(a)

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Terms Used In Tennessee Code 8-36-715

  • Employer: means :
    (A) The state or any department, commission, institution, board or agency of the state government by which a member is paid, with respect to members in its employ. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Firefighter: means a person in the employ of a political subdivision participating under chapter 35, part 2 of this title who is a member of the fire department of such political subdivision, and is trained in firefighting and actively engaged in such work or subject to call for such services, providing such person's primary livelihood is derived from such work. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • General employee: means any person who is a state official, including legislative officials elected by the general assembly, or who is employed in the service of, and whose compensation is payable in whole or in part by, the state, including employees under supervision of the state whose compensation is paid, in whole or in part, from federal or other funds, or any person in the employ of a political subdivision participating under chapter 35, part 2 of this title, or of the Tennessee County Services Association, but does not include any teacher, state police officer, wildlife officer, firefighter, police officer, state judge, county judge, attorney general, governor, or county official or public service commissioner, or any person performing services on a contractual or percentage basis. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Member: means any person included in the membership of the retirement system, as provided in chapter 35, part 1 of this title. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Police officer: means a person in the employ of a political subdivision participating under chapter 35, part 2 of this title who is a member of the police department of such political subdivision and is trained in police work and actively engaged in such work. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Retirement: means withdrawal from membership with a retirement allowance granted under chapters 34-37 of this title. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Retirement allowance: means the sum of the member annuity and the state annuity. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Retirement system: means the Tennessee consolidated retirement system as defined in §. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Service: means service as a general employee, a teacher, a state police officer, a wildlife officer, a firefighter, a police officer, a state judge, a county judge, an attorney general, a commissioner or a county official which is paid for by an employer, and also includes service for which a former member of the general assembly is entitled to under former §. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • State: means the state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
  • Wildlife officer: means any commissioned employee of the wildlife resources agency engaged in law enforcement activities on a day-to-day basis. See Tennessee Code 8-34-101
(1) The retirement allowance of each retired teacher, wildlife officer, state police officer, firefighter, police officer and general employee shall be increased effective January 1, 2007, in accordance with the following schedule:

Date of Retirement

Percentage Increase

prior to 7/2/75

10.0%

7/2/75 – 7/1/77

7.5%

7/2/77 – 7/1/79

6.0%

7/2/79 – 7/1/81

3.0%

7/2/81 – 7/1/83

1.2%

7/2/83 – 7/1/85

0.9%

7/2/85 – 7/1/87

0.5%

7/2/87 – 7/1/89

0.3%

(2) The increase provided in subdivision (a)(1) shall be in addition to any other increase in retirement benefits provided by this part and shall not be paid retroactively, but shall become effective on January 1, 2007.
(b) As used in this section, “teacher” and “general employee” mean any retired teacher and any retired general employee, as defined in § 8-34-101, and any former teacher or state employee receiving benefits under chapter 39, part 1 of this title.
(c) Sections 8-36-102 and 8-36-208(a) shall not be construed to prevent any increase in the retirement allowance of a retiree when the increase is in accordance with this section.
(d) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, this section shall not apply to individuals who are members of the retirement system by virtue of their employment with any employer participating in the retirement system pursuant to chapter 35, part 2 of this title, unless the governing body of the employer passes a resolution to accept the associated liability and costs to provide the benefits. This increase in benefits shall become effective following the adoption of the resolution. No retroactive benefits are to be paid under this subsection (d). It is the legislative intent that the state shall realize no increased cost as a result of providing the increase to employees of employers participating in the retirement system pursuant to chapter 35, part 2 of this title. All costs associated with the increase shall be the responsibility of the respective employer.
(e)

(1)

(A) On July 1, 2006, and on each July 1 thereafter, the minimum retirement allowance provided for in § 8-36-209(b)(4)(A) shall be adjusted pursuant to the cost-of-living provisions in § 8-36-701(b)(1) and (2) until the person has been retired from the retirement system for twelve (12) months on July 1 next following the December 31 as of which the adjustment is determined; provided, however, that the first adjustment under this subdivision (e)(1) shall occur on November 7, 2006, and on each July 1 thereafter, in accordance with this subdivision (e)(1), for persons who are in service on July 1, 2006.
(B) On July 1, 2025, and on each July 1 thereafter, the minimum retirement allowance provided for in § 8-36-209(b)(5)(A) must be adjusted pursuant to the cost-of-living provisions in § 8-36-701(b)(1) and (2) until the person has been retired from the retirement system for twelve (12) months on July 1 next following the December 31 as of which the adjustment is determined.
(2) Any beneficiary of any benefit provided to a member of the general assembly pursuant to subdivision (e)(1) may elect to receive an amount less than the amount that member is eligible to receive; provided, that the request is in writing and irrevocable.