Section 424A.02 Defined Benefit Relief Associations; Service Pensions
424A.02 DEFINED BENEFIT RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS; SERVICE PENSIONS.
Subdivision 1.Authorization.
(a) A defined benefit relief association, when its articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide, may pay out of the assets of its special fund a defined benefit service pension to each of its members who: (1) separates from active service with the fire department; (2) reaches age 50; (3) completes at least five years of active service as an active member of the municipal fire department to which the relief association is associated; (4) completes at least five years of active membership with the relief association before separation from active service; and (5) complies with any additional conditions as to age, service, and membership that are prescribed by the bylaws of the relief association. A service pension computed under this section may be prorated monthly for fractional years of service as the bylaws or articles of incorporation of the relief association so provide. The bylaws or articles of incorporation may define a "month," but the definition must require a calendar month to have at least 16 days of active service. If the bylaws or articles of incorporation do not define a "month," a "month" is a completed calendar month of active service measured from the member's date of entry to the same date in the subsequent month. The service pension earned by a volunteer firefighter under this chapter and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the volunteer firefighters' relief association may be paid whether or not the municipality or nonprofit firefighting corporation to which the relief association is associated qualifies for the receipt of fire state aid under chapter 69.
(b) In the case of a member who has completed at least five years of active service as an active member of the fire department to which the relief association is associated on the date that the relief association is established and incorporated, the requirement that the member complete at least five years of active membership with the relief association before separation from active service may be waived by the board of trustees of the relief association if the member completes at least five years of inactive membership with the relief association before the date of the payment of the service pension. During the period of inactive membership, the member is not entitled to receive disability benefit coverage, is not entitled to receive additional service credit towards computation of a service pension, and is considered to have the status of a person entitled to a deferred service pension under subdivision 7.
(c) No municipality or nonprofit firefighting corporation may delegate the power to take final action in setting a service pension or ancillary benefit amount or level to the board of trustees of the relief association or to approve in advance a service pension or ancillary benefit amount or level equal to the maximum amount or level that this chapter would allow rather than a specific dollar amount or level.
(d) No relief association as defined in section 424A.001, subdivision 4, may pay a defined benefit service pension or disability benefit to a former member of the relief association if that person has not separated from active service with the fire department to which the relief association is directly associated, unless:
(1) the person is employed subsequent to retirement by the municipality or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, whichever applies, to perform duties within the municipal fire department or corporation on a full-time basis;
(2) the governing body of the municipality or of the corporation has filed its determination with the board of trustees of the relief association that the person's experience with and service to the fire department in that person's full-time capacity would be difficult to replace; and
(3) the bylaws of the relief association were amended to provide for the payment of a service pension or disability benefit for such full-time employees.
Subd. 2.Nonforfeitable portion of service pension.
(a) If the articles of incorporation or bylaws of a defined benefit relief association so provide, the relief association may pay a reduced service pension to a retiring member who has completed fewer than 20 years of service. The reduced service pension may be paid when the retiring member meets the minimum age and service requirements of subdivision 1.
(b) The amount of the reduced service pension may not exceed the amount calculated by multiplying the service pension appropriate for the completed years of service as specified in the bylaws multiplied by the applicable nonforfeitable percentage of pension.
(c) For a defined benefit volunteer firefighter relief association that pays a lump-sum service pension, a monthly benefit service pension, or a lump-sum service pension or a monthly benefit service pension as alternative benefit forms, the nonforfeitable percentage of pension amounts are as follows:
| Completed Years of Service | Nonforfeitable Percentage of Pension Amount | |||
| 5 | 40 percent | |||
| 6 | 44 percent | |||
| 7 | 48 percent | |||
| 8 | 52 percent | |||
| 9 | 56 percent | |||
| 10 | 60 percent | |||
| 11 | 64 percent | |||
| 12 | 68 percent | |||
| 13 | 72 percent | |||
| 14 | 76 percent | |||
| 15 | 80 percent | |||
| 16 | 84 percent | |||
| 17 | 88 percent | |||
| 18 | 92 percent | |||
| 19 | 96 percent | |||
| 20 | and thereafter | 100 percent |
Subd. 3.Flexible service pension maximums.
(a) Annually on or before August 1 as part of the certification of the financial requirements and minimum municipal obligation determined under section 69.772, subdivision 4, or 69.773, subdivision 5, as applicable, the secretary or some other official of the relief association designated in the bylaws of each defined benefit relief association shall calculate and certify to the governing body of the applicable qualified municipality the average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter for the most recent three-year period. The amount of available financing includes any amounts of fire state aid received or receivable by the relief association, any amounts of municipal contributions to the relief association raised from levies on real estate or from other available revenue sources exclusive of fire state aid, and one-tenth of the amount of assets in excess of the accrued liabilities of the relief association calculated under section 69.772, subdivision 2; 69.773, subdivisions 2 and 4; or 69.774, subdivision 2, if any.
(b) The maximum service pension which the defined benefit relief association has authority to provide for in its bylaws for payment to a member retiring after the calculation date when the minimum age and service requirements specified in subdivision 1 are met must be determined using the table in paragraph (c) or (d), whichever applies.
(c) For a defined benefit relief association where the governing bylaws provide for a monthly service pension to a retiring member, the maximum monthly service pension amount per month for each year of service credited that may be provided for in the bylaws is the greater of the service pension amount provided for in the bylaws on the date of the calculation of the average amount of the available financing per active covered firefighter or the maximum service pension figure corresponding to the average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter:
| Minimum Average Amount of Available Financing per Firefighter | Maximum Service Pension Amount Payable per Month for Each Year of Service | ||
| $ ... | $ .25 | ||
| 41 | .50 | ||
| 81 | 1.00 | ||
| 122 | 1.50 | ||
| 162 | 2.00 | ||
| 203 | 2.50 | ||
| 243 | 3.00 | ||
| 284 | 3.50 | ||
| 324 | 4.00 | ||
| 365 | 4.50 | ||
| 405 | 5.00 | ||
| 486 | 6.00 | ||
| 567 | 7.00 | ||
| 648 | 8.00 | ||
| 729 | 9.00 | ||
| 810 | 10.00 | ||
| 891 | 11.00 | ||
| 972 | 12.00 | ||
| 1053 | 13.00 | ||
| 1134 | 14.00 | ||
| 1215 | 15.00 | ||
| 1296 | 16.00 | ||
| 1377 | 17.00 | ||
| 1458 | 18.00 | ||
| 1539 | 19.00 | ||
| 1620 | 20.00 | ||
| 1701 | 21.00 | ||
| 1782 | 22.00 | ||
| 1823 | 22.50 | ||
| 1863 | 23.00 | ||
| 1944 | 24.00 | ||
| 2025 | 25.00 | ||
| 2106 | 26.00 | ||
| 2187 | 27.00 | ||
| 2268 | 28.00 | ||
| 2349 | 29.00 | ||
| 2430 | 30.00 | ||
| 2511 | 31.00 | ||
| 2592 | 32.00 | ||
| 2673 | 33.00 | ||
| 2754 | 34.00 | ||
| 2834 | 35.00 | ||
| 2916 | 36.00 | ||
| 2997 | 37.00 | ||
| 3078 | 38.00 | ||
| 3159 | 39.00 | ||
| 3240 | 40.00 | ||
| 3321 | 41.00 | ||
| 3402 | 42.00 | ||
| 3483 | 43.00 | ||
| 3564 | 44.00 | ||
| 3645 | 45.00 | ||
| 3726 | 46.00 | ||
| 3807 | 47.00 | ||
| 3888 | 48.00 | ||
| 3969 | 49.00 | ||
| 4050 | 50.00 | ||
| 4131 | 51.00 | ||
| 4212 | 52.00 | ||
| 4293 | 53.00 | ||
| 4374 | 54.00 | ||
| 4455 | 55.00 | ||
| 4536 | 56.00 | ||
| Effective beginning December 31, 2008 | |||
| 4617 | 57.00 | ||
| 4698 | 58.00 | ||
| 4779 | 59.00 | ||
| 4860 | 60.00 | ||
| 4941 | 61.00 | ||
| 5022 | 62.00 | ||
| 5103 | 63.00 | ||
| 5184 | 64.00 | ||
| 5265 | 65.00 | ||
| Effective beginning December 31, 2009 | |||
| 5346 | 66.00 | ||
| 5427 | 67.00 | ||
| 5508 | 68.00 | ||
| 5589 | 69.00 | ||
| 5670 | 70.00 | ||
| 5751 | 71.00 | ||
| 5832 | 72.00 | ||
| 5913 | 73.00 | ||
| 5994 | 74.00 | ||
| Effective beginning December 31, 2010 | |||
| 6075 | 75.00 | ||
| 6156 | 76.00 | ||
| 6237 | 77.00 | ||
| 6318 | 78.00 | ||
| 6399 | 79.00 | ||
| 6480 | 80.00 | ||
| 6561 | 81.00 | ||
| 6642 | 82.00 | ||
| 6723 | 83.00 | ||
| Effective beginning December 31, 2011 | |||
| 6804 | 84.00 | ||
| 6885 | 85.00 | ||
| 6966 | 86.00 | ||
| 7047 | 87.00 | ||
| 7128 | 88.00 | ||
| 7209 | 89.00 | ||
| 7290 | 90.00 | ||
| 7371 | 91.00 | ||
| 7452 | 92.00 | ||
| Effective beginning December 31, 2012 | |||
| 7533 | 93.00 | ||
| 7614 | 94.00 | ||
| 7695 | 95.00 | ||
| 7776 | 96.00 | ||
| 7857 | 97.00 | ||
| 7938 | 98.00 | ||
| 8019 | 99.00 | ||
| 8100 | 100.00 | ||
| any amount in excess of | |||
| 8100 | 100.00 |
(d) For a defined benefit relief association in which the governing bylaws provide for a lump-sum service pension to a retiring member, the maximum lump-sum service pension amount for each year of service credited that may be provided for in the bylaws is the greater of the service pension amount provided for in the bylaws on the date of the calculation of the average amount of the available financing per active covered firefighter or the maximum service pension figure corresponding to the average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter for the applicable specified period:
| Minimum Average Amount of Available Financing per Firefighter | Maximum Lump-Sum Service Pension Amount Payable for Each Year of Service | ||
| $ ... | $ 10 | ||
| 11 | 20 | ||
| 16 | 30 | ||
| 23 | 40 | ||
| 27 | 50 | ||
| 32 | 60 | ||
| 43 | 80 | ||
| 54 | 100 | ||
| 65 | 120 | ||
| 77 | 140 | ||
| 86 | 160 | ||
| 97 | 180 | ||
| 108 | 200 | ||
| 131 | 240 | ||
| 151 | 280 | ||
| 173 | 320 | ||
| 194 | 360 | ||
| 216 | 400 | ||
| 239 | 440 | ||
| 259 | 480 | ||
| 281 | 520 | ||
| 302 | 560 | ||
| 324 | 600 | ||
| 347 | 640 | ||
| 367 | 680 | ||
| 389 | 720 | ||
| 410 | 760 | ||
| 432 | 800 | ||
| 486 | 900 | ||
| 540 | 1000 | ||
| 594 | 1100 | ||
| 648 | 1200 | ||
| 702 | 1300 | ||
| 756 | 1400 | ||
| 810 | 1500 | ||
| 864 | 1600 | ||
| 918 | 1700 | ||
| 972 | 1800 | ||
| 1026 | 1900 | ||
| 1080 | 2000 | ||
| 1134 | 2100 | ||
| 1188 | 2200 | ||
| 1242 | 2300 | ||
| 1296 | 2400 | ||
| 1350 | 2500 | ||
| 1404 | 2600 | ||
| 1458 | 2700 | ||
| 1512 | 2800 | ||
| 1566 | 2900 | ||
| 1620 | 3000 | ||
| 1672 | 3100 | ||
| 1726 | 3200 | ||
| 1753 | 3250 | ||
| 1780 | 3300 | ||
| 1820 | 3375 | ||
| 1834 | 3400 | ||
| 1888 | 3500 | ||
| 1942 | 3600 | ||
| 1996 | 3700 | ||
| 2023 | 3750 | ||
| 2050 | 3800 | ||
| 2104 | 3900 | ||
| 2158 | 4000 | ||
| 2212 | 4100 | ||
| 2265 | 4200 | ||
| 2319 | 4300 | ||
| 2373 | 4400 | ||
| 2427 | 4500 | ||
| 2481 | 4600 | ||
| 2535 | 4700 | ||
| 2589 | 4800 | ||
| 2643 | 4900 | ||
| 2697 | 5000 | ||
| 2751 | 5100 | ||
| 2805 | 5200 | ||
| 2859 | 5300 | ||
| 2913 | 5400 | ||
| 2967 | 5500 | ||
| 3021 | 5600 | ||
| 3075 | 5700 | ||
| 3129 | 5800 | ||
| 3183 | 5900 | ||
| 3237 | 6000 | ||
| 3291 | 6100 | ||
| 3345 | 6200 | ||
| 3399 | 6300 | ||
| 3453 | 6400 | ||
| 3507 | 6500 | ||
| 3561 | 6600 | ||
| 3615 | 6700 | ||
| 3669 | 6800 | ||
| 3723 | 6900 | ||
| 3777 | 7000 | ||
| 3831 | 7100 | ||
| 3885 | 7200 | ||
| 3939 | 7300 | ||
| 3993 | 7400 | ||
| 4047 | 7500 | ||
| Effective beginning December 31, 2008 | |||
| 4101 | 7600 | ||
| 4155 | 7700 | ||
| 4209 | 7800 | ||
| 4263 | 7900 | ||
| 4317 | 8000 | ||
| 4371 | 8100 | ||
| 4425 | 8200 | ||
| 4479 | 8300 | ||
| Effective beginning December 31, 2009 | |||
| 4533 | 8400 | ||
| 4587 | 8500 | ||
| 4641 | 8600 | ||
| 4695 | 8700 | ||
| 4749 | 8800 | ||
| 4803 | 8900 | ||
| 4857 | 9000 | ||
| 4911 | 9100 | ||
| Effective beginning December 31, 2010 | |||
| 4965 | 9200 | ||
| 5019 | 9300 | ||
| 5073 | 9400 | ||
| 5127 | 9500 | ||
| 5181 | 9600 | ||
| 5235 | 9700 | ||
| 5289 | 9800 | ||
| 5343 | 9900 | ||
| 5397 | 10,000 | ||
| any amount in excess of | |||
| 5397 | 10,000 |
(e) For a defined benefit relief association in which the governing bylaws provide for a monthly benefit service pension as an alternative form of service pension payment to a lump-sum service pension, the maximum service pension amount for each pension payment type must be determined using the applicable table contained in this subdivision.
(f) If a defined benefit relief association establishes a service pension in compliance with the applicable maximum contained in paragraph (c) or (d) and the minimum average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter is subsequently reduced because of a reduction in fire state aid or because of an increase in the number of active firefighters, the relief association may continue to provide the prior service pension amount specified in its bylaws, but may not increase the service pension amount until the minimum average amount of available financing per firefighter under the table in paragraph (c) or (d), whichever applies, permits.
(g) No defined benefit relief association is authorized to provide a service pension in an amount greater than the largest applicable flexible service pension maximum amount even if the amount of available financing per firefighter is greater than the financing amount associated with the largest applicable flexible service pension maximum.
(h) The method of calculating service pensions must be applied uniformly for all years of active service. Credit must be given for all years of active service except for caps on service credit if so provided in the bylaws of the relief association.
Subd. 3a.Penalty for paying pension greater than applicable maximum.
(a) If a defined benefit relief association pays a service pension greater than the maximum service pension associated with the applicable average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter under the table in subdivision 3, paragraph (c) or (d), whichever applies, the maximum service pension under subdivision 3, paragraph (f), or the applicable maximum service pension amount specified in subdivision 3, paragraph (g), whichever is less, the state auditor shall:
(1) disqualify the municipality or the nonprofit firefighting corporation associated with the relief association from receiving fire state aid by making the appropriate notification to the municipality and the commissioner of revenue, with the disqualification applicable for the next apportionment and payment of fire state aid; and
(2) order the treasurer of the applicable relief association to recover the amount of the overpaid service pension or pensions from any retired firefighter who received an overpayment.
(b) Fire state aid amounts from disqualified municipalities for the period of disqualifications under paragraph (a), clause (1), must be credited to the amount of fire insurance premium tax proceeds available for the next subsequent fire state aid apportionment.
(c) The amount of any overpaid service pension recovered under paragraph (a), clause (2), must be credited to the amount of fire insurance premium tax proceeds available for the next subsequent fire state aid apportionment.
(d) The determination of the state auditor that a relief association has paid a service pension greater than the applicable maximum must be made on the basis of the information filed by the relief association and the municipality with the state auditor under sections 69.011, subdivision 2, and 69.051, subdivision 1 or 1a, whichever applies, and any other relevant information that comes to the attention of the state auditor. The determination of the state auditor is final. An aggrieved municipality, relief association, or person may appeal the determination under section 480A.06.
Subd. 4.
[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]
Subd. 5.
[Repealed, 1999 c 222 art 11 s 1]
Subd. 6.
[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]
Subd. 7.Deferred service pensions.
(a) A member of a defined benefit relief association is entitled to a deferred service pension if the member:
(1) has completed the lesser of either the minimum period of active service with the fire department specified in the bylaws or 20 years of active service with the fire department;
(2) has completed at least five years of active membership in the relief association; and
(3) separates from active service and membership before reaching age 50 or the minimum age for retirement and commencement of a service pension specified in the bylaws governing the relief association if that age is greater than age 50.
(b) The deferred service pension is payable when the former member reaches age 50, or the minimum age specified in the bylaws governing the relief association if that age is greater than age 50, and when the former member makes a valid written application.
(c) A defined benefit relief association that provides a lump-sum service pension governed by subdivision 3 may, when its governing bylaws so provide, pay interest on the deferred lump-sum service pension during the period of deferral. If provided for in the bylaws, interest must be paid in one of the following manners:
(1) at the investment performance rate actually earned on that portion of the assets if the deferred benefit amount is invested by the relief association in a separate account established and maintained by the relief association or if the deferred benefit amount is invested in a separate investment vehicle held by the relief association; or
(2) at an interest rate of up to five percent, compounded annually, as set by the board of directors and approved as provided in subdivision 10.
(d) Interest under paragraph (c), clause (2), is payable following the date on which the municipality has approved the deferred service pension interest rate established by the board of trustees.
(e) For a deferred service pension that is transferred to a separate account established and maintained by the relief association or separate investment vehicle held by the relief association, the deferred member bears the full investment risk subsequent to transfer and in calculating the accrued liability of the volunteer firefighters relief association that pays a lump-sum service pension, the accrued liability for deferred service pensions is equal to the separate relief association account balance or the fair market value of the separate investment vehicle held by the relief association.
(f) The deferred service pension is governed by and must be calculated under the general statute, special law, relief association articles of incorporation, and relief association bylaw provisions applicable on the date on which the member separated from active service with the fire department and active membership in the relief association.
Subd. 8.Lump-sum service pensions; installment payments.
(a) A defined benefit relief association, if the governing bylaws so provide, may pay, at the option of the intended recipient and in lieu of a single payment of a lump-sum service pension or survivor benefit, a lump-sum service pension or survivor benefit in installments.
(b) The election of installment payments is irrevocable and must be made by the intended recipient in writing and filed with the secretary of the relief association no later than 30 days before the commencement of payment of the service pension or survivor benefit. The amount of the installment payments must be determined in any reasonable manner provided for in the governing bylaws, but the total amount of installment payments may not exceed the single payment service pension amount plus interest at an annual rate of five percent on the amount of delayed payments for the period during which payment was delayed.
Subd. 8a.
[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]
Subd. 8b.
[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]
Subd. 9.Limitation on ancillary benefits.
A defined benefit relief association, including any volunteer firefighters relief association governed by section 69.77 or any volunteer firefighters division of a relief association governed by chapter 424, may only pay ancillary benefits which would constitute an authorized disbursement as specified in section 424A.05 subject to the following requirements or limitations:
(1) with respect to a defined benefit relief association in which governing bylaws provide for a lump-sum service pension to a retiring member, no ancillary benefit may be paid to any former member or paid to any person on behalf of any former member after the former member (i) terminates active service with the fire department and active membership in the relief association; and (ii) commences receipt of a service pension as authorized under this section; and
(2) with respect to any defined benefit relief association, no ancillary benefit paid or payable to any member, to any former member, or to any person on behalf of any member or former member, may exceed in amount the total earned service pension of the member or former member. The total earned service pension must be calculated by multiplying the service pension amount specified in the bylaws of the relief association at the time of death or disability, whichever applies, by the years of service credited to the member or former member. The years of service must be determined as of (i) the date the member or former member became entitled to the ancillary benefit; or (ii) the date the member or former member died entitling a survivor or the estate of the member or former member to an ancillary benefit. The ancillary benefit must be calculated without regard to whether the member had attained the minimum amount of service and membership credit specified in the governing bylaws. For active members, the amount of a permanent disability benefit or a survivor benefit must be equal to the member's total earned service pension except that the bylaws of a defined benefit relief association may provide for the payment of a survivor benefit in an amount not to exceed five times the yearly service pension amount specified in the bylaws on behalf of any member who dies before having performed five years of active service in the fire department with which the relief association is affiliated.
(3)(i) If a lump sum survivor or death benefit is payable under the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the benefit must be paid:
(A) as a survivor benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased firefighter;
(B) as a survivor benefit to the surviving children of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse;
(C) as a survivor benefit to a designated beneficiary of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse or surviving children; or
(D) as a death benefit to the estate of the deceased active or deferred firefighter if no surviving children and no beneficiary designated.
(ii) If there are no surviving children, the surviving spouse may waive, in writing, wholly or partially, the spouse's entitlement to a survivor benefit.
(4)(i) If a monthly benefit survivor or death benefit is payable under the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the benefit must be paid:
(A) as a survivor benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased firefighter;
(B) as a survivor benefit to the surviving children of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse;
(C) as a survivor benefit to a designated beneficiary of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse or surviving children; or
(D) as a death benefit to the estate of the deceased active or deferred firefighter if no surviving spouse, no surviving children, and no beneficiary designated.
(ii) If there are no surviving children, the surviving spouse may waive, in writing, wholly or partially, the spouse's entitlement to a survivor benefit.
(iii) For purposes of this clause, if the relief association bylaws authorize a monthly survivor benefit payable to a designated beneficiary, the relief association bylaws may limit the total survivor benefit amount payable.
(5) For purposes of this section, for a monthly benefit volunteer fire relief association or for a combination lump-sum and monthly benefit volunteer fire relief association where a monthly benefit service pension has been elected by or a monthly benefit is payable with respect to a firefighter, a designated beneficiary must be a natural person. For purposes of this section, for a lump-sum volunteer fire relief association or for a combination lump-sum and monthly benefit volunteer fire relief association where a lump-sum service pension has been elected by or a lump-sum benefit is payable with respect to a firefighter, a trust created under chapter 501B may be a designated beneficiary. If a trust is payable to the surviving children organized under chapter 501B as authorized by this section and there is no surviving spouse, the survivor benefit may be paid to the trust, notwithstanding a requirement of this section to the contrary.
Subd. 9a.Postretirement increases.
Notwithstanding any provision of general or special law to the contrary, a defined benefit relief association paying a monthly service pension may provide a postretirement increase to retired members and ancillary benefit recipients of the relief association if (1) the relief association adopts an appropriate bylaw amendment; and (2) the bylaw amendment is approved by the municipality pursuant to subdivision 10 and section 69.773, subdivision 6. The postretirement increase is applicable only to retired members and ancillary benefit recipients receiving a service pension or ancillary benefit as of the effective date of the bylaw amendment. The authority to provide a postretirement increase to retired members and ancillary benefit recipients of a relief association contained in this subdivision supersedes any prior special law authorization relating to the provision of postretirement increases.
Subd. 9b.
[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]
Subd. 10.Local approval of bylaw amendments; filing requirements.
(a) Each defined benefit relief association to which this section applies must file a revised copy of its governing bylaws with the state auditor upon the adoption of any amendment to its governing bylaws by the relief association or upon the approval of any amendment to its governing bylaws granted by the governing body of each municipality served by the fire department to which the relief association is directly associated. Failure of the relief association to file a copy of the bylaws or any bylaw amendments with the state auditor disqualifies the municipality from the distribution of any future fire state aid until this filing requirement has been completed.
(b) If the special fund of the relief association does not have a surplus over full funding under section 69.772, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (5), or 69.773, subdivision 4, and if the municipality is required to provide financial support to the special fund of the relief association under section 69.772 or 69.773, no bylaw amendment which would affect the amount of, the manner of payment of, or the conditions for qualification for service pensions or ancillary benefits or disbursements other than administrative expenses authorized under section 69.80 payable from the special fund of the relief association is effective until it has been ratified as required under section 69.772, subdivision 6, or 69.773, subdivision 6. If the special fund of the relief association has a surplus over full funding under section 69.772, subdivision 3, or 69.773, subdivision 4, and if the municipality is not required to provide financial support to the special fund under this section, the relief association may adopt or amend without municipal ratification its articles of incorporation or bylaws which increase or otherwise affect the service pensions or ancillary benefits payable from the special fund if authorized under section 69.772, subdivision 6, or 69.773, subdivision 6.
(c) If the relief association pays only a lump-sum pension, the financial requirements are to be determined by the board of trustees following the preparation of an estimate of the expected increase in the accrued liability and annual accruing liability of the relief association attributable to the change. If the relief association pays a monthly benefit service pension, the financial requirements are to be determined by the board of trustees following either an updated actuarial valuation including the proposed change or an estimate of the expected actuarial impact of the proposed change prepared by the actuary of the relief association. If a relief association adopts or amends its articles of incorporation or bylaws without municipal ratification under this subdivision, and, subsequent to the amendment or adoption, the financial requirements of the special fund under this section are such so as to require financial support from the municipality, the provision which was implemented without municipal ratification is no longer effective without municipal ratification, and any service pensions or ancillary benefits payable after that date must be paid only in accordance with the articles of incorporation or bylaws as amended or adopted with municipal ratification.
Subd. 11.
[Repealed, 2000 c 461 art 16 s 13]
Subd. 12.Transfer of service credit to new district.
Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision 1 or any other law, a member of a fire department which is disbanded upon formation of a fire district to serve substantially the same geographic area, who serves as an active firefighter with the new district fire department, and is a member of the district firefighters' defined benefit relief association is entitled to a nonforfeitable service pension from the new relief association upon completion of a combined total of 20 years active service in the disbanded and the new departments. The amount of the service pension is based upon years of service in the new department only and must be in an amount equal to the accrued liability for the appropriate years of service calculated in accordance with section 69.772, subdivision 2.
Subd. 13.Combined service pensions.
(a) If the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the defined benefit relief associations so provide, a volunteer firefighter with credit for service as an active firefighter in more than one defined benefit volunteer firefighters relief association is entitled, when the applicable requirements of paragraph (b) are met and when otherwise qualified, to a prorated service credit from each relief association.
(b) A volunteer firefighter receiving a prorated service pension under this subdivision must have a total amount of service credit of ten years or more, if the bylaws of every affected relief association do not specify only a five-year service vesting requirement, or five years or more, if the bylaws of every affected relief association require only a five-year service vesting requirement, as a member of two or more relief associations otherwise qualified. The member must have one year or more of service