CHAPTER 167a
TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Table of Contents

Sec. 10-183b. Definitions.
Sec. 10-183n. Duties of teachers' employers. Transmission of deductions.
Sec. 10-183t. Health insurance: Plans maintained by Teachers' Retirement Board and boards of education; state payment of premiums on behalf of members; use of one per cent voluntary contributions.

      Sec. 10-183b. Definitions. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

      (1) "Actuarial reserve basis" means a basis under which the liabilities of the retirement system are determined under acceptable actuarial methods and under which assets are accumulated under a program designed to achieve a proper balance between the accumulated assets and the liabilities of the system.

      (2) "Amortization of unfunded liabilities" means a systematic program of annual payments determined as a level per cent of expected member annual salaries in lieu of a lump sum payment.

      (3) "Annual salary" means the annual salary rate for service as a Connecticut teacher during a school year but not including unused sick leave, unused vacation, terminal pay, coaching or extra duty assignments, unless compensation for coaching or extra duty assignment was included in salary for which contributions were made prior to July 1, 1971. In no event shall annual salary include amounts determined by the board to be included for the purpose of inflating the member's average annual salary. The inclusion in annual salary of amounts paid to the member, in lieu of payment by the employer for the cost of benefits, insurance, or individual retirement arrangements which in prior years had been paid by the employer and not included in the member's annual salary, shall be prima facie evidence that such amounts are included for the purpose of inflating the member's average annual salary. Annual salary shall not include payments the timing of which may be directed by the member. Annual salary shall not include payments to a superintendent pursuant to an individual contract between such superintendent and a board of education, of amounts which are not included in base salary. Annual salary shall include amounts paid to the member during a sabbatical leave during which mandatory contributions were remitted, provided such member returned to full-time teaching for at least five full years following the completion of such leave.

      (4) "Average annual salary" means the average annual salary received during the three years of highest salary.

      (5) "Board" means the Teachers' Retirement Board.

      (6) "Child" means a natural child, an adopted child, or a stepchild of a deceased member who has been a stepchild for at least one year immediately prior to the date on which the member died. A child is a "dependent child" of a deceased member if at the time of the member's death (A) the member was living with the child or providing or obligated to provide, by agreement or court order, a reasonable portion of the support of the child, and (B) the child (i) is unmarried and has not attained age eighteen, or (ii) is disabled and such disability began prior to the child attaining age eighteen.

      (7) "Contributions" mean amounts withheld pursuant to this chapter and paid to the board by an employer from compensation payable to a member. Prior to July 1, 1989, "mandatory contributions" are contributions required to be withheld under this chapter and consist of five per cent regular contributions and "one per cent contributions". From July 1, 1989, to June 30, 1992, "mandatory contributions" are contributions required to be withheld under this chapter and consist of five per cent regular contributions and one per cent health contributions. From July 1, 1992, to June 30, 2004, "mandatory contributions" are contributions required to be withheld under this chapter and consist of six per cent "regular contributions" and one per cent health contributions. On or after July 1, 2004, "mandatory contributions" are contributions required to be withheld under this chapter and consist of six per cent regular contributions and one and one-fourth per cent health contributions. "Voluntary contributions" are contributions by a member authorized to be withheld under section 10-183i.

      (8) "Credited interest" means interest at the rate from time to time fixed by the board which shall be substantially that earned by the funds of the system. Such interest shall be applied to a member's account based on the balance as of the previous June thirtieth. Credited interest shall be assessed on any mandatory contributions which were due but not remitted prior to the close of the school year for which salary was paid.

      (9) "Current service" means service rendered in the current fiscal year.

      (10) "Dependent former spouse" means a former spouse of a deceased member who (A) has in his or her care a dependent child of the deceased member; and (B) was receiving, or was entitled to receive, from the deceased member at the time of the death of the deceased member, at least one-half of his or her support; and (C) has not remarried; and (D) is the parent of the child or adopted the child while married to the member and before the child attained age eighteen or, while married to the member, both of them adopted the child before the child attained age eighteen.

      (11) "Dependent parent" means a parent of a deceased member who (A) has reached the age of sixty-five; and (B) has not married after the death of the member; and (C) was receiving at least one-half of his or her support from the member at the time of the member's death and files proof of such support within two years of the date of the member's death; and (D) is not receiving, or entitled to a federal or state old age benefit based on the parent's own earnings, equal to or greater than the amount the parent would be entitled to as a dependent parent under this chapter. A "parent of a deceased member" is (i) the mother or father of a deceased member; or (ii) a stepparent of a deceased member by a marriage entered into before the member attained age sixteen; or (iii) an adopting parent of a deceased member who adopted the deceased member before the member attained age sixteen.

      (12) "Designated beneficiary" means a person designated on a form prescribed by the board by a member to receive amounts which become payable under this chapter as the result of the member's death whether before or after retirement. If a designated beneficiary is not living at the time of the death of a member, the amounts that would have been payable to the designated beneficiary shall be paid to the member's estate.

      (13) "Disabled" means inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or to be of long-continued and indefinite duration, except that during the first twenty-four months that a member is receiving a disability allowance, "disabled" means the inability to perform the usual duties of his occupation by reason of any such impairment.

      (14) "Employer" means an elected school committee, a board of education, the State Board of Education, the board of governors or any of its constituent units, the governing body of the Children's Center and its successors, the E. O. Smith School and any other activity, institution or school employing members.

      (15) "Formal leave of absence" means any absence from active service in the public schools of Connecticut formally granted by a member's employer as evidenced by contemporary records of the employer, provided in the case of an absence due to illness, medical or other evidence of such illness may, at the discretion of the Teachers' Retirement Board, be accepted in lieu of evidence of the formal granting of a leave.

      (16) "Formal application of retirement" means the member's application, birth certificate or notarized statement supported by other evidence satisfactory to the board, in lieu thereof, records of service when required by the board to determine a salary rate or years of creditable service, statement of payment plan and, in the case of an application for a disability benefit, a physician's statement of health.

      (17) "Funding" means the accumulation of assets in advance of the payment of retirement allowances in accordance with a definite actuarial program.

      (18) "Member" means any Connecticut teacher employed for an average of at least one-half of each school day, except that no teacher who under any provision of the general statutes elects not to participate in the system shall be a member unless and until the teacher elects to participate in the system. Members teaching in a nonpublic school classified as a public school by the board under the provisions of this section may continue as members as long as they continue as teachers in such school even if the school ceases to be so classified. A former teacher who has not withdrawn his or her accumulated contributions shall be an "inactive member". A member who, during the period of a formal leave of absence granted by his or her employer, but not exceeding an aggregate of ten school months, continues to make mandatory contributions to the board, retains his or her status as an active member.

      (19) "Normal cost" means the amount of contribution which the state is required to make into the retirement fund in order to meet the actuarial cost of current service.

      (20) "Public school" means any day school conducted within or without this state under the orders and superintendence of a duly elected school committee, a board of education, the State Board of Education, the board of governors or any of its constituent units, the E. O. Smith School, the Children's Center and its successors, joint activities of boards of education authorized by subsection (b) of section 10-158a and any institution supported by the state at which teachers are employed or any incorporated secondary school not under the orders and superintendence of a duly elected school committee or board of education but located in a town not maintaining a high school and providing free tuition to pupils of the town in which it is located, and which has been approved by the State Board of Education under the provisions of part II of chapter 164, provided that such institution or such secondary school is classified as a public school by the retirement board.

      (21) "Retirement allowance" means payments for life derived from member contributions, including credited interest, and contributions from the state.

      (22) "School year" means the twelve months ending on June thirtieth of each year.

      (23) "Surviving spouse" means a widow or widower of a deceased member who (A) was living with the member at the time of the member's death, or receiving, or entitled by court order or agreement to receive, regular support payments from the member, and (B) has not remarried.

      (24) "Survivors" means a surviving spouse, a dependent former spouse, a dependent child and a dependent parent.

      (25) "System" means the Connecticut teachers' retirement system.

      (26) "Teacher" means (A) any teacher, permanent substitute teacher, principal, assistant principal, supervisor, assistant superintendent or superintendent employed by the public schools in a professional capacity while possessing a certificate or permit issued by the State Board of Education, provided on and after July 1, 1975, such certificate shall be for the position in which the person is then employed, (B) certified personnel who provide health and welfare services for children in nonprofit schools, as provided in section 10-217a, under an oral or written agreement, (C) any person who is engaged in teaching or supervising schools for adults if the annual salary paid for such service is equal to or greater than the minimum salary paid for a regular, full-time teaching position in the day schools in the town where such service is rendered, and (D) a member of the professional staff of the State Board of Education or of the Board of Governors of Higher Education or any of its constituent units. A "permanent substitute teacher" is one who serves as such for at least ten months during any school year.

      (27) "Unfunded liability" means the actuarially determined value of the liability for service before the date of the actuarial valuation less the accumulated assets in the retirement fund.

      (P.A. 78-208, S. 1, 35; P.A. 79-436, S. 1, 6; 79-541, S. 1, 6; 79-625, S. 1, 6; P.A. 80-300; 80-302; 80-371; 80-483, S. 41, 186; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; 82-472, S. 31, 183; P.A. 83-449, S. 1, 5; 83-528, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; 84-487, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-594, S. 1, 4; P.A. 86-316, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-4; P.A. 89-26, S. 3, 4; 89-276, S. 1, 3; P.A. 92-205, S. 1, 12; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-14, S. 1, 11; P.A. 00-187, S. 63, 75; P.A. 03-232, S. 7; P.A. 05-99, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 79-436 added definitions of "actuarial reserve basis", "amortization of unfunded liabilities", "current service", "funding", "normal cost" and "unfunded liability", inserting terms in alphabetical order and renumbering subdivisions accordingly; P.A. 79-541 redefined "disabled", deleting distinction between eligibility for survivor's benefits and for disability benefits; P.A. 79-625 redefined "member" to specifically exclude teachers who elect not to participate in retirement system; P.A. 80-300 redefined "teacher" to include assistant principals and assistant supervisors and professional staff members of state boards of education and of higher education or constituent units and to add qualifying phrase re certificates; P.A. 80-302 redefined "member" to include teachers who, while on formal leaves of absence, continue to make mandatory contributions; P.A. 80-371 redefined "formal application of retirement" to require that statements be notarized and be "supported by other evidence satisfactory to the board"; P.A. 80-483 made technical grammatical correction in definition of "member"; P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; P.A. 82-472 changed "Edwin O. Smith" to "E. O. Smith" in Subdivs. (14) and (19); P.A. 83-449 amended the definition of "disabled" in Subdiv. (13) by adding exception that during the first twenty-four months a member is receiving a disability allowance, "disabled" means the inability to perform the usual duties of his occupation by reason of any such impairment; P.A. 83-528 amended the definition of "annual salary" in Subdiv. (3) to exclude amounts determined by the board to be included for the purpose of inflating average annual salary and to exclude payments whose timing may be directed by a member and to specify that inclusion in annual salary of amounts paid to a member in lieu of payment by employer for the cost of benefits, etc. which were paid in prior years by employer, is prima facie evidence such amounts are included to inflate average annual salary; P.A. 84-241 added "of higher education" to board of governors' title in Subdiv. (25); P.A. 84-487 amended definition of teacher in Subdiv. (25) to make existing provision requiring possession of teacher's certificate for "position in which the person is then employed" effective "on and after July 1, 1975"; P.A. 85-594 redefined "amortization of unfunded liabilities" to be a systematic program of "annual payments determined as a level per cent of expected member annual salaries"; P.A. 86-316 added definition of "formal leave of absence" in Subdiv. (15), renumbered remaining Subdivs. and made technical changes in Subdivs. (8), (12), (18), (20), (22) and (25); P.A. 88-4 amended Subsec. (26) to expand types of certificates enumerated in Subdiv. (1) to include any "other certificate or permit issued by the state board of education"; P.A. 89-26 in Subdiv. (26) redefined "teacher" to provide that the person who is a teacher be employed in a professional capacity and made a technical change; P.A. 89-276 amended definition of "member" in Subdiv. (18) to delete provision that no teacher who has attained age sixty-one may become a member for the first time; P.A. 92-205 redefined "annual salary" to exclude payments to a superintendent pursuant to an individual contract between such superintendent and a board of education, of amounts not included in base salary, and redefined "mandatory contributions" to increase five per cent contributions to six per cent; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-14 changed effective date of P.A. 92-205, S. 1 from June 10, 1992, to July 1, 1992; P.A. 00-187 redefined "annual salary" in Subdiv. (3) to add provision relating to sabbatical leaves, redefined "credited interest" in Subdiv. (8) to require assessment on any mandatory contributions which were due but not remitted prior to the close of the school year for which salary was paid and to make a technical change, and redefined "formal application of retirement" in Subdiv. (16) to remove reference to "legal teacher's certificate", effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 03-232 amended Subdiv. (6) defining "child" by inserting commas, amended Subdiv. (7) defining "contributions" to redefine "mandatory contributions" prior to July 1, 1989, as consisting of "five per cent regular contributions and "one per cent contributions", from July 1, 1989, to June 30, 1992, as consisting of "five per cent regular contributions and one per cent health contributions", from July 1, 1992, to June 30, 2004, as consisting of "six per cent regular contributions and one per cent health contributions", and on or after July 1, 2004, as consisting of "six per cent regular contributions and one and one-fourth per cent health contributions", amended Subdiv. (11) defining "dependent parent" by substituting lower case Roman numerals for upper case alpha designators in the definition of "parent of a deceased member", and amended Subdiv. (26) defining "teacher" by substituting upper case alpha designators for Arabic numerals, effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 05-99 amended definitions of "employer" and "public school" in Subdivs. (14) and (20), respectively, to include successors of the Children's Center, effective July 1, 2005.

(Return to
Chapter Table of Contents)		(Return to
List of Chapters)		(Return to
List of Titles)

      Sec. 10-183n. Duties of teachers' employers. Transmission of deductions. (a) Each employer shall: (1) Before employing a teacher notify such teacher of the provisions of this chapter applicable to such teacher; (2) distribute, post or otherwise disseminate in a timely manner, to teachers in its employ, any notices, bulletins, newsletters, annual statements of account and other information supplied by the board for the purpose of properly notifying teachers of their rights and obligations under the system; (3) furnish to the board at times designated by said board such reports and information as the board deems necessary or desirable for the proper administration of the system; and (4) deduct each month seven and one-fourth per cent of one-tenth of such teacher's annual salary rate as directed by said board and any additional voluntary deductions as authorized by such teacher, except that no deductions shall be made from any amounts received by regularly employed teachers for special teaching assignments rendered for the State Board of Education or the Board of Governors of Higher Education unless the salary for such special teaching assignment is equal to or greater than the minimum salary paid for such teacher's regular teaching assignment.

      (b) Each local treasurer or other person having custody of amounts deducted under this chapter by an employer shall transmit and report such amounts to the board so that they are received by said board no later than the fifth business day of the following month. On and after July 1, 2001, all such amounts shall be transmitted via electronic transfer of funds. Such amounts shall at all times be the property of the system and while in the custody of such local treasurer or other person such person is a fiduciary with respect to such amounts and shall discharge a fiduciary's responsibilities solely for the benefit of the system. If such amounts are not accompanied by the reports and information deemed necessary or desirable by the board for the proper administration of the system, in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, the board may deem such amounts not received by the fifth business day of the following month for purposes of this subsection until the date on which such reports and information are received. Said board shall be entitled to receive from an employer interest at the rate of nine per cent per year from the due date on all amounts deducted by such employer and not received by said board by the fifth business day of the following month. Interest at the rate of nine per cent per year shall be compounded annually on the interest assessed from the date payment is received to the date the interest assessment is paid. Such interest shall be treated as an amount earned by assets of the system.

      (c) All amounts received by the board under this section shall be forwarded to the State Treasurer.

      (d) Each member shall file with the board an enrollment and such other forms, documents and information as the board deems necessary or desirable for the proper administration of the system.

      (P.A. 78-208, S. 13, 35; P.A. 82-218, S. 37, 46; P.A. 83-462, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-241, S. 2, 5; P.A. 92-205, S. 2, 12; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-14, S. 1, 11; P.A. 00-187, S. 65, 75; P.A. 03-232, S. 10; P.A. 05-153, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 82-218 replaced board of higher education with board of governors pursuant to reorganization of higher education system, effective March 1, 1983; P.A. 83-462 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that each employer shall distribute to teachers any notice, bulletins, etc. supplied by the board for purpose of notifying teachers of rights and obligations under the system and amended Subsec. (b) to provide that amounts deducted by employer are the property of the system and person in custody of such amounts is a fiduciary and shall discharge his responsibilities solely for the benefit of the system; P.A. 84-241 added "of higher education" to board of governors' title; P.A. 92-205 amended Subsec. (a) to increase monthly deduction from six per cent of one-tenth of annual salary rate to seven per cent of one-tenth of annual salary rate; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-14 changed effective date of P.A. 92-205, S. 2 from June 10, 1992, to July 1, 1992; P.A. 00-187 amended Subsec. (b) to provide for the reporting of deducted amounts, to change the time frame for the receipt of the funds by the board from the last business day of the month to the fifth business day of the following month, to require the electronic transfer of funds on and after July 1, 2001, to change the time frame for determining if the board is entitled to interest on overdue payments from payments not received within one calendar month of the due date to payments not received by the fifth business day of the following month, and to provide for interest at a rate of nine per cent per year to be compounded annually on the interest assessed from the date payment is received to the date the interest assessment is paid, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 03-232 amended Subsec. (a)(4) to change the monthly deduction from "seven per cent" to "seven and one-fourth per cent of one-tenth of such teacher's annual salary rate", effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 05-153 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize board to deem amounts received as "not received" by due date unless and until amounts are accompanied by data needed by board to administer system and make a technical change for the purpose of gender neutrality, effective July 1, 2005.

(Return to
Chapter Table of Contents)		(Return to
List of Chapters)		(Return to
List of Titles)

      Sec. 10-183t. Health insurance: Plans maintained by Teachers' Retirement Board and boards of education; state payment of premiums on behalf of members; use of one per cent voluntary contributions. (a) The retirement board shall offer one or more health benefit plans to: Any member receiving retirement benefits or a disability allowance from the system; the spouse or surviving spouse of such member, and a disabled dependent of such member if there is no spouse or surviving spouse, provided such member, spouse, surviving spouse, or disabled dependent is participating in Medicare Part A hospital insurance. The board may offer one or more basic plans, the cost of which to any such member, spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent shall be one-third of the basic plan's premium equivalent, and one or more optional plans, provided such member, spouse, surviving spouse or disabled dependent shall pay one-third of the basic plan's premium equivalent plus the difference in cost between any such basic plans and any such optional plans. The board shall designate those plans which are basic and those plans which are optional for the purpose of determining such cost and the amount to be charged or withheld from benefit payments for such plans. The surviving spouse of a member, or a disabled dependent of a member if there is no surviving spouse, shall not be ineligible for participation in any such plan solely because such surviving spouse or disabled dependent is not receiving benefits from the system. With respect to any person participating in any such plan, the state shall appropriate to the board one-third of the cost of such basic plan or plans, or one-third of the cost of the rate in effect during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1998, whichever is greater.

      (b) Any member who is receiving retirement benefits or a disability allowance from the system, the spouse or surviving spouse of such member, or a disabled dependent of such member if there is no spouse or surviving spouse, and who is not participating in Medicare Part A hospital insurance, may fully participate in any or all group health insurance plans maintained for active teachers by such member's last employing board of education, or by the state in the case of a member who was employed by the state, upon payment to such board of education or to the state, as applicable, by such member, spouse or surviving spouse, or disabled dependent, of the premium charged for his form of coverage. Such premium shall be no greater than that charged for the same form of coverage for active teachers. The surviving spouse or disabled dependent shall not be ineligible for participation in any such plan solely because such surviving spouse or disabled dependent is not receiving benefits from the system. No person shall be ineligible for participation in such plans for failure to enroll in such plans at the time the member's retirement benefit or disability allowance became effective. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair or alter the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement relating to the payment by a board of education of group health insurance premiums on behalf of any member receiving benefits from the system. Prior to the cancellation of coverage for any member, spouse or surviving spouse for failure to pay the required premiums or cost due, the board of education or the state, if applicable, shall notify the Teachers' Retirement Board of its intention to cancel such coverage at least thirty days prior to the date of cancellation. Absent any contractual provisions to the contrary, the payments made pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall be first applied to any cost borne by the member, spouse or surviving spouse participating in any such plan. As used in this subsection, "last employing board of education" means the board of education with which such member filed his initial application for retirement, and "health insurance plans" means hospital, medical, major medical, dental, prescription drug or auditory benefit plans that are available to active teachers.

      (c) On and after July 1, 2000, the board shall pay a subsidy equal to the subsidy paid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, to the board of education or to the state, if applicable, on behalf of any member who is receiving retirement benefits or a disability allowance from the system, or the spouse, or the surviving spouse of such member, or a disabled dependent of such member if there is no spouse or surviving spouse, who is participating in a health insurance plan maintained by a board of education or by the state, if applicable. Such payment shall not exceed the actual cost of such insurance. With respect to any person participating in any such plan pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, the state shall appropriate to the board one-third of the cost of the subsidy. No payment to a board of education pursuant to this subsection may be used to reduce the amount of any premium payment on behalf of any such member, spouse or surviving spouse, or disabled dependent, made by such board pursuant to any agreement in effect on July 1, 1990.

      (d) The Treasurer shall establish a separate retired teachers' health insurance premium account within the Teachers' Retirement Fund. Commencing July 1, 1989, and annually thereafter all health contributions withheld under this chapter in excess of five hundred thousand dollars shall, upon deposit in the Teachers' Retirement Fund, be credited to such account. Interest derived from the investment of funds in the account shall be credited to the account. Funds in the account shall be used for payments to boards of education pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and for payment of premiums on behalf of members or surviving spouses of members participating in one or more health insurance plans pursuant to subsection (a) of this section in an amount equal to the difference between the amount paid pursuant to said subsection (a) and the amount paid pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. If, during any fiscal year, there are insufficient funds in the account for the purposes of all such payments, the General Assembly shall appropriate sufficient funds to the account for such purpose.

      (P.A. 78-208, S. 19, 35; 78-228, S. 5, 8; P.A. 79-625, S. 5, 6; P.A. 84-451, S. 2; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1, S. 47, 58; P.A. 87-10, S. 1, 2; 87-410, S. 2, 3; P.A. 89-342, S. 4, 5; P.A. 90-308, S. 4, 15; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-10, S. 5, 20; P.A. 98-155, S. 1, 2; P.A. 00-187, S. 59, 75; P.A. 03-232, S. 11, 12; P.A. 05-98, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 78-228 required board to pay ten per cent of individual and additional coverage on and after July 1, 1978; P.A. 79-625 specified applicability of section to group health insurance plans; P.A. 84-451 added provision requiring board to pay, on and after July 1, 1984, for each member receiving a disability allowance, thirty per cent of portion of premium charged for his individual coverage and thirty per cent of any additional cost for his form of coverage; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 86-1 added the requirement that a member be eligible for Medicare Part A to have the board withhold from benefit payments and pay premiums on health insurance plans and that the board shall not allow participation in such a plan by anyone who is not eligible for Medicare Part A, increased the amounts which the board shall pay from ten to twenty-five per cent and for members receiving disability from thirty to forty-five per cent of the portion of the premium charged for individual coverage, added Subsec. (b) providing for participation in group health insurance plans maintained by boards of education, and made other technical changes; P.A. 87-10 clarified provision in Subsec. (b) re participation by member or member's spouse in group health insurance plans maintained for active teachers and added provision that premiums for coverage shall be no greater than that charged for same form of coverage for active teachers; P.A. 87-410 amended Subsec. (a) to allow surviving spouse of a member receiving benefits at the time of death to participate in insurance plans and to provide that surviving spouse is not ineligible for participation solely because such spouse is not receiving benefits from the system; P.A. 89-342 added Subsecs. (c) and (d) re payment of health insurance premiums on and after July 1, 1990; P.A. 90-308 amended Subsec. (c) to change date on which board begins making payments from July 1, 1990, to June 1, 1990; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-10 clarified that provisions of Subsecs. (b) and (c) re participation in health insurance plans and payment of premiums by board apply to a "spouse or surviving spouse" rather than a "spouse" and defined "last employing board of education" for purposes of Subsec. (b), effective October 2, 1991, and applicable to membership or participation in teachers' health insurance plans on and after July 1, 1991; P.A. 98-155 amended Subsec. (a) to delete provision authorizing board to withhold funds from a member or surviving spouse's benefit payment and pay on such person's behalf, premiums on one or more group health insurance plans and to delete provision requiring board to pay twenty-five per cent of the premium charged for individual coverage and twenty-five per cent of any additional cost for such person's form of coverage, to delete provision requiring board to pay forty-five per cent of the premium charged for any member receiving a disability retirement allowance and forty-five per cent of any additional cost for such person's form of coverage, to substitute provision requiring board to offer one or more basic plans, at no cost, to any such member, spouse or surviving spouse of such member and one or more optional plans, provided such person pays the difference in cost between any such basic plans and any such optional plans, and to add provision concerning amount of state's appropriation to the board for the cost of such basic plan or plans, amended Subsec. (b) to include any member receiving a disability allowance, to provide that a surviving spouse shall not be ineligible for participation solely because such spouse is not receiving benefits, to specify application of payments made pursuant to Subsec. (c) and to define "health insurance plans", and amended Subsec. (c) to delete requirement that board pay one hundred per cent of premium costs for participants in plans offered by the board and an equal dollar amount for participants in plans offered by boards of education and to specify amount of board's payment and amount of state's appropriation to the board for the cost of such basic plan or plans, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 00-187 added provisions re a disabled dependent if there is no spouse or surviving spouse, in Subsec. (a) changed the provision for the offering of basic plans to members from no cost to a cost of twenty-five per cent of the basic plan's premium equivalent, in Subsec. (c) changed the requirement for the board to pay, on and after July 1, 1998, an amount equal to the cost of a basic health insurance plan to a requirement to pay, on and after July 1, 2000, a subsidy equal to the subsidy paid in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2000; P.A. 03-232 amended Subsec. (a) to substitute "one-third" for "twenty-five per cent" re cost of plans, and amended Subsec. (c) to make a technical change, and to substitute "one-third" for "twenty-five per cent" re cost of subsidy, effective July 1, 2005, and amended Subsec. (d) to substitute "health contributions" for "one per cent contributions", effective July 1, 2003; P.A. 05-98 amended Subsec. (a) to replace requirement that persons be eligible for Medicare Part A with requirement that persons be participating in Medicare Part A as condition for membership in health insurance plans maintained by retirement board and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2005.

(Return to
Chapter Table of Contents)		(Return to
List of Chapters)		(Return to
List of Titles)