SB374 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

District attorneys and circuit clerks, elected court officials retirement plan established in Judicial Retirement System, preretirement death benefit applicable to, contingent on const. amend., Sec. 36-27B-1 am'd.

Summary

SB374 would create the Elected Court Officials' Plan under the Judicial Retirement Fund for certain elected officials, add preretirement death benefits, and tie participation for district attorneys and circuit clerks to a constitutional amendment.

What This Bill Does

Creates a new Elected Court Officials' Plan within the Judicial Retirement Fund for justices, judges, district attorneys, and circuit clerks. Officials first elected or appointed on or after November 4, 2014 would come under the plan, with district attorneys and circuit clerks joining only after a constitutional amendment allows it. Members contribute 8.5% of salary, with employer contributions set annually by actuarial valuation; there are transfer options from existing retirement systems for those within a year of joining, plus preretirement death benefits and various retirement and survivor options.

Who It Affects

• Elected court officials (justices, judges, district attorneys, circuit clerks) who would participate in the new plan or be subject to its changes, including those first elected after 2014 and those whose participation awaits a constitutional amendment.
• Active members of the Employees' Retirement System or Teachers' Retirement System who may transfer service and contributions into the Elected Court Officials' Plan under specified conditions.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Elected Court Officials' Plan under the Judicial Retirement Fund.
• Participation for district attorneys and circuit clerks requires a constitutional amendment; others affected are officials first elected or appointed on/after 11/4/2014.
• Employer contributions determined by annual actuarial valuation; employer rate set for each fiscal year.
• Employee (member) contributions fixed at 8.5% of salary.
• Allows transfer of membership service and contributions from TRS/ERS if within one year of becoming a member.
• Retirement allowance: annuity from accumulated contributions plus pension from employer; total not to exceed 2.125% of average final compensation per year of service, up to 80% of AFC.
• Disability retirements available with medical certification; special rules for age and service requirements.
• Preretirement death benefits extended to plan members; survivor and beneficiary options with various payment structures.
• Plan administered under the Employees' Retirement System; regulations set by Board of Control; actuarial estimates required for proposed legislation.
• Effective date: November 4, 2014; contingent on constitutional amendment.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

District Attorneys