked or the payroll for any period not later than sixty days after the overtime is worked.

(2) "Salary" does not include any of the following:

(a) Compensation for services outside the scope of an employee's regular employment;

(b) Reimbursement of expenses;

(c) Terminal pay;

(d) Payments for accrued but unused sick leave or personal leave, or vacation pay covering periods for which salary, compensation, or benefits are paid;

(e) Payments made under division (B), (C), or (E) of section 5923.05 of the Revised Code, Section 4 of Substitute Senate Bill No. 3 of the 119th general assembly, Section 3 of Amended Substitute Senate Bill No. 164 of the 124th general assembly, or Amended Substitute House Bill No. 405 of the 124th general assembly;

(f) Payments made to or on behalf of an employee that are in excess of the annual compensation that may be taken into account by the fund under division (a)(17) of section 401 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 401(a)(17), as amended.

(3) The board shall determine by rule whether any compensation, wages, or earnings not enumerated in this division is salary, and its decision shall be final.

(M) "Actuary" means an individual who satisfies all of the following requirements:

(1) Is a member of the American academy of actuaries;

(2) Is an associate or fellow of the society of actuaries;

(3) Has a minimum of five years' experience in providing actuarial services to public retirement plans.

Last updated January 9, 2024 at 2:58 PM

Section 742.012 | Refund of contributions to Ohio police and fire pension fund exceeding salary benchmarks.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

Contributions made to the Ohio police and fire pension fund for salary that exceeds the salary benchmark calculated under division (G) of section 742.01 of the Revised Code shall be refunded in accordance with rules adopted by the trustees of the board under section 742.10 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.013 | Definitions for "terminal pay" and "salary".

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

The board may, by rule adopted under section 742.10 of the Revised Code, establish definitions of "terminal pay" and "salary" that differ from those in divisions (K) and (L) of section 742.01 of the Revised Code. In establishing the definitions, the board may use elements of the compensation provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code and the Internal Revenue Code form W-2, as those provisions are interpreted by the internal revenue service of the United States department of treasury.

Section 742.02 | Creation and purpose of fund.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

There is hereby created an Ohio police and fire pension fund for the purpose of providing disability benefits and pensions to members of the fund and their surviving spouses, children, and dependent parents.

Section 742.03 | Board of trustees to administer and control fund.

• Effective: March 22, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 572 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section and in sections 742.04 and 742.05 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Police officer" means a member of the fund who is or has been an employee of a police department and is not a police retirant.

(2) "Firefighter" means a member of the fund who is or has been an employee of a fire department and is not a firefighter retirant.

(3) "Firefighter retirant" means a member of the fund who is receiving an age and service or disability benefit as a result of service in a fire department or a surviving spouse of a deceased member who is receiving a benefit as a result of the deceased member's service in a fire department. "Firefighter retirant" does not include a member of the fund who is participating in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code.

(4) "Police retirant" means a member of the fund who is receiving an age and service or disability benefit as a result of service in a police department or a surviving spouse of a deceased member who is receiving a benefit as a result of the deceased member's service in a police department. "Police retirant" does not include a member of the fund who is participating in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code.

(B) The administration, control, and management of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, created under section 742.02 of the Revised Code, is vested in a board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, which shall consist of the following members:

(1) One member, known as the treasurer of state's investment designee, who shall be appointed by the treasurer of state for a term of four years and have the following qualifications:

(a) The member is a resident of this state.

(b) Within the three years immediately preceding the appointment, the member has not been employed by the public employees retirement system, police and fire pension fund, state teachers retirement system, school employees retirement system, or state highway patrol retirement system or by any person, partnership, or corporation that has provided to one of those retirement systems services of a financial or investment nature, including management, analysis, supervision, or investment of assets.

(c) The member has direct experience in the management, analysis, supervision, or investment of assets.

(d) The member is not currently employed by the state or a political subdivision of the state.

(2) Two members, known as the investment expert members, who shall be appointed for four-year terms. One investment expert member shall be appointed by the governor, and one investment expert member shall be jointly appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate. Each investment expert member shall have the following qualifications:

(a) Each member shall be a resident of this state.

(b) Within the three years immediately preceding the appointment, each member shall not have been employed by the public employees retirement system, police and fire pension fund, state teachers retirement system, school employees retirement system, or state highway patrol retirement system or by any person, partnership, or corporation that has provided to one of those retirement systems services of a financial or investment nature, including the management, analysis, supervision, or investment of assets.

(c) Each member shall have direct experience in the management, analysis, supervision, or investment of assets.

(3) Four members known as employee members.

Two employee members shall be police officers elected by police officers. Two employee members shall be firefighters elected by firefighters. Employee members of the board shall be elected for terms of four years as provided by section 742.04 of the Revised Code.

(4) One member known as the firefighter retirant member, who shall be a resident of this state elected by the firefighter retirants. The firefighter retirant member shall be elected for a term of four years as provided by section 742.04 of the Revised Code.

(5) One member known as the police retirant member, who shall be a resident of this state elected by the police retirants. The police retirant member shall be elected for a term of four years as provided by section 742.04 of the Revised Code.

(C) No employee member of the board who retires while a member of the board shall be eligible to become a retirant member for three years after the date of the member's retirement.

(D) Any member appointed under this section, including a member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which the member's predecessor was appointed, holds office until the end of the term for which the member is appointed. The member continues in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member's term until the member's successor takes office.

Section 742.031 | Orientation program required for new members - continuing education.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

Each newly elected member of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund and each individual appointed to fill a vacancy on the board, shall, not later than ninety days after commencing service as a board member, complete the orientation program component of the retirement board member education program established under section 171.50 of the Revised Code.

Each member of the board who has served a year or longer as a board member shall, not less than twice each year, attend one or more programs that are part of the continuing education component of the retirement board member education program established under section 171.50 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.032 | Members with excessive travel expenses ineligible for another term.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

A person who served as an elected or appointed member of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund for one or more entire fiscal years in fiscal years 2000, 2001, or 2002 is ineligible for re-election or reappointment to the board if the board paid travel-related expenses of the person or reimbursed the person for travel-related expenses that averaged more than ten thousand dollars annually for those fiscal years.

Section 742.04 | Election of employee members, firefighter retirant member, and police retirant member.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

As used in this section, "county" means the county of residence of an individual who signs a nominating petition.

Election of the employee members, firefighter retirant member, and police retirant member of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall be under the supervision and direction of the board in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code.

Nominating petitions for candidates for an employee member of the board elected by police officers shall be signed by at least one hundred police officers, with at least twenty signers from each of at least five counties of the state, and certified in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code.

Nominating petitions for candidates for an employee member of the board elected by firefighters shall be signed by at least one hundred firefighters, with at least twenty signers from each of at least five counties of the state, and certified in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code.

Nominating petitions for candidates for an employee member of the board shall be filed in the office of the board not later than four p.m. on the first Monday in April preceding the date of the expiration of the term of the employee member of the board whose successor is to be elected.

The board shall cause ballots to be prepared for the election of employee members of the board which shall contain the names of all candidates for whom certified nominating petitions have been filed with the board.

A police officer or firefighter is eligible to vote in an election if the police officer or firefighter is a member of the fund on the thirty-first day of January preceding the date of the expiration of the term of the employee member of the board whose successor is to be elected. The board shall determine whether a member of the fund is eligible to vote at an election and its decision shall be final.

On or before the first Monday in May preceding the date of the expiration of the term of the employee member of the board whose successor is to be elected, the board shall cause ballots to be sent to each member of the fund who is eligible to vote at such election to the address of such member as shown on the records of the board.

Ballots shall be returned to the board not later than the third Tuesday in May following the date that the ballots were mailed to the members of the fund eligible to vote at such election.

On certification of the election results in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code, the person receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected as an employee member of the board for a term of four years beginning on the first Monday in June following such election.

Nominating petitions for candidates for the police retirant member of the board shall be signed by at least fifty police retirants, with at least ten signers from at least five counties of the state, and certified in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code.

Nominating petitions for candidates for the firefighter retirant member of the board shall be signed by at least fifty firefighter retirants, with at least ten signers from at least five counties of the state, and certified in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code.

Nominating petitions for candidates for the retirant members of the board shall be filed in the office of the board not later than four p.m. on the first Monday in April preceding the date of the expiration of the term of the retirant member of the board whose successor is to be elected.

The board shall cause ballots to be prepared for the election of these board members which shall contain the names of all candidates for whom certified nominating petitions have been filed with the board.

A retirant is eligible to vote in an election if the retirant is a police retirant or firefighter retirant on the thirty-first day of January preceding the date of the expiration of the term of the retirant member of the board whose successor is to be elected. The board shall determine whether a police retirant or firefighter retirant is eligible to vote at an election and its decision shall be final.

On or before the first Monday in May preceding the date of the expiration of the term of a retirant member of the board whose successor is to be elected, the board shall cause ballots to be sent to each person who is eligible to vote in the election to the address of the person as shown on the records of the board.

Ballots shall be returned to the board not later than the third Tuesday in May following the date that the ballots were mailed to the persons eligible to vote in the election.

On certification of the election results in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code, the person receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected as the police retirant member or the firefighter retirant member of the board for a term of four years beginning on the first Monday in June following the election.

Section 742.041 | No election if only one candidate nominated.

• Effective: April 1, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 535 - 123rd General Assembly

Notwithstanding sections 742.03 and 742.04 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund is not required to hold an election for a position on the board as an employee member, police retirant member, or firefighter retirant member if only one candidate has been nominated for the position by petition in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code. The candidate shall take office as if elected. The term of office shall be four years beginning on the first Monday in June following the date the candidate was nominated.

Section 742.042 | Candidate campaign finance statements - donor statement of independent expenditures.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Campaign committee" means a candidate or a combination of two or more persons authorized by a candidate to receive contributions and in-kind contributions and make expenditures on behalf of the candidate.

(2) "Candidate" means an individual who has been nominated pursuant to section 742.04 of the Revised Code for election to the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund or who is seeking to be elected to fill a vacancy on the board pursuant to section 742.05 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Contribution" means a loan, gift, deposit, forgiveness of indebtedness, donation, advance, payment, transfer of funds or transfer of anything of value including a transfer of funds from an inter vivos or testamentary trust or decedent's estate, and the payment by any person other than the person to whom the services are rendered for the personal services of another person, which contribution is made, received, or used for the purpose of influencing the results of an election to the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund under section 742.04 of the Revised Code or the results of an election to fill a vacancy on the board pursuant to section 742.05 of the Revised Code. "Contribution" does not include:

(a) Services provided without compensation by individuals volunteering a portion or all of their time on behalf of a person;

(b) Ordinary home hospitality;

(c) The personal expenses of a volunteer paid for by that volunteer campaign worker.

(4) "Election day" means the following, as appropriate to the situation:

(a) The third Tuesday in May of a year for which section 742.04 of the Revised Code specifies that an election for a member of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund be held;

(b) If, pursuant to section 742.041 of the Revised Code, no election is held, the third Tuesday in May of a year that the election would have been held if not for section 742.041 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Expenditure" means the disbursement or use of a contribution for the purpose of influencing the results of an election to the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund under section 742.04 of the Revised Code or the results of an election to fill a vacancy on the board pursuant to section 742.05 of the Revised Code.

(6) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by an individual, partnership, or other entity advocating the election or defeat of an identified candidate or candidates, that is not made with the consent of, in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of any candidate or candidates or of the campaign committee or agent of the candidate or candidates. An independent expenditure shall not be construed as being a contribution. As used in division (A)(6) of this section:

(a) "Advocating" means any communication containing a message advocating election or defeat.

(b) "Identified candidate" means that the name of the candidate appears, a photograph or drawing of the candidate appears, or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent by unambiguous reference.

(c) "Made in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or the campaign committee or agent of the candidate" means made pursuant to any arrangement, coordination, or direction by the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or the candidate's agent prior to the publication, distribution, display, or broadcast of the communication. An expenditure is presumed to be so made when it is any of the following:

(i) Based on information about the candidate's plans, projects, or needs provided to the person making the expenditure by the candidate, or by the candidate's campaign committee or agent, with a view toward having an expenditure made;

(ii) Made by or through any person who is, or has been, authorized to raise or expend funds, who is, or has been, an officer of the candidate's campaign committee, or who is, or has been, receiving any form of compensation or reimbursement from the candidate or the candidate's campaign committee or agent;

(iii) Made by a political party in support of a candidate, unless the expenditure is made by a political party to conduct voter registration or voter education efforts.

(d) "Agent" means any person who has actual oral or written authority, either express or implied, to make or to authorize the making of expenditures on behalf of a candidate, or means any person who has been placed in a position with the candidate's campaign committee or organization such that it would reasonably appear that in the ordinary course of campaign-related activities the person may authorize expenditures.

(7) "In-kind contribution" means anything of value other than money that is used to influence the results of an election to the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund under section 742.04 of the Revised Code or the results of an election to fill a vacancy on the board pursuant to section 742.05 of the Revised Code or is transferred to or used in support of or in opposition to a candidate and that is made with the consent of, in coordination, cooperation, or consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of the benefited candidate. The financing of the dissemination, distribution, or republication, in whole or part, of any broadcast or of any written, graphic, or other form of campaign materials prepared by the candidate, the candidate's campaign committee, or their authorized agents is an in-kind contribution to the candidate and an expenditure by the candidate.

(8) "Personal expenses" includes ordinary expenses for accommodations, clothing, food, personal motor vehicle or airplane, and home telephone.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in division (D) of this section, each candidate who, or whose campaign committee, receives contributions or in-kind contributions totaling one thousand dollars or more or has expenditures totaling one thousand dollars or more in connection with the candidate's efforts to be elected to the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall file with the secretary of state two complete, accurate, and itemized statements setting forth in detail the contributions, in-kind contributions, and expenditures. The statements shall be filed regardless of whether, pursuant to section 742.041 of the Revised Code, no election is held. The statements shall be made on a form prescribed under section 111.30 of the Revised Code. Every expenditure shall be vouched for by a receipted bill, stating the purpose of the expenditures, that shall be filed with the statement; a canceled check with a notation of the purpose of the expenditure is a receipted bill for purposes of this division.

The first statement shall be filed not later than four p.m. on the day that is twelve days before election day. The second statement shall be filed not sooner than the day that is eight days after election day and not later than thirty-eight days after election day. The first statement shall reflect contributions and in-kind contributions received and expenditures made to the close of business on the twentieth day before election day. The second statement shall reflect contributions and in-kind contributions received and expenditures made during the period beginning on the nineteenth day before election day and ending on the close of business on the seventh day after election day.

(C) Each individual, partnership, or other entity who makes an independent expenditure in connection with the candidate's efforts to be elected to the board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund shall file with the secretary of state two complete, accurate, and itemized statements setting forth in detail the independent expenditures. The statements shall be filed regardless of whether, pursuant to section 742.041 of the Revised Code, no election is held. The statements shall be made on a form prescribed under section 111.30 of the Revised Code.

The first statement shall be filed not later than four p.m. on the day that is twelve days before election day. The second statement shall be filed not sooner than the day that is eight days after election day and not later than thirty-eight days after election day. The first statement shall reflect independent expenditures made to the close of business on the twentieth day before election day. The second statement shall reflect independent expenditures made during the period beginning on the nineteenth day before election day and ending on the close of business on the seventh day after election day.

(D) Each candidate who, or whose campaign committee, receives a contribution or in-kind contribution or makes an expenditure in connection with the candidate's efforts to be elected to fill a vacancy in the board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund pursuant to section 742.05 of the Revised Code shall file with the secretary of state a complete, accurate, and itemized statement setting forth in detail the contributions, in-kind contributions, and expenditures. The statement shall be made on a form prescribed under section 111.30 of the Revised Code. Every expenditure shall be vouched for by a receipted bill, stating the purpose of the expenditures, that shall be filed with the statement; a canceled check with a notation of the purpose of the expenditure is a receipted bill for purposes of this division.

The statement shall be filed within thirty-eight days after the day the candidate takes office. The statement shall reflect contributions and in-kind contributions received and expenditures made to the close of business on the seventh day after the day the candidate takes office.

Section 742.043 | Filing of statements - prohibited campaign activities.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

(A) No person shall knowingly fail to file a complete and accurate campaign finance statement or independent expenditure statement in accordance with section 742.042 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person, during the course of a person seeking nomination for, and during any campaign for, election to the board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund, shall knowingly and with intent to affect the nomination or the outcome of the campaign do any of the following by means of campaign materials, an advertisement on radio or television or in a newspaper or periodical, a public speech, press release, or otherwise:

(1) With regard to a candidate, identify the candidate in a manner that implies that the candidate is a member of the board or use the term "re-elect" when the candidate is not currently a member of the board;

(2) Make a false statement concerning the formal schooling or training completed or attempted by a candidate; a degree, diploma, certificate, scholarship, grant, award, prize, or honor received, earned, or held by a candidate; or the period of time during which a candidate attended any school, college, community technical school, or institution;

(3) Make a false statement concerning the professional, occupational, or vocational licenses held by a candidate, or concerning any position the candidate held for which the candidate received a salary or wages;

(4) Make a false statement that a candidate or board member has been indicted or convicted of a theft offense, extortion, or other crime involving financial corruption or moral turpitude;

(5) Make a statement that a candidate has been indicted for any crime or has been the subject of a finding by the Ohio elections commission without disclosing the outcome of any legal proceedings resulting from the indictment or finding;

(6) Make a false statement that a candidate or board member has a record of treatment or confinement for mental disorder;

(7) Make a false statement that a candidate or board member has been subjected to military discipline for criminal misconduct or dishonorably discharged from the armed services;

(8) Falsely identify the source of a statement, issue statements under the name of another person without authorization, or falsely state the endorsement of or opposition to a candidate by a person or publication;

(9) Make a false statement concerning the voting record of a candidate or board member;

(10) Post, publish, circulate, distribute, or otherwise disseminate a false statement concerning a candidate, either knowing the same to be false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not, if the statement is designed to promote the election, nomination, or defeat of the candidate.

Section 742.044 | Complaint alleging violation of RC 742.043 - procedure - fine.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

The secretary of state, or any person acting on personal knowledge and subject to the penalties of perjury, may file a complaint with the Ohio elections commission alleging a violation of section 742.043 of the Revised Code. The complaint shall be made on a form prescribed and provided by the commission.

On receipt of a complaint under this section, the commission shall hold a hearing open to the public to determine whether the violation alleged in the complaint has occurred. The commission may administer oaths and issue subpoenas to any person in the state compelling the attendance of witnesses and the production of relevant papers, books, accounts, and reports. On the refusal of any person to obey a subpoena or to be sworn or to answer as a witness, the commission may apply to the court of common pleas of Franklin county under section 2705.03 of the Revised Code. The court shall hold contempt proceedings in accordance with Chapter 2705. of the Revised Code.

The commission shall provide the person accused of the violation at least seven days prior notice of the time, date, and place of the hearing. The accused may be represented by an attorney and shall have an opportunity to present evidence, call witnesses, and cross-examine witnesses.

At the hearing, the commission shall determine whether the violation alleged in the complaint has occurred. If the commission determines that a violation of division (A) of section 742.043 of the Revised Code has occurred, the commission shall either impose a fine under section 742.99 of the Revised Code or enter a finding that good cause has been shown not to impose the fine. If the commission determines that a violation of division (B) of section 742.043 of the Revised Code has occurred, the commission shall impose the fine described in section 742.99 of the Revised Code, refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutor, or enter a finding that good cause has been shown not to impose a fine or refer the matter to a prosecutor.

Section 742.045 | Adoption of election rules - certification of nominating petitions and election results.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

(A) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, after consultation with the secretary of state, shall adopt rules in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, governing all of the following:

(1) The administration of elections of members of the board of trustees under section 742.04 of the Revised Code and elections held under section 742.05 of the Revised Code to fill vacancies on the board of trustees;

(2) Nominating petitions for the elections;

(3) Certification of the validity of nominating petitions for the elections;

(4) Certification of the results of the elections.

(B) The board may contract with the secretary of state or an independent firm to administer the elections, certify the validity of nominating petitions, and certify the results of the elections. The secretary of state and the independent firm shall perform these services in accordance with the rules adopted under division (A) of this section. Notwithstanding section 742.41 of the Revised Code, the board shall provide information necessary for the secretary of state or the independent firm to certify the election. If the board contracts with an independent firm to administer an election, the secretary of state may audit the election.

Section 742.046 | Disqualification of convicted member - misconduct in office - removal procedure.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 272 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The office of an employee member, firefighter retirant member, or police retirant member of the board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a felony, a theft offense as defined in section 2913.01 of the Revised Code, or a violation of section 102.02, 102.03, 102.04, 2921.02, 2921.11, 2921.13, 2921.31, 2921.41, 2921.42, 2921.43, or 2921.44 of the Revised Code shall be deemed vacant. A person who has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of an offense of that nature is ineligible for election to the office of employee member, firefighter retirant member, or police retirant member of the board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund.

(B) A member of the board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund who willfully and flagrantly exercises authority or power not authorized by law, refuses or willfully neglects to enforce the law or to perform any official duty imposed by law, or is guilty of gross neglect of duty, gross immorality, drunkenness, misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance is guilty of misconduct in office. On complaint and hearing in the manner provided for in this section, the board member shall have judgment of forfeiture of the office with all its emoluments entered against the board member, creating in the office a vacancy to be filled as provided by law.

(C) Proceedings for removal of a board member on any of the grounds enumerated in division (B) of this section shall be commenced by filing with the court of common pleas of the county in which the board member resides a written complaint specifically setting forth the charge. The complaint shall be accepted if signed by the governor or signed as follows:

(1) If the complaint is against a police officer employee member of the board, the complaint must be signed by a number of police officer members of the fund that equals at least the following and must include signatures of at least twenty police officer members residing in at least five different counties:

(a) If the police officer employee member was most recently elected in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of police officers who voted in that election;

(b) If the police officer employee member most recently became a member of the board of trustees pursuant to section 742.05 of the Revised Code or took office in accordance with section 742.041 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of police officers who voted in the most recent election held in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code for that police officer employee member position on the board of trustees.

(2) If the complaint is against a firefighter employee member of the board of trustees, the complaint must be signed by a number of firefighter members of the fund that equals at least the following and must include signatures of at least twenty firefighter members residing in at least five different counties:

(a) If the firefighter employee member was most recently elected in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of firefighters who voted in that election;

(b) If the firefighter employee member most recently became a member of the board of trustees pursuant to section 742.05 of the Revised Code or took office in accordance with section 742.041 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of firefighters who voted in the most recent election held in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code for that firefighter employee member position on the board.

(3) If the complaint is against the police retirant member of the board of trustees, the complaint must be signed by a number of police retirants that equals at least the following and must include signatures of at least twenty police retirants residing in at least five different counties:

(a) If the police retirant member was most recently elected in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of police retirants who voted in that election;

(b) If the police retirant member most recently became a member of the board of trustees under section 742.05 of the Revised Code or took office in accordance with section 742.041 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of police retirants who voted in the most recent election held in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code for the police retirant member position on the board.

(4) If the complaint is against the firefighter retirant member of the board of trustees, the complaint must be signed by a number of firefighter retirants that equals at least the following and must include signatures of at least twenty firefighter retirants residing in at least five different counties:

(a) If the firefighter retirant member was most recently elected in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of firefighter retirants who voted in that election;

(b) If the firefighter retirant member most recently became a member of the board of trustees under section 742.05 of the Revised Code or took office in accordance with section 742.041 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of firefighter retirants who voted in the most recent election held in accordance with section 742.04 of the Revised Code for the firefighter retirant member position on the board.

(D) The clerk of the court of common pleas in which a complaint against a member of the board of trustees is filed under division (A) of this section shall do both of the following with respect to the complaint:

(1) Submit the signatures obtained pursuant to division (C) of this section to the board for purposes of verifying the validity of the signatures. The board shall verify the validity of the signatures and report its findings to the court.

(2) Cause a copy of the complaint to be served on the board member at least ten days before the hearing on the complaint. The court shall hold a public hearing not later than thirty days after the filing of the complaint. The court may subpoena witnesses and compel their attendance in the same manner as in civil cases. Process shall be served by the sheriff of the county in which the witness resides. Witness fees and other fees in connection with the proceedings shall be the same as in civil cases. The court may suspend the board member pending the hearing.

If the court finds that one or more of the charges in the complaint are true, it shall make a finding for removal of the board member. The court's finding shall include a full, detailed statement of the reasons for the removal. The finding shall be filed with the clerk of the court and be made a matter of public record.

The board member has the right to appeal to the court of appeals.

(E) No individual who has been removed from the board pursuant to this section shall be eligible to fill an elective or appointed position as a member of the board.

Section 742.05 | Vacancy on board of trustees.

• Effective: March 22, 2019
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 572 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, if a vacancy occurs in the term of an employee or retirant member of the board, all the remaining members of the board shall elect a successor employee or retirant member. On certification of the election results in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code, the successor member shall hold office until the first day of the new term that follows the next board election that occurs not less than ninety days after the successor member's election, or until the end of the term for which the successor member was elected, whichever is sooner; except that, the successor employee member representing firefighters who was elected to the board under this section on March 6, 2014, shall hold office until June 1, 2020, notwithstanding sections 742.03 and 742.04 of the Revised Code.

Elections under this section to fill a vacancy on the board shall be conducted in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.045 of the Revised Code.

If an employee member of the board ceases to be a member of the fund, a vacancy shall exist.

If as a result of changed circumstances a retirant member no longer qualifies for membership on the board as a retirant member, a vacancy shall exist.

Any elected or appointed member of the board who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the board, without valid excuse, shall be considered as having resigned from the board and the board shall declare the member's office vacated and as of the date of the adoption of a proper resolution a vacancy shall exist.

(B) A successor member need not be elected under division (A) of this section to fill a vacancy if on the day the vacancy occurs less than ninety days remain in the vacated term.

Section 742.06 | Oath or affirmation of office.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Each member of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, before entering upon the member's official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath of affirmation that the member will support the constitution of the United States, the constitution of the state of Ohio, and that the member will honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties of the member's office. Such oath or affirmation shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state.

Section 742.07 | Meetings of board of trustees.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Within three months after all of the first appointed members of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund have been appointed and qualified, the governor shall call the first meeting of the board, and thereafter meetings of the board shall be called in such manner and at such times as the board prescribes, provided, that the board shall meet at least four times annually. All meetings of the board shall be open to the public except executive sessions as set forth in division (G) of section 121.22 of the Revised Code, and any portions of any sessions discussing medical records or the degree of disability of a member excluded from public inspection by section 742.41 of the Revised Code.

At its first meeting the board shall organize by electing from its membership a chairperson and a vice-chairperson who shall serve for a term of one year. Annually thereafter the board shall elect from its membership a chairperson and a vice-chairperson for a term of one year.

A majority of the full membership of the board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 742.08 | Expenses - liability insurance.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) The members of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for their necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties.

An employee member of the board shall suffer no loss or penalty whatsoever because of absence from the employee member's regular employment while engaged in official duties as a member of the board.

(B) The board may secure insurance coverage designed to indemnify board members and employees for their actions or conduct in the performance of official duties, and may pay required premiums for such coverage from the expense fund.

(C) The board shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code establishing a policy for reimbursement of travel expenses incurred by board members in the performance of their official duties. As part of any audit performed under Chapter 117. of the Revised Code, an inquiry shall be made into whether board members have complied with these rules.

(D) No board member shall accept payment or reimbursement for travel expenses, other than for meals and other food and beverages provided to the member, from any source other than the expense fund established under section 742.59 of the Revised Code. Except in the case of an emergency, no out-of-state travel expenses shall be reimbursed unless approved in advance by a majority of the board at a regular board meeting.

Section 742.09 | Attorney general is legal counsel for board.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

The attorney general shall be the legal counsel of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

Section 742.091 | Actions; venue.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 520 - 131st General Assembly

Any action brought against the Ohio police and fire pension fund or the Ohio police and fire pension fund b oard of trustees or its officers, employees, or board members in their official capacities shall be brought in the appropriate court in Franklin county, Ohio.

Section 742.10 | Powers of board.

• Effective: August 18, 2019
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 221 - 132nd General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, contract and be contracted with, employ and fix the compensation of employees, and adopt rules for the proper administration and management of the fund.

Effective ninety days after September 15, 2004, the board of trustees may not employ a state retirement system investment officer, as defined in section 1707.01 of the Revised Code, who does not hold a valid state retirement system investment officer license issued by the division of securities in the department of commerce.

If the Ohio retirement study council establishes a uniform format for any report the board is required to submit to the council, the board shall submit the report in that format.

The attorney general shall prescribe procedures for the adoption of rules authorized under this chapter, consistent with the provisions of section 111.15 of the Revised Code under which all rules shall be filed in order to be effective. Such procedures shall establish methods by which notice of proposed rules is given to interested parties and rules adopted by the board published and otherwise made available. When it files a rule with the joint committee on agency rule review pursuant to section 111.15 of the Revised Code, the board shall submit to the Ohio retirement study council a copy of the full text of the rule, and if applicable, a copy of the rule summary and fiscal analysis required by division (B) of section 106.024 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.101 | Transfer expenses from guarantee fund to expense fund.

• Effective: July 23, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 134 - 124th General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall estimate annually the amount required to pay its expenses for the ensuing year, and shall fix the amount which shall be transferred from the guarantee fund to the expense fund.

Section 742.102 | Travel expense policies - bonus policy - budget.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

The board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund shall do all of the following:

(A) In consultation with the Ohio ethics commission, review any existing policy regarding the travel and payment of travel expenses of members of the board of trustees and employees of the fund and adopt rules in accordance with section 742.10 of the Revised Code establishing a new or revised policy regarding travel and payment of travel expenses. Not less than sixty days before adopting a new or revised policy, the board shall submit the policy to the Ohio retirement study council for review.

(B) If the board intends to award a bonus to any employee of the board, adopt rules in accordance with section 742.10 of the Revised Code establishing a policy regarding employee bonuses;

(C) Provide copies of the rules adopted under divisions (A) and (B) of this section to each member of the Ohio retirement study council;

(D) Submit to the Ohio retirement study council a proposed operating budget, including an administrative budget for the board, for the next immediate fiscal year and adopt that budget not earlier than sixty days after it is submitted to the council;

(E) Submit to the council a plan describing how the board will improve the dissemination of public information pertaining to the board.

Section 742.103 | Ethics policy - commission approval - ethics training.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

The board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund shall, in consultation with the Ohio ethics commission, develop an ethics policy to govern board members and employees in the performance of their official duties. The board shall submit this policy to the commission for approval.

The commission shall review the policy and, if the commission determines that the policy is adequate, approve the policy. If the commission determines that the policy is inadequate, it shall specify the revisions to be made and the board shall submit a revised policy. If the commission approves the revised policy, the board shall adopt it. If not, the board shall make any further revisions required by the commission and adopt the policy. Not less than sixty days before adopting the policy, the board shall submit it to the Ohio retirement study council for review.

The board periodically shall provide ethics training to members and employees of the board. The training shall include training regarding the requirements and prohibitions of Chapter 102. of the Revised Code and sections 2921.42 and 2921.43 of the Revised Code and any other training the board considers appropriate.

The board shall establish a procedure to ensure that each employee of the board is informed of the procedure for filing a complaint alleging violation of Chapter 102. of the Revised Code or section 2921.42 or 2921.43 of the Revised Code with the Ohio ethics commission or the appropriate prosecuting attorney.

Section 742.104 | Chief investment officer - supervision duties - monitoring of securities transactions.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

(A) The board of trustees of the police and fire pension fund shall designate a person who is a licensed state retirement system investment officer to be the chief investment officer for the police and fire pension fund. The board shall notify the division of securities of the department of commerce in writing of its designation and of any change in its designation within ten calendar days of the designation or change.

(B) The chief investment officer shall reasonably supervise the licensed state retirement system investment officers and other persons employed by the police and fire pension fund with a view toward preventing violations of Chapter 1707. of the Revised Code, the "Commodity Exchange Act," 42 Stat. 998, 7 U.S.C. and following, the "Securities Act of 1933," 48 Stat. 74, 15 U.S.C. and following, and the "Securities Exchange Act of 1934," 48 Stat. 881, 15 U.S.C. 78a, and following, and the rules and regulations promulgated under those statutes. This duty of reasonable supervision shall include the adoption, implementation, and enforcement of written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent persons employed by the police and fire pension fund from misusing material, nonpublic information in violation of those laws, rules, and regulations.

For purposes of this division, no chief investment officer shall be considered to have failed to satisfy the officer's duty of reasonable supervision if the officer has done all of the following:

(1) Adopted and implemented written procedures, and a system for applying the procedures, that would reasonably be expected to prevent and detect, insofar as practicable, any violation by its licensed investment officers and other persons employed by the police and fire pension fund;

(2) Reasonably discharged the duties and obligations incumbent on the chief investment officer by reason of the established procedures and the system for applying the procedures when the officer had no reasonable cause to believe that there was a failure to comply with the procedures and systems;

(3) Reviewed, at least annually, the adequacy of the policies and procedures established pursuant to this section and the effectiveness of their implementation.

(C) The chief investment officer shall establish and maintain a policy to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of securities transactions executed on behalf of the board. No chief investment officer shall be considered to have failed to satisfy the officer's duty under this division if the officer has done both of the following:

(1) Implemented the policy adopted by the board under section 742.114 of the Revised Code that outlines the criteria used to select agents that execute securities transactions on behalf of the police and fire pension fund.

(2) Reviewed, at least annually, the performance of broker-dealers that execute securities transactions on behalf of the police and fire pension fund.

Section 742.105 | Selection of internal auditor.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 520 - 131st General Assembly

The Ohio police and fire pension fund board of trustees shall appoint a committee to oversee the selection of an internal auditor. The committee shall select one or more persons for employment as an internal auditor. The board shall employ the person or persons selected by the committee.

The committee shall consist of the following board members: one retirant member, one employee member, and one other member. The committee shall annually prepare and submit to the Ohio retirement study council a report of its actions during the preceding year.

Section 742.11 | Investment powers of board.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

(A) The members of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall be the trustees of the funds created by section 742.59 of the Revised Code. The board shall have full power to invest the funds. The board and other fiduciaries shall discharge their duties with respect to the funds solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries; for the exclusive purpose of providing benefits to participants and their beneficiaries and defraying reasonable expenses of administering the Ohio police and fire pension fund; with care, skill, prudence, and diligence under the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in a like capacity and familiar with these matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a like character and with like aims; and by diversifying the investments of the disability and pension fund so as to minimize the risk of large losses, unless under the circumstances it is clearly prudent not to do so.

To facilitate investment of the funds, the board may establish a partnership, trust, limited liability company, corporation, including a corporation exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 1, as amended, or any other legal entity authorized to transact business in this state.

(B) In exercising its fiduciary responsibility with respect to the investment of the funds, it shall be the intent of the board to give consideration to investments that enhance the general welfare of the state and its citizens where the investments offer quality, return, and safety comparable to other investments currently available to the board. In fulfilling this intent, equal consideration shall be given to investments otherwise qualifying under this section that involve minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women, either alone or in joint venture with other firms.

The board shall adopt, in regular meeting, policies, objectives, or criteria for the operation of the investment program that include asset allocation targets and ranges, risk factors, asset class benchmarks, time horizons, total return objectives, and performance evaluation guidelines. In adopting policies and criteria for the selection of agents with whom the board may contract for the administration of the funds, the board shall comply with sections 742.114 and 742.116 of the Revised Code and shall also give equal consideration to minority owned and controlled firms, firms owned and controlled by women, and joint ventures involving minority owned and controlled firms and firms owned and controlled by women that otherwise meet the policies and criteria established by the board. Amendments and additions to the policies and criteria shall be adopted in regular meeting. The board shall publish its policies, objectives, and criteria under this provision no less often than annually and shall make copies available to interested parties.

When reporting on the performance of investments, the board shall comply with the performance presentation standards established by the association for investment management and research.

(C) All bonds, notes, certificates, stocks, or other evidences of investments purchased by the board shall be delivered to the treasurer of state, who is hereby designated as custodian thereof, or to the treasurer of state's authorized agent, and the treasurer of state or the agent shall collect the principal, interest, dividends, and distributions that become due and payable and place them when so collected into the custodial funds. Evidences of title of the investments may be deposited by the treasurer of state for safekeeping with an authorized agent, selected by the treasurer of state, who is a qualified trustee under section 135.18 of the Revised Code. The treasurer of state shall pay for the investments purchased by the board on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the purchase and pending receipt of the evidence of title of the investment by the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent. The board may sell investments held by the board, and the treasurer of state or the treasurer of state's authorized agent shall accept payment from the purchaser and deliver evidence of title of the investment to the purchaser on receipt of written or electronic instructions from the board or the board's designated agent authorizing the sale, and pending receipt of the moneys for the investments. The amount received shall be placed into the custodial funds. The board and the treasurer of state may enter into agreements to establish procedures for the purchase and sale of investments under this division and the custody of the investments.

(D) All of the board's business shall be transacted, all its funds shall be invested, all warrants for money drawn and payments shall be made, and all of its cash, securities, and other property shall be held, in the name of the board or its nominee, provided that nominees are authorized by board resolution for the purpose of facilitating the ownership and transfer of investments.

(E) No purchase or sale of any investment shall be made under this section except as authorized by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

(F) Any statement of financial position distributed by the board shall include the fair value, as of the statement date, of all investments held by the board under this section.

Section 742.111 | Prohibited business transactions.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

The Ohio police and fire pension fund shall make no investments through or purchases from, or otherwise do any business with, any individual who is, or any partnership, association, or corporation that is owned or controlled by, a person who within the preceding three years was employed by, an officer of, or a board member of the fund, or in which a person who within the preceding three years was employed by, an officer of, or a board member of the fund, holds a fiduciary, administrative, supervisory or trust position, or any other position in which such person would be involved, on behalf of the person's employer, in decisions or recommendations affecting the investment policy of the fund, and in which the person would benefit by any monetary gain.

Section 742.112 | Restrictions on fiduciaries.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, a fiduciary shall not cause the Ohio police and fire pension fund to engage in a transaction, if the fiduciary knows or should know that such transaction constitutes a direct or indirect:

(1) Sale or exchange, or leasing, of any property between the fund and a party in interest;

(2) Lending of money or other extension of credit between the fund and a party in interest;

(3) Furnishing of goods, services, or facilities between the fund and a party in interest;

(4) Transfer to, or use by or for the benefit of a party in interest, of any assets of the fund; or

(5) Acquisition, on behalf of the fund, of any employer security or employer real property.

(B) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any transaction between the Ohio police and fire pension fund and any fiduciary or party in interest if:

(1) All the terms and conditions of the transaction are comparable to the terms and conditions which might reasonably be expected in a similar transaction between similar parties who are not parties in interest; and

(2) The transaction is consistent with the fiduciary duties described in Chapter 742. of the Revised Code.

(C) A fiduciary shall not:

(1) Deal with the assets of the fund in the fiduciary's own interest or for the fiduciary's own account;

(2) In the fiduciary's individual or in any other capacity, act in any transaction involving the fund on behalf of a party (or represent a party) whose interests are adverse to the interests of the fund or the interests of its participants or beneficiaries; or

(3) Receive any consideration for the fiduciary's own personal account from any party dealing with such fund in connection with a transaction involving the assets of the fund.

(D) In addition to any liability which the fiduciary may have under any other provision, a fiduciary with respect to the fund shall be liable for a breach of fiduciary responsibility of any fiduciary with respect to the fund in the following circumstances:

(1) If the fiduciary participates knowingly in, or knowingly undertakes to conceal, an act or omission of such other fiduciary, knowing such act or omission is a breach;

(2) If, by the fiduciary's failure to comply with Chapter 742. of the Revised Code, the fiduciary has enabled such other fiduciary to commit a breach; or

(3) If the fiduciary has knowledge of a breach by such other fiduciary, unless the fiduciary makes reasonable efforts under the circumstances to remedy the breach.

(E) Every fiduciary of the fund shall be bonded or insured to an amount of not less than one million dollars for loss by reason of acts of fraud or dishonesty.

Section 742.113 | Conflicts of interest.

• Effective: July 23, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 134 - 124th General Assembly

Except as provided in sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code, no trustee and no employee of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall have any interest, direct or indirect, in the gains or profits of any investment made by the board nor as such, directly or indirectly, receive any pay or annual emolument for the trustee's or employee's services. No trustee or employee of said board shall, directly or indirectly, for self or as an agent or partner of others, borrow any funds or deposits over which the board has jurisdiction or use the same except to make such current and necessary payments as are authorized by the board; nor shall any member or employee of the said board become an endorser or surety or become in any manner an obligor for money loaned by or borrowed from the board.

Section 742.114 | Designation of Ohio-qualified agents - selection policy - utilization - annual report.

• Effective: March 31, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 312 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section and in section 742.116 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Agent" means a dealer, as defined in section 1707.01 of the Revised Code, who is licensed under sections 1707.01 to 1707.50 of the Revised Code or under comparable laws of another state or of the United States.

(2) "Minority business enterprise" has the same meaning as in section 122.71 of the Revised Code.

(3) "Ohio-qualified agent" means an agent designated as such by the board of trustees of the fund.

(4) "Ohio-qualified investment manager" means an investment manager designated as such by the board of trustees of the fund.

(5) "Principal place of business" means an office in which the agent regularly provides securities or investment advisory services and solicits, meets with, or otherwise communicates with clients.

(B) The board of trustees of the fund shall, for the purposes of this section, designate an agent as an Ohio-qualified agent if the agent meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The agent is subject to taxation under Chapter 5725., 5726., 5733., 5747., or 5751. of the Revised Code;

(2) The agent is authorized to conduct business in this state;

(3) The agent maintains a principal place of business in this state and employs at least five residents of this state.

(C) The board shall adopt and implement a written policy to establish criteria and procedures used to select agents to execute securities transactions on behalf of the retirement system. The policy shall address each of the following:

(1) Commissions charged by the agent, both in the aggregate and on a per share basis;

(2) The execution speed and trade settlement capabilities of the agent;

(3) The responsiveness, reliability, and integrity of the agent;

(4) The nature and value of research provided by the agent;

(5) Any special capabilities of the agent.

(D)(1) The board shall, at least annually, establish a policy with the goal to increase utilization by the board of Ohio-qualified agents for the execution of domestic equity and fixed-income trades on behalf of the retirement system, when an Ohio-qualified agent offers quality, services, and safety comparable to other agents otherwise available to the board and meets the criteria established under division (C) of this section.

(2) The board shall review, at least annually, the performance of the agents that execute securities transactions on behalf of the board.

(3) The board shall determine whether an agent is an Ohio-qualified agent, meets the criteria established by the board pursuant to division (C) of this section, and offers quality, services, and safety comparable to other agents otherwise available to the board. The board's determination shall be final.

Section 742.115 | Annual disclosures to Ohio Ethics Commission.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

(A) The Ohio police and fire pension fund shall disclose the following to the Ohio ethics commission:

(1) Anything of value received by the system from an agent and anything of value given on behalf of the system by an agent;

(2) The name of any employee of the system with authority over the investment of retirement system funds or any board member of the system who deals with an agent regarding amounts described in division (A)(1) of this section.

(B) The disclosures required by this section shall be made annually in a report submitted by a date prescribed by the Ohio ethics commission.

Section 742.116 | Designation of Ohio-qualified investment managers - utilization - annual report.

• Effective: September 29, 2015
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

(A) The board of trustees of the pension fund shall, for the purposes of this section, designate an investment manager as an Ohio-qualified investment manager if the investment manager meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The investment manager is subject to taxation under Chapter 5725., 5726., 5733., 5747., or 5751. of the Revised Code;

(2) The investment manager meets one of the following requirements:

(a) Has its corporate headquarters or principal place of business in this state;

(b) Employs at least five hundred individuals in this state;

(c) Has a principal place of business in this state and employs at least twenty residents of this state.

(B)(1) The board shall, at least annually, establish a policy with the goal to increase utilization by the board of Ohio-qualified investment managers, when an Ohio-qualified investment manager offers quality, services, and safety comparable to other investment managers otherwise available to the board. The policy shall also provide for the following:

(a) A process whereby the board can develop a list of Ohio-qualified investment managers and their investment products;

(b) A process whereby the board can give public notice to Ohio-qualified investment managers of the board's search for an investment manager that includes the board's search criteria.

(2) The board shall determine whether an investment manager is an Ohio-qualified investment manager and whether the investment manager offers quality, services, and safety comparable to other investment managers otherwise available to the board. The board's determination shall be final.

Section 742.12 | Bonds purchased from taxing districts.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Bonds purchased by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund from any taxing district of the state shall be in the denomination required by the board in its resolution of purchase, or the board may by its resolution require that all bonds of any series of bonds purchased by it from any taxing district of the state be consolidated and issued as one bond, the principal amount of which is equal to the aggregate amount of all the bonds of said series, which principal together with the interest thereon shall be paid in installments evidenced by and payable upon the surrender of combined principal and interest coupons attached thereto, which coupons shall each separately state the amounts of principal and interest included therein.

Section 742.13 | Record of proceedings between board and taxing district.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

The proper officers of each taxing district issuing the bonds provided for in section 742.12 of the Revised Code shall, without additional procedure or legislation on their part, comply with this section and with section 742.12 of the Revised Code, except that the proper accounting officers of such taxing district and the secretary of the sinking fund shall make and keep a detailed record of any such changes required by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The board shall not change the date of maturity of any part of the principal or interest of any bond issue, nor shall it require a bond of any issue to be of a larger denomination, nor any partial payment of principal to be of greater amount than the aggregate amount of such issue falling due at any date.

Section 742.14 | Actuarial valuation of pension assets, liabilities, and funding requirements of Ohio police and fire pension fund.

• Effective: September 29, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 59 - 130th General Assembly

(A) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall have prepared triennially by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial valuation of the pension assets, liabilities, and funding requirements of the Ohio police and fire pension fund as established pursuant to sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code. The actuary shall complete the valuation in accordance with actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries and prepare a report of the valuation. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of the benefit provisions evaluated;

(2) A summary of the census data and financial information used in the valuation;

(3) A description of the actuarial assumptions, actuarial cost method, and asset valuation method used in the valuation, including a statement of the assumed rate of payroll growth and assumed rate of growth or decline in the number of members of the fund contributing to the pension fund;

(4) A summary of findings that includes a statement of the actuarial accrued pension liabilities and unfunded actuarial accrued pension liabilities;

(5) A schedule showing the effect of any changes in the benefit provisions, actuarial assumptions, or cost methods since the last triennial actuarial valuation;

(6) A statement of whether employee and employer contributions to the pension fund are expected to be sufficient to satisfy the funding objectives established by the board.

The first triennial report shall be made not later than November 1, 2013, to the Ohio retirement study council, the director of budget and management, and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation immediately upon its availability and thereafter triennially, not later than the first day of November.

(B) At such times as the board determines, and at least once in each quinquennial period, the board shall have prepared by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial investigation of the mortality, service, and other experience of the members of the fund and of other system retirants, as defined in section 742.26 of the Revised Code, who are members of a police department or a fire department to update the actuarial assumptions used in the actuarial valuation required by division (A) of this section. The actuary shall prepare a report of the actuarial investigation. The report shall be prepared and any recommended changes in actuarial assumptions shall be made in accordance with the actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries. The report shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of relevant decrement and economic assumption experience observed over the period of the investigation;

(2) Recommended changes in actuarial assumptions to be used in subsequent actuarial valuations required by division (A) of this section;

(3) A measurement of the financial effect of the recommended changes in actuarial assumptions;

(4) If the investigation required by this division includes the investigation required by division (E) of this section, a report of the result of that investigation.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study council and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the first day of November following the last fiscal year of the period the report covers.

(C) The board shall have prepared by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial analysis of any introduced legislation expected to have a measurable financial impact on the pension fund. The actuarial analysis shall be completed in accordance with the actuarial standards of practice promulgated by the actuarial standards board of the American academy of actuaries. The actuary shall prepare a report of the actuarial analysis, which shall include all of the following:

(1) A summary of the statutory changes that are being evaluated;

(2) A description of or reference to the actuarial assumptions and actuarial cost method used in the report;

(3) A description of the participant group or groups included in the report;

(4) A statement of the financial impact of the legislation, including the resulting increase, if any, in the employer normal cost percentage; the increase, if any, in actuarial accrued liabilities; and the per cent of payroll that would be required to amortize the increase in actuarial accrued liabilities as a level per cent of covered payroll for all active members of the fund over a period not to exceed thirty years;

(5) A statement of whether the scheduled contributions to the system after the proposed change is enacted are expected to be sufficient to satisfy the funding objectives established by the board.

Not later than sixty days from the date of introduction of the legislation, the board shall submit a copy of the actuarial analysis to the legislative service commission, the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation, and the Ohio retirement study council.

(D) The board shall have prepared triennially a report giving a full accounting of the revenues and costs relating to the provision of benefits under section 742.45 of the Revised Code. The first triennial report shall be made as of December 31, 2013, and the thirty-first day of December triennially thereafter. The report shall include the following:

(1) A description of the statutory authority for the benefits provided;

(2) A summary of the benefits;

(3) A summary of the eligibility requirements for the benefits;

(4) A statement of the number of participants eligible for the benefits;

(5) A description of the accounting, asset valuation, and funding method used to provide the benefits;

(6) A statement of the net assets available for the provision of the benefits as of the last day of the fiscal year;

(7) A statement of any changes in the net assets available for the provision of benefits, including participant and employer contributions, net investment income, administrative expenses, and benefits provided to participants, as of the last day of the fiscal year;

(8) For the last six consecutive fiscal years, a schedule of the net assets available for the benefits, the annual cost of benefits, administrative expenses incurred, and annual employer contributions allocated for the provision of benefits;

(9) A description of any significant changes that affect the comparability of the report required under this division;

(10) A statement of the amount paid under division (B) of section 742.45 of the Revised Code.

The board shall submit the report to the Ohio retirement study council, the director of budget and management, and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation immediately upon its availability and not later than the thirtieth day of June following the year for which the report was made.

(E) At least once in each quinquennial period, the board shall have prepared by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial investigation of the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code. The investigation shall include an examination of the financial impact, if any, on the fund of offering the plan to members.

The actuary shall prepare a report of the actuarial investigation. The report shall include a determination of whether the plan, as established or modified, has a negative financial impact on the fund and, if so, recommendations on how to modify the plan to eliminate the negative financial impact. If the actuarial report indicates that the plan has a negative financial impact on the fund, the board may modify the plan or cease to allow members who have not already done so to elect to participate in the plan. The firefighter and police officers employers' contributions shall not be increased to offset any negative financial impact of the plan.

If the board ceases to allow members to elect to participate in the plan, the rights and obligations of members who have already elected to participate shall not be altered.

The board may include the actuarial investigation required under this division as part of the actuarial investigation required under division (B) of this section. If the report of the actuarial investigation required by this division is not included in the report required by division (B) of this section, the board shall submit the report required by this division to the Ohio retirement study council and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation not later than the first day of November following the last fiscal year of the period the report covers.

Section 742.15 | Collecting and retaining data.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall collect and keep in convenient form such data as are necessary for the preparation of the required mortality and service tables and for the compilation of such other information as is required for the actuarial evaluations provided for by section 742.14 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.16 | Amortizing unfunded actuarial accrued pension liability.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall establish a period of not more than thirty years to amortize the Ohio police and fire pension fund's unfunded actuarial accrued pension liabilities. The board shall adopt a plan that specifies how it proposes to meet the thirty-year amortization period not later than December 31, 2006. If the period necessary to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued pension liability exceeds thirty years, as determined by the actuarial valuation required by section 742.14 of the Revised Code, the board, not later than ninety days after receipt of the valuation, shall prepare and submit to the Ohio retirement study council and the standing committees of the house of representatives and the senate with primary responsibility for retirement legislation a report that includes the following information:

(A) The number of years needed to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued pension liability as determined by the actuarial valuation;

(B) A plan approved by the board that indicates how the board will reduce the amortization period of unfunded actuarial accrued pension liability to not more than thirty years;

(C) Whether the board has made any progress in meeting the thirty-year amortization period.

Section 742.161 | Adjustment to age and years of service credit.

• Effective: June 24, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

Following the actuarial investigation required by division (B) of section 742.14 of the Revised Code due on November 1, 2017, and following each quinquennial actuarial investigation thereafter, if, in consultation with its actuary, the Ohio police and fire pension fund board of trustees determines that an adjustment to the age and years of service credit required to receive a pension or benefit under division (C) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code is appropriate, the board may, in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.10 of the Revised Code, do either of the following:

(A) If the board's determination is that increasing the age and years of service requirements is necessary to preserve the fiscal integrity of the fund, increase the age and years of service credit required to receive a pension or benefit;

(B) If the board's determination is that reducing the age and years of service requirements would not materially impair the fiscal integrity of the fund, reduce the age and years of service credit required to receive a pension or benefit.

Section 742.17 | Form of application or election.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 520 - 131st General Assembly

An application or election made under this chapter shall be submitted to the Ohio police and fire pension fund in the form and manner specified by the fund. The fund shall determine whether an application or election is complete and properly submitted. Its determination is final.

If the fund determines that an application or election is incomplete or not properly submitted, it may give the person who submitted the application or election the opportunity to correct any deficiency or may reject the application or election and require that it be resubmitted. The fund shall give written notice of the rejection to the person who submitted the application or election.

Section 742.21 | Service credit for membership in state or municipal retirement system.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section and sections 742.211 to 742.214 of the Revised Code:

(1) "Full-time service" has the meaning established by rule of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

(2) "Military service credit" means credit for service in the armed forces of the United States purchased or obtained from the fund, the Cincinnati retirement system, or a non-uniform retirement system.

(3) "Non-uniform retirement system" or "non-uniform system" means the public employees retirement system, school employees retirement system, or state teachers retirement system.

(B) Unless section 742.212 of the Revised Code applies and except as provided in divisions (G) and (I) of this section, in computing the pension and benefits payable under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall give a member of the fund who is in the active service of a police or fire department, is not receiving a pension or benefit payment from the fund, and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code full credit for service credit earned for full-time service as a member of the Cincinnati retirement system or purchased or obtained as military service credit if, for each year of service credit, the fund receives the sum of the following:

(1) An amount, which shall be paid by the member, equal to the amount withdrawn by the member from the retirement system that is attributable to the year of service credit, with interest at a rate established by the board on that amount from the date of withdrawal to the date of payment;

(2) Interest, which shall be paid either by the member or the Cincinnati retirement system, on the amount withdrawn by the member from the Cincinnati retirement system that is attributable to the year of service from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the withdrawal was made;

(3) An amount, which shall be paid by either the member or the Cincinnati retirement system, equal to the lesser of the amount contributed by the employer to the Cincinnati retirement system for the year of service or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the year of service had the member been employed by the member's current employer as a member of a police or fire department at the time the credit was earned, with interest on that amount from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the payment is made;

(4) If the member became a member of the fund on or after September 16, 1998, the amount, which shall be paid by the member, determined pursuant to division (I) of this section.

Interest shall be determined in accordance with division (H) of this section.

(C)(1) Except as provided in divisions (G) and (I) of this section, in computing the pension and benefits payable under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, the fund shall give a member of the fund who is in the active service of a police or fire department, is not receiving a pension or benefit payment from the fund, has withdrawn the member's contributions from a non-uniform retirement system, and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code full credit for service credit earned for full-time service as a member of the non-uniform system or purchased or obtained as military service credit if, for each year of service, the fund receives the sum of the following:

(a) An amount, which shall be paid by the member, equal to the amount withdrawn by the member from the non-uniform system that is attributable to that year of service credit, with interest at a rate established by the board on that amount from the date of withdrawal to the date of payment;

(b) If the member is seeking credit for service under the public employees retirement system or state teachers retirement system, an amount, which shall be paid by the member, equal to the amount of any employer contributions and interest on employee contributions the member received under section 145.40 or 3307.563 of the Revised Code;

(c) Interest, which shall be transferred by the non-uniform system, on the amount withdrawn by the member from the non-uniform system that is attributable to the year of service from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the withdrawal was made;

(d) An amount, which shall be transferred by the non-uniform system, equal to the lesser of the amount contributed by the employer to the non-uniform system for the year of service or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the year of service had the member been employed by the member's current employer as a member of a police or fire department at the time the credit was earned, with interest on that amount from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the transfer is made;

(e) If the member became a member of the fund on or after September 16, 1998, the amount, which shall be paid by the member, determined pursuant to division (I) of this section.

(2) On receipt of payment from the member, the fund shall notify the non-uniform system, and on receipt of the notice, the non-uniform system shall make the transfer. Interest shall be determined in accordance with division (H) of this section.

(3) The amount transferred under division (C)(1) of this section by the public employees retirement system or state teachers retirement system shall not include any amount of employer contributions and interest on employee contributions the member received under section 145.40 or 3307.563 of the Revised Code.

(D) Except as provided in divisions (G) and (I) of this section, in computing the pension and benefits payable under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, the fund shall give a member of the fund who is in the active service of a police or fire department, is not receiving a pension or benefit from the fund, has contributions on deposit with a non-uniform retirement system, and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code full credit for service credit earned for full-time service as a member of the non-uniform system or service credit purchased or obtained as military service credit if both of the following occur:

(1) The non-uniform system transfers to the fund, for each year of service, the sum of the following:

(a) The amount, contributed by the member or, in the case of military service credit, paid by the member, that is attributable to that service;

(b) An amount equal to the lesser of the amount contributed by the employer to the non-uniform system for the year of service or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the year of service had the member been employed by the member's current employer as a member of a police or fire department at the time the credit was earned;

(c) Interest on the amounts specified in divisions (D)(1)(a) and (b) of this section from the last day of the year for which the service credit in the non-uniform system was earned or in which military service credit was purchased or obtained to the date the transfer is made.

(2) If the member became a member of the fund on or after September 16, 1998, the member pays the amount determined pursuant to division (I) of this section.

On receipt of a request from the member, the appropriate non-uniform system shall make the transfer specified in division (D)(1) of this section. Interest shall be determined in accordance with division (H) of this section.

(E) Subject to board rules, a member of the fund may choose to purchase in any one payment only part of the credit the member is eligible to purchase under division (B) or (C)(1) of this section.

(F) At the request of the fund, the non-uniform retirement system or Cincinnati retirement system shall certify to the fund a copy of the records of the service and contributions of a member of the fund who seeks service credit under this section.

(G) A member of the fund is ineligible to receive credit under this section for service that is used in the calculation of any retirement benefit currently being paid or payable in the future to the member under any other retirement program, service rendered concurrently with any other period for which service credit has already been granted, or for service credit that may be transferred under section 742.214 of the Revised Code.

(H) Interest charged under this section shall be calculated separately for each year of service credit. Unless otherwise specified in this section, it shall be calculated at the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate for that year of the fund or of the system in which the credit was earned. The interest shall be compounded annually.

The board may, by rule, establish procedures for the receipt of service credit under this section.

(I) The amount to be paid pursuant to division (B)(4), (C)(1)(e), or (D)(2) of this section or division (B)(2) or (C)(2)(b) of section 742.212 of the Revised Code is the sum of the following:

(1) An amount equal to the difference between the amount the member paid as employee contributions for the service and the amount the member would have paid had the member been employed by the member's current employer as a member of a police or fire department;

(2) An amount equal to the difference between the amount paid or transferred under division (B)(3), (C)(1)(d), or (D)(1)(b) of this section or division (B)(2) or (C)(2)(b) of section 742.212 of the Revised Code and the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the service had the member been employed by the member's current employer as a member of a police or fire department;

(3) Interest, determined in accordance with division (H) of this section, on the amounts specified in divisions (I)(1) and (2) of this section.

At the request of a member, in lieu of requiring payment of all or part of the amount determined under this division the fund may grant the member an amount of service credit under division (B), (C), or (D) of this section or division (B) or (C) of section 742.212 of the Revised Code that is less than the amount for which the member is eligible. The service credit granted shall be the same percentage of the service credit for which the member is eligible that the amount the fund receives under division (B), (C), or (D) of this section or division (B) or (C) of section 742.212 of the Revised Code is of the total amount it would receive under those divisions if the full amount determined under this division was paid.

(J)(1) Except as provided in division (J)(2) of this section and notwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, the board shall, in computing a pension or benefit under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, give a member of the fund who is not receiving a pension or disability benefit from the fund full credit for service credit purchased under this section for service that was less than full-time service if the member provides evidence satisfactory to the board that, after receiving written notice from the fund indicating that the member would be permitted to purchase service credit for service that was less than full-time, the member changed or ceased the member's employment with the understanding that the credit identified in the notice would be used in computing a pension or benefit. If the board has canceled service credit purchased under this section for service that was less than full-time service and the member meets the requirements of division (J)(1) of this section, the board shall restore the service credit on repayment to the fund of the amount refunded to the member at the time of cancellation.

(2) If a member of the fund who is not receiving a pension or disability benefit from the fund purchased credit under this section for service that was less than full-time service and does not meet the requirements of division (J)(1) of this section, the board shall refund to the member any amounts paid to purchase the credit, with interest at a rate determined by the board from the date the member purchased the credit to the date of the refund.

(K) A member of the fund who has purchased service credit under this section, or the member's estate, is entitled to a refund of the amount or portion of the amount paid to purchase the credit if the purchased credit or portion of credit does not increase a pension or benefit payable under section 742.37 or 742.39 or calculated under section 742.442 of the Revised Code. The refund cancels an equivalent amount of service credit.

(L) If a member or former member of the fund who is not a current contributor and has not received a refund of accumulated contributions elects to receive credit under section 145.295, 3307.761, or 3309.73 of the Revised Code for service for which the member contributed to the fund or purchased as military service credit, the fund shall transfer to the non-uniform retirement system the amount specified in division (B) of section 145.295 of the Revised Code, division (C) of section 3307.761 of the Revised Code, or division (B) of section 3309.73 of the Revised Code.

(M) The board shall adopt rules establishing a payroll deduction plan for the purchase of service credit under this section. The rules shall meet the requirements described in section 742.56 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.211 | Transfers of service credit and contributions between system and Cincinnati retirement system.

• Effective: April 1, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 535 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Service credit and contributions for full-time service may be transferred between the fund and the Cincinnati retirement system as specified in sections 742.212 and 742.213 of the Revised Code if both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The Cincinnati city council and the board of trustees of the Cincinnati retirement system take all actions, including the adoption of any ordinance or resolution, necessary to authorize the transfer of service credit and contributions between the system and the fund.

(2) The Ohio police and fire pension fund and Cincinnati retirement system, through their boards of trustees, enter into an agreement governing the transfers that is consistent with the requirements of sections 742.212 and 742.213 of the Revised Code and includes both of the following:

(a) A provision under which the retirement system and the fund agree to transfer the amounts specified in those sections;

(b) A provision that specifies the amount of credit the system to which the transfer is made will grant for a specific period of service earned under the transferring system.

(B) The amount of credit specified under division (A)(2) of this section may be less than the person earned for a specific period of service under the transferring system.

(C)(1) The Ohio police and fire pension fund, through its board of trustees, and the Cincinnati retirement system, acting pursuant to the authority granted it by the Cincinnati city council, may do either of the following:

(a) By mutual consent, modify the agreement described in this section;

(b) Rescind the agreement described in this section.

(2) Any action taken under division (C)(1) of this section does not affect any transfers made between the fund and the system and grants of credit made by the fund or the system prior to the time action is taken.

(3) Rescinding an agreement as provided in division (C)(1)(b) of this section does not require mutual consent. The fund or retirement system that rescinds the agreement must promptly notify the other.

(D) If either of the conditions described in division (A) of this section is not met, a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who meets the requirements of section 742.21 of the Revised Code may purchase credit under division (B) of that section for service in the Cincinnati retirement system.

Section 742.212 | Eligibility for credit for service in Cincinnati retirement system.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

(A) If the conditions described in division (A) of section 742.211 of the Revised Code are met, a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who is not receiving a pension or benefit from the fund and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code is eligible to obtain credit for service as a member of the Cincinnati retirement system under this section.

(B) A member of the fund who has contributions on deposit with the Cincinnati retirement system shall, in computing years of service credit, be given credit for service credit earned for full-time service under the Cincinnati retirement system or purchased or obtained as military service credit if both of the following occur:

(1) For each year of service, the Cincinnati retirement system transfers to the Ohio police and fire pension fund the sum of the following:

(a) The amount, contributed by the member, or, in the case of military service credit, paid by the member, that is attributable to that service;

(b) An amount equal to the lesser of the amount contributed by the employer to the Cincinnati retirement system for the year of service or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the year of service had the member been employed by the member's current employer as a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund at the time the credit was earned;

(c) Interest on the amounts specified in divisions (B)(1)(a) and (b) of this section from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the transfer is made.

(2) If the member became a member of the fund on or after September 16, 1998, the member pays the amount determined pursuant to division (I) of section 742.21 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) A member of the fund who has received a refund of the member's contributions to the Cincinnati retirement system shall, in computing years of service, be given credit for service credit earned for full-time service under the Cincinnati retirement system or purchased or obtained as military service credit if both of the following occur:

(a) For each year of service, the Cincinnati retirement system transfers to the Ohio police and fire pension fund the sum of the following:

(i) Interest on the amount refunded to the member that is attributable to the year of service from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the refund was made;

(ii) An amount equal to the lesser of the amount contributed by the employer to the Cincinnati retirement system for the year of service or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the year of service had the member been employed by the member's current employer as a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund at the time the credit was earned, with interest on that amount from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned to the date of the transfer.

(b) The member pays the sum of the following:

(i) An amount equal to the amount refunded by the Cincinnati retirement system to the member for that year for contributions and payments for military service credit, with interest at a rate established by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund on that amount from the date of the refund to the date of payment;

(ii) An amount equal to the interest, if any, the member received when the refund was made that is attributable to the year of service;

(iii) If the member became a member of the fund on or after September 16, 1998, an amount paid by the member determined pursuant to division (I) of section 742.21 of the Revised Code.

(2) The amount transferred under division (C)(1)(a) of this section shall not include any interest the Cincinnati retirement system paid the person when it made the refund.

(D) Interest charged under this section shall be calculated separately for each year of service credit. Unless otherwise specified in this section, it shall be calculated at the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate for that year of the fund or the Cincinnati retirement system. The interest shall be compounded annually.

(E) Subject to board rules, a member of the fund may choose to purchase in any one payment only part of the credit the member is eligible to purchase under this section.

Interest charged under this section shall be calculated separately for each year of service credit. Unless otherwise specified in this section, it shall be calculated at the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate for that year of the fund or the Cincinnati retirement system. The interest shall be compounded annually.

(F) A member of the fund is ineligible to receive credit under this section for service that is used in the calculation of any retirement benefit currently paid or payable in the future to the member, or service rendered concurrently with any other period for which service credit has already been granted.

(G) At the request of the fund, the Cincinnati retirement system shall certify to the fund a copy of the records of the service and contributions of a member of the fund who seeks service credit under this section.

On receipt of payment from the member under division (C)(1)(b) of this section, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall notify the Cincinnati retirement system. On receipt of the notice, the Cincinnati retirement system shall transfer the amount described in division (C)(1)(a) of this section.

(H) A member of the fund who has purchased service credit under this section, or the member's estate, is entitled to a refund of the amount or portion of the amount paid to purchase the credit if the purchased credit does not increase a pension or benefit payable under section 742.37 or 742.39 or calculated under section 742.442 of the Revised Code. The refund cancels an equivalent amount of service credit.

(I) The board shall adopt rules establishing a payroll deduction plan for purchase of service credit under this section. The rules shall meet the requirements described in section 742.56 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.213 | Transferring contributions to Cincinnati retirement system.

• Effective: April 1, 2001
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 535 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) If the conditions described in division (A) of section 742.211 of the Revised Code are met and a person who is a member or former member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund but not a current contributor and who is not receiving a pension or benefit from the fund elects to receive credit under the Cincinnati retirement system for service for which the person contributed to the fund or purchased or obtained as military service credit, the fund shall transfer the amounts specified in division (B) or (C) of this section to the Cincinnati retirement system.

(B) If a person has not received a refund of accumulated contributions from the fund, the fund shall, for each year of service credit, transfer to the Cincinnati retirement system the sum of the following:

(1) An amount equal to the person's contributions to the fund and payments made by the member for military service credit;

(2) An amount equal to the lesser of the amount contributed by the employer to the fund for the year of service or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the year of service had the person been a member of the Cincinnati retirement system at the time the credit was earned;

(3) Interest on the amounts specified in divisions (B)(1) and (2) of this section for the period from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the transfer was made.

(C) If the person has received a refund of accumulated contributions to the fund, the fund shall, for each year of service credit, transfer to the Cincinnati retirement system the sum of the following:

(1) Interest on the amount refunded to the former member that is attributable to the year of service from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned or in which payment was made for military service credit to the date the refund was made;

(2) An amount equal to the lesser of the amount contributed by the employer to the fund for the year of service or the amount that would have been contributed by the employer for the year of service had the person been a member of the Cincinnati retirement system at the time the credit was earned, with interest on that amount from the last day of the year for which the service credit was earned to the date of the transfer.

(D) On receipt of notice from the Cincinnati retirement system that the Cincinnati retirement system has received payment from a person described in division (C) of this section, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall transfer the amount described in that division.

(E) Interest charged under this section shall be calculated separately for each year of service credit. Unless otherwise specified in this section, it shall be calculated at the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate for that year of the fund or the Cincinnati retirement system. The interest shall be compounded annually.

(F) The transfer of any amount under this section shall cancel an equivalent amount of service credit.

(G) At the request of the Cincinnati retirement system, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall certify to the Cincinnati retirement system a copy of the records of the service and contributions of a member or former member of the fund who elects to receive service credit under the Cincinnati retirement system.

Section 742.214 | Transferring contributions on deposit from non-uniform retirement system.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "transferred service credit" means service credit purchased or obtained under section 145.295, 145.2913, 3307.761, 3307.765, 3309.73, or 3309.731 of the Revised Code prior to the date a member commenced the employment covered by the Ohio police and fire pension fund for which the member is currently contributing to the fund.

(B) A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who is in the active service of a police or fire department, has contributions on deposit with, but is no longer contributing to, a non-uniform retirement system, and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall, in computing years of service, be given full credit for transferred service credit if a transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund is made under this section. At the request of a member, the non-uniform system shall transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund the sum of the following:

(1) An amount equal to the amounts transferred to the non-uniform system under section 145.295, 145.2913, 3307.761, 3307.765, 3309.73, or 3309.731 of the Revised Code;

(2) Interest, determined as provided in division (E) of this section, on the amount specified in division (B)(1) of this section for the period from the last day of the year in which the transfer under section 145.295, 145.2913, 3307.761, 3307.765, 3309.73, or 3309.731 of the Revised Code was made to the date a transfer is made under this section.

(C) A member of the fund who is in the active service of a police or fire department, has received a refund of contributions to a non-uniform retirement system, and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall, in computing years of service, be given full credit for transferred service credit if, for each year of service, the Ohio police and fire pension fund receives the sum of the following:

(1) An amount, which shall be paid by the member, equal to the amount refunded by the non-uniform system to the member for that year for transferred service credit, with interest on that amount from the date of the refund to the date a payment is made under this section;

(2) Interest, which shall be transferred by the non-uniform system, on the amount refunded to the member for the period from the last day of the year in which the transfer under section 145.295, 145.2913, 3307.761, 3307.765, 3309.73, or 3309.731 of the Revised Code was made to the date the refund was made;

(3) If the non-uniform system retained any portion of the amount transferred under section 145.295, 145.2913, 3307.761, 3307.765, 3309.73, or 3309.731 of the Revised Code, an amount, which shall be transferred by the non-uniform system, equal to the amount retained, with interest on that amount for the period from the last day of the year in which the transfer under section 145.295, 145.2913, 3307.761, 3307.765, 3309.73, or 3309.731 of the Revised Code was made to the date a transfer is made under this section.

On receipt of payment from the member, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall notify the non-uniform system, which, on receipt of the notice, shall make the transfer required by this division. Interest shall be determined as provided in division (E) of this section.

(D) Service credit purchased or obtained under this section shall be used in computing the pension and benefits payable under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code. A member may choose to purchase only part of the credit the member is eligible to purchase under division (C) of this section in any one payment, subject to rules adopted by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. A member is ineligible to purchase or obtain service credit under this section for service to be used in the calculation of any retirement benefit currently being paid or payable to the member in the future under any other retirement program or for service credit that may be purchased or obtained under section 742.21 of the Revised Code.

(E) Interest charged under this section shall be calculated separately for each year of service credit at the lesser of the actuarial assumption rate for that year of the Ohio police and fire pension fund or of the non-uniform retirement system to which the credit was transferred under section 145.295, 145.2913, 3307.761, 3307.765, 3309.73, or 3309.731 of the Revised Code. The interest shall be compounded annually.

(F) Any amounts transferred or paid under divisions (B) and (C) of this section that are attributable to contributions made by the member or to amounts paid to purchase service credit shall be credited to the police officers' contribution fund or firefighters' contribution fund created under section 742.59 of the Revised Code, as applicable. Any remaining amounts shall be credited to one or more of the funds created under that section as determined by the board.

(G) At the request of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, the non-uniform retirement system shall certify to the fund a copy of the records of the service and contributions of a member of the fund who seeks service credit under this section. The non-uniform retirement system shall specify the portions of the amounts transferred that are attributable to employee contributions, employer contributions, and interest.

(H) If a member of the fund who is not a current contributor elects to receive service credit under section 145.2913, 3307.765, or 3309.731 of the Revised Code for transferred service credit, as defined in those sections, the fund shall transfer to the non-uniform retirement system, as applicable, the amount specified in division (B) or (C) of section 145.2913, division (B) or (C) of section 3307.765, or division (B) or (C) of section 3309.731 of the Revised Code.

(I) The board may adopt rules to implement this section.

Section 742.22 | Restoration to active duty after receiving disability benefits.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

A member of the fund who is receiving disability benefits from the Ohio police and fire pension fund and is restored to active duty as a member of a police or fire department shall, in computing years of service under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, be given service credit for the time the member was receiving such disability benefits.

On restoration to active duty as a member of a police or fire department, the member shall make contributions to the fund in accordance with section 742.31 of the Revised Code, and the member's disability benefits shall be terminated on the first day following restoration to active duty. In determining the amount of the member's account after the termination of disability benefits, the total sum of the disability benefits paid shall be deducted from any refund payable to the member under division (G) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code.

The employer shall notify the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund of the member's return to active duty before the end of the month then current, designating the date of the resumption of active duty. If the member is paid any amount of disability benefits to which the member is not entitled under this section, such amount shall be repaid to the fund by the member or shall be recovered by a withholding from subsequent retirement allowances or other amounts payable under this chapter.

Section 742.221 | Conditions for receiving credit for time spent on pregnancy or medical disability leave.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who, during the period of employment as a member of a police or fire department, is removed from active pay status due to pregnancy or a medical disability leave not exceeding one year for each such leave and who is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall, in computing years of active service in such department under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, be given full credit for time for which contributions were not made during such leave of absence if all of the following conditions are met:

(A) The leave was approved by the member's employing authority.

(B) During the period of the leave the member was not entitled to receive disability benefits from the fund.

(C) The member pays into the fund an amount equal to the employee contributions that would have been deducted from the base pay had the member remained on active pay status, plus interest compounded annually from the date the leave commenced to the date of payment. The rate of interest shall be determined by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

Section 742.23 | Municipal police department employee credit for service in fire department.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

A member of the fund who is an employee of the police department of a municipal corporation, who has resigned or has been honorably discharged from membership in the fire department of the same municipal corporation, and who is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall, in computing years of service in the police department under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, be given full credit for time served in such fire department, provided the member has paid into the Ohio police and fire pension fund a sum equal to that which the member would have been required to pay, under former section 741.12 and section 742.31 of the Revised Code, as a member of such fire department during the years for which service credit is claimed had the member been contributing a percentage of the member's salary to a firemen's relief and pension fund or to the Ohio police and fire pension fund as provided by such sections during such years.

Section 742.24 | Municipal fire department employee credit for service in police department.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

A member of the fund who is an employee of the fire department of a municipal corporation, who has resigned or has been honorably discharged from membership in the police department of the same municipal corporation, and who is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall, in computing years of service in the fire department under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, be given full credit for the time served in such police department, provided the member has paid into the Ohio police and fire pension fund a sum equal to that which the member would have been required to pay, under former section 741.43 and section 742.31 of the Revised Code, as a member of such police department during the years for which service credit is claimed had the member been contributing a percentage of the member's salary to a police relief and pension fund or to the Ohio police and fire pension fund, as provided by such sections during such years.

Section 742.25 | Member credit for service credit in former pension funds.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Each member of the fund, in computing years of service, shall be given credit for the service credit to which the member was entitled in a firemen's relief and pension fund, established pursuant to former section 521.02 or 741.02 of the Revised Code, or a police relief and pension fund, established pursuant to former section 741.32 of the Revised Code, on the date that the assets of the particular fund were transferred to the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

Section 742.251 | Credit for full time out-of-state or federal service.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

(A) A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code, in computing years of active service under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, shall be given full credit for full-time out-of-state or federal service, other than military service, purchased under this section. A member may purchase credit for such service if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) The service was rendered as an employee of an entity of state or local government, or of an entity of the United States government;

(2) The member is eligible to retire under this chapter or will become eligible to retire as a result of purchasing the credit;

(3) The member agrees to retire within ninety days after receiving notice of the amount determined under division (B) of this section.

(B) On receipt of a request from a member eligible to purchase credit under this section, the fund shall obtain from its actuary certification of the amount of the additional liability to the fund for each year of credit the member is eligible to purchase and shall notify the member of that amount. For each year of credit purchased, the member shall pay to the fund an amount equal to the additional liability resulting from the purchase of credit for that year. Payment shall be made in full at the time of purchase.

(C) The number of years of service purchased under this section shall not exceed five.

(D) A member may not purchase credit under this section for service that is used in the calculation of any public or private retirement benefit, other than federal social security benefits, currently being paid or payable in the future to the member.

(E) If the member does not retire within ninety days after purchasing credit under this section, the fund shall withdraw the credit and refund the amount paid by the member.

Section 742.26 | Employment of OPFPF or other state retirement system retirant.

• Effective: April 11, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 449 - 125th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Actuarial present value" means the calculation under which the probability of occurrence, based on a specified mortality table, and the discount for future monetary growth at a specified interest rate are considered by an actuary to determine the value of an annuity.

(2) "Other system retirant" means a former member of the public employees retirement system, state teachers retirement system, school employees retirement system, state highway patrol retirement system, or Cincinnati retirement system who is receiving a disability benefit or an age and service or commuted age and service retirement benefit or allowance from a system of which the person is a former member.

(3) "OPFPF retirant" means any person who is receiving a retirement allowance, other than a disability benefit, from the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

(B) The mortality table and interest rate used in determining actuarial present value shall be determined by the board of trustees of the fund based on the recommendations of an actuary employed by the board.

(C)(1) An OPFPF retirant or other system retirant may be employed as a member of a police or fire department. If so employed, the retirant shall make contributions to the fund in accordance with section 742.31 of the Revised Code, and the employer shall make contributions in accordance with sections 742.33 and 742.34 of the Revised Code.

(2) An employer that employs an OPFPF retirant or other system retirant shall notify the board of trustees of the fund of the employment not later than the end of the month in which the employment commences. On receipt of notice from an employer that a person who is an other system retirant has been employed, the fund shall notify the retirement system of which the other system retirant was a member of such employment.

(D) An OPFPF retirant or other system retirant who has received a retirement allowance or benefit for less than two months when employment subject to this section commences shall forfeit the retirement allowance or benefit for the period that begins on the date the employment commences and ends on the earlier of the date the employment terminates or the date that is two months after the date on which the retirement allowance or benefit commenced. Service and contributions for that period shall not be included in the calculation of any benefits payable under this section, and those contributions shall be refunded on the retirant's death or termination of the employment.

(E) On receipt of notice from the public employees retirement system, school employees retirement system, or state teachers retirement system of the re-employment of an OPFPF retirant, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall not pay, or if paid shall recover, the amount to be forfeited by the OPFPF retirant in accordance with section 145.38, 3307.35, or 3309.341 of the Revised Code.

(F)(1) On termination of employment under this section, an OPFPF retirant or other system retirant may file an application with the board of trustees of the fund to receive either a benefit, as provided in division (F)(2) of this section, or payment of the retirant's contributions made under this section, as provided in division (H) of this section.

(2) A benefit under this section shall consist of an annuity the actuarial present value of which is equal to two times the sum of all amounts deducted from the salary of the OPFPF retirant or other system retirant and credited to the retirant's individual account in the fund, other than contributions excluded pursuant to division (D) of this section, together with interest credited thereon at the rate determined by the board.

(a) Unless, as described in division (I) of this section, the application is accompanied by a statement of the spouse's consent to another form of payment or the board of trustees waives the requirement of spousal consent, a retirant who is married at the time of application under this division shall receive a monthly annuity under which the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's single life annuity is paid in a lesser amount for life and one-half of the lesser amount continues after the retirant's death to the surviving spouse.

(b) A retirant who is not subject to division (F)(2)(a) of this section shall elect to receive either a monthly annuity or a lump-sum payment. If the retirant fails to elect a plan of payment, the annuity shall be paid as a monthly annuity under the plan of payment specified in rules adopted by the board of trustees of the fund.

A retirant who elects to receive a monthly annuity shall select one of the following as the plan of payment:

(i) The retirant's single life annuity;

(ii) The actuarial equivalent of the retirant's single life annuity in an equal or lesser amount for life and continuing after death to a surviving beneficiary designated at the time the plan of payment is selected.

(c) Notwithstanding divisions (F)(2)(a) and (b) of this section, if a monthly annuity would be less than twenty-five dollars per month, the retirant shall receive a lump sum payment.

(3) Interest shall be credited to accounts only at the time of calculation of a benefit payable under division (F)(2) of this section.

(4) A benefit payable under this division shall commence on the first day of the month immediately after the latest of the following:

(a) The last day for which compensation for employment subject to this section was paid;

(b) Attainment by the OPFPF retirant or other system retirant of age sixty;

(c) If the OPFPF retirant or other system retirant was previously employed under this section and is receiving or previously received a benefit under this division, completion of a period of twelve months since the last benefit paid under this section commenced.

(5) No amount received under this division shall be included in determining an additional benefit under section 742.3711, 742.3716, or 742.3717 of the Revised Code or any other post-retirement benefit increase.

(G)(1) If an OPFPF retirant or other system retirant dies while employed in employment subject to this section, a lump-sum payment calculated in accordance with division (F)(2) of this section shall be paid to the retirant's surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, to the retirant's estate.

(2) If at the time of death an OPFPF retirant or other system retirant receiving a monthly annuity under division (F)(2) of this section has received less than would have been received as a lump-sum payment under division (F)(2) of this section, the difference between the amount received and the amount that would have been received as a lump-sum payment shall be paid to the retirant's surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse, to the retirant's estate.

(3) If a beneficiary receiving a monthly annuity under division (F)(2) of this section dies and, at the time of the beneficiary's death, the total of the amounts paid to the retirant and beneficiary are less than the amount the retirant would have received as a lump sum payment, the difference between the total of the amounts received by the retirant and beneficiary and the amount that the retirant would have received as a lump sum payment shall be paid to the beneficiary's estate.

(H)(1) An OPFPF retirant or other system retirant who applies under division (F)(1) of this section for payment of the retirant's contributions and is unmarried or is married and, unless the board of trustees has waived the requirement of spousal consent, includes with the application a statement of the spouse's consent to the payment shall be paid the contributions made under division (C) of this section, plus interest, if the following conditions are met:

(a) The retirant has not attained sixty years of age and has terminated employment subject to this section for any cause other than death or the receipt of a benefit under division (F) of this section.

(b) Three months have elapsed since the termination of employment subject to this section.

(c) The retirant has not returned to service subject to this chapter or Chapter 145., 3307., or 3309. of the Revised Code, other than service exempted from contribution to the public employees retirement system pursuant to section 145.03 of the Revised Code, during the three-month period.

(2) Payment of a retirant's contributions cancels the retirant's right to a benefit under division (F) of this section.

(I) A statement of a spouse's consent under division (F) of this section to the form of a benefit or under division (H) of this section to a payment of contributions is valid only if signed by the spouse and witnessed by a notary public. The board of trustees may waive the requirement of spousal consent if the spouse is incapacitated or cannot be located, or for any other reason specified by the board. Consent or waiver is effective only with regard to the spouse who is the subject of the consent or waiver.

(J) An other system retirant subject to this section is not a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, does not have any of the rights, privileges, or obligations of membership, except as specified in this section, and is not eligible to receive health, medical, hospital, or surgical benefits under section 742.45 of the Revised Code for employment subject to this section.

(K) If any payment is made by the Ohio police and fire pension fund to an OPFPF retirant or other system retirant to which the retirant is not entitled, the retirant shall repay it to the fund. If the retirant fails to make the repayment, the fund shall withhold the amount due from any allowances or other amounts due the OPFPF retirant or other system retirant.

(L) An OPFPF retirant who is employed under this section is not eligible to receive any benefits under section 742.37 of the Revised Code for the employment under this section.

(M) This section does not affect the receipt of benefits by or eligibility for benefits of any person who on August 20, 1976, was receiving a disability benefit or service retirement pension or allowance from a state or municipal retirement system in Ohio and was a member of any other state or municipal retirement system of this state.

(N) The board of trustees of the fund may adopt rules to carry out this section.

Section 742.27 | Purchasing service credit for lay off period.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "lay off" means to cease to employ a person pursuant to sections 124.321 to 124.328 of the Revised Code or pursuant to any similar provisions that apply to the person under any of the following:

(1) A collective bargaining agreement entered into under Chapter 4117. of the Revised Code;

(2) Any ordinance, resolution, contract, agreement, policy, or procedure governing employment.

(B) A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who, during employment as a member of a police or fire department, is removed from active pay status by being laid off by the member's employer, shall, in computing years of active service under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, be given full credit for time for which contributions were not made during the period the member was laid off, if all of the following conditions are met:

(1) During the time the member was laid off, the member was not entitled to receive disability benefits from the fund.

(2) During the time the member was laid off, the member did not render any service that is used in the calculation of any public or private retirement benefit, except any federal social security retirement benefit, currently being paid or payable in the future to the member.

(3) The fund receives the amount determined under division (C) of this section from the member, the member's employer, or the member and the employer.

(4) At the time the fund receives the amount described in division (B)(3) of this section, the member is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code.

The total amount of service purchased by any member under this section shall not exceed two years. A member may choose to purchase only part of such credit in any one payment, subject to board rules.

(C) The amount paid for the credit purchased under this section shall be an amount equal to the additional liability to the fund resulting from the purchase of the credit, as determined by an actuary employed by the board of trustees of the fund.

(D) The board shall have final authority to determine and fix the amount of the payment for credit purchased under this section. The employer may pay all or part of the payment.

(E) The board shall adopt rules for the implementation of this section.

Section 742.30 | Paying employer's accrued liability.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The employer's accrued liability, as determined pursuant to former section 742.29 of the Revised Code, shall be paid to the Ohio police and fire pension fund. Payments shall be credited to the police officers' pension reserve fund, or to the firefighters' pension reserve fund, in accordance with the relief and pension fund from which the liability for such payment arises, until such time as the employer's accrued liability on account of pensioners and other benefit recipients on the rolls of the particular police relief and pension fund or firemen's relief and pension fund is satisfied. Thereafter, payments shall be credited to the police officers' contribution fund or the firefighters' contribution fund, in accordance with the relief and pension fund from which the liability for such payments arises, until such time as the employer's accrued liability on account of deductions made from the compensation of police officers or firefighters under the particular police relief and pension fund or firemen's relief and pension fund is satisfied. Thereafter, payments shall be credited to the police officer employers' contribution fund, or firefighter employers' contribution fund, in accordance with the relief and pension fund from which the liability for such payments arises, until such time as the employer's total accrued liability under the particular police relief and pension fund or firemen's relief and pension fund is satisfied.

(B) That part of the employer's accrued liability remaining unpaid on January 1, 1969, shall be paid by the employer at not less than the following rates per year: two per cent in 1969, two per cent in 1970, three per cent in 1971, four per cent in 1972, and five per cent per annum beginning in 1973 and each year thereafter for sixty-two years. Except as provided in division (C) of this section, payments shall be fixed annually and paid on dates fixed by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

(C) The board may enter into an agreement with a municipal corporation or township for a single payment by the municipal corporation or township of the employer's accrued liability. The agreement may provide for a reduction in the amount of the accrued liability based on the value to the fund of receiving a single payment. A municipal corporation or township that has made payment in accordance with such an agreement shall have no further obligation to make payments under this section.

(D) The board shall report every three years to the general assembly the condition of the retirement system, with particular emphasis upon the payment of the employer's accrued liability, and make such recommendations, upon the advice of its actuary, as it considers necessary for the proper funding of the liabilities.

Section 742.301 | Penalty and interest on late payment of an employer's accrued liability.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) Each employer shall promptly pay the amount due on the accrued liability on the dates fixed by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. Upon certification by the board that payment of an employer's accrued liability has not been paid within thirty days following the date a payment is due, a penalty of five per cent of the amount due shall be assessed against such employer. If the payment and penalty have not been paid within ninety days following the date a payment is due, annual interest at six per cent shall be assessed against the payment and penalty from the date that the payment is due.

(B) Upon certification by the board to the superintendent of liquor control or the county auditor of an amount due from any employer who is subject to this chapter by reason of such employer's delinquency in making payments on the accrued liability, the amount due shall be withheld from the employer from liquor control permit fees to be distributed to that employer according to Chapter 4301. of the Revised Code or from the local government fund allocated for distribution to that employer by the county budget commission in accordance with Chapter 5739. of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the certification from the board, the superintendent or county auditor shall provide for payment against such funds in favor of the Ohio police and fire pension fund for the certified amount due and any penalty and interest thereon.

(C) If the payments under divisions (A) and (B) of this section are insufficient to pay the Ohio police and fire pension fund any amounts due the fund from an employer, the fund may seek payment through the office of budget and management. On certification by the board to the director of budget and management of any such amount due, the director shall withhold from the employer any amount available, not to exceed the amount certified as due the fund, from any amounts under the director's control that are payable or due the employer. The director shall pay the amount withheld to the fund.

Section 742.31 | Contribution by employee; adjustments by board.

• Effective: June 24, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, each employee shall contribute an amount equal to a percentage of the employee's salary to the Ohio police and fire pension fund according to the following schedule:

(1) For salary earned in pay periods beginning not later than July 1, 2013, ten per cent;

(2) For salary earned in pay periods beginning not earlier than July 2, 2013, but not later than July 1, 2014, ten and three-quarters per cent;

(3) For salary earned in pay periods beginning not earlier than July 2, 2014, but not later than July 1, 2015, eleven and one-half per cent;

(4) For salary earned in pay periods beginning not earlier than July 2, 2015, twelve and one-quarter per cent.

(B) Following the actuarial investigation required by division (B) of section 742.14 of the Revised Code due on November 1, 2017, and following each quinquennial actuarial investigation thereafter, if, in consultation with the board's actuary, the board determines that an adjustment to the contribution rate is appropriate, the board may, in accordance with rules adopted under section 742.10 of the Revised Code, do either of the following:

(1) If the board's determination is that an increase in the contribution rate is necessary to preserve the fiscal integrity of the fund, increase the contribution rate;

(2) If the board's determination is that a decrease in the contribution rate would not materially impair the fiscal integrity of the fund, decrease the contribution rate.

(C) The amount shall be deducted by the employer from the employee's salary as defined in division (L) of section 742.01 of the Revised Code for each payroll period, irrespective of whether the minimum compensation provided by law for the employee is reduced thereby. Every employee shall be deemed to consent to the deductions, and payment to the employee less the deductions is a complete discharge and acquittance of all claims and demands for the services rendered by the employee during the period covered by such payment.

Section 742.311 | Annual review of adequacy of contribution rates.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "entry age normal actuarial cost method" means an actuarial cost method under which the actuarial present value of the projected benefits of each individual included in the valuation is allocated on a level basis over the earnings or service of the individual between the entry age and the assumed exit age, with the portion of the actuarial present value that is allocated to the valuation year to be the normal cost and the portion of the actuarial present value not provided for at the valuation date by the actuarial present value of future normal costs to be the actuarial accrued liability. Under this method, the actuarial gains or losses are reflected as they occur in a decrease or increase in the unfunded actuarial accrued liability.

(B) The Ohio retirement study council shall annually review the adequacy of the contribution rates provided under sections 742.31, 742.33, and 742.34 of the Revised Code and the contribution rates recommended in a report by the actuary of the Ohio police and fire pension fund for the forthcoming year.

The actuarial calculations used by the actuary shall be based on the entry age normal actuarial cost method, and the adequacy of the contribution rates shall be reported on the basis of that method. The Ohio retirement study council shall make recommendations to the general assembly that it finds necessary for the proper financing of the benefits of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

Section 742.32 | Reporting employee deductions.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The fiscal officer of each employer shall transmit monthly to the secretary of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund a report of employee deductions in such form as the board requires. The report shall show all deductions for the fund made pursuant to section 742.31 of the Revised Code and shall be accompanied by payments covering the total of such deductions. The report shall also include the name of each member for whom deductions were made and the portion of the payment attributed to that member. Separate payments shall be so transmitted for that portion of such deductions made from the salaries of members of the police department and for that portion of such deductions made from the salaries of members of the fire department. The report and payment are due the last day of the month following the last business day of the reporting period.

(B) A penalty determined under section 742.352 of the Revised Code shall be assessed if any of the following occur:

(1) The report is received by the board after the due date or is not in the form required by the board.

(2) Payments to cover the total amount due from the salaries of all employees of the employer are received by the board after the due date.

The penalty shall be added to and collected on the next succeeding regular employer billing. If the penalty is not paid within sixty days after it is added to the regular employer billing, interest at a rate determined by the board may be charged on the total amount due and the amount of the penalty from the date the amount is due to the date of payment.

(C) The secretary of the board, after making a record of all such receipts and crediting each employee's individual account with the amount deducted from the employee's salary, shall deposit the receipts with the treasurer of state for use as provided by this chapter. Where an employer fails to deduct contributions for any employee and transmit such amounts to the fund, the board may make a determination of the employee's liability for contributions and certify to the employer the amounts due for collection in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as payments due the employer's contributions funds.

Section 742.33 | Police officer employers' contribution.

• Effective: April 12, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 444 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) Each employer shall pay monthly, on such dates as the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund requires, from its general fund, or from a levy imposed pursuant to division (J), (W), or (JJ) of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, to the fund an amount known as the "police officer employers' contribution," which shall be nineteen and one-half per cent of the salaries as defined in division (L) of section 742.01 of the Revised Code of the members of the police department of the employer.

(B) The taxing authority of each municipal corporation in which there was a police relief and pension fund on October 1, 1965, shall annually, in the manner provided for making other municipal levies and in addition to all other levies authorized by law, levy a tax of three-tenths of one mill upon all the real and personal property as listed for taxation in the municipal corporation for the purpose of paying the police officer employers' contribution and the municipal corporation's accrued liability for its former police relief and pension fund and interest thereon, and of defraying the current operating expenses of the municipal corporation. The annual revenues derived from the tax shall be used in the following order:

(1) First, to pay the current police officer employers' contribution and any interest related thereto;

(2) Second, to pay any accrued liability chargeable to the municipal corporation during the current calendar year for its former police relief and pension fund and any interest related thereto;

(3) Third, to defray the current operating expenses of the municipal corporation.

Section 742.34 | Firefighter employers' contribution.

• Effective: April 12, 2021
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 444 - 133rd General Assembly

(A) Each employer shall pay monthly, on such dates as the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund requires, from its general fund, or from a levy imposed pursuant to division (I), (W), or (JJ) of section 5705.19 of the Revised Code, to the fund an amount known as the "firefighter employers' contribution," which shall be twenty-four per cent of the salaries as defined in division (L) of section 742.01 of the Revised Code of the members of the fire department of the employer.

(B) The taxing authority of each municipal corporation in which there was a firemen's relief and pension fund on October 1, 1965, shall annually, in the manner provided for making other municipal levies and in addition to all other levies authorized by law, levy a tax of three-tenths of one mill upon all the real and personal property as listed for taxation in the municipal corporation for the purpose of paying the firefighter employers' contribution and the municipal corporation's accrued liability for its former firemen's relief and pension fund and interest thereon, and of defraying the current operating expenses of the municipal corporation. The annual revenues derived from the tax shall be used in the following order:

(1) First, to pay the current firefighter employers' contribution and any interest related thereto;

(2) Second, to pay any accrued liability chargeable to the municipal corporation during the current calendar year for its former firemen's relief and pension fund and any interest related thereto;

(3) Third, to defray the current operating expenses of the municipal corporation.

Section 742.35 | Payment of employer's contribution.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

Each employer shall pay its police officer employers' contribution and firefighter employers' contribution in monthly payments as provided in sections 742.33 and 742.34 of the Revised Code. The employer shall make each payment not later than the last day of the month after the month for which the police officer or firefighter employee contributions were withheld. If an employer fails to make the payment installment by the date it is due, a penalty determined under section 742.352 of the Revised Code shall be assessed against the employer. In addition, interest on past due accounts and penalties may be charged at a rate determined by the board from the date the payment is due to the date of payment.

Upon certification by the board to the county auditor of an amount due from any employer within the county who is subject to this chapter, by reason of such employer's delinquency in making employer contribution payments to the fund, such amount shall be withheld from such employer from any funds in the hands of the county treasurer for distribution to such employer. Upon receipt of such certification, the county auditor shall draw a warrant against such funds in favor of the fund for the amount.

Section 742.351 | Notice of member's election to retire.

• Effective: July 23, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 134 - 124th General Assembly

(A) On receipt of written notice of a member's election to retire under division (C) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code or to terminate active service as described in division (B) of section 742.444 of the Revised Code, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall request from the employer verification of the member's termination date and any other information the fund determines necessary to calculate and pay a pension under division (C) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code. The request shall be on a form created by the fund and specify the date by which the information must be received by the fund, which shall be sixty days after the form is sent by the fund.

(B)(1) On receipt of a request for information under division (A) of this section, the employer shall complete the form and return it to the fund not later than the date specified by the fund.

(2) If the fund does not receive the completed form by the specified date, the fund shall send notice by certified mail to the employer that unless the completed form is received not later than thirty days after the specified date a penalty will be imposed.

(C) The fund shall assess against an employer that fails to return the completed form by the end of the period described in division (B)(2) of this section a penalty determined under section 742.353 of the Revised Code.

(D) The fund shall make one or more monthly payments to a member whose pension does not commence by the ninety-first day after the fund sends a request for information under division (A) of this section due to the employer's failure to return the completed form required under this section. Payment under this division shall commence on the first day of the second month following a month that includes a day for which an assessment against the employer is required under division (C) of this section. The payment shall be an amount equal to the penalty assessed under division (C) of this section less any administrative costs incurred by the fund in complying with this section. Payment shall continue on a monthly basis until the member receives the total amount attributable to the required penalty for an employer's failure to return the form that was requested for that member's information.

Section 742.352 | Failure to transmit certain reports and payments concerning deductions.

• Effective: February 19, 2002
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 244 - 124th General Assembly

(A) Unless rules are adopted under division (C) of this section, the penalties for failing to transmit reports and payment in accordance with sections 742.32 and 742.56 of the Revised Code or payments in accordance with section 742.35 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:

(1) If a report or payment is at least one but not more than ten days past due, one hundred dollars;

(2) If a report or payment is at least eleven but not more than thirty days past due, the greater of one thousand dollars or one per cent of the payment;

(3) If a report or payment is at least thirty-one but not more than one hundred eighty days past due, the greater of three thousand dollars or two per cent of the payment;

(4) If a report or payment is at least one hundred eighty-one days but not more than two hundred ten days past due, the greater of seven thousand five hundred dollars or five per cent of the payment;

(5) If a report or payment is at least two hundred eleven days past due, the sum of the penalty described in division (A)(4) of this section and, for each day that the report or payment is past due after two hundred ten days, fifty dollars.

(B) Any amount due from an employer under division (A) of this section shall be collected from the county auditor in the same manner as is provided in section 742.35 of the Revised Code.

(C) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may adopt rules to do all of the following:

(1) Establish penalties in amounts that do not exceed the amounts described in this section;

(2) Establish standards to determine whether an employer has submitted a report in the form required by the board;

(3) Lengthen the periods of time for employers to comply with sections 742.32, 742.35, and 742.56 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.353 | Failure to transmit certain reports and payments concerning retirement election.

• Effective: February 19, 2002
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 244 - 124th General Assembly

(A) Unless rules are adopted in accordance with division (C) of this section, the penalties assessed under sections 742.351 and 742.38 of the Revised Code shall be as follows:

(1) If a form, report, or statement is at least one but not more than ten days past due, one hundred dollars;

(2) If a form, report, or statement is at least eleven but not more than thirty days past due, one thousand dollars;

(3) If a form, report, or statement is at least thirty-one but not more than one hundred eighty days past due, three thousand dollars;

(4) If a form, report, or statement is at least one hundred eighty-one days but not more than two hundred ten days past due, seven thousand five hundred dollars;

(5) If a form, report, or statement is at least two hundred eleven days past due, the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars and, for each day that the form, report, or statement is past due after two hundred ten days, three dollars and thirty-seven cents.

The total of the penalties paid by an employer under this section in a calendar year shall not exceed twenty thousand dollars.

(B) Any amount due from an employer under division (A) of this section shall be collected from the county auditor in the same manner as is provided in section 742.35 of the Revised Code.

(C) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may adopt rules to do all of the following:

(1) Establish penalties in amounts that do not exceed the amounts described in this section;

(2) Establish standards to determine whether an employer has submitted a form, report, or statement in the form required by the board;

(3) Lengthen the periods of time for employers to comply with sections 742.351 and 742.38 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.361 | Certification of amount required to be paid.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

On or before the first day of August in 1982 and on or before the first day of August in each year thereafter, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall certify to the treasurer of state the amount required to be paid in the preceding fiscal year to persons first receiving a benefit or allowance prior to July 1, 1981, under divisions (D), (E), (F), and (H)(2), (3), and (4) of section 742.37 and by sections 742.377 and 742.3710 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of such certification, the treasurer of state shall pay to the fund the amount certified.

Section 742.362 | Annual payment in lieu of employer contribution.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

In lieu of an employer contribution to pay part of the cost of the benefits provided under section 742.52 of the Revised Code, the treasurer of state shall make a payment to the Ohio police and fire pension fund in August 1981 and each August thereafter from appropriations made for the purpose by the general assembly.

Section 742.37 | Rules for disbursement of benefits and pensions.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 520 - 131st General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall adopt rules for the management of the fund and for the disbursement of benefits and pensions as set forth in this section and section 742.39 of the Revised Code. Any payment of a benefit or pension under this section is subject to the provisions of section 742.461 of the Revised Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, no pension or benefit paid or determined under division (B) or (C) of this section or section 742.39 of the Revised Code shall exceed the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended.

(A) Persons who were receiving benefit or pension payments from a police relief and pension fund established under former section 741.32 of the Revised Code, or from a firemen's relief and pension fund established under former section 521.02 or 741.02 of the Revised Code, at the time the assets of the fund were transferred to the Ohio police and fire pension fund, known at that time as the police and firemen's disability and pension fund, shall receive benefit and pension payments from the Ohio police and fire pension fund in the same amount and subject to the same conditions as such payments were being made from the former fund on the date of the transfer.

(B) A member of the fund who, pursuant to law, elected to receive benefits and pensions from a police relief and pension fund established under former section 741.32 of the Revised Code, or from a firemen's relief and pension fund established under former section 741.02 of the Revised Code, in accordance with the rules of the fund governing the granting of benefits or pensions therefrom in force on April 1, 1947, shall receive benefits and pensions from the Ohio police and fire pension fund in accordance with such rules; provided, that any member of the fund who is not receiving a benefit or pension from the fund on August 12, 1975, may, upon application for a benefit or pension to be received on or after August 12, 1975, elect to receive a benefit or pension in accordance with division (C) of this section.

(C) Unless the board acts under section 742.161 of the Revised Code, members of the fund who have not elected to receive benefits and pensions from a police relief and pension fund or a firemen's relief and pension fund in accordance with the rules of the fund in force on April 1, 1947, shall receive pensions and benefits in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) A member of the fund who has twenty-five years of service credit and has attained the requisite age may elect to retire. The requisite age is forty-eight for a member whose membership began before July 2, 2013, and fifty-two for a member whose membership began on or after that date.

Upon notifying the board in writing of the election, the member shall receive an annual pension, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount equal to a percentage of the member's average annual salary. If, as of July 2, 2013, the member had fifteen or more years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using three years of contributions. If, as of that date, the member had less than fifteen years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using five years of contributions.

The percentage shall be the sum of two and one-half per cent for each of the first twenty years of service credit, plus two per cent for each of the twenty-first to twenty-fifth years of service credit, plus one and one-half per cent for each year in excess of twenty-five years of service credit. The annual pension shall not exceed seventy-two per cent of the member's average annual salary.

A member who has twenty-five years of service credit, has resigned or been discharged, and has left the sum deducted from the member's salary on deposit in the pension fund shall upon attaining the requisite age be entitled to receive a normal service pension benefit computed and paid under division (C)(1) of this section.

While participating in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code, a member shall not be considered to have elected retirement under division (C)(1) of this section. On notifying the board under division (B)(1) of section 742.444 of the Revised Code of the member's election to terminate active service, a member described in division (B) of that section shall receive an annual pension under division (C)(1) of this section calculated in accordance with section 742.442 of the Revised Code and rules that shall be adopted by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

(2) A member of the fund who has fifteen or more years of service credit and who voluntarily resigns or is discharged from the department for any reason other than dishonesty, cowardice, intemperate habits, or conviction of a felony, shall receive an annual pension, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount equal to one and one-half per cent of the member's average annual salary multiplied by the number of full years of the member's service credit. If, as of July 2, 2013, the member had fifteen or more years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using three years of contributions. If, as of that date, the member had less than fifteen years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using five years of contributions.

If a member's membership began before July 2, 2013, the pension payments shall not commence until the member has attained the age of forty-eight years and until twenty-five years have elapsed from the date on which the member became a full-time regular police officer or firefighter. Pension payments shall not commence for a member whose membership began on or after July 2, 2013, until the member has attained the age of fifty-two years and until twenty-five years have elapsed from the date on which the member became a full-time regular police officer or firefighter.

(3) A member of the fund who has fifteen or more years of service credit and who has attained sixty-two years of age, may retire from the department and, upon notifying the board in writing of the election to retire, shall receive an annual pension, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount equal to a percentage of the member's average annual salary. If, as of July 2, 2013, the member had fifteen or more years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using three years of contributions. If, as of that date, the member had less than fifteen years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using five years of contributions. The percentage shall be the sum of two and one-half per cent for each of the first twenty years of service credit, plus two per cent for each of the twenty-first to twenty-fifth years of service credit, plus one and one-half per cent for each year in excess of twenty-five years of service credit. The annual pension shall not exceed seventy-two per cent of the member's average annual salary.

(4) A member of the fund whose membership began on or after July 2, 2013, and who has twenty-five years of service credit and has attained forty-eight years of age may elect to retire. Upon notifying the board in writing of the election, the member shall receive an annual pension, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount determined under division (C)(1) of this section except that the amount shall be reduced to be the actuarial equivalent, as determined by the fund's actuary, of the amount payable had the member retired at fifty-two years of age.

(5) With the exception of those persons who may make application for benefits as provided in section 742.26 of the Revised Code, no person receiving a pension or other benefit under division (C) of this section on or after July 24, 1986, shall be entitled to apply for any new, changed, or different benefit.

If a member covered by division (C) of this section or section 742.38 of the Revised Code dies prior to the time the member has received a payment and leaves a surviving spouse or dependent child, the surviving spouse or dependent child shall receive a pension under division (D) or (E) of this section.

(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, a surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund or a surviving spouse described in division (D)(4) of this section shall receive a monthly pension as follows:

(a) For the period beginning July 1, 1999, and ending June 30, 2000, five hundred fifty dollars;

(b) For the period beginning July 1, 2000, and ending June 30, 2002, five hundred fifty dollars plus an amount determined by multiplying five hundred fifty dollars by the average percentage change in the consumer price index, not exceeding three per cent, as was annually determined by the board under section 742.3716 of the Revised Code as that section existed on January 31, 2002;

(c) For the period beginning July 1, 2002, and the period beginning the first day of July of each year thereafter and continuing for the following twelve months, an amount equal to the monthly amount paid during the prior twelve-month period plus sixteen dollars and fifty cents.

(2) A surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund shall receive a monthly pension of four hundred ten dollars if the surviving spouse is eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code. If the surviving spouse ceases to be eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code, the pension shall be increased, effective the first day of the first month following the day on which the surviving spouse ceases to be eligible for the benefit, to the amount it would be under division (D)(1) of this section had the spouse never been eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code.

(3) A pension paid under this division shall continue during the natural life of the surviving spouse. Benefits to a deceased member's surviving spouse that were terminated under a former version of this section that required termination due to remarriage and were not resumed prior to September 16, 1998, shall resume on the first day of the month immediately following receipt by the board of an application on a form provided by the board.

(4) A surviving spouse of a deceased member of or contributor to a fund established under former Chapter 521. or 741. of the Revised Code whose benefit or pension was terminated or not paid due to remarriage shall receive a monthly pension under division (D)(1) of this section.

The pension shall commence on the first day of the month immediately following receipt by the board of a completed application on a form provided by the board and evidence acceptable to the board that at the time of death the deceased spouse was a member of or contributor to a police or firemen's relief and pension fund established under former Chapter 521. or 741. of the Revised Code and that the surviving spouse's benefits were terminated or not granted due to remarriage.

(E)(1)(a) Except as provided in division (E)(2) of this section, before January 1, 2017, each surviving child of a deceased member of the fund shall receive a monthly pension until the child attains the age of eighteen years, or marries, whichever event occurs first. A pension under this division, however, shall continue to be payable to a child under age twenty-two who is a student in and attending an institution of learning or training pursuant to a program designed to complete in each school year the equivalent of at least two-thirds of the full-time curriculum requirements of the institution, as determined by the board.

(b) Except as provided in division (E)(2) of this section, effective January 1, 2017, each surviving child of a deceased member of the fund shall receive a monthly pension until the child attains twenty-two years of age or marries, whichever event occurs first.

Benefits to a surviving child who is at least eighteen years of age but under twenty-two years of age that under a former version of this section never commenced or were terminated due to a lack of attendance at an institution of learning or training and not commenced or resumed before January 1, 2017, shall commence or resume on the first day of the month immediately following receipt by the board of an application on a form provided by the board if the application is received on or before December 31, 2017. These benefits terminate on the child attaining twenty-two years of age.

(2) If any surviving child, regardless of age at the time of the member's death, because of physical or mental disability, is totally dependent upon the deceased member for support at the time of death, the child shall receive a monthly pension under this division during the child's natural life or until the child has recovered from the disability.

(3) An eligible surviving child shall receive a monthly pension as follows:

(a) For the period beginning July 1, 2001, and ending June 30, 2002, a monthly pension of one hundred fifty dollars plus the cost of living increase that was determined under former section 742.3720 of the Revised Code;

(b) For the period beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003, one hundred sixty-three dollars and fifty cents;

(c) For the period beginning July 1, 2003, and the period beginning the first day of each July thereafter and continuing for the following twelve months, an amount equal to the monthly amount paid during the prior twelve-month period plus four dollars and fifty cents.

(F)(1) If a deceased member of the fund leaves no surviving spouse or surviving children, but leaves one or two parents dependent upon the deceased member for support, each parent shall be paid a monthly pension. The pensions provided for in this division shall be paid during the natural life of the surviving parents, or until dependency ceases, or until remarriage, whichever event occurs first.

(2) Each eligible surviving parent shall be paid a monthly pension as follows:

(a) For the period ending June 30, 2002, one hundred six dollars for each parent or two hundred twelve dollars for a sole dependent parent;

(b) For the period beginning July 1, 2002, and ending June 30, 2003, one hundred nine dollars for each parent or two hundred eighteen dollars for a sole dependent parent;

(c) For the period beginning July 1, 2003, and the first day of each July thereafter and continuing for the following twelve months, an amount equal to the monthly amount paid during the prior twelve-month period plus three dollars for each parent or six dollars for a sole dependent parent.

(G)(1) Subject to the provisions of section 742.461 of the Revised Code, a member of the fund who voluntarily resigns or is removed from active service in a police or fire department is entitled to receive an amount equal to the sums deducted from the member's salary and credited to the member's account in the fund if all of the following apply:

(a) The member is not receiving a disability benefit or service pension from the fund;

(b) Two months have elapsed since the member's active service in a police or fire department was terminated;

(c) The member has not returned to active service in a police or fire department during that two-month period.

The payment of such accumulated contributions shall cancel the member's total service credit in the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

(2) A member described in division (G)(1) of this section who is married at the time of application for payment and would be eligible for age and service retirement under this section or section 742.39 of the Revised Code but for a forfeiture ordered under division (A) or (B) of section 2929.192 of the Revised Code shall submit with the application a written statement by the member's spouse attesting that the spouse consents to the payment of the member's accumulated contributions. Consent shall be valid only if it is signed and witnessed by a notary public. The board may waive the requirement of consent if the spouse is incapacitated or cannot be located, or for any other reason specified by the board. Consent or waiver is effective only with regard to the spouse who is the subject of the consent or waiver.

(H) On and after January 1, 1970, all pensions shall be increased in accordance with the following provisions:

(1) A member of the fund who retired prior to January 1, 1967, has attained age sixty-five on January 1, 1970, and was receiving a pension on December 31, 1969, pursuant to division (B) or (C)(1) of this section or former division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of this section, shall have the pension increased by ten per cent.

(2) The monthly pension payable to eligible surviving spouses under division (D) of this section shall be increased by forty dollars for each surviving spouse receiving a pension on December 31, 1969.

(3) The monthly pension payable to each eligible child under division (E) of this section shall be increased by ten dollars for each child receiving a pension on December 31, 1969.

(4) The monthly pension payable to each eligible dependent parent under division (F) of this section shall be increased by thirty dollars for each parent receiving a pension on December 31, 1969.

(5) A member of the fund, including a survivor of a member, who is receiving a pension in accordance with the rules governing the granting of pensions and benefits in force on April 1, 1947, that provide an increase in the original pension from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members, shall not be eligible for the benefits provided in this division.

(I) On and after January 1, 1977, a member of the fund who was receiving a pension or benefit on December 31, 1973, under division (A), (B), (C)(1), or former division (C)(2) or (7) of this section shall have the pension or benefit increased as follows:

(1) If the member's annual pension or benefit is less than two thousand seven hundred dollars, it shall be increased to three thousand dollars.

(2) If the member's annual pension or benefit is two thousand seven hundred dollars or more, it shall be increased by three hundred dollars.

The following shall not be eligible to receive increased pensions or benefits as provided in this division:

(a) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with the rules in force on April 1, 1947, governing the granting of pensions and benefits, which provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members;

(b) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit under division (A) or (B) of this section, based on funded volunteer or funded part-time service, or off-duty disability, or partial on-duty disability, or early vested service;

(c) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension under division (C)(1) of this section, based on funded volunteer or funded part-time service.

(J) On and after July 1, 1977, a member of the fund who was receiving an annual pension or benefit on December 31, 1973, pursuant to division (B) of this section, based upon partial disability, off-duty disability, or early vested service, or pursuant to former division (C)(3), (5), or (6) of this section, shall have such annual pension or benefit increased by three hundred dollars.

The following are not eligible to receive the increase provided by this division:

(1) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with the rules in force on April 1, 1947, governing the granting of pensions and benefits, which provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members;

(2) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit under division (B) or (C)(2) of this section or former division (C)(3), (5), or (6) of this section based on volunteer or part-time service.

(K)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, every person who on July 24, 1986, is receiving an age and service or disability pension, allowance, or benefit pursuant to this chapter in an amount less than thirteen thousand dollars a year that is based upon an award made effective prior to February 28, 1984, shall receive an increase of six hundred dollars a year or the amount necessary to increase the pension or benefit to four thousand two hundred dollars after all adjustments required by this section, whichever is greater.

(2) Division (K)(1) of this section does not apply to the following:

(a) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with rules in force on April 1, 1947, that govern the granting of pensions and benefits and that provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members;

(b) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit based on funded volunteer or funded part-time service.

(L) On and after July 24, 1986:

(1) The pension of each person receiving a pension under division (D) of this section on July 24, 1986, shall be increased to three hundred ten dollars per month.

(2) The pension of each person receiving a pension under division (E) of this section on July 24, 1986, shall be increased to ninety-three dollars per month.

Section 742.371 | Credit for time previously served in active full-time service of Ohio police or fire department.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

A member of the fund who is in the active service of a police or fire department, is not receiving a pension or benefit payment from the Ohio police and fire pension fund, and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall, in computing years of active service in such department under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, be given credit for time previously served in the active full-time service of an Ohio police or fire department, provided both of the following occur:

(A) The member was a member of a police or firemen's relief and pension fund or the Ohio police and fire pension fund during the entire period for which such active service credit is claimed.

(B) The member pays into the Ohio police and fire pension fund the amount received by the member under division (I) of former section 521.11, division (I) of former section 741.18, division (I) of former section 741.49, or division (G) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code, with interest compounded annually thereon at a rate to be determined by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, from the date of such receipt to the date of such deposit.

Subject to board rules, a member may choose to purchase in any one payment only part of the credit that may be purchased under this section.

At the request of the fund, the employer shall certify to the board the dates the member was in the active service of the police or fire department.

Section 742.374 | Additional pension payments for retirees on and after 12-31-71.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

On and after December 31, 1971, all persons who retired and were eligible to receive a pension that was payable prior to July 1, 1968, pursuant to division (B) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code, and all persons who qualified for a payment under division (C)(1) of such section or division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code prior to such date shall receive an additional monthly payment of two dollars for each year between the member's effective date of retirement or disability and December 31, 1971, or an additional fifty dollars, whichever is less.

This section does not apply to persons included under division (H)(2) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code.

On or before the first day of August in each year, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall certify to the treasurer of state the amount required to be paid in the preceding fiscal year under this section. Upon receipt of such certification, the treasurer of state shall pay to the fund the amount certified.

Section 742.375 | Credit for time served in state highway patrol retirement system.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

Except for service credit transferred under section 742.214 of the Revised Code, a member of the fund who is in the active service of a police or fire department, is not receiving a pension or benefit payment from the Ohio police and fire pension fund, and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall, in computing years of active service in such department under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, be given full credit for the time served in the state highway patrol retirement system, provided such member pays into the Ohio police and fire pension fund the amount received by the member under section 5505.19 of the Revised Code, with interest compounded annually thereon at a rate to be determined by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund from the date of such receipt to the date of such deposit. The member may choose to purchase only part of such credit in any one payment, subject to board rules.

Upon certification by the board to the board of the state highway patrol retirement system of such payment by the member of the fund, the state highway patrol retirement board shall pay from the employer's accumulation fund under division (C) of section 5505.03 of the Revised Code to the Ohio police and fire pension fund an amount equal to the payment of the member of the fund.

Section 742.376 | Credit for service as a full-time police officer or firefighter prior to 1-1-67.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

A member of the fund who is in the active service of a police or fire department, is not receiving a pension or benefit payment from the Ohio police and fire pension fund, and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall, in computing years of active service in such department under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, be given full credit for service as a full-time police officer or firefighter, provided that all of the following occur:

(A) Such service was rendered prior to January 1, 1967.

(B) The municipal corporation or township, at the time such service was rendered, had not established a police or firemen's relief and pension fund to which the member could otherwise have made pension contributions.

(C) The member was enrolled in the public employees retirement system, contributed thereto, and has withdrawn the member's retirement contributions.

(D) The member pays into the Ohio police and fire pension fund the amount withdrawn by the member from the public employees retirement system, with interest compounded annually thereon at a rate to be determined by the board from the date of such withdrawal to the date of deposit. The member may choose to purchase only part of such credit in any one payment, subject to board rules.

Purchase of such credit in the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall forever bar the member from reinstating such credit in the public employees retirement system.

Section 742.377 | Increasing survivor benefits.

• Effective: January 1, 1974
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 48 - 110th General Assembly

On and after January 1, 1974, each surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund, each surviving child of a deceased member of the fund, and each surviving parent dependent for support upon a deceased member of the fund receiving benefits pursuant to former section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall have such benefits increased by the following amounts:

(A) Surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund, thirty dollars per month;

(B) Surviving child of a deceased member of the fund, ten dollars per month;

(C) Surviving parent dependent for support upon a deceased member of the fund, fifteen dollars per month for each two such parents, or thirty dollars per month for the sole surviving parent of the deceased fund member.

Survivors of members of the fund who are receiving a pension in accordance with the rules governing the granting of pensions and benefits in force on April 1, 1947, which provide such member with an increase in the original pension pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members, are not eligible for the benefits provided in this section.

Section 742.378 | Additional monthly payment.

• Effective: September 16, 1998
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 648 - 122nd General Assembly

On and after December 19, 1973, all persons who retired and were eligible to receive a pension that was first payable on or after July 1, 1968, and prior to July 1, 1971, pursuant to division (B) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code and all persons who qualified for a payment under division (C)(1) of such section or division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall receive an additional monthly payment of two dollars for each year between the member's effective date of retirement or disability and July 1, 1973.

This section does not apply to persons included under division (H)(5) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.3710 | Increasing survivor benefits.

• Effective: August 20, 1976
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 268 - 111th General Assembly

Each surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund and each surviving child of a deceased member of the fund receiving benefits pursuant to former section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall have benefits increased by the following amounts:

(A) Surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund, forty dollars per month;

(B) Surviving child of a deceased member of the fund, ten dollars per month.

Survivors of members of the fund who are receiving a pension in accordance with the rules governing the granting of pensions and benefits in force on April 1, 1947, which provide an increase in the original pension or benefit pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members, are not eligible for the benefits provided in this section.

Section 742.3711 | Optional plans upon retirement.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 520 - 131st General Assembly

(A) On application for retirement as provided in section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code, a member of the fund may elect to receive a retirement allowance payable throughout the member's life, or may elect, on the application for retirement, to receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for life and continuing after death to a surviving designated beneficiary under one of the following optional plans, provided the amount payable to the beneficiary shall not exceed the amount payable to the retiring member of the fund, and is certified by the actuary engaged by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund to be the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance and is approved by the board.

(1) Option 1. The member's lesser retirement allowance shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary designated at the time of the member's retirement.

(2) Option 2. One-half or some other portion of the member's lesser retirement allowance shall be paid for life to the sole beneficiary designated at the time of the member's retirement.

(3) Option 3. Upon the member's death before the expiration of a certain period from the retirement date and elected by the member and approved by the retirement board, the member's lesser retirement allowance shall be continued for the remainder of that period to the beneficiary the member has designated in writing filed with the retirement board.

Should the member's designated beneficiary die prior to the expiration of the guarantee period, then for the purpose of completing payment for the remainder of the guarantee period, the present value of such payments shall be paid to the estate of the beneficiary last receiving.

(4) Option 4. The member's lesser retirement allowance or a portion of the lesser retirement allowance shall be paid for life to two, three, or four surviving beneficiaries designated at the time of the member's retirement, in such portions as specified at retirement. If the member elects this plan as required by a court order issued under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state regarding the division of marital property and compliance with the court order requires the allocation of a portion less than ten per cent to any beneficiary, the member shall allocate a portion less than ten per cent to that beneficiary in accordance with that order. In all other circumstances, no portion allocated under this plan of payment shall be less than ten per cent. The total of the portions allocated shall not exceed one hundred per cent of the member's lesser allowance.

(B)(1) The death of a spouse designated as beneficiary or the death of any other designated beneficiary following a member's retirement or election under section 742.44 of the Revised Code to participate in the deferred retirement option plan shall cancel the portion of the optional plan of payment providing continuing lifetime benefits to the deceased designated beneficiary. The member of the fund shall receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's single lifetime benefit, as determined by the board, based on the number of remaining beneficiaries, with no change in the amount payable to any remaining beneficiary. The change shall be effective the month following receipt by the board of notice of the death.

(2) On divorce, annulment, or marriage dissolution, a member receiving a retirement allowance under a plan that provides for continuation of all or part of the allowance after death for the lifetime of the member's surviving spouse may, with the written consent of the spouse or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage, elect to cancel the portion of the plan providing continuing lifetime benefits to that spouse. The member shall receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's single lifetime benefit as determined by the board based on the number of remaining beneficiaries, with no change in amount payable to any remaining beneficiary. The election shall be made on a form provided by the board and shall be effective the month following its receipt by the board.

(C)(1) Following marriage or remarriage, both of the following apply:

(a) A member of the fund receiving a retirement allowance under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code may elect not later than one year after the date of marriage or remarriage a new optional plan of payment based on the actuarial equivalent of the member's single lifetime benefit as determined by the board.

(b) If a member is receiving a retirement allowance pursuant to a plan of payment providing for payment to a former spouse pursuant to a court order described in division (D)(1)(c) of this section and the board has received a copy of the order described in that division, the member may elect a new plan of payment under "option 4" based on the actuarial equivalent of the retirant's single lifetime retirement allowance as determined by the board if the new plan of payment elected does not reduce the payment to the former spouse.

(2) A plan elected under this division and the member's lesser retirement allowance shall become effective on the date of receipt by the board of an application on a form approved by the board.

(D)(1) Unless one of the following occurs, an application for retirement by a married person shall be considered an election of a benefit under option 2 as provided for in division (A)(2) of this section under which one-half of the lesser retirement allowance payable during the life of the retirant will be paid after death to the retirant's spouse for life as sole beneficiary:

(a) The retirant selects an optional plan under division (A) of this section providing for payment after death to the retirant's spouse for life as sole beneficiary of more than one-half of the lesser retirement allowance payable during the life of the retirant;

(b) The retirant submits to the board a written statement signed by the spouse attesting that the spouse consents to the retirant's election to receive a single lifetime retirement allowance or a payment under an optional benefit plan under which after the death of the retirant the surviving spouse will receive less than one-half of the lesser retirement allowance payable during the life of the retirant;

(c) A plan of payment providing for payment in a specified amount continuing after the retirant's death to a former spouse is required by a court order issued prior to the effective date of the retirant's retirement under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state regarding division of marital property.

(d) If a retirant is subject to division (D)(1)(c) of this section and the board has received a copy of the order described in that division, the board shall accept the retirant's election of a plan of payment under this section only if the retirant complies with both of the following:

(i) The retirant elects a plan of payment that is in accordance with the order described in division (D)(1)(c) of this section.

(ii) If the retirant is married, the retirant elects "option 4" and designates the retirant's current spouse as a beneficiary under that plan unless that spouse consents in writing to not being designated a beneficiary under any plan of payment or the board waives the requirement that the current spouse consent.

(2) An application for retirement shall include an explanation of all of the following:

(a) That, if the member is married, unless the spouse consents to another plan of payment or there is a court order dividing marital property issued under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state regarding the division of marital property that provides for payment in a specified amount, the member's retirement allowance will be paid under "option 2" and consist of the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for life and one-half of the lesser allowance continuing after death to the surviving spouse for the life of the spouse;

(b) A description of the alternative plans of payment available with the consent of the spouse;

(c) That the spouse may consent to another plan of payment and the procedure for giving consent;

(d) That consent is irrevocable once notice of consent is filed with the board.

Consent shall be valid only if it is signed, in writing, and witnessed by an employee of the board or a notary public.

(3) If the retirant does not select an optional plan as described in division (D)(1)(a) of this section and the board does not receive the written statement provided for in division (D)(1)(b) of this section, it shall determine and pay the retirement allowance in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section, except that the board may provide by rule for waiver by the board of the statement and payment of the allowance other than in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section if the retirant is unable to obtain the statement due to absence or incapacity of the spouse or other cause specified by the board.

(E) A member of the fund who has elected an optional plan under this section or section 742.3715 of the Revised Code may, with the consent of the designated beneficiary, cancel the optional plan and receive the retirement allowance payable throughout life the member would have received had the member not elected the optional plan, if the member makes a request to cancel the optional plan not later than one year after the later of September 9, 1988, or the date on which the member first receives a payment under this section or section 742.3715 of the Revised Code. Cancellation of the optional plan shall be effective the month after acceptance of the request by the trustees of the fund. No payment or adjustment shall be made in the retirement allowance payable throughout the member's life to compensate for the lesser allowance the member received under the optional plan.

The request to cancel the optional plan shall be made on a form provided by the fund and shall be valid only if the completed form includes a signed statement of the designated beneficiary's understanding of and consent to the cancellation. The signature shall be verified by the trustees of the fund prior to their acceptance of the cancellation.

(F) Any option elected and payments made under this section shall be in addition to any benefit payable under divisions (D), (E), and (F) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code.

(G) A person is eligible to receive a benefit increase under this division if the person is receiving a retirement allowance or benefit under an optional plan elected under this section or section 742.3715 of the Revised Code based on an award made prior to July 24, 1986. A person is not eligible to receive an increase under this division if the person is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with rules in force on April 1, 1947, that govern the granting of pensions and benefits and that provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members.

The board shall annually increase all benefits payable under this section or section 742.3715 of the Revised Code to eligible persons by the actuarial equivalent of three hundred sixty dollars, except that no benefit shall exceed the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended.

The first increase is payable to all eligible persons on July 1, 1988. The increase is payable for the ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later.

The date of the first increase payable under this section shall be the anniversary date for future increases.

If payment of a portion of a benefit is made to an alternate payee under section 742.462 of the Revised Code, increases under this division granted while the order is in effect shall be apportioned between the alternate payee and the benefit recipient in the same proportion that the amount being paid to the alternate payee bears to the amount paid to the benefit recipient.

If payment of a portion of a retirement allowance is made to one or more beneficiaries under "option 4" under division (A)(4) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code, each increase under this division granted while the plan of payment is in effect shall be divided among the designated beneficiaries in accordance with the portion each beneficiary has been allocated.

Section 742.3712 | Increase in monthly pension, allowance or benefit effective 7-1-81.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Effective July 1, 1981, each person eligible to receive an age and service or disability pension, allowance, or benefit pursuant to Chapter 742. of the Revised Code that was based upon an award made effective before January 1, 1974, shall have the person's monthly pension increased by five per cent, except that the twelve-month sum of such increase shall not exceed five per cent of the first five thousand dollars of the annual pension allowance or benefit.

A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund or a survivor who is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with the rules in force on April 1, 1947, governing the granting of pensions and benefits, which provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members, shall not be eligible to receive the increase provided by this section.

(B) Effective July 1, 1981, each person eligible to receive a survivor's benefit pursuant to Chapter 742. of the Revised Code that was based upon an award made effective before July 1, 1981, shall have the person's monthly benefit increased by five per cent, except that the twelve-month sum of such increases shall not exceed five per cent of the first five thousand dollars of the annual benefit.

(C) The increases provided in divisions (A) and (B) of this section shall be applied to the benefit payable on and after July 1, 1981.

(D) The benefits provided in divisions (A) and (B) of this section are a continuation of those first provided in Am. Sub. H.B. 204 as passed by the 113th general assembly.

(E) On or before August 1, 1982, and on or before the first day of August in each year thereafter, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall certify to the treasurer of state the amounts needed to pay the cost of the additional payments required under this section for the preceding fiscal year. Upon receipt of these certifications, the treasurer of state shall pay the amount certified.

Section 742.3713 | Increase in monthly benefit effective 11-15-81.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) On and after November 15, 1981, a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who is receiving a pension or benefit effective prior to February 28, 1980, under division (A), (B), or (C) of section 742.37 or division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall have such pension or benefit increased by forty-six dollars.

The following are not eligible to receive the increase provided by this division:

(1) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with the rules in force on April 1, 1947, governing the granting of pensions and benefits, which provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members;

(2) A member of the fund who is receiving a pension or benefit under division (A), (B), or (C) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code based on volunteer or part-time service.

(B) Each surviving spouse who on November 15, 1981, is receiving a pension pursuant to division (D) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code as it was in effect prior to such date shall have the monthly pension increased forty-six dollars.

Section 742.3714 | Designating contingent dependent beneficiary.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

As used in this section, "contingent dependent beneficiary" means a person so designated pursuant to this section by a member or former member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

Prior to retiring under section 742.37 of the Revised Code, a member or former member of the fund who is, or within twelve months will be, eligible to retire and receive a pension or benefit under division (C)(1) or (3) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code may designate one dependent, not the member's or former member's spouse, as the contingent dependent beneficiary. The determination of what constitutes a dependent for the purposes of this section shall be made by the board of trustees of the fund in accordance with rules adopted pursuant to this section. The designation shall be made on a form provided by the board and shall be filed with the board. The designation may be changed or withdrawn in accordance with rules adopted by the board pursuant to this section. The designation shall be used only for the purposes of this section and shall cease to have effect if the member or former member retires under section 742.37 of the Revised Code, or dies prior to retirement and is survived by a spouse. The board shall annually inform members and eligible former members of the fund of the right to designate a contingent dependent beneficiary under this section.

In addition to any other pension, allowance, or benefit payable under this chapter, the surviving spouse of a deceased member or former member of the fund who at the time of the member's or former member's death was eligible to retire and receive a pension or benefit under division (C)(1) or (3) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code, but had not retired, shall receive an annual retirement allowance under this section, payable in twelve monthly installments. If on the date of death of the member or former member there is no surviving spouse, the allowance shall be paid to the contingent dependent beneficiary. If on such date there is no surviving spouse and no person designated as a contingent dependent beneficiary who is determined by the board of trustees to be a dependent of the member or former member, no allowance or benefit shall be paid under this section.

Unless at the time of death the member was participating in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code, the allowance paid under this section shall be an amount equal to the amount the surviving spouse or contingent dependent beneficiary would have been entitled to receive had the member or former member retired effective the day following the date of death having selected an option 2 plan under division (A)(2) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code providing for one-half of the member's or former member's lesser retirement allowance to be paid to the surviving spouse or contingent dependent beneficiary. The allowance paid under this section to the surviving spouse or contingent dependent beneficiary of a member who at the time of death was participating in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code shall be an amount calculated in accordance with section 742.442 of the Revised Code and rules that shall be adopted by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

Payments under this section are payable effective the first day of the first month following the death of the member or former member of the fund.

Section 742.3715 | Election of retiree to change to optional plan.

• Effective: March 17, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 275 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who retired under section 742.37 of the Revised Code before February 28, 1980, may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for the remainder of the member's life and continuing after death to the member's spouse under one of the optional plans described under division (A)(1) or (2) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code, provided the amount payable under the optional plan elected is certified by the actuary engaged by the Ohio police and fire pension fund to be the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance and is approved by the fund. The election shall be made as follows:

(1) Not later than ninety days after September 26, 1984, the member shall file with the fund a notice that the member wishes to be eligible to make the election authorized by this section. The fund shall advise the member with respect to the choices available under the optional plans and have a determination made of the monthly benefits payable under the optional plan elected by the member for inclusion in the statement to be filed under division (A)(2) of this section.

(2) Not later than one year after September 26, 1984, the member shall file a statement, on a form provided by the fund, that the member elects to receive benefits under the optional benefit plan specified in the statement.

A request or form that is mailed to the board shall be considered to have been filed on its postmark date.

(B) A member of the fund who retired under section 742.37 of the Revised Code prior to September 16, 1998, was married at the time of retirement and is currently married to the same spouse, and did not elect one of the optional plans under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance in a lesser amount payable for the remainder of the member's life and continuing after death to the member's spouse under one of the optional plans described in division (A)(1) or (2) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code, provided the amount payable under the optional plan elected is certified by the actuary engaged by the fund to be the actuarial equivalent of the member's retirement allowance and is approved by the fund.

Not later than thirty days after December 21, 1998, the fund shall provide to all members described in this division written notice of the election available under this division. The notice shall state that a member's failure to elect an optional plan under this division will result in the member's spouse, at the time of the member's death, being eligible only for a benefit under division (D) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code.

The election shall be made as follows:

(1) Not later than one hundred twenty days after December 21, 1998, the member shall file with the fund a notice that the member wishes to make the election authorized by this section. The fund shall advise the member with respect to the choices available under the optional plans and have a determination made of the monthly benefits payable under the optional plan elected by the member for inclusion in the statement to be filed under division (B)(2) of this section.

(2) Not later than one year after December 21, 1998, the member shall file a statement, on a form provided by the fund, that the member elects to receive benefits under the optional plan specified in the statement. A request or form that is mailed to the fund's principal place of business shall be considered to have been filed on its postmark date. Benefits under the optional plan shall begin on the first day of the first month following the date the statement is filed with the fund.

(C)(1) The death of the member's spouse shall cancel any plan elected pursuant to this section and return the member to the member's single lifetime benefit equivalent, as determined by the fund, to be effective the month following receipt by the fund of notice of the death.

(2) On divorce, annulment, or marriage dissolution, a member receiving a retirement allowance under a plan that provides for continuation of all or part of the allowance after death for the lifetime of the member's surviving spouse may, with the written consent of the spouse or pursuant to an order of the court with jurisdiction over the termination of the marriage, elect to cancel the plan and receive the member's single lifetime benefit equivalent as determined by the fund. The election shall be made on a form provided by the fund and shall be effective the month following its receipt by the fund.

(D) If the member remarries after cancellation under division (C)(1) or (2) of this section of an optional plan, the member may elect not later than one year after the date of remarriage a new optional plan based on the actuarial equivalent of the member's single lifetime benefit as determined by the fund. The plan and the member's lesser retirement allowance shall become effective on the date the election is made on a form approved by the fund.

(E) Any option elected and payments made under this section shall be in addition to any benefit payable under division (D) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.3716 | Annual increases in pension or benefits.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Recalculated average annual salary" means the highest average annual compensation of a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund during any three years of contributions, including amounts included in terminal pay attributable to such three years, determined by dividing the member's total earnings as an employee during such years by three.

(2) "Consumer price index" means the index, as prepared by the United States bureau of labor statistics (U.S. city average for urban wage earners and clerical workers: all items 1982-84=100), or, if that index is no longer published, a generally available comparable index.

(B) For persons who become members of the fund on or after July 1, 2013, and members of the fund who as of July 1, 2013, have less than fifteen years of service credit and are not receiving a pension or disability benefit under this chapter, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall annually increase the pension or benefits that become payable to each member pursuant to section 742.37 of the Revised Code or division (D)(2) or (4) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code once the member has received the pension or benefit for at least one year and has attained the age of fifty-five. Benefits that become payable pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code shall be increased annually once the member has received the benefits for at least one year.

The pension or benefit shall be increased by the lesser of the following:

(1) Three per cent;

(2) The percentage increase, if any, in the consumer price index over the twelve-month period that ends on the thirtieth day of September of the immediately preceding year, rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one per cent.

In no event shall the pension or benefit exceed the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended.

The date of the first increase paid under this division shall be the anniversary date for future increases. The pension or benefit used in the first calculation of an increase under this division shall remain as the base for all future increases paid under this division, unless a new base is established by law.

(C) For members of the fund who as of July 1, 2013, have fifteen or more years of service credit and are not receiving a pension or disability benefit under this chapter and members who are receiving a pension or disability benefit that became effective before that date and did not make the election under division (D) of this section, the board shall annually increase the pension or benefits that become payable to each member pursuant to section 742.37 of the Revised Code or division (D)(2) or (4) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code once the member has received the pension or benefits for at least one year and has attained the age of fifty-five. Benefits that become payable pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code shall be increased once the member has received the benefits for at least one year.

The pension or disability benefit shall be increased by three per cent. In no event shall the pension or benefit exceed the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 415, as amended.

The date of the first increase paid under this division shall be the anniversary date for future increases. The pension or benefit used in the first calculation of an increase under this division shall remain as the base for all future increases paid under this division unless a new base is established by law.

(D)(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, section 742.37, or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, a member of the fund who is not receiving a pension or benefit under this chapter and on January 1, 1989, had fifteen or more years of service credit under this chapter may elect to have any future pension or benefit paid to the member or the member's spouse or survivors under this chapter calculated on the basis of the member's recalculated average annual salary rather than the member's average annual salary as determined under section 742.37 or 742.39 of the Revised Code. The election shall be made by the member prior to or at the time of making an election under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code.

(2) If a member eligible to make the election under division (D)(1) of this section dies prior to making the election and at the time of death is eligible to retire and receive a pension or benefit under division (C)(1) or (3) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code, the person entitled to receive a benefit under section 742.3714 of the Revised Code may make the election provided for in this division.

(3) The election under division (D)(1) or (2) of this section shall be made on forms provided by the fund. Once received by the fund, the election is irrevocable and binds the member and any other person who receives a pension or benefit based on the member's service. No person who receives a pension or benefit calculated in accordance with division (D) of this section is eligible to receive an increase under this section. If the person making the election receives a benefit under section 742.3714 of the Revised Code, that person is not eligible to receive an increase under division (G) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code.

(E) A member whose election to participate in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code is effective prior to July 2, 2013, is eligible to receive an increase under this section while participating in the deferred retirement option plan on attaining the age of fifty-five and having participated in the plan twelve months. The pension amount used in the first calculation of an increase under this section shall be the amount calculated under section 742.442 of the Revised Code unless the member's participation has terminated pursuant to division (C) of section 742.444 or to section 742.445 of the Revised Code. A member whose election to participate in the deferred retirement option plan is effective on or after July 2, 2013, shall not receive an increase under this section while participating in the deferred retirement option plan.

(F) If payment of a portion of a benefit is made to an alternate payee under section 742.462 of the Revised Code, increases under this section granted while the order is in effect shall be apportioned between the alternate payee and the benefit recipient in the same proportion that the amount being paid to the alternate payee bears to the amount paid to the benefit recipient.

If payment of a portion of a retirement allowance is made to one or more beneficiaries under "option 4" under division (A)(4) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code, each increase under this section granted while the plan of payment is in effect shall be divided among the designated beneficiaries in accordance with the portion each beneficiary has been allocated.

Section 742.3717 | Annual cost of living increase.

• Effective: October 27, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 98 - 125th General Assembly

(A)(1) Except as provided in division (A)(2) of this section, as used in this section, "eligible person" means a person who meets both of the following conditions:

(a) The person is receiving an annual pension or benefit under division (A), (B), or (C) of section 742.37 or division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code based on an award made prior to July 24, 1986.

(b) The person has not elected under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code to receive a retirement allowance under an optional benefit plan.

(2) A person is not an eligible person if the person is receiving a pension or benefit in accordance with rules in force on April 1, 1947, that govern the granting of pensions and benefits and that provide an increase in the original pension or benefit from time to time pursuant to changes in the salaries of active members.

(B)(1) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall annually increase all benefits payable to eligible persons by three hundred sixty dollars, except that no benefit shall exceed the limit established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended.

(2) The first increase is payable to all eligible persons on July 1, 1988. The increase is payable for the ensuing twelve-month period or until the next increase is granted under this section, whichever is later.

The date of the first increase payable under this section shall be the anniversary date for future increases.

(3) If payment of a portion of a benefit is made to an alternate payee under section 742.462 of the Revised Code, increases under this section granted while the order is in effect shall be apportioned between the alternate payee and the eligible person in the same proportion that the amount being paid to the alternate payee bears to the amount paid to the eligible person.

If payment of a portion of a retirement allowance is made to one or more beneficiaries under "option 4" under division (A)(4) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code, each increase under this section granted while the plan of payment is in effect shall be divided among the designated beneficiaries in accordance with the portion each beneficiary has been allocated.

Section 742.3718 | Minimum pension or benefit.

• Effective: February 1, 2002
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 157 - 124th General Assembly

(A) Except as otherwise provided in this division, each person who on September 9, 1988, is receiving a pension or benefit of less than five thousand dollars annually under division (A) or (B) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code on the basis of disability or service of twenty-five years or more, under division (C)(1) of that section, or under division (C)(2) or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall have the pension or benefit increased to five thousand dollars a year, effective July 1, 1988. This division does not apply to any person receiving a pension or benefit based on funded volunteer or funded part-time service.

(B) On and after July 1, 1988:

(1) The pension of each person receiving a pension or benefit under division (D) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased to four hundred ten dollars a month.

(2) The pension of each person receiving a pension or benefit under division (E) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased to one hundred eighteen dollars a month.

(C) Notwithstanding any average annual salary limitation in section 742.37 of the Revised Code, each person who on July 1, 1999, is receiving an annual pension or benefit described in division (A), (B), or (C)(1) or (3) of that section of less than six thousand six hundred dollars shall have the pension increased to that amount, effective July 1, 1999. The increase granted under this division shall be included in a person's base for the purpose of determining future increases under section 742.3716 of the Revised Code.

(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, the monthly pension of each person who is the surviving spouse of a deceased member of the fund and on March 17, 2000, is receiving a pension of less than the amount described in division (D)(1) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased as follows:

(a) For the period beginning on the first day of the first month following March 17, 2000, and ending June 30, 2000, to five hundred fifty dollars;

(b) For the period beginning July 1, 2000, and the first day of July of each year thereafter and continuing for the following twelve months, to an amount equal to the greater of five hundred fifty dollars or the monthly amount paid during the prior twelve-month period plus sixteen dollars and fifty cents.

(2) An increase under division (D)(1) of this section shall not be paid to a person who is receiving a pension under division (D)(2) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code and a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code until the person ceases to be eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code. The person's monthly pension shall be increased, effective the first day of the first month following the date on which the person ceases to be eligible for the benefit, to the amount it would be under division (D)(1) of this section had the person never been eligible for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code.

(E) The monthly pension of each person receiving a pension under division (E) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased to one hundred fifty dollars effective July 1, 1999.

(F) Effective July 1, 1999, the monthly pension of each person receiving a pension under division (F) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code shall be increased as follows:

(1) If there are two dependent parents, to one hundred dollars;

(2) If there is one dependent parent, to two hundred dollars.

Section 742.3719 | Increase in benefit or allowance when IRC 415 limits increased.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Whenever the limits established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended, are raised, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall increase the amount of the pension, benefit, or allowance of any person whose pension, benefit, or allowance payable under section 742.37, 742.3716, 742.3717, or 742.39 of the Revised Code was limited by the application of section 415. The amount of the increased pension, benefit, or allowance shall not exceed the lesser of the amount the person would have received if the limits established by section 415 had not been applied or the amount the person is eligible to receive subject to the new limits established by section 415.

Section 742.3721 | Qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement maintained and established.

• Effective: July 13, 2000
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 190 - 123rd General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may establish and maintain a qualified governmental excess benefit arrangement that meets the requirements of division (m) of section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C.A. 415, as amended, and any regulations adopted thereunder. If established, the arrangement shall be a separate portion of the fund and be maintained solely for the purpose of providing to retired members that part of a benefit otherwise payable under this chapter that exceeds the limits established by section 415 of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," as amended.

Members participating in an arrangement established under this section shall not be permitted to elect to defer compensation to the arrangement. Contributions to and benefits paid under an arrangement shall not be payable from a trust that is part of the fund unless the trust is maintained solely for the purpose of providing such benefits.

The board shall adopt rules to administer an arrangement established under this section.

Section 742.38 | Minimum medical testing and diagnostic standards or procedures to be incorporated into physical examinations for prospective members.

• Effective: June 13, 2022
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 184 - 134th General Assembly

(A)(1) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall adopt rules establishing minimum medical testing and diagnostic standards or procedures to be incorporated into physical examinations administered to prospective members of the fund. The standards or procedures shall include diagnosis and evaluation of the existence of any heart disease, cardiovascular disease, or respiratory disease. The rules shall specify the form of the examination report and the information to be included in it.

The board shall notify all employers of the establishment of the minimum standards or procedures and shall include with the notice a copy of the standards or procedures. The board shall notify all employers of any changes made to the standards or procedures. Once the standards or procedures take effect, employers shall cause each prospective member of the fund to submit to a physical examination that incorporates the standards or procedures.

(2) Division (A)(2) of this section applies to an employee who becomes a member of the fund on or after the date the minimum standards or procedures described in division (A)(1) of this section take effect. For each employee described in division (A)(2) of this section, the employer shall forward to the board a copy of the report of a physical examination that incorporates the standards or procedures described in division (A)(1) of this section. If an employer fails to forward the report in the form required by the board on or before the date that is sixty days after the employee becomes a member of the fund, the board shall assess against the employer a penalty determined under section 742.353 of the Revised Code.

(B) Application for a disability benefit may be made by a member of the fund or, if the member is incapacitated as defined in rules adopted by the board, by a person acting on the member's behalf. Not later than fourteen days after receiving an application for a disability benefit from a member or a person acting on behalf of a member, the board shall notify the member's employer that an application has been filed. The notice shall state the member's position or rank. Not later than twenty-eight days after receiving the notice or filing an application on behalf of a member, the employer shall forward to the board a statement certifying the member's job description and any other information required by the board to process the application.

If the member applying for a disability benefit became a member of the fund prior to the date the minimum standards or procedures described in division (A)(1) of this section took effect, the board may request from the member's employer a copy of the report of the member's physical examination taken on entry into the police or fire department or, if the employer does not have a copy of the report, a written statement certifying that the employer does not have a copy of the report. If an employer fails to forward the report or statement in the form required by the board on or before the date that is twenty-eight days after the date of the request, the board shall assess against the employer a penalty determined under section 742.353 of the Revised Code.

The board shall maintain the information submitted under this division and division (A)(2) of this section in the member's file.

(C) For purposes of determining under division (D) of this section whether a member of the fund is disabled, the board shall adopt rules establishing objective criteria under which the determination is to be made. The rules shall include standards that provide for all of the following:

(1) Evaluating a member's illness or injury on which an application for disability benefits is based;

(2) Defining the occupational duties of a police officer or firefighter;

(3) Providing for the board to assign competent and disinterested physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, and vocational evaluators to conduct examinations of a member;

(4) Requiring a written report for each disability application that includes a summary of findings, medical opinions, including an opinion on whether the illness or injury upon which the member's application for disability benefits is based was caused or induced by the actual performance of the member's official duties, and any recommendations or comments based on the medical opinions;

(5) Taking into consideration the member's potential for retraining or reemployment.

(D) The board may grant disability benefits to a member based solely on a review of an application for disability benefits and supporting medical documentation or may require the member to undergo a medical examination, a vocational evaluation, or both. Any medical examination or vocational evaluation shall be conducted by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, physician assistant, or vocational evaluator assigned in accordance with rules adopted under division (C)(3) of this section. If a medical examination is conducted by an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant, the board shall only accept an examination report if a physician reviews, approves, and signs the report before the report is submitted to the board.

As used in this division:

"Totally disabled" means a member of the fund is unable to perform the duties of any gainful occupation for which the member is reasonably fitted by training, experience, and accomplishments. Absolute helplessness is not a prerequisite of being totally disabled.

"Permanently disabled" means a condition of disability that is expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve months after an application for disability benefits is filed and from which there is no present indication of recovery.

"Hazardous duty" has the same meaning as in 5 C.F.R. 550.902, as amended.

(1) A member of the fund who is permanently and totally disabled as the result of the performance of the member's official duties as a member of a police or fire department shall be paid annual disability benefits in accordance with division (A) of section 742.39 of the Revised Code. In determining whether a member of the fund is permanently and totally disabled, the board shall consider standards adopted under division (C) of this section applicable to the determination.

(2) A member of the fund who is permanently and partially disabled as the result of the performance of the member's official duties as a member of a police or fire department shall, if the disability prevents the member from performing those duties and impairs the member's earning capacity, receive annual disability benefits in accordance with division (B) of section 742.39 of the Revised Code. In determining whether a member of the fund is permanently and partially disabled, the board shall consider standards adopted under division (C) of this section applicable to the determination.

(3)(a) A member of the fund who is permanently disabled as a result of heart disease or any cardiovascular or respiratory disease of a chronic nature, which disease or any evidence of which disease was not revealed by the physical examination passed by the member on entry into the department or another examination specified in rules the board adopts under section 742.10 of the Revised Code, is presumed to have incurred the disease while performing the member's official duties, unless the contrary is shown by competent evidence. The board may waive the requirement that the absence of disease be evidenced by a physical examination if competent medical evidence of a type specified in rules adopted under section 742.10 of the Revised Code is submitted documenting that the disease was not evident prior to or at the time of entry into the department.

(b) A member of the fund who is a member of a fire department, has been assigned to at least six years of hazardous duty as a member of a fire department, and is disabled as a result of cancer, is presumed to have incurred the cancer while performing the member's official duties if the member was exposed to an agent classified by the international agency for research on cancer or its successor agency as a group 1 or 2A carcinogen.

(c) The presumption described in division (D)(3)(b) of this section is rebuttable in any of the following situations:

(i) There is evidence that the member incurred the type of cancer being alleged before becoming a member of the department.

(ii) There is evidence that the member's exposure, outside the scope of the member's official duties, to cigarettes, tobacco products, or other conditions presenting an extremely high risk for the development of the cancer alleged, was probably a significant factor in the cause or progression of the cancer.

(iii) There is evidence that shows, by a preponderance of competent scientific evidence, that exposure to the type of carcinogen alleged did not or could not have caused the cancer being alleged.

(iv) There is evidence that the member was not exposed to an agent classified by the international agency for research on cancer or its successor agency as a group 1 or 2A carcinogen.

(v) The member is seventy years of age or older.

(d) The presumption described in division (D)(3)(b) of this section does not apply if it has been more than fifteen years since the member was last assigned to hazardous duty as a member of a fire department.

(4) A member of the fund who has five or more years of service credit and has incurred a permanent disability not caused or induced by the actual performance of the member's official duties as a member of the department, or by the member's own negligence, shall if the disability prevents the member from performing those duties and impairs the member's earning capacity, receive annual disability benefits in accordance with division (C) of section 742.39 of the Revised Code. In determining whether a member of the fund is permanently disabled, the board shall consider standards adopted under division (C) of this section applicable to the determination.

(5) The board shall notify a member of its final action awarding a disability benefit to the member within thirty days of the final action. The notice shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested. Not later than ninety days after receipt of notice from the board, the member shall elect, on a form provided by the board, either to accept or waive the disability benefit award. If the member elects to waive the disability benefit award or fails to make an election within the time period, the award is rescinded. A member who later seeks a disability benefit award shall be required to make a new application, which shall be dealt with in accordance with the procedures used for original disability benefit applications.

A person is not eligible to apply for or receive disability benefits under this division, section 742.39 of the Revised Code, or division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code unless the person is a member of the fund on the date on which the application for disability benefits is submitted to the fund.

With the exception of persons who may make application for increased benefits as provided in division (D)(2) or (4) of this section or division (C)(3) or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code on or after July 24, 1986, or persons who may make application for benefits as provided in section 742.26 of the Revised Code, no person receiving a pension or benefit under this section or division (C) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code may apply for any new, changed, or different benefit.

(E) An advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant assigned in accordance with rules adopted under division (C)(3) of this section to conduct a medical examination of a member who has applied for disability benefits shall only conduct an examination that is within the scope and practice that is permitted under Chapter 4723. or 4730. of the Revised Code, respectively, and does not exceed the advanced practice registered nurse's or physician assistant's training.

(F) Notwithstanding the requirement of section 742.41 of the Revised Code that all medical reports and recommendations required are privileged, the board shall submit to the administrator of workers' compensation any data necessary for the report required under section 4123.86 of the Revised Code.

Last updated April 1, 2022 at 11:51 AM

Section 742.381 | Annual report disability retirement experience of each employer.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 272 - 126th General Assembly

Not later than March 1, 2000, and each first day of March thereafter, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall make and submit a report for the preceding fiscal year of the disability retirement experience of each employer. The report shall specify the total number of disability applications submitted, the status of each application as of the last day of the fiscal year, total applications granted or denied, and the percentage of disability benefit recipients to the total number of the employer's employees who are members of the fund. The report shall be submitted to the governor, the Ohio retirement study council, and the chairpersons of the standing committees and subcommittees of the senate and house of representatives with primary responsibility for retirement legislation.

Section 742.39 | Eligibility for disability benefit.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund determined to be eligible for a disability benefit under division (D)(1) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code shall be paid annual disability benefits, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount equal to seventy-two per cent of the member's average annual salary. If, as of July 2, 2013, the member had fifteen or more years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using three years of contributions. If, as of that date, the member had less than fifteen years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using five years of contributions.

(B) A member of the fund determined to be eligible for a disability benefit under division (D)(2) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code shall be paid annual disability benefits, payable in twelve monthly installments. If the member has fewer than twenty-five years of service credit, the benefit shall be in an amount fixed by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The board may increase or decrease the benefit whenever the board determines that the impairment of the member's earning capacity warrants an increase or decrease based on the standards adopted under division (C) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code applicable to the determination, but in no event shall the benefit exceed sixty per cent of the member's average annual salary.

A member who has twenty-five or more years of service credit shall receive annual disability benefits, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount equal to a percentage of the member's average annual salary. The percentage shall be the sum of two and one-half per cent for each of the first twenty years of service credit, plus two per cent for each of the twenty-first to twenty-fifth years of service credit, plus one and one-half per cent for each year in excess of twenty-five years of service credit. The annual disability benefit shall not exceed seventy-two per cent of the member's average annual salary.

In calculating a benefit under this division, a member's average annual salary shall be determined using three years of contributions if, as of July 2, 2013, the member had fifteen or more years of service credit. If, as of that date, the member had less than fifteen years of service credit, the average annual salary shall be determined using five years of contributions.

(C) A member of the fund determined to be eligible for a disability benefit under division (D)(4) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code shall be paid annual disability benefits, payable in twelve monthly installments, in an amount to be fixed by the board. The board may increase or decrease the benefits whenever the board determines that the impairment of the member's earning capacity warrants an increase or decrease based on the standards adopted under division (C) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code applicable to the determination, but in no event shall a benefit paid to the member exceed sixty per cent of the member's average annual salary.

(D) Each of the following persons who on July 1, 1999, is receiving annual benefits of less than six thousand six hundred dollars shall have the benefits increased to that amount effective July 1, 1999:

(1) A person receiving annual benefits described in division (A) of this section;

(2) A person receiving annual benefits described in division (C) of this section based on an award made prior to September 16, 1998.

(E) Benefits payable under this section continue until death unless adjusted under division (D)(5) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code or adjusted or terminated under division (C)(3) of section 742.40 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.40 | Disability benefit recipient to agree to obtain recommended medical treatment.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "disability benefit recipient" means a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who is receiving a disability benefit pursuant to division (C)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code or pursuant to section 742.38 of the Revised Code.

(B) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall adopt rules requiring a disability benefit recipient, as a condition of continuing to receive a disability benefit, to agree in writing to obtain any medical treatment recommended by the board's physician or physicians and submit medical reports regarding the treatment. If the board determines that a disability benefit recipient is not obtaining the medical treatment or the board does not receive a required medical report, the disability benefit shall be suspended until the treatment is obtained, the report is received by the board, or the board's physician certifies that the treatment is no longer helpful or advisable. Should the recipient's failure to obtain treatment or submit a medical report continue for one year, the recipient's right to the disability benefit shall be terminated as of the effective date of the original suspension.

(C)(1) A disability benefit recipient shall be considered on leave of absence from the recipient's position of employment as a member of a police or fire department during the first five years following the effective date of the recipient's disability benefit, notwithstanding any contrary provisions of this chapter.

(2)(a) The board shall require a disability benefit recipient who has been a member of the fund for less than twenty-five years and has not attained age forty-eight to undergo an annual medical examination, except that the board may waive the medical examination if the board's physician or physicians certify that the recipient's disability is ongoing.

(b) The board may require a disability benefit recipient not described in division (C)(2)(a) of this section to undergo a medical examination at any time it considers necessary.

(c) If a disability benefit recipient refuses to submit to a medical examination, the recipient's disability benefit shall be suspended until the recipient withdraws the refusal. If the refusal continues for one year, the recipient's rights under and to the disability benefit are terminated as of the effective date of the original suspension.

(3) The board shall designate one or more physicians to conduct an examination required under this division. After completing the examination, the physician shall determine and certify to the board whether the disability benefit recipient continues to meet the disability standard set forth in division (D)(1), (2), or (4) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code or division (C)(2), (3), or (5) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code on which the recipient was originally determined to be disabled. If the physician's determination is that the recipient no longer meets the standard and the board concurs in the physician's determination, or the recipient becomes employed as a police officer or firefighter, the disability benefit shall be terminated the earlier of ninety days after the date of the board's concurrence or on the date the recipient returns to employment as a police officer or firefighter, except that if the recipient was receiving a benefit pursuant to division (D)(1) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code or division (C)(2) of former section 742.37 of the Revised Code, the board shall reevaluate the recipient's disability under division (D)(2) of section 742.38 of the Revised Code and award a benefit under that division if the recipient qualifies for it. A recipient may appeal the board's concurrence in the physician's determination. The board shall adopt rules establishing procedures for the appeal. If the leave of absence provided under division (C)(1) of this section has not expired when a disability benefit is terminated under this division, the board shall certify to the recipient's last employer before being found disabled that the recipient is no longer incapable of resuming service. At the recipient's request, the employer shall restore the recipient to the previous position and salary or to a position and salary similar to it, with all previous rights, including civil service status. The employer is not required to restore the recipient to employment if the recipient was dismissed or resigned in lieu of dismissal for dishonesty, misfeasance, malfeasance, or conviction of a felony.

(D) Each disability benefit recipient shall file with the board an annual statement of earnings and any other information required in rules adopted by the board. The board may waive the requirement that a disability benefit recipient file the annual statement of earnings if the board's physician certifies that the recipient's disability is ongoing.

The board shall annually examine the information submitted by the recipient. If a disability benefit recipient refuses to file the statement or information, the disability benefit shall be suspended until the statement and information are filed. If the refusal continues for one year, the recipient's right to the disability benefit shall be terminated as of the effective date of the original suspension.

Section 742.41 | Annual statement of funds.

• Effective: September 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 153 - 129th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Other system retirant" has the same meaning as in section 742.26 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Personal history record" includes a member's, former member's, or other system retirant's name, address, telephone number, social security number, record of contributions, correspondence with the Ohio police and fire pension fund, status of any application for benefits, and any other information deemed confidential by the trustees of the fund.

(B) The treasurer of state shall furnish annually to the board of trustees of the fund a sworn statement of the amount of the funds in the treasurer of state's custody belonging to the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The records of the fund shall be open for public inspection except for the following, which shall be excluded, except with the written authorization of the individual concerned:

(1) The individual's personal history record;

(2) Any information identifying, by name and address, the amount of a monthly allowance or benefit paid to the individual.

(C) All medical reports and recommendations required are privileged, except as follows:

(1) Copies of medical reports or recommendations shall be made available to the personal physician, attorney, or authorized agent of the individual concerned upon written release received from the individual or the individual's agent or, when necessary for the proper administration of the fund, to the board-assigned physician.

(2) Documentation required by section 2929.193 of the Revised Code shall be provided to a court holding a hearing under that section.

(D) Any person who is a member of the fund or an other system retirant shall be furnished with a statement of the amount to the credit of the person's individual account upon the person's written request. The fund need not answer more than one such request of a person in any one year.

(E) Notwithstanding the exceptions to public inspection in division (B) of this section, the fund may furnish the following information:

(1) If a member, former member, or other system retirant is subject to an order issued under section 2907.15 of the Revised Code or an order issued under division (A) or (B) of section 2929.192 of the Revised Code or is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of section 2921.41 of the Revised Code, on written request of a prosecutor as defined in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, the fund shall furnish to the prosecutor the information requested from the individual's personal history record.

(2) Pursuant to a court order issued pursuant to Chapter 3119., 3121., 3123., or 3125. of the Revised Code, the fund shall furnish to a court or child support enforcement agency the information required under that section.

(3) At the request of any organization or association of members of the fund, the fund shall provide a list of the names and addresses of members of the fund and other system retirants. The fund shall comply with the request of such organization or association at least once a year and may impose a reasonable charge for the list.

(4) Within fourteen days after receiving from the director of job and family services a list of the names and social security numbers of recipients of public assistance pursuant to section 5101.181 of the Revised Code, the fund shall inform the auditor of state of the name, current or most recent employer address, and social security number of each member or other system retirant whose name and social security number are the same as that of a person whose name or social security number was submitted by the director. The fund and its employees shall, except for purposes of furnishing the auditor of state with information required by this section, preserve the confidentiality of recipients of public assistance in compliance with section 5101.181 of the Revised Code.

(5) The fund shall comply with orders issued under section 3105.87 of the Revised Code.

On the written request of an alternate payee, as defined in section 3105.80 of the Revised Code, the fund shall furnish to the alternate payee information on the amount and status of any amounts payable to the alternate payee under an order issued under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code.

(6) At the request of any person, the fund shall make available to the person copies of all documents, including resumes, in the fund's possession regarding filling a vacancy of a police officer employee member, firefighter employee member, police retirant member, or firefighter retirant member of the board of trustees. The person who made the request shall pay the cost of compiling, copying, and mailing the documents. The information described in this division is a public record.

(7) The fund shall provide the notice required by section 742.464 of the Revised Code to the prosecutor assigned to the case.

(F) A statement that contains information obtained from the fund's records that is signed by the secretary of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund and to which the board's official seal is affixed, or copies of the fund's records to which the signature and seal are attached, shall be received as true copies of the fund's records in any court or before any officer of this state.

Section 742.42 | Maintenance of individual account.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall provide for the maintenance of an individual account with each member of the fund and other system retirant showing the amount of the member's or retirant's contributions.

Section 742.43 | Deferred retirement option plan established.

• Effective: July 23, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 134 - 124th General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall establish and administer a deferred retirement option plan. In establishing and administering the plan, the board shall comply with sections 742.44 to 742.446 of the Revised Code and may do all things necessary to meet the requirements of section 401(a) of the "Internal Revenue Code of 1986," as amended, applicable to governmental plans.

The board shall adopt rules to implement this section and sections 742.44 to 742.446 of the Revised Code. The rules shall specify the date of initial implementation of the plan established under this section. The rules may also specify a period during which an election made under section 742.44 of the Revised Code may be rescinded.

Section 742.44 | Electing to participate in deferred retirement option plan.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

Except as provided in section 742.14 of the Revised Code, at any time prior to filing an application for retirement under division (C)(1) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code, a member who has attained the requisite age and is eligible to retire under that division may elect to participate in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code.

To make an election, an eligible member shall complete and submit to the Ohio police and fire pension fund a form prescribed by the fund. At this time the member may, but is not required to, elect under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code to have the member's monthly pension calculated as a retirement allowance payable throughout the member's life or a retirement allowance under option 2 in division (A) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code. Unless rescinded during a period specified in rules adopted under section 742.43 of the Revised Code, the election is irrevocable from the date it is received by the fund until the employee ceases to participate in the plan as provided in section 742.444 of the Revised Code.

A member is not required to specify the number of years or portion of a year the member will participate in the plan but must agree to terminate active service in a police or fire department and begin receiving the member's pension not later than the date that is eight years after the effective date of the election to participate in the plan or be subject to the forfeiture provisions of division (C) of section 742.444 of the Revised Code.

The effective date of an election made under this section is the first day of the employer's first payroll period immediately following the board's receipt of the notice of election.

Section 742.441 | Effect of electing to participate in deferred retirement option plan.

• Effective: July 23, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 134 - 124th General Assembly

A member who makes an election under section 742.44 of the Revised Code shall continue in the active service of a police or fire department but shall not earn service credit under this chapter for employment after the election's effective date. While the member is in the active service of a police or fire department, the member shall contribute to the Ohio police and fire pension fund in accordance with section 742.31 of the Revised Code and the employer shall contribute and report in accordance with either section 742.33 or 742.34 of the Revised Code.

Neither the member nor the member's spouse and dependents are eligible for benefits under section 742.45 of the Revised Code while the member is participating in the deferred retirement option plan.

Section 742.442 | Determining pension amount if electing to participate in deferred retirement option plan.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

For each member who elects to participate in the deferred retirement option plan, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall determine under division (C)(1) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code the monthly pension amount that would be payable to the member had the member elected to receive a pension under that division. In determining the pension amount, the fund shall use the member's total service credit and average annual salary as of the last day of the employer's payroll period immediately prior to the effective date of the member's election to participate in the plan. The pension amount shall be calculated as a retirement allowance payable for the member's life, except that, if at the time of electing to participate in the plan the member selected the plan of payment in option 2 of division (A) of section 742.3711 of the Revised Code, the pension shall be calculated using that plan of payment.

A member who participates in the plan is not eligible to make an election under division (D) of section 742.3716 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.443 | Accrual of monthly pension amount, cost-of-living increases and member contributions if electing to participate in deferred retirement option plan.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) During the period beginning on the effective date of an election to participate in the deferred retirement option plan and ending on the date participation ceases, a member's monthly pension amount determined under section 742.442 of the Revised Code shall accrue to the member's benefit. If the member is eligible for increases under section 742.3716 of the Revised Code, to this amount shall be added any benefit increases the member would be eligible for under that section had the member, on the effective date of the member's election, retired under division (C)(1) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The amounts contributed under section 742.31 of the Revised Code by a member who, before July 2, 2013, elects to participate in the deferred retirement option plan shall accrue to the member's benefit as follows:

(a) During the period beginning on the first day of the first payroll period after the election's effective date and ending on the earlier of the date that is two years thereafter or the date the member ceases participation in the plan, fifty per cent of the member's contributions for that period;

(b) During the period beginning on the date that is two years and one day after accruals begin under this division and ending on the earlier of the date that is three years thereafter or the date the member ceases participation in the plan, seventy-five per cent of the member's contributions for that period;

(c) During the period beginning on the date that is three years and one day after accruals begin under this section and ending on the date the member ceases participation in the plan, one hundred per cent of the member's contributions for that period.

(2) The amounts contributed under section 742.31 of the Revised Code by a member who, on or after July 2, 2013, elects to participate in the deferred retirement option plan shall accrue to the member's benefit as follows:

(a) During the period beginning on the first day of the first payroll period after the election's effective date and ending on the earlier of the date that is three years thereafter or the date the member ceases participation in the plan, fifty per cent of the member's contributions for that period;

(b) During the period beginning on the date that is three years and one day after accruals begin under this division and ending on the earlier of the date that is five years thereafter or the date the member ceases participation in the plan, seventy-five per cent of the member's contributions for that period;

(c) During the period beginning on the date that is five years and one day after accruals begin under this section and ending on the date the member ceases participation in the plan, one hundred per cent of the member's contributions for that period.

(3) The Ohio police and fire pension fund shall credit the portion of a member's contributions that are not accrued to the member's benefit under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section to the police officers' contribution fund or firefighters' contribution fund, as appropriate.

(C) During the period beginning on the election's effective date and ending on the day before the date distributions under division (B)(3) of section 742.444 of the Revised Code are completed, the amounts described in divisions (A) and (B)(1) of this section shall earn interest at an annual rate established by the board of trustees of the fund and compounded annually using a method established by rule adopted under section 742.43 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.444 | Termination of participation in deferred retirement option plan.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) A member's participation in the deferred retirement option plan ceases on the occurrence of the earliest of the following:

(1) Termination of the member's active service in a police or fire department;

(2) The last day of the eight-year period that begins on the effective date of the member's election to participate in the plan;

(3) Acceptance by the member of a disability benefit awarded by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, unless the acceptance is revoked by the member in accordance with rules adopted by the board;

(4) The member's death.

(B) If a member terminates active service in a police or fire department not later than eight years after the effective date of the member's election to participate in the plan, all of the following apply:

(1) The member shall notify the Ohio police and fire pension fund of the date of termination on a form prescribed by the fund. The member is not eligible to make another election under section 742.44 of the Revised Code.

(2)(a) For a member whose election to participate in the plan is effective before July 2, 2013, the member's termination of active service occurs on or after the date that is the first day of the fourth year after the effective date of the election to participate in the plan, the entire amount that has accrued to the member's benefit under the deferred retirement option plan shall be distributed to the member pursuant to the member's selection under division (B)(3) of this section. If the member's termination of active service occurs before the date that is four years after the effective date of the election to participate, the member shall forfeit the total amount of the interest credited under division (C) of section 742.443 of the Revised Code.

(b) For a member whose election to participate in the plan is effective on or after July 2, 2013, if the member's termination of active service occurs on or after the date that is the sixth year after the effective date of the election to participate in the plan, the entire amount that has accrued to the member's benefit under the deferred retirement option plan shall be distributed to the member pursuant to the member's selection under division (B)(3) of this section. If the member's termination of active service occurs before the date that is six years after the effective date of the election to participate, the member shall forfeit the total amount of the interest credited under division (C) of section 742.443 of the Revised Code.

(3) The member shall select one of the following as the method of distribution of the amount to be distributed to the member:

(a) A single payment;

(b) Periodic payments as determined by the board.

The fund shall retain amounts accrued to the benefit of a member under the plan until a form specifying the method of distribution selected is filed with the fund by the member or an authorized representative of the member.

The board shall afford a member who selects periodic payments the opportunity at least once during each calendar year to change the member's selection.

(4) Distribution of the amount accrued to a member's benefit under the deferred retirement option plan shall not commence until the following:

(a) For members whose election to participate in the plan is effective before July 2, 2013, the date that is the first day of the fourth year after the effective date of the election;

(b) For members whose election to participate in the plan is effective on or after July 2, 2013, the date that is the first day of the sixth year after the effective date of the election.

(5) The member shall select a plan of payment under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code for the pension payable to the member under division (C) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code, unless the member selected a plan of payment at the time of electing to participate in the plan. The pension shall commence not later than the first day of the second month following the date the employee ceases to participate in the plan.

(C) If, at the end of the eight-year period that begins on the effective date of a member's election to participate in the plan, the member has failed to terminate active service in a police or fire department, all of the following apply:

(1) No further amounts shall accrue to the member's benefit, and the member shall forfeit all amounts that have accrued to the member's benefit under section 742.443 of the Revised Code. The amounts forfeited shall be treated as if the member had continued in the active service of a police or fire department and not elected to participate in the plan.

(2) The member shall be granted service credit for the period the member was participating in the plan, and when the member's pension is calculated under section 742.37 of the Revised Code, the calculation shall be made as though the member had never participated in the plan.

(3) Further contributions, and service credit for those contributions, shall be credited as provided in sections 742.31 through 742.34 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.445 | Termination of participation in deferred retirement option plan because of acceptance of disability benefit.

• Effective: July 23, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 134 - 124th General Assembly

If a member ceases participation in the deferred retirement option plan due to acceptance by the member of a disability benefit awarded by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, both of the following apply:

(A) The member shall forfeit all amounts that have accrued under section 742.443 of the Revised Code to the member's benefit under the deferred retirement option plan, and those amounts shall be treated as if the member had continued in the active service of a police or fire department and not participated in the plan.

(B) The member shall be granted service credit for the period the member was participating in the plan.

Section 742.446 | Death benefit if electing to participate in deferred retirement option plan.

• Effective: July 23, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 134 - 124th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "killed in the line of duty" has the same meaning as in section 742.63 of the Revised Code.

(B) If a member dies while participating in the deferred retirement option plan, all of the following apply:

(1) The amounts accrued to the member's benefit shall be paid to the member's surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, the beneficiary designated by the member on a form provided by the Ohio police and fire pension fund. If there is no surviving spouse or designated beneficiary, the amounts accrued to the member's benefit shall be paid to the member's estate. A surviving spouse or designated beneficiary may select a method of distribution described in division (B)(3) of section 742.444 of the Revised Code. Any amount payable to the member's estate shall be paid in a single payment.

(2) The surviving spouse shall receive a pension or benefit determined under division (D) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code and, if the member was killed in the line of duty, division (F) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code.

(3) If eligible, each surviving child shall receive a pension or benefit determined under division (E) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code and, if the member was killed in the line of duty, division (G) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code.

(4) If the member has no surviving spouse or surviving children, but has a parent or parents dependent on the member for support, the parent or parents shall receive a pension or benefit determined under division (F) of section 742.37 of the Revised Code and, if the member was killed in the line of duty, division (E) of section 742.63 of the Revised Code.

(5) The member's surviving spouse or contingent dependent beneficiary shall receive the greater of a retirement allowance under section 742.3714 of the Revised Code or the retirement allowance resulting from an election made by the member under section 742.3711 of the Revised Code.

(C) A pension, benefit, or allowance described in division (B) of this section is effective on the first day of the month after the member's date of death. Payments shall not commence until the board receives any documentation it requires pursuant to rules adopted by the board.

Section 742.447 | Verifying termination of active service.

• Effective: July 23, 2002
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 134 - 124th General Assembly

On receipt of written notice under division (B) of section 742.444 of the Revised Code of a member's termination of active service, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall request from the employer verification of the member's termination date and any other information the fund determines necessary to calculate and pay a pension under that division. The verification of termination shall be filed in accordance with section 742.351 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.45 | Deduction from benefit payment for group health insurance.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

(A) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may enter into an agreement with insurance companies, health insuring corporations, or government agencies authorized to do business in the state for issuance of a policy or contract of health, medical, hospital, or surgical benefits, or any combination thereof, for those individuals receiving service or disability pensions or survivor benefits subscribing to the plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the policy or contract may also include coverage for any eligible individual's spouse and dependent children and for any of the eligible individual's sponsored dependents as the board considers appropriate.

If all or any portion of the policy or contract premium is to be paid by any individual receiving a service, disability, or survivor pension or benefit, the individual shall, by written authorization, instruct the board to deduct from the individual's benefit the premium agreed to be paid by the individual to the company, corporation, or agency.

The board may contract for coverage on the basis of part or all of the cost of the coverage to be paid from appropriate funds of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The cost paid from the funds of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall be included in the employer's contribution rates provided by sections 742.33 and 742.34 of the Revised Code.

The board may provide for self-insurance of risk or level of risk as set forth in the contract with the companies, corporations, or agencies, and may provide through the self-insurance method specific benefits as authorized by the rules of the board.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, the board shall, beginning the month following receipt of satisfactory evidence of the payment for coverage, pay monthly to each recipient of service, disability, or survivor benefits under the Ohio police and fire pension fund who is eligible for coverage under part B of the medicare program established under Title XVIII of "The Social Security Amendments of 1965," 79 Stat. 301 (1965), 42 U.S.C.A. 1395j, as amended, an amount specified by the board or determined pursuant to a formula established by the board that is not less than ninety-six dollars and forty cents, for such coverage, except that the board shall not pay an amount that exceeds the amount paid by the recipient for the coverage.

The board shall pay not more than one monthly premium under this division to an eligible benefit recipient even if the recipient is receiving more than one monthly benefit from the fund. The board shall not pay a monthly premium under this division to an eligible benefit recipient who is receiving reimbursement for the premium from any other source.

(C) The board shall establish by rule requirements for the coordination of any coverage, payment, or benefit provided under this section with any similar coverage, payment, or benefit made available to the same individual by the public employees retirement system, state teachers retirement system, school employees retirement system, or state highway patrol retirement system.

(D) The board shall make all other necessary rules pursuant to the purpose and intent of this section.

Section 742.451 | Additional deposits to fund medical expenses.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 272 - 126th General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may establish a program under which a member or a member's employer is permitted to make additional deposits for the purpose of providing funds for the payment of health, medical, hospital, surgical, dental, or vision care expenses, including insurance premiums, deductible amounts, or copayments. The program may be a voluntary employees' beneficiary association, as described in section 501(c)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(9), as amended; an account described in section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 401(h), as amended; a medical savings account; or a similar type of program under which an individual may accumulate funds for the purpose of paying such expenses. To implement the program, the board may enter into agreements with insurance companies or other entities authorized to conduct business in this state.

If the board establishes a program under this section, it shall adopt rules to administer the program.

Section 742.46 | Vested right to pension or benefit.

• Effective: July 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 123 - 129th General Assembly

Except as provided in section 742.464 of the Revised Code, the granting of a benefit or pension to any person under sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code, other than a person participating in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code, vests a right in such person to obtain and receive the amount of such benefit or pension granted to the person subject to sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code. Subject to sections 742.444 and 742.464 of the Revised Code, a person participating in the deferred retirement option plan vests in the right to obtain and receive the amount accrued to the benefit of the person when the person ceases participating in the plan.

Such right may be enforced by an action in mandamus instituted in the court of common pleas in the county in which the person granted such benefit or pension resides.

Section 742.461 | Restitution order based on theft in office or certain sex offenses.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any payment that is to be made under a pension or other type of benefit, other than a survivorship benefit, that has been granted to a person under this chapter, any payment of accumulated contributions standing to a person's credit under this chapter, and any payment of any other amounts to be paid to a person under this chapter upon the person's withdrawal of contributions pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to any withholding order issued pursuant to section 2907.15 of the Revised Code or division (C)(2)(b) of section 2921.41 of the Revised Code, and the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall comply with that withholding order in making the payment.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the board receives notice pursuant to section 2907.15 of the Revised Code or division (D) of section 2921.41 of the Revised Code that a person who has accumulated contributions standing to the person's credit pursuant to this chapter is charged with a violation of section 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, or 2921.41 of the Revised Code, no payment of those accumulated contributions or of any other amounts to be paid under this chapter upon the person's withdrawal of contributions pursuant to this chapter shall be made prior to whichever of the following is applicable:

(1) If the person is convicted of or pleads guilty to the charge and no motion for a withholding order for purposes of restitution has been filed under section 2907.15 of the Revised Code or division (C)(2)(b)(i) of section 2921.41 of the Revised Code, thirty days after the day on which final disposition of the charge is made;

(2) If the person is convicted of or pleads guilty to the charge and a motion for a withholding order for purposes of restitution has been filed under section 2907.15 of the Revised Code or division (C)(2)(b)(i) of section 2921.41 of the Revised Code, the day on which the court decides the motion;

(3) If the charge is dismissed or the person is found not guilty or not guilty by reason of insanity of the charge, the day on which final disposition of the charge is made.

Section 742.462 | Order for division of marital property.

• Effective: January 1, 2016
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "alternate payee," "benefit," "lump sum payment," "participant," and "public retirement program" have the same meanings as in section 3105.80 of the Revised Code.

(B) On receipt of an order issued under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall determine whether the order meets the requirements of sections 3105.80 to 3105.90 of the Revised Code. The fund shall retain in the participant's record an order the fund determines meets the requirements. Not later than sixty days after receipt, the fund shall return to the court that issued the order any order the fund determines does not meet the requirements.

(C) The fund shall comply with an order retained under division (B) of this section at the following times as appropriate:

(1) If the participant has applied for or is receiving a benefit or has applied for but not yet received a lump sum payment, as soon as practicable;

(2) If the participant has not applied for a benefit or lump sum payment, on application by the participant for a benefit or lump sum payment.

(D) If the fund transfers a participant's service credit or contributions made by or on behalf of a participant to a public retirement program that is not named in the order, the fund shall do both of the following:

(1) Notify the court that issued the order by sending the court a copy of the order and the name and address of the public retirement program to which the transfer was made;

(2) Send a copy of the order to the public retirement program to which the transfer was made.

(E) If it receives a participant's service credit or contributions and a copy of an order as provided in division (D) of this section, the fund shall administer the order as if it were the public retirement program named in the order.

(F) If a participant's benefit or lump sum payment is or will be subject to more than one order described in section 3105.81 of the Revised Code or to an order described in section 3105.81 of the Revised Code and a withholding order under section 3111.23 or 3113.21 of the Revised Code, the fund shall, after determining that the amounts that are or will be withheld will cause the benefit or lump sum payment to fall below the limits described in section 3105.85 of the Revised Code, do all of the following:

(1) Establish, in accordance with division (G) of this section and subject to the limits described in section 3105.85 of the Revised Code, the priority in which the orders are or will be paid by the fund in accordance with division (G) of this section;

(2) Reduce the amount paid to an alternate payee based on the priority established under division (F)(1) of this section;

(3) Notify, by regular mail, a participant and alternate payee of any action taken under this division.

(G) A withholding or deduction notice issued under section 3111.23 or 3113.21 of the Revised Code or an order described in section 3115.501 of the Revised Code has priority over all other orders and shall be complied with in accordance with child support enforcement laws. All other orders are entitled to priority in order of earliest retention by the fund. The fund is not to retain an order that provides for the division of property unless the order is filed in a court with jurisdiction in this state.

(H) The fund is not liable in civil damages for loss resulting from any action or failure to act in compliance with this section.

Section 742.463 | Forfeiture of retirement benefits under RC 2929.192.

• Effective: May 13, 2008
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 3 - 127th General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any payment of accumulated contributions standing to a person's credit under this chapter and any other amount or amounts to be paid to a person who is a contributor under this chapter upon the person's withdrawal of contributions pursuant to this chapter shall be subject to any forfeiture ordered under division (A) or (B) of section 2929.192 of the Revised Code, and the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall comply with that order in making the payment. Upon payment of the person's accumulated contributions and cancellation of the corresponding service credit, a person who is subject to the forfeiture described in this division may not restore the canceled service credit under this chapter or under Chapter 145., 3305., 3307., 3309., or 5505. of the Revised Code.

(B) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if the fund receives notice pursuant to section 2901.43 of the Revised Code that a person who has accumulated contributions standing to the person's credit pursuant to this chapter is charged with any offense or violation listed or described in divisions (D)(1) to (3) of section 2929.192 of the Revised Code that is a felony in the circumstances specified in the particular division, all of the following apply:

(1) No payment of those accumulated contributions or of any other amount or amounts to be paid to a person who is a contributor under this chapter upon the person's withdrawal of contributions pursuant to this chapter shall be made prior to whichever of the following is applicable:

(a) If the person is convicted of or pleads guilty to the charge and forfeiture is ordered under division (A) or (B) of section 2929.192 of the Revised Code, the day on which the fund receives from the court a copy of the journal entry of the offender's sentence under that section;

(b) If the charge against the person is dismissed, the person is found not guilty of the charge, or the person is found not guilty by reason of insanity of the charge, the day on which the fund receives notice of the final disposition of the charge.

(2) The fund shall not process any application for payment under this chapter from the person prior to the final disposition of the charge.

Section 742.464 | Benefits subject to termination.

• Effective: July 29, 2011
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 123 - 129th General Assembly

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a disability benefit granted under this chapter is subject to an order issued under section 2929.193 of the Revised Code. The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall comply with the order.

On receipt of notice under section 2901.43 of the Revised Code that an Ohio police and fire pension fund member is charged with an offense listed in division (D) of section 2929.192 of the Revised Code under the circumstances specified in that division, the fund shall determine whether the member has been granted a disability benefit. If so, the fund shall send written notice to the prosecutor assigned to the case that the member has been granted a disability benefit under this chapter and may be subject to section 2929.193 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.47 | Exemption from attachment, garnishment, levy, or seizure under any legal or equitable process.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 520 - 131st General Assembly

Except as provided in sections 742.461, 742.462, 742.463, 742.464, 3105.171, 3105.65, and 3115.501 and Chapters 3119., 3121., 3123., and 3125. of the Revised Code, sums of money due or to become due to any individual from the Ohio police and fire pension fund are not liable to attachment, garnishment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency laws, levy, or seizure under any legal or equitable process or any other process of law whatsoever, whether those sums remain with the treasurer of the fund or any officer or agent of the board of trustees of the fund or are in the course of transmission to the individual entitled to them, but shall inure wholly to the benefit of that individual.

Section 742.48 | Written notice of waiver.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Any person who is receiving, or becomes eligible to receive, a pension, or other benefit, or any increase under Chapter 742. of the Revised Code, may, at any time, waive the person's rights thereto, or to a portion thereof, by filing a written notice of waiver with the person from the Ohio police and fire pension fund. Such waiver shall remain in effect until the first day of the month following the person's death, or the person's filing of a written cancellation of such waiver with the board. Any amount so waived shall forever be forfeited.

Section 742.50 | Death benefit.

• Effective: April 6, 2017
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 520 - 131st General Assembly

As used in this section, "member's contribution" means the total amount deducted from the salary of a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund and credited to the member's account in the fund.

If a member of the fund dies before receiving pension and benefit payments from the fund in an amount equal to the member's contribution and leaves no surviving spouse, surviving children, or dependent parent eligible for monthly pension payments under section 742.37 of the Revised Code, the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall pay to the estate of such deceased member an amount equal to the member's contribution, less the total amount received by such member as benefit or pension payments from such fund.

If a member who dies before receiving pension and benefit payments from the fund in an amount equal to the member's contribution leaves one or more survivors eligible for monthly pension payments under section 742.37 of the Revised Code but the total amount paid all survivors under that section is less than the member's contribution, the fund shall pay to the survivors or their estates, in equal shares, an amount equal to the member's contribution, less the total amount received by the member and all survivors as benefit or pension payments from the fund.

If the accumulated contributions of a deceased member are not claimed by a survivor, or by the estate of the deceased member or survivor, within seven years, they shall be transferred to the guarantee fund and thereafter paid to such survivor or to the estate of the member or survivor upon application to the board.

Section 742.51 | Election to transfer from public employees retirement system to police and fire pension fund.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Any person serving as a full-time regular member of a township fire department, or a municipal fire or police department who was serving in that capacity on December 31, 1966, and was a member of the public employees retirement system on that date and who has continued to serve in the same capacity and has continued as a member of the public employees retirement system until filing an election after November 20, 1973, may elect prior to January 1, 1985, to transfer from the public employees retirement system to the Ohio police and fire pension fund. When such an election is made, the public employees retirement system shall certify to the Ohio police and fire pension fund a copy of the records of the service and contributions of such member and shall transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund all contributions to the credit of the member as a member of a police or fire department, and an amount equal to the total employer contribution paid on service as a member of a police or fire department, at the respective rates in effect during the member's employment.

The Ohio police and fire pension fund shall obtain from its actuary a certification of the accrued liability for the member being transferred, less the amounts transferred from the public employees retirement system, and such unfunded accrued liability shall be charged to the municipal corporation or township in which the member is employed and paid in full or paid by the employer at the rate of at least five per cent per annum with interest at four per cent per annum on unpaid balances; payment and interest to be paid semiannually on dates to be fixed by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The Ohio police and fire pension fund may require any affected municipal corporation or township to certify the period of full-time service and salary of any member requesting transfer. A member transferred in accordance with this section shall be given service credit by the Ohio police and fire pension fund equal to the period of full-time service on which both member and employer made contributions to the public employees retirement system, which contributions were transferred to the Ohio police and fire pension fund.

Section 742.511 | Transfer of police officers of newly incorporated municipality prior to 12-1-83.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

In computing years of active service under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code for a full-time regular police officer who, prior to December 1, 1983, was appointed to the police department of a newly incorporated municipal corporation, whether pursuant to section 124.41 of the Revised Code or otherwise, directly from a police department of the township from which such municipal corporation was incorporated, such members shall be given full credit for service as a full-time township police officer and as a full-time police officer in the municipal corporation after the date of incorporation and for which contributions were made to the public employees retirement system, if, within thirty days after December 1, 1983, the member makes a written request to the public employees retirement system to withdraw accumulated contributions attributable to such service from the public employees retirement system and, thirty days after receiving such contributions, the member pays into the Ohio police and fire pension fund the amount withdrawn from the public employees retirement system for the period of service being obtained.

When such an election is made, the public employees retirement system shall certify to the Ohio police and fire pension fund a copy of the records of the service and contributions of the member and shall transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund an amount equal to the total employer contributions paid on service as a full-time township police officer and on service as a full-time municipal police officer at the rates in effect during such employment, as set forth in section 145.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.512 | Transfer of police officers of newly incorporated municipality on or after 12-1-83.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

In computing years of active service under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code for a full-time regular police officer who, on or after December 1, 1983, but prior to June 14, 1988, was appointed pursuant to section 124.41 or 124.411 of the Revised Code to a police department of a newly incorporated municipal corporation directly from a police department of the township from which the municipal corporation was incorporated, full credit for service as a full-time township police officer shall be given if, within thirty days after such appointment, the member made a written request to the public employees retirement system to withdraw accumulated contributions attributable to such service from the public employees retirement system and, within thirty days after receiving such contributions, the member paid into the Ohio police and fire pension fund the amount withdrawn from the public employees retirement system for the period of service being obtained.

When such an election is made, the public employees retirement system shall certify to the Ohio police and fire pension fund a copy of the records of the service and contributions of the member and shall transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund an amount equal to the total employer contributions paid on service as a full-time township police officer at the rates in effect during such employment, as set forth in section 145.01 of the Revised Code.

Section 742.513 | Township officer assuming municipal status may transfer to fund.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

A member of the public employees retirement system who is a full-time regular police officer may elect to transfer from the public employees retirement system to the Ohio police and fire pension fund if the member has become a member of a municipal police department as a result of the merger under sections 709.43 to 709.48 of the Revised Code of the municipal corporation with a township that employed the police officer or has, on or after December 1, 1983, been appointed pursuant to section 124.41 or 124.411 of the Revised Code to a police department of a newly incorporated municipal corporation directly from a police department of the township from which the municipal corporation was incorporated. The election shall be made by the police officer by giving notice to the Ohio police and fire pension fund. Any such election shall occur not later than sixty days after the effective date of the merger or of the member's initial appointment following the incorporation or not later than sixty days after June 14, 1988, whichever occurs later. When such an election is made, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall notify the public employees retirement system, which shall certify to the fund a copy of the records of the service and contributions of the police officer and shall transfer to the fund all contributions to the credit of the police officer that are based on full-time service, excluding any contributions made by the member's employer.

A member transferred to the Ohio police and fire pension fund under this section shall be given service credit by the fund equal to the period of full-time service on which the contributions transferred under this section were based.

Section 742.514 | Transfer of former Cincinnati park police officers to fund.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "park police officer" means a park police officer appointed or employed pursuant to the Cincinnati municipal code.

(B) With approval of the Cincinnati retirement system, a member of the retirement system who is a full-time regular member of the Cincinnati police department and, prior to being reclassified as a member of the police department, served as a full-time park police officer may elect to transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund by giving notice to the Cincinnati retirement system not later than December 31, 1990. The notice shall be on a form provided by the Cincinnati retirement system and shall include a statement signed by the member authorizing the retirement system, if it approves the transfer, to transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund the total employee contributions to the credit of the member as a full-time regular member of the Cincinnati police department and as a park police officer.

If the retirement system approves the transfer, it shall certify to the Ohio police and fire pension fund a copy of the records of service and contributions to the credit of the member as a member of the Cincinnati police department and as a park police officer. On receipt of the records, the fund shall obtain from its actuary a certification of the accrued liability to the fund resulting from the transfer.

(C) The Ohio police and fire pension fund shall accept the transfer of a member under this section if both of the following occur:

(1) The Cincinnati retirement system transfers to the fund all of the following:

(a) The total employee contributions to the credit of the member as a full-time regular member of the Cincinnati police department and as a park police officer;

(b) The total employer contributions paid on the member's service as a full-time regular member of the Cincinnati police department and as a park police officer, plus compound interest;

(c) Any amount paid by the member or the employer to the retirement system for the purchase of service credit, including credit for military service and any other credit the member or employer was eligible to purchase for the benefit of the member.

(2) The city of Cincinnati agrees to pay to the fund the difference, if any, between the amounts transferred under division (C)(1) of this section and the amount certified as the accrued liability to the fund resulting from the transfer of the member.

The city may pay the amount it agrees to pay under division (C)(2) of this section in full at the time the member is transferred or at the rate of at least five per cent of the balance per year, plus interest on unpaid balances with payments and interest paid in semiannual payments on dates to be fixed by the trustees of the fund.

(D) If the total of the amounts transferred from the Cincinnati retirement system and paid by the city of Cincinnati under division (C) of this section exceeds the amount certified as the accrued liability to the Ohio police and fire pension fund resulting from the transfer of the member, the amount of the excess shall be paid to the retirement system.

(E) A member transferred pursuant to this section shall be given full credit by the Ohio police and fire pension fund of the member's service as a full-time regular police officer of the city of Cincinnati and as a park police officer and for any service credit purchased by the member, or by the member's employer on the member's behalf, from the Cincinnati retirement system.

(F) Interest charged under this section shall be charged at the rate that is the Ohio police and fire pension fund's actuarial interest assumption rate on July 13, 1990.

Section 742.515 | Firefighter's election to transfer from public employees retirement system.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "fire department employer" means a fire department that employs a firefighter.

(B) A full-time firefighter who, on November 8, 1990, is a member of the public employees retirement system, in the employ of a fire department employer, and in a position in which the firefighter is required to satisfactorily complete or have satisfactorily completed a firefighter training course approved under former section 3303.07 or section 4765.55 or conducted under section 3737.33 of the Revised Code may, by giving notice to the Ohio police and fire pension fund within ninety days of November 8, 1990, elect to transfer to the fund.

When a firefighter makes such an election, the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall notify the public employees retirement system. All of the firefighter's credit as a full-time firefighter shall be transferred to the Ohio police and fire pension fund. The public employees retirement system shall certify to the Ohio police and fire pension fund a copy of the firefighter's records of service and contributions and for each year or portion of a year of credit to be transferred shall transfer to the Ohio police and fire pension fund all of the following:

(1) All contributions to the credit of the firefighter as a full-time firefighter;

(2) An amount equal to the total employer contributions paid on service as a full-time firefighter at the rates in effect during that year;

(3) Any amount paid by the member or the employer to the retirement system for the purchase of service credit for full-time service, including credit for military service and any other credit the member or employer was eligible to purchase for the benefit of the member.

(C) The fire department employer by which a firefighter is employed at the time of a transfer made pursuant to division (B) of this section shall, at the request of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, certify to the fund the firefighter's salary as a firefighter.

(D) In computing years of active service under division (C) of section 742.37 or section 742.39 of the Revised Code, a member transferred pursuant to this section shall be given full credit by the Ohio police and fire pension fund for the firefighter's service as a full-time firefighter and for any service credit for full-time service purchased by the firefighter, or by the firefighter's employer on the firefighter's behalf, from the public employees retirement system.

Section 742.516 | Firefighter's election to transfer to public employees retirement system.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) Not later than ninety days after September 16, 1998, a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who became a member of the fund as a result of the member's employer changing from a fire department consisting primarily of part-time employees to a fire department consisting primarily of full-time employees or who elected to transfer to the fund from the public employees retirement system under section 742.515 of the Revised Code may elect to transfer to the public employees retirement system in accordance with this section. An election shall be made by giving notice to the fund on a form provided by the board of trustees of the fund and shall be irrevocable.

(B) When a member makes the election described in this section, the fund shall notify the system. The fund shall transfer all of the member's service credit to the system and shall certify to the system a copy of the member's records of service and contributions. The fund shall transfer to the system all of the following:

(1) Any amount transferred from the system to the fund pursuant to the election made under section 742.515 of the Revised Code;

(2) An amount equal to the member's contributions to the fund;

(3) An amount equal to the total employer contributions paid on behalf of the member;

(4) Any amount paid by the member or employer to the fund for the purchase of service credit.

At the request of the system, the employer of a member who makes an election under this section shall certify to the system the member's salary.

(C) The system shall give the member full credit for all service as a member of the fund. If the system has on deposit contributions made by, or on behalf of, a member of the fund who makes an election in accordance with this section, the system shall credit the contributions in accordance with Chapter 145. of the Revised Code.

(D) A member of the fund who fails to make an election in accordance with this section shall remain a member of the fund.

Section 742.52 | Purchasing military service credit.

• Effective: March 24, 2003
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 373 - 124th General Assembly

(A) A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who is not receiving a disability benefit or pension from the fund and is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code may purchase service credit, which shall be used in computing the member's years of service, for each year of service incurred by reason of having been on active duty, active duty for training, initial active duty for training, inactive duty training, full-time national guard duty, and a period for which a member is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the member to perform a duty, as a member of the armed forces of the United States if the member is honorably discharged. Credits which are not authorized under former sections 742.18, 742.19, 742.20, and 742.21 or section 742.521 of the Revised Code may be purchased at any time. The number of years purchased under this division shall not exceed five.

(B) For the purposes of this division, "prisoner of war" means any regularly appointed, enrolled, enlisted, or inducted member of the armed forces of the United States who was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States.

A member who is not a participant in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code may purchase service credit which shall be considered as the equivalent of Ohio service for each year of service the member was a prisoner of war. The number of years purchased under this division shall not exceed five. Service credit may be purchased under this division for the same years of service used to purchase service credit under division (A) of this section. The member may choose to purchase only part of such credit in any one payment, subject to board rules.

(C) The total number of years purchased under this section shall not exceed the member's total accumulated number of years of Ohio service.

(D) For each year of service purchased under division (A) or (B) of this section, the member shall pay to the fund for credit to the member's accumulated account an amount determined by the member rate of contribution in effect at the time the military service began or four per cent, whichever is greater, multiplied by the annual compensation for full-time employment during the first year of full-time service in Ohio covered by any state or municipal retirement system of this state following termination of military service. To this amount shall be added an amount equal to compound interest at a rate established by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund from the date active military service terminated to date of payment. For the purpose of this section, the board may define full-time service in Ohio covered by any state or municipal retirement system of this state.

(E) A member is ineligible to purchase service credit under this section for any year of military service that was:

(1) Used in the calculation of any retirement benefit currently being paid to the member or payable in the future under any other retirement program, except for retired pay for non-regular service under Chapter 1223. of Section 1662 of Title XVI of the "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1995," 108 Stat. 2998 (1994), 10 U.S.C.A. 12731 to 12739, or social security;

(2) Used to obtain service credit under former section 742.18, 742.19, 742.20, or 742.21 or section 742.521 of the Revised Code. At the time the credit is purchased the member shall certify on a form furnished by the trustees that the member does and will conform to this requirement. Any benefit paid under this section to which the member is not entitled shall be recovered by any recovery procedures available under this chapter.

"Armed forces" of the United States includes army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or any reserve component of such forces; national guard; the commissioned corps of the United States public health service; the merchant marine service during wartime; auxiliary corps as established by congress; service as a red cross nurse with the army, navy, air force, hospital service of the United States, army nurse corps, navy nurse corps, or serving full-time with the American red cross in a combat zone; and such other service as may be designated by congress as included therein.

A member of the fund who has purchased service credit under this section, or the member's estate, is entitled to be refunded the amount paid to purchase such credit, or a pro rata portion thereof, provided that the purchased service credit, or a portion of the purchased service credit, does not serve to increase a pension or benefit paid under section 742.37 or 742.39 or calculated under section 742.442 of the Revised Code. The refund of any amount paid to purchase credit under this section, or a pro rata portion thereof, shall cancel an equivalent amount of service credit.

Section 742.521 | Credit for military service.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "armed forces" of the United States means the army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or any reserve components of such forces; the national guard; the commissioned corps of the United States public health service; the merchant marine service during wartime; auxiliary corps as established by congress; service as a red cross nurse with the army, navy, air force, hospital service of the United States, army nurse corps, navy nurse corps, or serving full-time with the American red cross in a combat zone; and such other service as may be designated by congress.

(B) A member of the fund who is an employee of a police or fire department and who enlisted or enlists, was inducted or is inducted, was or is called into active duty, or accepted or accepts a commission in the armed forces, in computing years of service in such police or fire department, shall be given full credit for such time served in the armed forces, provided the person has been honorably discharged from the armed forces or from active duty therein, has made application for reinstatement in the active service of the police or fire department within ninety days from the date of discharge, and employer contributions have been paid pursuant to this section. Service credit given under this section for time served in the armed forces shall not exceed five years.

(C) A member of the fund is ineligible to receive service credit under this section for any time served in the armed forces that is used to obtain service credit under former section 742.18, 742.19, 742.20, or 742.21 or section 742.52 of the Revised Code.

At the time such credit is requested, the member shall certify on a form supplied by the retirement board that the member does and will conform to this requirement. Any benefit paid under this section to which the member is not entitled shall be recovered by any recovery procedures available under this chapter. This section does not cancel any military service credit earned under this chapter prior to October 29, 1996.

(D) An employer of a member entitled to service credit under this section shall pay the Ohio police and fire pension fund an amount equal to that which would have been paid under section 742.33 or 742.34 of the Revised Code had the member continued police or fire employment during the period of military service. The board of trustees may adopt rules setting the manner in which the employer contribution is calculated and paid.

Section 742.53 | Long term care insurance.

• Effective: March 23, 2015
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 42 - 130th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Long-term care insurance" has the same meaning as in section 3923.41 of the Revised Code.

(2) "Retirement systems" has the same meaning as in division (A) of section 145.581 of the Revised Code.

(B) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may establish a program under which members of the fund, employers on behalf of members, and persons receiving service or disability pensions or survivor benefits are permitted to participate in contracts for long-term care insurance. Participation may include dependents and family members. If a participant in a contract for long-term care insurance leaves employment, the participant and the participant's dependents and family members may, at their election, continue to participate in a program established under this section in the same manner as if the participant had not left employment, except that no part of the cost of the insurance shall be paid by the participant's former employer.

Such program may be established independently or jointly with one or more of the other retirement systems.

(C) The fund may enter into an agreement with insurance companies, health insuring corporations, or government agencies authorized to do business in the state for issuance of a long-term care policy or contract. However, prior to entering into such an agreement with an insurance company or health insuring corporation, the fund shall request the superintendent of insurance to certify the financial condition of the company or corporation. The fund shall not enter into the agreement if, according to that certification, the company or corporation is insolvent, is determined by the superintendent to be potentially unable to fulfill its contractual obligations, or is placed under an order of rehabilitation or conservation by a court of competent jurisdiction or under an order of supervision by the superintendent.

(D) The board may adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code governing the program. Any rules adopted by the board shall establish methods of payment for participation under this section, which may include establishment of a payroll deduction plan under section 742.56 of the Revised Code, deduction of the full premium charged from a person's service or disability pension or survivor benefit, or any other method of payment considered appropriate by the board. If the program is established jointly with one or more of the other retirement systems, the rules also shall establish the terms and conditions of such joint participation.

Section 742.54 | Volunteer firemen's relief and pension fund operation and maintenance.

• Effective: July 1, 1985
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 201 - 116th General Assembly

Any municipal corporation which had only volunteer firemen prior to January 1, 1967, may operate and maintain a volunteer firemen's relief and pension fund, and levy a tax of up to three-tenths of one mill upon all the real and personal property listed for taxation in the municipal corporation for the purpose of providing funds for the payment of benefits and pensions from the municipal corporation's volunteer firemen's relief and pension fund, provided such a tax was levied prior to January 1, 1967.

Section 742.55 | Itemization of purchases and expenditures.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Each expense voucher of an employee, officer, or board member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall itemize all purchases and expenditures included.

Section 742.56 | Payroll deduction plan for payments for service credits.

• Effective: April 6, 2007
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 272 - 126th General Assembly

(A) The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund may by rule establish a payroll deduction plan for payment of the following:

(1) The cost of service credit members of the fund are eligible to purchase under this chapter;

(2) Charges for participation in programs established under section 742.53 of the Revised Code;

(3) Deposits under section 742.451 of the Revised Code and any charges for participation in the program established under that section.

(B) In addition to any other matter considered relevant by the trustees, the rules shall specify all of the following:

(1) The types of service credit that may be paid for through payroll deduction, including the section of the Revised Code that authorizes the purchase of each type of service credit for which payment may be made by payroll deduction;

(2) The procedure to be followed by a member to inform the member's employer and the Ohio police and fire pension fund that the member wishes to purchase service credit under this chapter or pay for participation in programs established under section 742.53 of the Revised Code and chooses to pay for it through payroll deduction;

(3) The procedure to be followed by the fund to determine for each request the amount to be deducted, the number of deductions to be made, and the interval at which deductions will be made. The rules may provide for a minimum amount for each deduction or a maximum number of deductions for the purchase of any type of credit, but shall provide that no deduction may exceed the member's net compensation after all deductions and withholdings required by law.

(4) The procedure to be followed by employers in transmitting amounts deducted from the salaries of their employees to the fund;

(5) The procedure to be followed by the fund in crediting service credit to members who choose to purchase it through payroll deduction.

(C) If the trustees of the fund establish a payroll deduction plan under this section, the trustees shall certify to the member's employer for each member for which deductions are to be made, the amount of each deduction and the payrolls from which deductions are to be made. The employer shall make the deductions as certified and transmit the amounts deducted on or before the last day of the month following the last day of the reporting period during which the deductions are made. The deduction shall be accompanied by a report, in such form as the board requires, that includes the name of each member for whom deductions were made and the deductions attributed to that member. If the employer fails to transmit the deductions or the report on or before the last day of the month following the last day of the reporting period during which the deductions are made, a penalty determined under section 742.352 of the Revised Code shall be assessed against the employer. On certification by the board to the county auditor of an amount due from an employer within the county who is subject to this division, by reason of the employer's delinquency in transmitting amounts due under this division for past months, those amounts shall be withheld from the employer from any funds in the hands of the county treasurer for distribution to the employer. On receipt of the certification, the county auditor shall draw a warrant against the funds in favor of the Ohio police and fire pension fund for the amount.

(D) Rules adopted under this section shall not affect any right to purchase service credit conferred by any other section of the Revised Code, including the right of a member under any such section to purchase only part of the service credit the member is eligible to purchase.

Section 742.57 | Payments by vouchers from state treasury.

• Effective: December 1, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 530 - 126th General Assembly

All amounts due the Ohio police and fire pension fund from the state treasury pursuant to this chapter shall be promptly paid upon warrant of the director of budget and management pursuant to a voucher approved by the director.

Section 742.58 | Lump sum death benefit payment.

• Effective: September 21, 2000
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 628 - 123rd General Assembly

On the death of a member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund who at the time of death is receiving a retirement pension or disability benefits, a lump-sum payment of one thousand dollars shall be paid to the member's surviving spouse or, if there is no surviving spouse, to the beneficiary the member designated on a form provided by the fund. If there is no surviving spouse or designated beneficiary, the payment shall be made to the member's estate.

Application for the payment shall be made on a form provided by the fund.

A benefit paid under this section shall be treated as life insurance for purposes of this chapter and shall be funded solely from contributions made under sections 742.33 and 742.34 of the Revised Code and any earnings attributable to those contributions.

Section 742.59 | Creation of funds - trustees.

• Effective: June 30, 2005
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 66 - 126th General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall be the trustee of the funds created as follows:

(A) The "police officers' contribution fund" is the fund in which shall be credited the contributions deducted from the salaries of members of police departments and paid into the Ohio police and fire pension fund, as provided by section 742.31 of the Revised Code, and that percentage of the employers' accrued liability that is attributable to deductions previously made from the salaries of members of the police department who are still in the active service at the time that portion of the employers' accrued liability is paid. The accumulated contributions of a member of a police department shall be transferred at the member's retirement from the police officers' contribution fund to the police officers' pension reserve fund.

(B) The "firefighters' contribution fund" is the fund in which shall be credited contributions deducted from the salaries of members of fire departments and paid into the Ohio police and fire pension fund, as provided by section 742.31 of the Revised Code, and that percentage of the employers' accrued liability that is attributable to deductions previously made from the salaries of members of the fire department who are still in the active service at the time that portion of the employers' accrued liability is paid. The accumulated contributions of a member of a fire department shall be transferred at the member's retirement from the firefighters' contribution fund to the firefighters' pension reserve fund.

(C) The "police officer employers' contribution fund" is the fund to which the following shall be credited:

(1) The police officer employers' contribution, as provided by section 742.33 of the Revised Code;

(2) The percentage of the employers' accrued liability that is attributable to the employers' liability for prior service of members of the police department who are still in the active service at the time that portion of the employers' accrued liability is paid.

In the police officer employers' contribution fund shall accumulate the reserves held in trust for the payment of all pensions or other benefits provided by sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code to members of a police department retiring in the future or their qualified beneficiaries and from which the reserves for such pensions and other benefits shall be transferred to the police officers' pension reserve fund.

(D) The "firefighter employers' contribution fund" is the fund to which the following shall be credited:

(1) The firefighter employers' contribution, as provided in section 742.34 of the Revised Code;

(2) The percentage of the employers' accrued liability that is attributable to the employers' liability for prior service for members of the fire department who are still in the active service at the time that portion of the employers' accrued liability is paid.

In the firefighter employers' contribution fund shall accumulate the reserves held in trust for the payment of all pensions and other benefits provided by sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code to members of a fire department retiring in the future or their qualified beneficiaries and from which the reserves for such pensions and other benefits shall be transferred to the firefighters' pension reserve fund.

(E) The "police officers' pension reserve fund" is the fund from which shall be paid all pensions and other benefits for which reserves have been transferred from the police officers' contribution fund and the police officer employers' contribution fund, and to which shall be credited that percentage of the employers' accrued liability that is attributable to the total of deductions previously made from the salaries of members of the police department who are retired and are receiving pensions or other benefits, or whose beneficiaries are receiving benefits, at the time that portion of the employers' accrued liability is paid, and that percentage of the employers' accrued liability that is attributable to prior service of members of the police department who are retired and are receiving pensions or other benefits, or whose beneficiaries are receiving benefits, at the time that portion of the employers' accrued liability is paid.

(F) The "firefighters' pension reserve fund" is the fund from which shall be paid all pensions and other benefits for which reserves have been transferred from the firefighters' contribution fund and the firefighter employers' contribution fund, and to which shall be credited that percentage of the employers' accrued liability that is attributable to the total of deductions previously made from the salaries of members of the fire department who are retired and are receiving pensions or other benefits, or whose beneficiaries are receiving benefits, at the time that portion of the employers' accrued liability is paid, and that percentage of the employers' accrued liability that is attributable to prior service of members of the fire department who are retired and are receiving pensions or other benefits, or whose beneficiaries are receiving benefits, at the time that portion of the employers' accrued liability is paid.

(G) The "guarantee fund" is the fund from which interest is transferred and credited on the amounts in the funds described in divisions (C), (D), (E), and (F) of this section, and is a contingent fund from which the special requirements of said funds may be paid by transfer from this fund. All income derived from the investment of funds by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund as trustee under section 742.11 of the Revised Code, together with all gifts and bequests or the income therefrom, shall be paid into this fund.

Any deficit occurring in any other fund that will not be covered by payments to that fund, as otherwise provided by sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code, shall be paid by transfers of amounts from the guarantee fund to such fund or funds. Should the amount in the guarantee fund be insufficient at any time to meet the amounts payable therefrom, the amount of such deficiency, with regular interest, shall be paid by an additional employer rate of current contribution as determined by the actuary and shall be approved by the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, and the amount of such additional employer contribution shall be credited to the guarantee fund.

The board may accept gifts and bequests. Any funds that may come into the possession of the board in this manner, or any other funds whose disposition is not otherwise provided for, shall be credited to the guarantee fund.

(H) The "expense fund" is the fund from which shall be paid the expenses for the administration and management of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, as provided by sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code, and to which shall be credited from the guarantee fund an amount sufficient to pay the expenses of operation.

Section 742.60 | Funds to be separate and distinct legal entities.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

Wherever in sections 742.01 to 742.61 of the Revised Code reference is made to the police officers' contribution fund, the firefighters' contribution fund, the police officer employers' contribution fund, the firefighter employers' contribution fund, the police officers' pension reserve fund, the firefighters' pension reserve fund, the guarantee fund, or the expense fund, such reference shall be construed to have been made to each as a separate legal entity. This section does not prevent the deposit or investment of all such moneys intermingled for such purpose, but such funds shall be separate and distinct legal entities for all other purposes.

Section 742.61 | Treasurer of state is custodian of police and fire pension fund.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

The treasurer of state shall be the custodian of all funds under the control and management of the board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, and all disbursements of such funds shall be paid by the treasurer of state only upon instruments duly authorized by the board and bearing the signatures of the chairperson and secretary of the board. The signatures of the chairperson and secretary may be facsimile signatures.

The treasurer of state shall give a separate and additional bond in such amount as is fixed by the board, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the treasurer of state's duties as custodian of the funds under the control and management of the board and to be executed by a surety company selected by the board that is authorized to transact business in this state. Such bond shall be deposited with the secretary of state and kept in the secretary of state's office. The board may require the treasurer of state to give other and additional bonds, as the funds under the control and management of the board increase, in such amounts and at such times as are fixed by the board, which additional bonds shall be conditioned, filed, and executed as is provided for the original bond of the treasurer of state covering the funds under the control and management of the board. The premium on all bonds shall be paid by the board.

The treasurer of state shall deposit any portion of the funds under the control and management of the board not needed for immediate use in the same manner as state funds are deposited, and subject to all provisions of law with respect to the deposit of state funds, by the treasurer of state, and all interest earned on such funds so deposited shall be collected by the treasurer of state and placed to the credit of the board.

Section 742.62 | Ohio public safety officers death benefit fund.

• Effective: November 2, 1999
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 222 - 123rd General Assembly

The Ohio public safety officers death benefit fund is hereby created as the fund to which shall be credited contributions paid by the state and any moneys resulting from gifts made to the fund. The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall be the trustees of the Ohio public safety officers death benefit fund. The board shall have the same powers as provided in section 742.10 of the Revised Code in administering the Ohio public safety officers death benefit fund.

Section 742.63 | Adoption of rules for management of fund and disbursement of benefits.

• Effective: December 27, 2018
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 296 - 132nd General Assembly

The board of trustees of the Ohio police and fire pension fund shall adopt rules for the management of the Ohio public safety officers death benefit fund and for disbursements of benefits as set forth in this section.

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Member" means all of the following:

(a) A member of the Ohio police and fire pension fund, including a member of the fund who has elected to participate in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 742.43 of the Revised Code or a member of or contributor to a police or firemen's relief and pension fund established under former Chapter 521. or 741. of the Revised Code;

(b) A member of the state highway patrol retirement system, including a member who is participating in the deferred retirement option plan established under section 5505.50 of the Revised Code;

(c) A member of the public employees retirement system who at the time of the member's death was one of the following:

(i) A county sheriff or deputy sheriff;

(ii) A full-time regular police officer in a municipal corporation or township;

(iii) A full-time regular firefighter employed by the state, an instrumentality of the state, a municipal corporation, a township, a joint fire district, or another political subdivision;

(iv) A full-time park district ranger or patrol trooper;

(v) A full-time law enforcement officer of the department of natural resources;

(vi) A full-time department of public safety enforcement agent;

(vii) A full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of a municipal corporation;

(viii) A full-time law enforcement officer of a conservancy district;

(ix) A correction officer at an institution under the control of a county, a group of counties, a municipal corporation, or the department of rehabilitation and correction;

(x) A state university law enforcement officer;

(xi) An investigator, as defined in section 109.541 of the Revised Code, or an investigator commissioned as a special agent of the bureau of criminal identification and investigation;

(xii) A drug agent, as defined in section 145.01 of the Revised Code;

(xiii) A gaming agent, as defined in section 3772.01 of the Revised Code;

(xiv) An employee of the department of taxation who has been delegated investigation powers pursuant to section 5743.45 of the Revised Code for the enforcement of Chapters 5728., 5735., 5739., 5741., 5743., and 5747. of the Revised Code.

(d) A member of a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation who at the time of death was a full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of the municipal corporation.

(2) Notwithstanding section 742.01 of the Revised Code, "fire or police department" includes a fire department of the state or an instrumentality of the state or of a municipal corporation, township, joint fire district, or other political subdivision, the state highway patrol, a county sheriff's office, the security force of an institution under the control of the department of rehabilitation and correction, the security force of a jail or workhouse under the control of a county, group of counties, or municipal corporation, the security force of a metropolitan, county, or township park district, the security force of lands under the control of the department of natural resources, department of public safety enforcement agents, the security force of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of a municipal corporation, the security force of a conservancy district, the police department of a township or municipal corporation, and the police force of a state university.

(3) "Firefighter or police officer" includes a state highway patrol trooper, a county sheriff or deputy sheriff, a correction officer at an institution under the control of a county, a group of counties, a municipal corporation, or the department of rehabilitation and correction, a police officer employed by a township or municipal corporation, a firefighter employed by the state, an instrumentality of the state, a municipal corporation, a township, a joint fire district, or another political subdivision, a full-time park district ranger or patrol trooper, a full-time law enforcement officer of the department of natural resources, a full-time department of public safety enforcement agent, a full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of a municipal corporation, a full-time law enforcement officer of a conservancy district, and a state university law enforcement officer.

(4) "Correction officer" includes, in addition to any correction officer, any correction corporal, sergeant, lieutenant, or captain, and the equivalents of all such persons.

(5) "A park district ranger or patrol trooper" means a peace officer commissioned to make arrests, execute warrants, and preserve the peace upon lands under the control of a board of park commissioners of a metropolitan, county, or township park district.

(6) "Metropolitan, county, or township park district" means a park district created under the authority of Chapter 511. or 1545. of the Revised Code.

(7) "Conservancy district" means a conservancy district created under the authority of Chapter 6101. of the Revised Code.

(8) "Law enforcement officer" means an officer commissioned to make arrests, execute warrants, and preserve the peace upon lands under the control of the governmental entity granting the commission.

(9) "Department of natural resources law enforcement officer" includes a forest-fire investigator appointed pursuant to section 1503.09 of the Revised Code, a wildlife officer designated pursuant to section 1531.13 of the Revised Code and a natural resources officer appointed pursuant to section 1501.24 of the Revised Code.

(10) "Retirement eligibility date" means the last day of the month in which a deceased member would have first become eligible, had the member lived, for the retirement pension provided under section 145.332, Chapter 145., 521., or 741., division (C)(1) of section 742.37, or division (A)(1) of section 5505.17 of the Revised Code or provided by a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation.

(11) "Death benefit amount" means an amount equal to the full monthly salary received by a deceased member prior to death plus any increases in salary that would have been granted the deceased member.

(12) "Killed in the line of duty" means either of the following:

(a) Death in the line of duty;

(b) Death from injury sustained in the line of duty, including heart attack or other fatal injury or illness caused while in the line of duty.

(13) "Maximum pension eligibility date" means the date on which a deceased member would have become eligible for the maximum annual retirement allowance or pension that may be paid to a member from the member's retirement system, as specified in section 145.33, 145.332, 742.37, or 5505.17 of the Revised Code or as provided by a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation, had the member continued to accrue service credit from that system.

(B) A spouse of a deceased member shall receive a death benefit each month equal to the full death benefit amount, provided that the deceased member was a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty and there are no surviving children eligible for a benefit under this section. The spouse shall receive this benefit during the spouse's natural life until the deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date, on which date the benefit provided under this division shall terminate.

(C)(1) If a member killed in the line of duty as a firefighter or police officer is survived only by a child or children, the child or children shall receive a benefit each month equal to the full death benefit amount. If there is more than one surviving child, the benefit shall be divided equally among these children.

(2) If the death benefit paid under this division is divided among two or more surviving children and any of the children become ineligible to continue receiving a portion of the benefit as provided in division (H) of this section, the full death benefit amount shall be paid to the remaining eligible child or divided among the eligible children so that the benefit paid to the remaining eligible child or children equals the full death benefit amount.

(3) Notwithstanding divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section, all death benefits paid under this division shall terminate on the deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date.

(D) If a member killed in the line of duty as a firefighter or police officer is survived by both a spouse and a child or children, the monthly benefit provided shall be as follows:

(1)(a) If there is a surviving spouse and one surviving child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount and the child shall receive an amount equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount.

(b) If the surviving spouse dies or the child becomes ineligible as provided in division (H) of this section, the surviving spouse or child remaining eligible shall receive the full death benefit amount.

(2)(a) If there is a surviving spouse and more than one child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-third of the full death benefit amount and the children shall receive an amount, equally divided among them, equal to two-thirds of the full death benefit amount.

(b) If a spouse and more than one child each are receiving a death benefit under division (D)(2)(a) of this section and the spouse dies, the children shall receive an amount each month, equally divided among them, equal to the full death benefit amount.

(c) If a spouse and more than one child each are receiving a benefit under division (D)(2)(a) of this section and any of the children becomes ineligible to receive a benefit as provided in division (H) of this section, the spouse and remaining eligible child or children shall receive a death benefit as follows:

(i) If there are two or more remaining eligible children, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-third of the full death benefit amount and the children shall receive an amount each month, equally divided among them, equal to two-thirds of the full death benefit amount;

(ii) If there is one remaining eligible child, the spouse shall receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount, and the child shall receive an amount each month equal to one-half of the full death benefit amount.

(d) If a spouse and more than one child each are receiving a benefit under division (D)(2)(a) of this section and all of the children become ineligible to receive a benefit as provided in division (H) of this section, the spouse shall receive the full death benefit amount.

(3) Notwithstanding divisions (D)(1) and (2) of this section, death benefits paid under this division to a surviving spouse shall terminate on the member's maximum pension eligibility date. Death benefits paid to a surviving child or children shall terminate on the deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date unless earlier terminated pursuant to division (H) of this section.

(E) If a member, on or after January 1, 1980, is killed in the line of duty as a firefighter or police officer and is survived by only a parent or parents dependent upon the member for support, the parent or parents shall receive an amount each month equal to the full death benefit amount. If there is more than one surviving parent dependent upon the deceased member for support, the death benefit amount shall be divided equally among the surviving parents. On the death of one of the surviving parents, the full death benefit amount shall be paid to the other parent.

(F)(1) The following shall receive a monthly death benefit under this division:

(a) A surviving spouse whose benefits are terminated in accordance with division (B) or (D)(3) of this section on the deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date, or who would qualify for a benefit under division (B) or (D) of this section except that the deceased member reached the member's maximum pension eligibility date prior to the member's death;

(b) A qualified surviving spouse of a deceased member of or contributor to a police or firemen's relief and pension fund established under former Chapter 521. or 741. of the Revised Code who was a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty.

(2) The monthly death benefit shall be seventy-five per cent of an amount equal to the monthly salary received by the deceased member prior to the member's death, plus any salary increases the deceased member would have received prior to the member's maximum pension eligibility date. The benefit shall terminate on the surviving spouse's death.

(3) A benefit granted to a surviving spouse under division (F)(1)(b) of this section shall commence on the first day of the month immediately following receipt by the board of a completed application on a form provided by the board and any evidence the board may require to establish that the deceased spouse was killed in the line of duty.

(G)(1) If there is not a surviving spouse eligible to receive a death benefit under division (F) of this section or the surviving spouse receiving a death benefit under that division dies, a surviving child or children whose benefits under division (C) or (D) of this section are or have been terminated pursuant to division (C)(3) or (D)(3) of this section or who would qualify for a benefit under division (C) or (D) of this section except that the deceased member reached the member's maximum pension eligibility date prior to the member's death shall receive a monthly death benefit under this division. The monthly death benefit shall be seventy-five per cent of an amount equal to the monthly salary received by the deceased member prior to the member's death, plus any salary increases the member would have received prior to the member's maximum pension eligibility date. If there is more than one surviving child, the benefit shall be divided equally among the surviving children.

(2) If two or more surviving children each are receiving a benefit under this division and any of those children becomes ineligible to continue receiving a benefit as provided in division (H) of this section, the remaining eligible child or children shall receive an amount equal to seventy-five per cent of the monthly salary received by the deceased member prior to death, plus any salary increases the deceased member would have received prior to the member's maximum pension eligibility date. If there is more than one remaining eligible child, the benefit shall be divided equally among the eligible children.

(H)(1) Except as provided in division (H)(3) of this section, before January 1, 2017, a death benefit paid to a surviving child under division (C), (D), or (G) of this section shall terminate on the earlier of the death of the child or the child attaining age eighteen, unless the child is unmarried, under age twenty-two, and is attending an institution of learning or training pursuant to a program designed to complete in each school year the equivalent of at least two-thirds of the full-time curriculum requirements of the institution, as determined by the trustees of the fund.

(2) Except as provided in division (H)(3) of this section, effective January 1, 2017, a death benefit paid to a surviving child under division (C), (D), or (G) of this section shall terminate on the earlier of the death of the child, the child attaining twenty-two years of age, or marriage.

Benefits to a surviving child who is at least eighteen years of age but under twenty-two years of age that under a former version of this section never commenced or were terminated due to a lack of attendance at an institution of learning or training and not commenced or resumed before January 1, 2017, shall commence or resume on the first day of the month immediately following receipt by the board of an application on a form provided by the board if the application is received on or before December 31, 2017. These benefits terminate on the child attaining twenty-two years of age.

(3) If, regardless of age, a surviving child who at the time of the member's death because of physical or mental disability is totally dependent upon the deceased member for support at the time of death, the death benefit shall terminate on the child's death or when the child has recovered from the disability.

(I) Acceptance of any death benefit under this section does not prohibit a spouse or child from receiving other benefits provided under the Ohio police and fire pension fund, the state highway patrol retirement system, the public employees retirement system, or a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation.

(J) No person shall receive a benefit under this section if any of the following occur:

(1) The member's accumulated contributions under this chapter or Chapter 145. or 5505. of the Revised Code are refunded unless the member had been a member of the public employees retirement system and had fewer than eighteen months of total service credit at the time of death.

(2) In the case of a full-time park district ranger or patrol trooper, a full-time law enforcement officer of the department of natural resources, a full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of a municipal corporation, a full-time law enforcement officer of a conservancy district, a correction officer at an institution under the control of a county, group of counties, or municipal corporation, or a member of a retirement system operated by a municipal corporation who at the time of the member's death was a full-time law enforcement officer of parks, waterway lands, or reservoir lands under the control of the municipal corporation, the member died prior to April 9, 1981, in the case of a benefit under division (B), (C), or (D) of this section, or prior to January 1, 1980, in the case of a benefit under division (E) of this section.

(3) In the case of a full-time department of public safety enforcement agent who prior to June 30, 1999, was a liquor control investigator of the department of public safety, the member died prior to December 23, 1986;

(4) In the case of a full-time department of public safety enforcement agent other than an enforcement agent who, prior to June 30, 1999, was a liquor control investigator, the member died prior to June 30, 1999.

(K) A surviving spouse whose benefit was terminated prior to June 30, 1999, due to remarriage shall receive a benefit under division (B), (D), or (F) of this section beginning on the first day of the month following receipt by the board of an application on a form provided by the board. The benefit amount shall be determined as of that date.

(1) If the benefit will begin prior to the deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date, it shall be paid under division (B) or (D) of this section and shall terminate as provided in those divisions. A benefit paid to a surviving spouse under division (D) of this section shall be determined in accordance with that division, even if benefits paid to surviving children are reduced as a result.

(2) If the benefit will begin on or after the deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date, it shall be paid under division (F) of this section and shall terminate as provided in that division. A benefit paid to a surviving spouse under division (F) of this section shall be determined in accordance with that division, even if benefits paid to surviving children are terminated as a result.

(L)(1) If both of the following apply, death benefit payments to a surviving spouse or surviving child under division (B) or (C) of this section that under a former version of this section terminated before the effective date of this amendment shall resume in accordance with division (L)(2) of this section:

(a) Death benefit payments under the applicable division terminated on the deceased member's retirement eligibility date under division (B), (C), or (D)(3) of this section as it existed at the time of the benefit termination;

(b) The deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date is after the effective date of this amendment.

(2) A surviving spouse or surviving child's death benefit payment that resumes under division (L) of this section shall be paid as provided in division (B) or (C) of this section, as applicable. The benefit shall continue until the deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date, at which time the benefit shall terminate.

A surviving spouse or surviving child is not entitled to any additional payment under this division for the time between the deceased member's retirement eligibility date under a former version of this section and the effective date of this amendment .

(3) Any monthly death benefit a surviving spouse or surviving child receives under division (F) of this section ceases during the time that the spouse or child receives benefit payments under division (L)(2) of this section. The monthly death benefit payable under division (F) of this section shall resume following the deceased member's maximum pension eligibility date in the manner specified in that division.

Last updated March 9, 2022 at 12:14 PM

Section 742.64 | Recovering erroneous payments.

• Effective: January 7, 2013
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 340 - 129th General Assembly

If any person is paid any benefit or payment by the Ohio police and fire pension fund to which the person is not entitled, the person shall repay the fund. If the person fails to repay, the fund shall withhold the amount due from any benefit or payment due the person or the person's beneficiary under this chapter or may collect the amount in any other manner provided by law.

Section 742.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: September 15, 2004
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 133 - 125th General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates section 742.043 of the Revised Code shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars for each day of the violation.

(B) Whoever violates division (B) of section 742.043 of the Revised Code shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or fined not more than five thousand dollars, or both.

(C) Fines imposed by the Ohio elections commission under this section shall be paid into the Ohio elections commission fund created under section 3513.10 of the Revised Code.