KRS 95.624: Pensions in cities adopting alternative provisions of KRS 95.621 -- Service

retirement -- Disability pensions -- Survivor's benefits -- Increase in benefits --

Health insurance for retirees.

(1) In cities that have adopted the alternative pension fun d provisions authorized by

KRS 95.621, any member of the police or fire department having served twenty

(20) years or longer in the police or fire department may petition the board of

trustees for retirement; and if his petition is granted, the board may o rder paid to

him monthly fifty percent (50%) of his monthly salary at the time of retirement. If

this petition for retirement is denied, any policeman or firefighter has the right of

appeal in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure.

(2) The pension p ayable for periods of service between twenty (20) and twenty -five

(25) years shall be fifty percent (50%) of salary plus two percent (2%) of salary for

each year in excess of twenty (20). The pension payable for twenty -five (25) years

of service shall be sixty percent (60%) of salary. The pension payable for periods of

service between twenty-five (25) and thirty (30) years shall be sixty percent (60%)

of salary plus three percent (3%) of salary for each year in excess of twenty -five

(25). The pension payabl e for thirty (30) years of service shall be seventy -five

percent (75%) of salary.

(3) The pensions or benefits paid for disability or death from the policemen's and

firefighters' pension fund created under KRS 95.622 shall be as follows:

(a) If any member of the police and fire department becomes temporarily totally

disabled, physically or mentally, the board of trustees of the pension fund shall

order paid to him monthly, during his disability, until he has recovered and

returned to active duty, a sum of n ot more than one -half (1/2) his salary per

month, the amount to be determined by the board. This provision shall not

apply if a salary is paid during the same period.

(b) If any member of the police or fire department becomes permanently disabled,

physically or mentally, so as to render necessary his retirement from service in

the department, the board of trustees shall retire him from service and order

paid to him monthly fifty percent (50%) of his monthly salary at the time of

his retirement.

(c) If any member of the police or fire department is killed or dies as the result of

an injury received in the performance of duty, or dies of any disease

contracted by reason of his occupation, or dies while in the service from any

cause as a result of his service in the department, or dies in service or while on

the retired list from any cause after one (1) year of service in the department

and leaves a widow or a child under eighteen (18) years of age, the board of

trustees shall order a pension paid to the widow, while unmarried, of one-half

(1/2) of salary per month and for each child until it reaches the age of eighteen

(18) years, twenty -four dollars ($24) per month. The board may provide a

minimum benefit of no more than four hundred dollars ($400) per month,

initially, to the surviving spouse if the benefit can be supported on an

actuarially-sound basis by the fund. The board may increase the minimum

benefit pursuant to the terms of subsection (4) of this section. If the deceased

member was unmarried and childless, a pension shall be paid to his dependent

father and mother of one -fourth (1/4) of salary per month. If one (1) parent is

dead, the other shall receive the entire one-fourth (1/4) salary.

(4) In order to adjust retirement benefits to the purchasing pow er of the dollar, the

board shall if it is actuarially feasible annually order an increase in benefits paid

pursuant to this section. The board shall if it is actuarially feasible order an increase

in benefits by an amount equal to the increase in the cost -of-living increase for a

recipient of Social Security, but the annual increase shall not exceed five percent

(5%).

(5) The board may provide a group hospital and medical insurance plan for retirees and

their spouses who have not reached the age to qualify for federal Medicare, if

providing insurance will not jeopardize the capacity of the board to pay retirement

and survivor benefits. No insurance shall be provided for persons who are entitled

to Medicare benefits or are receiving Medicare benefits, except that supplemental

health insurance may be provided to those retirees and their spouses who are

entitled to Medicare benefits or are receiving Medicare benefits if providing the

supplemental health insurance will not jeopardize the capacity of the board to pay

other existing retirement and survivor benefits.