{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-21.480","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 21.480","heading":"KRS 21.350 to 21.510 creates vested interest for members who began","body":"participating before January 1, 2014 -- Exception -- Amendment of benefits\nand rights.\n(1) For members who begin participating in the Judicial Retirement Plan prior to\nJanuary 1, 2014, it is hereby declared that in consideration of the contributions by\nthe members, and in further consideration of benefits received by the state through\nthe inducement of qualified and experienced judges and commissioners to continue\nin service, KRS 21.350 to 21.510, except as provided in KRS 6.696, shall constitute\nan inviolable contract of the Commonwealth, and the rights and benefits provided\ntherein shall, not be subject to reduction or impairment by alteration, amendment or\nrepeal, except as provided in KRS 6.696.\n(2) (a) For members who begin participating in the Judicial Retirement Plan on or\nafter January 1, 2014, the General Assembly reserves the right to amend,\nsuspend, or reduce the benefits and rights provided under KRS 21.345 to\n21.580 i f, in its judgment, the welfare of the Commonwealth so demands,\nexcept that the amount of benefits the member has accrued at the time of\namendment, suspension, or reduction shall not be affected.\n(b) For purposes of this subsection, the amount of benefits the member has\naccrued at the time of amendment, suspension, or reduction shall be limited to\nthe accumulated account balance the member has accrued at the time of\namendment, suspension, or reduction.\n(c) The provisions of this subsection shall not be cons trued to limit the General\nAssembly's authority to change any other benefit or right specified by KRS\n21.345 to 21.580, for members who begin participating in the Judicial\nRetirement Plan on or after January 1, 2014, except the benefits specified by\nparagraph (b) of this subsection.\n(3) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the General Assembly's\nauthority to amend, reduce, or suspend the benefits and rights of members of the\nJudicial Retirement Plan as provided by KRS 21.345 to 21. 580 that the General\nAssembly had the authority to amend, reduce, or suspend, prior to July 1, 2013.","path":["KRS Chapter 21"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=52637","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:48:41Z","sha256":"ce2e5afdab1ca661135b7e841737f5c4a7c8171baa197112abce23a67321dbc9","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-21.470","next":"us-ky/krs-21.490"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}