{"data":{"id":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-87.120","jurisdiction":"us-mo","citation":"Mo. Rev. Stat. § 87.120","heading":"Definitions.","body":"The following words and phrases as used in sections 87.120 to 87.370, unless a different meaning is plainly required by the context, have the following meanings:\n(1) \"Accumulated contributions\" , the sum of all amounts deducted from the compensation of a member and credited to his or her individual account in the members' savings fund together with interest thereon;\n(2) \"Actuarial equivalent\" , a benefit of equal value when computed upon the basis of such mortality tables and interest rate as shall be adopted by the board of trustees;\n(3) \"Average final compensation\" , the average earnable compensation of the member during his or her last two years of service as a firefighter, or if the firefighter has less than two years of service, then the average earnable compensation of his or her entire period of service;\n(4) \"Beneficiary\" , any person in receipt of a retirement allowance or other benefit as provided by sections 87.120 to 87.370;\n(5) \"Benefit reserve\" , the present value of all payments to be made on account of any retirement allowance or benefit in lieu of a retirement allowance upon the basis of such mortality tables and interest rate as shall be adopted by the board of trustees;\n(6) \"Board of trustees\" , the board provided for in section 87.140 to administer the retirement system;\n(7) \"City\" , any city not within a county and adopting the retirement system provided by sections 87.120 to 87.370;\n(8) \"Creditable service\" , prior service plus membership service as provided in section 87.135;\n(9) \"DROP\" , the deferred retirement option plan provided in section 87.182;\n(10) \"Earnable compensation\" , the regular compensation which a member would earn during one year on the basis of the stated compensation for his or her rank or position;\n(11) \"Firefighter\" , any officer or employee of the fire department of the city employed by the city for the duty of fighting fires, but does not include anyone employed in a clerical or other capacity not involving fire-fighting duties. In case of doubt as to whether any person is a firefighter within the meaning of sections 87.120 to 87.370, the decision of the board of trustees shall be final;\n(12) \"Medical board\" , the board of physicians provided for in section 87.160;\n(13) \"Member\" , a member of the retirement system as defined by section 87.130;\n(14) \"Membership service\" , service as a firefighter rendered since last becoming a member;\n(15) \"Prior service\" , all service as a firefighter rendered prior to the date the system becomes operative which is creditable in accordance with the provisions of section 87.135;\n(16) \"Retirement allowance\" , annual payments for life which shall be payable in equal monthly installments or any benefits in lieu thereof granted to a member upon retirement or to a beneficiary;\n(17) \"Retirement system\" , the firefighter's retirement system of any city as defined in section 87.125.","path":["Title VII - CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES","Chapter 87 - Firefighters' Retirement and Relief Systems"],"source_url":"https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=87.120","current_through":"2026 legislative session (floor)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T22:23:25Z","sha256":"f782e8f2feb06e000be6a00e68a9dfab70c500e1ec8ab111893ca41d9d48ab2c","source_id":"us-mo","stale":false,"prev":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-87.105","next":"us-mo/mo.-rev.-stat.-87.125"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}