DEPARTMENT
OF
AUDITS
AND
ACCOUNTS
270
Washington Street, S.W., Suite
1-156
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-8400
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-8400
Russell W.
Hinton
State Auditor
(404) 656-2174
State Auditor
(404) 656-2174
February
7, 2007
The Honorable Bill HeathState
Senator
State Capitol, Room 109
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
State Capitol, Room 109
Atlanta, Georgia 30334
SUBJECT: State
Auditor’s
Certification
Senate Bill 162 (LC 21 9238)
Senate Bill 162 (LC 21 9238)
Dear Senator
Heath:
This
bill would amend provisions relating to disability benefits under the
Employees’ Retirement System. Specifically, this bill would revise the
method for calculating disability benefits for persons who become members of the
Employees Retirement System on or after July 1, 2007. If this legislation is
enacted, members would be required to have 15 years of creditable service in
order to become eligible for disability benefits. Eligible members would
receive a disability benefit which is calculated based upon the number of years
of creditable service attained and based upon his or her highest average monthly
compensation during a period of 24 consecutive calendar months. Disability
benefits paid to any person who is a member of the System on June 30, 2007 will
continue to be calculated based on the existing provisions.
This
is to certify that this is a nonfiscal retirement bill as defined in the Public
Retirement Systems Standards Law.
Respectfully,
/s/ Russell W.
Hinton
State Auditor
State Auditor