MS HB31

Requires forfeiture of retirement benefits from three state retirement systems (Public Employees' Retirement System, Supplemental Legislative Retirement Plan, and Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System) for members convicted of or pleading guilty/nolo contendere to felonies related to their employment, effective July 1, 2015.

Establishes court proceedings where courts must conduct hearings to determine if termination conditions are met; courts issue termination and forfeiture orders that are sent to the retirement systems for implementation.

Provides that members are not actually terminated until all appeals of conviction are exhausted or appeal time expires, with the Attorney General certifying this status to the retirement systems before final termination.

Upon termination, members receive refund of accumulated contributions without interest; retired members have allowances terminated with potential partial refunds if payments received were less than contributions made.

Prevents terminated members from repurchasing creditable service with refunded contributions but allows re-membership and new service credit if the person is later employed in covered state service.