SB 1570 Summary

• Allows retired justices and judges who reach normal retirement age to serve as temporary senior judges without it being considered reemployment, and permits them to receive retirement benefits while performing temporary judicial duty assigned by the Chief Justice.

• Modifies judicial nominating commission composition by allowing the Governor to appoint members who serve at the Governor's pleasure (except those nominated by The Florida Bar), and establishes staggered term limits ending in 2012, 2014, and 2015.

• Increases Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates for the Elected Officers' Class for Justices and Judges by 0.45 percentage points and for unfunded actuarial liability by 0.91 percentage points, effective July 1, 2012.

• Requires the Legislature to appropriate at least $1.6 million in recurring General Revenue Funds to the judicial branch and the State Courts Administrator to certify the appropriation was made and not vetoed for the bill's retirement provisions to take effect.

• Effective July 1, 2012, except for judicial nominating commission changes (effective immediately) and provisions requiring legislative appropriation and State Courts Administrator certification.