CHAPTER 5505: HIGHWAY PATROL RETIREMENT SYSTEM

As used in this chapter:

(A) “Employee” means any qualified employee in the uniform division of the state highway patrol, any qualified employee in the radio division hired prior to November 2, 1989, and any state highway patrol cadet attending training school pursuant to section 5503.05 of the Revised Code whose attendance at the school begins on or after June 30, 1991. “Employee” includes the superintendent of the state highway patrol. In all cases of doubt, the state highway patrol retirement board shall determine whether any person is an employee as defined in this division, and the decision of the board is final.

(B) “Prior service” means all service rendered as an employee of the state highway patrol prior to September 5, 1941, to the extent credited by the board, provided that in no case shall prior service include service rendered prior to November 15, 1933.

(C) “Total service” means all service rendered by an employee to the extent credited by the board. Total service includes all of the following:

(1) Contributing service rendered by the employee since last becoming a member of the state highway patrol retirement system;

(2) All prior service credit;

(3) Restored service credit as provided in this chapter;

(4) Military service credit purchased under division (D) of section 5505.16 or section 5505.25 of the Revised Code;

(5) Credit granted under division (C) of section 5505.17 or section 5505.201, 5505.40, or 5505.402 of the Revised Code;

(6) Credit for any period, not to exceed three years, during which the member was out of service and receiving benefits under Chapters 4121. and 4123. of the Revised Code.

(D) “Beneficiary” means any person, except a retirant, who is in receipt of a pension or other benefit payable from funds of the retirement system.

(E) “Regular interest” means interest compounded at rates designated from time to time by the retirement board.

(F) “Plan” means the provisions of this chapter.

(G) “Retirement system” or “system” means the state highway patrol retirement system created and established in the plan.

(H) “Contributing service” means all service rendered by a member since September 4, 1941, for which deductions were made from the member’s salary under the plan.

(I) “Retirement board” or “board” means the state highway patrol retirement board provided for in the plan.

(J) Except as provided in section 5505.18 of the Revised Code, “member” means any employee included in the membership of the retirement system, whether or not rendering contributing service.

(K) “Retirant” means any member who retires with a pension payable from the retirement system.

(L) “Accumulated contributions” means the sum of the following credited to a member’s individual account in the employees’ savings fund:

(1) All amounts deducted from the salary of the member;

(2) All amounts paid by the member to purchase state highway patrol retirement system service credit pursuant to this chapter or other state law.

(M)(1) Except as provided in division (M)(2) of this section, “final average salary” means the average of the highest salary paid a member during any three consecutive or nonconsecutive years.

If a member has less than three years of contributing service, the member’s final average salary shall be the average of the annual rates of salary paid to the member during the member’s total years of contributing service.

(2) If a member is credited with service under division (C)(6) of this section or division (D) of section 5505.16 of the Revised Code, the member’s final average salary shall be the average of the highest salary that was paid to the member or would have been paid to the member, had the member been rendering contributing service, during any three consecutive or nonconsecutive years. If that member has less than three years of total service, the member’s final average salary shall be the average of the annual rates of salary that were paid to the member or would have been paid to the member during the member’s years of total service.

(N) “Pension” means an annual amount payable by the retirement system throughout the life of a person or as otherwise provided in the plan.

(O) “Pension reserve” means the present value of any pension, or benefit in lieu of any pension, computed upon the basis of mortality and other tables of experience and interest the board shall from time to time adopt.

(P) “Deferred pension” means a pension for which an eligible member of the system has made application and which is payable as provided in division (A) or (B) of section 5505.16 of the Revised Code.

(Q) “Retirement” means termination as an employee of the state highway patrol, with application having been made to the system for a pension or a deferred pension.

(R) “Fiduciary” means any of the following:

(1) A person who 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) A person who renders investment advice for a fee, direct or indirect, with respect to money or property of the system;

(3) A person who has any discretionary authority or responsibility in the administration of the system.

(S)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, “salary” means all compensation, wages, and other earnings paid to a member by reason of employment but without regard to whether any of the compensation, wages, or other earnings are treated as deferred income for federal income tax purposes. Salary includes all of the following:

(a) Payments for shift differential, hazard duty, professional achievement, and longevity;

(b) Payments for occupational injury leave, personal leave, sick leave, bereavement leave, administrative leave, and vacation leave used by the member;

(c) Payments made under a disability leave program sponsored by the state for which the state is required by section 5505.151 of the Revised Code to make periodic employer and employee contributions to the retirement system.

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

(a) Payments resulting from the conversion of accrued but unused sick leave, personal leave, compensatory time, and vacation leave;

(b) Payments made by the state to provide life insurance, sickness, accident, endowment, health, medical, hospital, dental, or surgical coverage, or other insurance for the member or the member’s family, or amounts paid by the state to the member in lieu of providing that insurance;

(c) Payments for overtime work;

(d) Incidental benefits, including lodging, food, laundry, parking, or services furnished by the state, use of property or equipment of the state, and reimbursement for job-related expenses authorized by the state including moving and travel expenses and expenses related to professional development;

(e) Payments made to or on behalf of a member that are in excess of the annual compensation that may be taken into account by the retirement system 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;

(f) 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.

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

(T) “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.

Effective Date: 03-24-2003

The state highway patrol retirement system is hereby established for the state highway patrol employees, as defined in division (A) of section 5505.01 of the Revised Code.

Membership in the retirement system includes all state highway patrol employees, as defined in section 5505.01 of the Revised Code, and such membership is mandatory for such employees.

Effective Date: 02-21-1967

(A) The funds created by this section are the “employees’ savings fund,” “employer’s accumulation fund,” “pension reserve fund,” “survivors’ benefit fund,” “income fund,” and “expense fund.” When reference is made to any of such funds, such reference is made to each as a separate legal entity; provided that the moneys in the funds may be intermingled for deposit and investment purposes.

(B) The employees’ savings fund is the fund in which shall be accumulated the contributions deducted from the salaries of members. Any refunds of accumulated contributions, as provided in the plan, shall be paid from such fund. Upon a member’s retirement, his accumulated contributions standing to his credit in the fund shall be transferred to the pension reserve fund if his retirement occurs on or after January 1, 1966, or to the employer’s accumulation fund if his retirement occurred prior to January 1, 1966. If a pension is payable on account of the death of a member, his accumulated contributions standing to his credit in the employees’ savings fund shall be transferred to the survivors’ benefit fund if his death occurs after January 1, 1966, or to the employer’s accumulation fund if his death occurs prior to January 1, 1966.

(C)(1) The employer’s accumulation fund is the fund in which shall be accumulated the state’s contribution to the state highway patrol retirement system. Upon a member’s retirement after January 1, 1966, the difference between his pension reserve and his accumulated contributions shall be transferred to the pension reserve fund. If a pension is payable on account of a member’s death occurring after January 1, 1966, the difference between the pension reserve for that pension and his accumulated contributions shall be transferred to the survivors’ benefit fund.

(2) All pensions allowed and payable prior to January 1, 1966, shall be continued according to the provisions of the plan in force the day preceding January 1, 1966, unless otherwise provided for in this Chapter and shall be paid from the employer’s accumulation fund.

(D) The pension reserve fund is the fund from which shall be paid all pensions on account of members who retire on or after January 1, 1966. If a disability retirant returns to the employ of the state highway patrol, his pension reserve at that time shall be transferred to the employees’ savings fund and the employer’s accumulation fund in the same proportion as the pension reserve was originally transferred to the pension reserve fund.

(E) The survivors’ benefit is the fund from which shall be paid all pensions, payable under section 5505.17 of the Revised Code, on account of members who die on or after January 1, 1966.

(F)(1) The income fund is the fund to which shall be credited all interest, dividends, distributions, and other income derived from deposits and investments of moneys of the retirement system, all gifts and bequests to the system, all transfers from the employees’ savings fund because of lack of claimant, and any other moneys the disposition of which is not otherwise provided for in the plan.

(2) If the balance in the income fund exceeds the requirements of the fund, the state highway patrol retirement board may transfer amounts from the income fund to meet special requirements of the various other funds of the retirement system.

(G) The expense fund is the fund from which the expense of the administration of this Chapter shall be paid, exclusive of amounts payable as retirement allowances and as other benefits. The state highway patrol retirement board shall estimate annually the amount to be provided in the expense fund and such amount shall be transferred from the income fund. If such amount is insufficient during any year, the board is authorized to transfer the amount of such insufficiency from the income fund.

Effective Date: 07-30-1984

(A)(1) The general administration and management of the state highway patrol retirement system and the making effective of this chapter are hereby vested in the state highway patrol retirement board. The board may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, contract and be contracted with, and do all things necessary to carry out this chapter.

The board shall consist of the following members:

(a) The superintendent of the state highway patrol;

(b) Two retirant members who reside in this state;

(c) Five employee-members;

(d) 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 who shall have the following qualifications:

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

(ii) 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 the management, analysis, supervision, or investment of assets.

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

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

(e) Two investment expert members, who shall be appointed to 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:

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

(ii) Within the three years immediately preceding the appointment, each investment expert 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.

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

(2) The board shall annually elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members. The vice-chairperson shall act as chairperson in the absence of the chairperson. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum and any action taken shall be approved by a majority of the members of the board. The board shall meet not less than once each year, upon sufficient notice to the members. 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 this section.

(3) Any investment expert 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 such term. The member continues in office subsequent to the expiration date of the member’s term until the member’s successor takes office, or until a period of sixty days has elapsed, whichever occurs first.

(B) The attorney general shall prescribe procedures for the adoption of rules authorized under this chapter, consistent with the provision 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 are 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 127.18 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) As used in this division, “personal history record” means information maintained by the board on an individual who is a member, former member, retirant, or beneficiary that includes the address, telephone number, social security number, record of contributions, correspondence with the system, and other information the board determines to be confidential.

(2) The records of the board shall be open to public inspection, except for the following which shall be excluded: the member’s, former member’s, retirant’s, or beneficiary’s personal history record and the amount of a monthly allowance or benefit paid to a retirant, beneficiary, or survivor, except with the written authorization of the individual concerned. All medical reports and recommendations are privileged except that copies of such medical reports or recommendations shall be made available to the individual’s personal physician, attorney, or authorized agent upon written release received from such individual or such individual’s agent, or when necessary for the proper administration of the fund to the board-assigned physician.

(D) Notwithstanding the exceptions to public inspection in division (C)(2) of this section, the board may furnish the following information:

(1) If a member, former member, or retirant is subject to an order issued under section 2907.15 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 board shall furnish to the prosecutor the information requested from the individual’s personal history record.

(2) Pursuant to a court order issued under Chapters 3119., 3121., and 3123. of the Revised Code, the board shall furnish to a court or child support enforcement agency the information required under those chapters.

(3) At the written request of any nonprofit organization or association providing services to retirement system members, retirants, or beneficiaries, the board shall provide to the organization or association a list of the names and addresses of members, former members, retirants, or beneficiaries if the organization or association agrees to use such information solely in accordance with its stated purpose of providing services to such individuals and not for the benefit of other persons, organizations, or associations. The costs of compiling, copying, and mailing the list shall be paid by such entity.

(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 board shall inform the auditor of state of the name, current or most recent employer address, and social security number of each member whose name and social security number are the same as those of a person whose name or social security number was submitted by the director. The board and its employees, except for purposes of furnishing the auditor of state with information required by this section, shall preserve the confidentiality of recipients of public assistance in compliance with division (A) of section 5101.181 of the Revised Code.

(5) The system 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 system 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 board shall make available to the person copies of all documents, including resumes, in the board’s possession regarding filling a vacancy of an employee member or retirant member of the board. 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.

(E) A statement that contains information obtained from the system’s records that is certified and signed by an officer of the retirement system and to which the system’s official seal is affixed, or copies of the system’s records to which the signature and seal are attached, shall be received as true copies of the system’s records in any court or before any officer of this state.

Effective Date: 04-01-2001; 09-15-2004

All elections for retirant member and employee members of the state highway patrol retirement board shall be held under the direction of the board in accordance with rules adopted under section 5505.047 of the Revised Code. A person who at the time of retirement is an employee member of the board is not eligible to become a retirant member of the board until three years after the person’s retirement date. Service and disability retirants may vote in elections for the retirant member of the board. Contributing members may vote in elections for the employee member of the board.

On certification of the election results in accordance with rules adopted under section 5505.047 of the Revised Code, the person elected as a retirant member of the board or an employee member of the board shall serve a four-year term beginning on the first day of August following the election.

The initial election of the second retirant-member shall be held at the first election that occurs later than ninety days after the effective date of this section. The subsequent term shall commence on the first day of August of the fourth year thereafter.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

Except as provided in section 5505.043 of the Revised Code, any vacancy occurring in the term of a retirant member of the state highway patrol retirement board or an employee member of the board shall be filled by an election conducted in the same manner as other retirant member and employee member elections under section 5505.041 of the Revised Code. On certification of the election results in accordance with rules adopted under section 5505.047 of the Revised Code, the retirant member or employee member elected 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 member’s election.

Effective Date: 0915-2004; 08-04-2005

(A) The state highway patrol retirement board is not required to hold an election for a position on the board as a retirant member or employee member if only one candidate has been nominated for the position in accordance with rules governing the election adopted under section 5505.047 of the Revised Code. The candidate shall take office as if elected and the term of office shall be four years beginning in August of the year the candidate was nominated.

(B) The board is not required to hold an election for a vacated position on the board as a retirant member or employee member if either of the following is the case:

(1) Only one candidate has been nominated for the vacancy in accordance with rules governing the election adopted under section 5505.047 of the Revised Code, in which case the candidate shall fill the unexpired term.

(2) Less than ninety days remain in the member’s term on the day that member’s position becomes vacant.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004; 04-06-2007

(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 in accordance with rules adopted under section 5505.047 of the Revised Code for election to the state highway patrol retirement board or who is seeking to be elected to fill a vacancy on the board pursuant to section 5505.042 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 state highway patrol retirement board under section 5505.041 or 5505.042 of the Revised Code or the results of an election to fill a vacancy on the board pursuant to section 5505.042 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 last day that ballots for an election to the state highway patrol retirement board under section 5505.041 or 5505.042 of the Revised Code may be returned in order for the ballot to be counted;

(b) If, pursuant to section 5505.043 of the Revised Code, no election is held, the last day that ballots would have been required to be returned in order to be counted if an election was to be held under section 5505.041 or 5505.042 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 state highway patrol retirement board under section 5505.041 or 5505.042 of the Revised Code or the results of an election to fill a vacancy on the board pursuant to section 5505.042 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 state highway patrol retirement board under section 5505.041 or 5505.042 of the Revised Code or the results of an election to fill a vacancy on the board pursuant to section 5505.042 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 in 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 state highway patrol retirement board 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 an election is held or, pursuant to section 5505.043 of the Revised Code, an election is not 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 state highway patrol retirement board 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 an election is held or, pursuant to section 5505.043 of the Revised Code, an election is not 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 public employees retirement board pursuant to section 5505.042 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) No person shall knowingly fail to file a complete and accurate campaign finance statement or independent expenditure statement in accordance with section 5505.044 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person, during the course of a person seeking nomination for, and during any campaign for, election to the state highway patrol retirement board, 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

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 5505.045 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 5505.045 of the Revised Code has occurred, the commission shall either impose a fine under section 5505.99 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 5505.045 of the Revised Code has occurred, the commission shall impose the fine described in section 5505.99 of the Revised Code, refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutor, or enter a finding that good cause has been shown to not impose a fine or refer the matter to the appropriate prosecutor.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) The state highway patrol board, 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 under section 5505.041 of the Revised Code and elections held under section 5505.042 of the Revised Code to fill vacancies on the board;

(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 5505.04 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) The office of an employee member or retirant member of the state highway patrol retirement board 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 or retirant member of the state highway patrol retirement board.

(B) A member of the state highway patrol retirement board 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 state retirement system 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 an employee member of the board, the complaint must be signed by a number of members of the retirement system that equals at least the following and must include signatures of at least twenty employee members residing in at least five different counties:

(a) If the employee member was most recently elected in accordance with division (C)(2) of section 5505.04 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of contributing members of the system who voted in that election;

(b) If the employee member was most recently elected to the board pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 5505.04 of the Revised Code or took office in accordance with division (C)(4) of that section, ten per cent of the number of contributing members of the system who voted in the most recent election held in accordance with division (C)(2) of section 5505.04 of the Revised Code for that employee member position on the board.

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

(a) If the retirant member was most recently elected in accordance with division (C)(1) of section 5505.04 of the Revised Code, ten per cent of the number of service and disability retirants who voted in that election;

(b) If the retirant member was most recently elected to the board pursuant to division (C)(3) of section 5505.04 of the Revised Code or took office in accordance with division (C)(4) of that section, ten per cent of the number of service and disability retirants who voted in the most recent election held in accordance with division (C)(1) of section 5505.04 of the Revised Code for that retirant member position on the board.

(D) The clerk of the court of common pleas in which a complaint against a board member is filed under division (C) 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004; 04-06-2007

A person who served as an elected or appointed member of the state highway patrol retirement board 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) Each member of the state highway patrol retirement board, upon appointment or election, shall take an oath of office that he will support the constitutions of the United States and this state, that he will diligently and honestly administer the affairs of the board, and that he will not knowingly violate or willfully permit the violation of any law applicable to this chapter. The oath shall be subscribed to by the member making it, certified by the officer before whom it is taken, and immediately filed in the office of the secretary of state.

(B) The members of the board shall serve without compensation, except that they shall suffer no loss because of absence from their regular employment while engaged in official duties as board members. The members of the board shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses from the expense fund.

(C) 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.

(D) 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.

(E) 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. 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.

Effective Date: 08-25-1995

(A) The members of the state highway patrol retirement board shall be the trustees of the funds created by section 5505.03 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 system; 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 system 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. 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 5505.062 and 5505.064 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 evidences of title of the investments purchased by the board shall be delivered to the treasurer of state, who is hereby designated as the custodian thereof, or to the treasurer of state’s authorized agent. 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 collect the principal, interest, dividends, and distributions that become due and payable and, when collected, shall credit them to the custodial funds.

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 in 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.

(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.

Effective Date: 03-07-1997; 09-15-2004

(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, a fiduciary shall not cause the state highway patrol retirement system to engage in a transaction, if he knows or should know that such transaction constitutes a direct or indirect:

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

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

(3) Furnishing of goods, services, or facilities between the system 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 system; or

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

(B) Nothing in this section shall prohibit any transaction between the state highway patrol retirement system 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 5505 of the Revised Code.

(C) A fiduciary shall not:

(1) Deal with the assets of the system in his own interest or for his own account;

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

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

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

(1) If he 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 his failure to comply with Chapter 5505. of the Revised Code, he has enabled such other fiduciary to commit a breach; or

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

(E) Every fiduciary of the system 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.

Effective Date: 06-22-1984

The state highway patrol retirement board 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 and employees of the state highway patrol retirement board and adopt rules in accordance with section 5505.04 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 5505.04 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

The state highway patrol retirement board 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

Each newly elected member of the state highway patrol retirement board 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) The state highway patrol retirement board shall designate a person who is a licensed state retirement system investment officer to be the chief investment officer for the state highway patrol retirement system. 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 state highway patrol retirement system 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 state highway patrol retirement system 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 state highway patrol retirement system;

(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 section if the officer has done both of the following:

(1) Implemented the policy adopted by the board under section 5505.068 of the Revised Code that outlines the criteria used to select agents that execute securities transactions on behalf of the state highway patrol retirement system.

(2) Reviewed, at least annually, the performance of agents that execute securities transactions on behalf of the state highway patrol retirement system.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) As used in this section and in section 5505.0610 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 1707.45 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 state highway patrol retirement board.

(4) “Ohio-qualified investment manager” means an investment manager designated as such by the state highway patrol retirement board.

(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 state highway patrol retirement board 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., 5733., or 5747. 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 state highway patrol retirement 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.

(E) The board shall, at least annually, submit to the Ohio retirement study council a report containing the following information:

(1) The name of each agent designated as an Ohio-qualified agent under this section;

(2) The name of each agent that executes securities transactions on behalf of the board;

(3) The amount of equity and fixed-income trades that are executed by Ohio-qualified agents, expressed as a percentage of all equity and fixed-income trades that are executed by agents on behalf of the board;

(4) The compensation paid to Ohio-qualified agents, expressed as a percentage of total compensation paid to all agents that execute securities transactions on behalf of the board;

(5) The amount of equity and fixed-income trades that are executed by agents that are minority business enterprises, expressed as a percentage of all equity and fixed-income trades that are executed by agents on behalf of the board;

(6) Any other information requested by the Ohio retirement study council regarding the board’s use of agents.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) The state highway patrol retirement system 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.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) The state highway patrol retirement board 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., 5733., or 5747. 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 20 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.

(C) The board shall, at least annually, submit to the Ohio retirement study council a report containing the following information:

(1) The name of each investment manager designated as an Ohio-qualified investment manager under this section;

(2) The name of each investment manager with which the board contracts;

(3) The amount of assets managed by Ohio-qualified investment managers, expressed as a percentage of the total assets held by the retirement system and as a percentage of assets managed by investment managers with which the board has contracted;

(4) The compensation paid to Ohio-qualified investment managers, expressed as a percentage of total compensation paid to all investment managers with which the board has contracted;

(5) Any other information requested by the Ohio retirement study council regarding the board’s use of investment managers.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) The state highway patrol retirement board may employ a secretary and secure the services of employees for the transaction of business of the state highway patrol retirement system.

Effective ninety days after the effective date of this amendment, the board 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.

The compensation of all persons engaged by the board and all other expenses of the board necessary for the proper operation of the pension fund shall be paid at such rates and in such amounts as the board approves. Every expense voucher of an employee, officer, or board member of the state highway patrol retirement system shall itemize all purchases and expenditures.

(B) The clerical procedures required in the operation of the retirement system shall be performed by the staff of the secretary appointed by the board. The cost of such clerical procedures and the services performed by the secretary of the retirement system shall be paid by the retirement system.

(C) The board shall appoint an actuary who shall be its technical advisor.

(D) The board shall from time to time adopt such mortality and other tables of experience, and such rate or rates of interest, as are required in the proper operation of the retirement system.

(E) The board shall determine by appropriate rules the service to be credited any member in any calendar year.

The board shall perform other functions and adopt rules as required for the proper execution of Chapter 5505. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 08-20-1976

Except as provided in Chapter 5505. of the Revised Code, no trustees and no employee of the state highway patrol retirement board 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 emolument for his services. No trustees or employee of the board directly or indirectly, for himself or as an agent or partner or others, shall borrow any of its funds or deposits or in any manner 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 board be an indorser or surety or be in any manner an obligor for moneys loaned by or borrowed by the board.

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

Effective Date: 08-20-1976

The boards and officers of the several taxing districts of the state in the issuance and sale of evidences of indebtedness of their respective taxing districts, may offer in writing at a fair market price, which price shall not be less than par and accrued interest, to the state highway patrol retirement board, prior to advertising the same for sale, all such issues as may not have been taken by the trustees of the sinking fund of the taxing district issuing such evidences of indebtedness. The board shall, within ten days after the receipt of such written offer, either:

(A) Accept the same and purchase such evidences of indebtedness, or any portion thereof, at a fair market price, to be evidenced by a resolution of the board of officers of the taxing district issuing such evidences of indebtedness, but at a price of not less than par and accrued interest;

(B) Reject such offer in writing.

Effective Date: 01-01-1966

There shall be kept available by the treasurer of state an amount not exceeding ten per cent of the total assets of the state highway patrol retirement system, on deposit in any bank in this state, organized under the laws of this state or of the United States, or with any trust company incorporated under the laws of this state. Such bank or trust company shall furnish adequate security for said deposit and the sum so deposited in any one bank or trust company shall not exceed twenty-five per cent of the paid-up capital and surplus of said bank or trust company.

Effective Date: 01-01-1966

The treasurer of state shall be the treasurer of the state highway patrol retirement system and the custodian of its funds. All disbursements therefrom shall be made by him only upon instruments authorized by the state highway patrol retirement board and bearing signatures of the chairman, or vice-chairman in the absence of the chairman, and the secretary of the retirement system. Such instruments may bear the facsimile signature of the chairman of the board. No instrument shall be drawn unless it has been previously authorized by a specific or general resolution adopted by the board.

The treasurer of state shall give a separate and additional surety bond satisfactory to the board, for the faithful performance of his duties as treasurer of the retirement system and custodian of its funds. The surety bond shall be in such amount and with such surety as the board determines and shall be deposited with the secretary of state and kept in his office. The premium on the bond shall be paid by the board.

The treasurer of state shall deposit any portion of the funds of the retirement system not needed for immediate use in the same manner as state funds are deposited, and subject to all laws with respect to the deposit of state funds, by the treasurer of state. All interest earned by such portion of retirement system funds so deposited by the treasurer of state shall be collected by him and credited to the board.

The treasurer of state shall furnish annually to the board a sworn statement of the amount of funds in his custody belonging to the retirement system.

The fiscal records of the retirement system shall be open to public inspection. Any member shall be furnished with a statement of his accumulated contributions standing to his credit in his individual account in the employees savings fund, upon his written request filed with the board; provided, that the board shall not be required to answer more than one such request of a member in any one year.

Effective Date: 07-01-1985

The state highway patrol retirement board 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 ex officio member. The committee shall annually prepare and submit to the Ohio retirement study council a report of its actions during the preceding year.

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

(A) The state highway patrol retirement board shall have prepared annually by or under the supervision of an actuary an actuarial valuation of the pension assets, liabilities, and funding requirements of the state highway patrol retirement system as established pursuant to this chapter. 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 contributing to the retirement system;

(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 annual actuarial valuation;

(6) A statement of whether contributions to the retirement system are expected to be sufficient to satisfy the funding objectives established by the board.

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 July following the year for which the valuation was made.

(B) At such times as the state highway patrol retirement board determines, and at least once in each five-year period after January 1, 1966, 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, retirants, and beneficiaries 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 (F) 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 may at any time request the actuary to make any studies or actuarial valuations to determine the adequacy of the rates of contributions provided by section 5505.15 of the Revised Code.

(D) 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 retirement system. 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 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.

(E) The board shall have prepared annually a report giving a full accounting of the revenues and costs relating to the provision of benefits under section 5505.28 of the Revised Code. The report shall be made as of December 31, 1997, and the thirty-first day of December of each year 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 5505.28 of the Revised Code.

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 thirtieth day of June following the year for which the report was made.

(F) At least once in each five-year 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 5505.50 of the Revised Code. The investigation shall include an examination of the financial impact, if any, on the retirement system 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 retirement system 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 retirement system, the board shall modify the plan. If the board modifies the plan, the rights and obligations of members who have already elected to participate shall not be altered.

The state’s contributions to the employer accumulation fund shall not be increased to offset any negative financial impact of the deferred retirement option plan.

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.

Effective Date: 10-01-2002; 06-15-2006

The state highway patrol retirement board shall establish a period of not more than thirty years to amortize the state highway patrol retirement system’s unfunded actuarial accrued pension liabilities. If in any year the period necessary to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued pension liability exceeds thirty years, as determined by the annual actuarial valuation required by section 5505.12 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 commission 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 annual 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.

Effective Date: 03-07-1997

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

Effective Date: 09-15-2004

Effective Date: 07-01-1985

Subject to such rules and regulations as the state highway patrol retirement board adopts, the board shall issue, upon written request of the member, a certificate certifying to the aggregate length of all his prior service as a state highway patrol employee. In no event shall service be computed prior to November 15, 1933.

Effective Date: 01-01-1966

(A)(1) A member of the state highway patrol retirement system shall contribute ten per cent of the member’s annual salary to the state highway patrol retirement fund. The amount shall be deducted by the employer from the employee’s salary for each payroll period.

(2) The total contributions arising from deductions made prior to January 1, 1966, from the salaries of members in the employ of the state highway patrol and standing to the credit of their individual accounts in the retirement fund shall be transferred and credited to their respective individual accounts in the employees’ savings fund.

(B) The state shall annually pay into the employer accumulation fund, in monthly or less frequent installments as the state highway patrol retirement board requires, an amount that shall be a certain percentage of the total salaries paid contributing members and shall be known as the “employer contribution.” If a member severs connection with the patrol or is dismissed, the employer contribution shall remain in the retirement system.

The rate percentage of the employer contribution shall be certified by the board to the director of budget and management and shall not be lower than nine per cent of the total salaries paid contributing members and shall not exceed three times the rate percentage being deducted from the annual salaries of contributing members. The board shall prepare and submit to the director, on or before the first day of November of each even-numbered year, an estimate of the amounts necessary to pay the state’s obligations accruing during the biennium beginning the first day of July of the following year. Such amounts shall be included in the budget and allocated as certified by the board.

Effective Date: 03-24-2003

Except as otherwise provided in section 124.385 of the Revised Code, any member who is granted disability leave pursuant to a program sponsored by the state, whereby the member receives a percentage of his salary while on disability leave, shall not be required to make contributions for time off while on disability leave.

Except as otherwise provided in section 124.385 of the Revised Code, the state, as sponsor of a disability leave program, shall make the periodic employee and employer contributions, in the amounts set pursuant to section 5505.15 of the Revised Code, for members granted disability leave, based on the employee’s rate of pay in effect at the time disability leave was granted.

Effective Date: 03-14-1984

(A) A member of the state highway patrol retirement system who has been in the service of the state highway patrol for a period of twenty-five years as an employee according to the rules adopted by the state highway patrol retirement board may make application for a pension which, if the member is under age forty-eight, shall be deferred until age forty-eight.

(B) A member of the retirement system who has been in the service of the highway patrol for a period of twenty years as an employee according to the rules adopted by the retirement board, may make application for a pension that, if the member is under age fifty-two, shall be deferred until age fifty-two, except that any such member who has attained twenty years of service may, on or after attaining age forty-eight but before attaining age fifty-two, elect to receive a reduced pension of the greater of nine hundred dollars or an amount computed as follows:

ATTAINED AGE REDUCED PENSION

48 75% of normal service pension

49 80% of normal service pension

50 86% of normal service pension

51 93% of normal service pension

In the case of a member who elects to receive a reduced pension after attaining age forty-eight, the reduced pension is payable from the later of the date of the member’s most recent birthday or the date the member becomes eligible to receive the reduced pension.

A member who has elected to receive a reduced pension in accordance with the schedule provided in this division and has received a payment in connection therewith may not change the election.

(C) Any member who attains the age of sixty years and has been in the service of the patrol for a period of twenty years as a uniformed patrol officer according to the rules adopted by the board, shall file application for retirement with the board, and if the member refuses or neglects to do so, the board may deem the member’s application to have been filed on the member’s sixtieth birthday. The member may, upon written application approved by the superintendent of the state highway patrol, be continued in service after attaining the age of sixty years, but only until the member has accumulated twenty years of service.

(D)(1) As used in this division:

(a) “Service in the uniformed services” means the performance of duty on a voluntary or involuntary basis in a uniformed service under competent authority and includes 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 person is absent from a position of employment for the purpose of an examination to determine the fitness of the person to perform any such duty.

(b) “Uniformed services” of the United States includes both:

(i) Army, navy, air force, marine corps, coast guard, or any reserve components of these services; auxiliary corps as established by congress; army nurse corps; navy nurse corps; service as red cross nurse with the army, navy, air force, or hospital service of the United States, or serving full-time with the American red cross in a combat zone; and such other service as is designated by congress as included therein;

(ii) Personnel of the Ohio national guard, the Ohio military reserve, the Ohio naval militia, and the reserve components of the armed forces enumerated in division (D)(1) of this section who are called to active duty pursuant to an executive order issued by the president of the United States or an act of congress.

(2) A member’s total service credit may include periods not to exceed a total of seven years, while the member’s employment with the state highway patrol is or was interrupted due to service in the uniformed services of the United States. Such military service shall be credited to the member towards total service as provided by this chapter and to the extent approved by the board, provided that:

(a) The member is or was honorably discharged from service in the uniformed services;

(b) The member is or was re-employed by the state highway patrol within ninety days immediately following termination of service in the uniformed services;

(c) The member, subject to board rules, pays into the retirement system to the member’s credit in the employees’ savings fund an amount equal to the total contributions the member would have paid had state highway patrol employment not been so interrupted. Such payment may be made at any time prior to receipt of a pension.

(3) If the member meets the requirements of division (D)(2) of this section, on receipt of contributions from the member, the state highway patrol shall be billed for the employer contribution that would have been paid pursuant to section 5505.15 of the Revised Code if the member had not rendered service in the uniformed services, subject to board rules.

(4) If under division (D)(2)(c) of this section a member pays all or any portion of the contributions later than the lesser of five years or a period that is three times the member’s period of service in the uniformed services beginning from the later of the member’s date of re-employment or October 29, 1996, an amount equal to compound interest at a rate established by the board from the later of the member’s date of re-employment or October 29, 1996, to the date of payment shall be added to the remaining amount to be paid by the member to purchase service credit under this section.

(5) Credit purchased by a member under division (D)(2) of this section shall be used to determine the member’s eligibility for retirement under this section and section 5505.17 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 06-30-2000; 09-16-2004

On receipt of notice from the public employees retirement system, Ohio police and fire pension fund, state teachers retirement system, or school employees retirement system of the re-employment of a retirant, the state highway patrol retirement system shall not pay, or if paid shall recover, any amount to be forfeited by the retirant in accordance with section 145.38, 742.26, 3307.35, or 3309.341 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 07-13-2000

(A) On application for retirement as provided in section 5505.16 of the Revised Code, a member of the state highway patrol retirement system may elect, on a form provided by the state highway patrol retirement board, to receive the pension that the member is eligible to receive on retirement under that section in one of the following forms:

(1) A single lifetime pension;

(2) The actuarial equivalent of the single lifetime pension that the member may elect under division (A)(1) of this section in a lesser annual amount payable for the member’s life and continuing after the member’s death to a surviving designated beneficiary under one of the following optional plans, provided the annual amount payable to the designated beneficiary shall not exceed the annual amount payable to such retiring member, the amount is certified by the actuary employed by the system to be the actuarial equivalent of the member’s pension, and the amount is approved by the board:

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

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

(c) Option 3. Upon death before the expiration of a certain period from the member’s retirement date as elected by the member and approved by the board, the member’s lesser pension shall be continued for the remainder of such period to the beneficiaries, and in such order, as designated by the member in writing and filed with the board. No monthly payments shall be paid to joint beneficiaries, but they may jointly receive the present value of any remaining payments in a lump sum settlement. If all designated beneficiaries die before the expiration of such period, the present value of all the payments yet remaining in the period shall be paid to the estate of the beneficiary last receiving such payments.

(3) If the member has attained age fifty-one with at least twenty-five years’ total service or fifty-two with at least twenty years’ total service, a pension consisting of both a partial benefit lump sum in an amount the member designates that constitutes a portion of the single lifetime pension the member may elect under division (A)(1) of this section and the actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the single lifetime pension payable for the member’s life, provided an actuary employed by the system certifies the actuarial equivalent and the board approves the partial benefit lump sum payment and the amount to be paid as the actuarial equivalent.

The amount designated by a member shall be not less than six times the monthly amount that would be payable to the member as a single lifetime pension under division (A)(1) of this section and not more than sixty times that amount.

A member who has attained the age of fifty-one with twenty-five years of service who elects a partial benefit lump sum may designate an amount that does not exceed an amount equal to one month’s pension for each month of service beyond twenty-five years. A member who has attained the age of fifty-two with twenty years of service who elects a partial benefit lump sum may designate an amount that does not exceed an amount equal to one month’s pension for each month of service beyond twenty years.

(B)(1) The death of a spouse designated as beneficiary or the death of any other designated beneficiary following retirement shall cancel any optional plan of payment selected under division (A)(2) of this section to provide continuing lifetime benefits to such designated beneficiary and return the member to the equivalent of the member’s single lifetime pension, as determined by the board, to 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 pension under a plan that provides for continuation of all or part of the pension 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 equivalent of the member’s single lifetime pension as determined by the board. 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) Following marriage or remarriage, a member may elect a new optional plan of payment under division (A)(2) of this section based on the actuarial equivalent of the member’s single lifetime pension as determined by the board.

If the marriage or remarriage occurs on or after the effective date of this amendment, the election must be made not later than one year after the date of the marriage or remarriage.

The plan elected under this division shall become effective on the date of receipt by the board of an application on a form approved by the board, but any change in the amount of the pension shall commence on the first day of the month following the effective date of the plan.

(D) A member who has elected an optional plan under division (A)(2) of this section may, with the written consent of the designated beneficiary, cancel the optional plan and receive the single lifetime pension that the member would have received had the member elected the single lifetime pension under division (A)(1) of this section, if the member makes a request to cancel the optional plan not later than one year after the date on which the member first receives a payment under the plan. Cancellation of the optional plan shall be effective the month after acceptance of the request by the board. No payment or adjustment shall be made in the single lifetime pension to compensate for the lesser pension the member received under the optional plan.

The request to cancel the optional plan shall be made on a form provided by the board 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 designated beneficiary’s signature shall be verified by the board prior to its acceptance of the cancellation.

(E) Any option elected and payments made under division (A)(2) of this section shall be in addition to any pension payable to the member’s surviving spouse, children, or parents under section 5505.17 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 03-24-2003; 03-07-2005

This second version effective 10-27-2006

(A) On application for retirement as provided in section 5505.16 of the Revised Code, a member of the state highway patrol retirement system may elect, on a form provided by the state highway patrol retirement board, to receive the pension that the member is eligible to receive on retirement under that section in one of the following forms:

(1) A single lifetime pension;

(2) The actuarial equivalent of the single lifetime pension that the member may elect under division (A)(1) of this section in a lesser annual amount payable for the member’s life and continuing after the member’s death to a surviving designated beneficiary under one of the following optional plans, provided the annual amount payable to the designated beneficiary shall not exceed the annual amount payable to such retiring member, the amount is certified by the actuary employed by the system to be the actuarial equivalent of the member’s pension, and the amount is approved by the board:

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

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

(c) Option 3. Upon death before the expiration of a certain period from the member’s retirement date as elected by the member and approved by the board, the member’s lesser pension shall be continued for the remainder of such period to the beneficiaries, and in such order, as designated by the member in writing and filed with the board. No monthly payments shall be paid to joint beneficiaries, but they may jointly receive the present value of any remaining payments in a lump sum settlement. If all designated beneficiaries die before the expiration of such period, the present value of all the payments yet remaining in the period shall be paid to the estate of the beneficiary last receiving such payments.

(d) Option 4. The member’s lesser pension or portion of the lesser pension 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 person, the member shall allocate a portion less than ten per cent to that person 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 pension.

(3) If the member has attained age fifty-one with at least twenty-five years’ total service or fifty-two with at least twenty years’ total service, a pension consisting of both a partial benefit lump sum in an amount the member designates that constitutes a portion of the single lifetime pension the member may elect under division (A)(1) of this section and the actuarial equivalent of the remainder of the single lifetime pension payable for the member’s life, provided an actuary employed by the system certifies the actuarial equivalent and the board approves the partial benefit lump sum payment and the amount to be paid as the actuarial equivalent.

The amount designated by a member shall be not less than six times the monthly amount that would be payable to the member as a single lifetime pension under division (A)(1) of this section and not more than sixty times that amount.

A member who has attained the age of fifty-one with twenty-five years of service who elects a partial benefit lump sum may designate an amount that does not exceed an amount equal to one month’s pension for each month of service beyond twenty-five years. A member who has attained the age of fifty-two with twenty years of service who elects a partial benefit lump sum may designate an amount that does not exceed an amount equal to one month’s pension for each month of service beyond twenty years.

(4) If a plan of payment providing for payment in a specified portion of the pension continuing after the member’s death to a former spouse is required by a court order issued under section 3105.171 or 3105.65 of the Revised Code or the laws of another state regarding division of marital property prior to the effective date of the member’s retirement and the board has received a copy of the order, the board shall accept the member’s election of a plan of payment under this section only if the member elects a plan of payment that is in accordance with the order.

(B)(1) The death of a spouse designated as beneficiary or the death of any other designated beneficiary following retirement shall cancel the portion of the optional plan of payment selected under division (A)(2) of this section providing continuing lifetime benefits to the deceased designated beneficiary. The member shall receive the actuarial equivalent of the member’s single lifetime pension, 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 pension under a plan that provides for continuation of all or part of the pension 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 pension 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 may elect a new optional plan of payment under division (A)(2) of this section based on the actuarial equivalent of the member’s single lifetime pension as determined by the board.

(b) A member who is receiving a pension pursuant to a plan of payment providing for payment to a former spouse pursuant to a court order described in division (A)(4) of this section may elect a new plan of payment under “option 4” based on the actuarial equivalent of the retirant’s single lifetime pension as determined by the board if the new plan of payment elected does not reduce the payment to the former spouse.

(2) If the marriage or remarriage occurs on or after the effective date of this amendment, the election must be made not later than one year after the date of the marriage or remarriage.

The plan elected under this section shall become effective on the date of receipt by the board of an application on a form approved by the board, but any change in the amount of the pension shall commence on the first day of the month following the effective date of the plan.

(D) A member who has elected an optional plan under division (A)(2) of this section may, with the written consent of the designated beneficiary, cancel the optional plan and receive the single lifetime pension that the member would have received had the member elected the single lifetime pension under division (A)(1) of this section, if the member makes a request to cancel the optional plan not later than one year after the date on which the member first receives a payment under the plan. Cancellation of the optional plan shall be effective the month after acceptance of the request by the board. No payment or adjustment shall be made in the single lifetime pension to compensate for the lesser pension the member received under the optional plan.

The request to cancel the optional plan shall be made on a form provided by the board 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 designated beneficiary’s signature shall be verified by the board prior to its acceptance of the cancellation.

(E) Any option elected and payments made under division (A)(2) of this section shall be in addition to any pension payable to the member’s surviving spouse, children, or parents under section 5505.17 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 10-27-2006

(A) A retirant who retired prior to September 21, 1994, under section 5505.16 of the Revised Code may elect to receive the actuarial equivalent of the retirant’s pension in a lesser amount payable for the remainder of the retirant’s life and continuing after death to the retirant’s surviving designated beneficiary under one of the optional plans described in division (A)(2)(a), (b), or (c) of section 5505.162 of the Revised Code, provided the annual amount payable to the designated beneficiary shall not exceed the annual amount payable to the retirant, the amount is certified by the actuary employed by the state highway patrol retirement system to be the actuarial equivalent of the retirant’s pension, and the state highway patrol retirement board approves the amount.

(B) A retirant interested in making the election authorized by division (A) of this section shall file a notice of interest with the board not later than sixty days after June 30, 2000. The board shall advise the retirant with respect to the choices available under the optional plans and have a determination made of the monthly pension payable under the optional plan elected by the member for inclusion in the statement to be filed under division (C) of this section.

(C) To make the election authorized by division (A) of this section, a retirant shall file a statement, on a form provided by the board, indicating that the retirant elects to participate in the optional plan specified in the statement. The form must be filed with the board not later than one hundred twenty days after June 30, 2000.

(D) A notice or statement mailed to the board shall be considered to have been filed on its postmark date.

(E) Any option elected and payments made under this section shall be in addition to any pension payable to the retirant’s surviving spouse, children, or parents under section 5505.17 of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 03-24-2003

(A)(1) Upon retirement as provided in section 5505.16 of the Revised Code, a member of the state highway patrol retirement system shall receive a life pension, without guaranty or refund, equal to the greater of one thousand fifty dollars or the sum of two and one-half per cent of the member’s final average salary multiplied by the first twenty years of total service credit, plus two and one-quarter per cent of the member’s final average salary multiplied by the number of years, and fraction of a year, of total service credit in excess of twenty years but not in excess of twenty-five years, plus two per cent of the member’s final average salary multiplied by the number of years, and fraction of a year, in excess of twenty-five years; provided that in no case shall the pension exceed the lesser of seventy-nine and one-quarter per cent of the member’s final average salary or 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) A member with fifteen or more years of total service credit, who voluntarily resigns or who is discharged from the state highway patrol for any reason except retirement under this chapter, death, dishonesty, cowardice, intemperate habits, or conviction of a felony, shall receive a pension equal to one and one-half per cent of the member’s final average salary multiplied by the number of years, and fraction of a year, of total service credit, except that the pension shall not 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 pension shall commence at the end of the calendar month in which the application is filed with the retirement board on or after the attainment of age fifty-five years by the applicant. A member who withdraws any pa