SB192 Summary

• Allows members with five or more years of actual and reciprocal service to qualify for disability retirement under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.

• Adds option for members denied Social Security Administration disability determination to request review by the system's medical committee within three months before or after termination of disability benefits.

• Permits disability retirees to continue receiving monthly disability benefits while employed if they work fewer than 40 days annually or in substantially different positions with lower salaries than when disabled.

• Creates system of waivers allowing covered employers to hire disability retirees with flexible work arrangements while retirees maintain disability benefits and employer remits standard contribution rates.

• Allows members returning to covered employment after disability retirement to receive the higher of either their original disability benefit or a recomputed benefit based on new service credit earned, with an emergency effective date of March 21, 2017.