The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter, as amended, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning. The masculine pronouns, wherever used herein, shall include both male and female persons.
ACTUARIAL EQUIVALENT AND ACTUARIALLY EQUIVALENT. Equality in value of the aggregate amounts expected to be received under different forms of payment based upon the actuarial factors and assumptions used by the actuary with the approval of the board.
ACTUARIAL TABLES. Such tables of mortality, interest rates, turnover discounts, salary scales, etc., as shall be used by the actuary with approval of the board.
ACTUARY. The technical advisor regarding the operations, which are based on mortality, service and compensation experience, who makes periodic valuations of the assets and liabilities of the fund and other evaluations as requested by the board and the governing body.
ALTERNATIVE PENSION BENEFIT. Shall have the meaning as set forth in the following sections:
(1) Section 2.5-25 for group III members;
(2) Section 2.5-35 for group IV members;
(3) Section 2.5-45 for group I members;
(4) Section 2.5-55 for group II members;
(5) Section 2.5-65 for group V firefighters; and
(6) Section 2.5-75 for group VI firefighters.
BASE PENSION. The annual life pension a member receives as set forth in the following sections:
(1) Section 2.5-25 for group III members;
(2) Section 2.5-35 for group IV members;
(3) Section 2.5-45 for group I members;
(4) Section 2.5-55 for group II members;
(5) Section 2.5-65 for group V firefighters; and
(6) Section 2.5-75 for group VI firefighters.
BENEFICIARY. Any person in receipt of a retirement benefit or any other benefit provided under this chapter.
BOARD. The board of trustees of the employees’ retirement fund of the City of Fort Worth.
BUILT-IN OVERTIME. The overtime earned as a result of suppression firefighters working their regular schedules, that is, the hours worked in excess of 212 hours in the city’s regular 28-day pay cycle for firefighters. This definition does not include constant staffing overtime (CSOT) or emergency callback overtime (ECOT). In each 28-day pay cycle, a suppression firefighter is scheduled to work either 216, 224 or 232 hours. The number of hours in each 28-day pay cycle that are in excess of 212 is the BUILT-IN OVERTIME that the suppression firefighter will earn for that particular 28-day pay cycle. Thus, the maximum amount of BUILT-IN OVERTIME that a suppression firefighter can earn per 28-day pay cycle is four hours (when the suppression firefighter is scheduled to work 216 hours), or 12 hours (when the suppression firefighter is scheduled to work 224 hours), or 20 hours (when the suppression firefighter is scheduled to work 232 hours).
BUY BACK INTEREST. The assumed rate of return as adopted by the board of trustees of the City of Fort Worth Employees’ Retirement Fund for the annual actuarial valuation of the fund.
CASH BALANCE ACCOUNT. The individual nominal account established for general employees hired on or after July 1, 2011, to account for overtime contributions made to the fund.
CITY. The City of Fort Worth, Texas.
CODE. The United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and any successor thereof.
COMPENSATION BASE. Shall have the meanings set forth in the following sections:
(1) Section 2.5-23 for group III members;
(2) Section 2.5-33 for group IV members;
(3) Section 2.5-43 for group I members;
(4) Section 2.5-53 for group II members;
(5) Section 2.5-63 for group V firefighters; and
(6) Section 2.5-73 for group VI firefighters.
CREDITED SERVICE. The number of years (treating each complete month of service as one-twelfth of a year) in which an employee has participated in the employees’ retirement fund of the City of Fort Worth, Texas, including unused accumulated sick leave and major medical leave pursuant to § 2.5-4. Service for 15 or more calendar days in any month shall constitute a complete month of service; service for less than 15 calendar days in any month shall constitute a complete month of absence. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this definition of CREDITED SERVICE, the period of time following a member’s effective DROP election shall not be included when determining a member’s credited service. A member may have his or her proof of credited service increased through the purchase of permissive service credits as provided in § 2.5-4(c).
DROP. The deferred retirement option program as set forth in § 2.5-9.
DROP ACCOUNT. The account created pursuant to § 2.5-9(d) for a member who has made a DROP election.
DROP ELECTION. The election made by a member pursuant to § 2.5-9 to participate in the DROP.
EARNED INCOME. For purposes of § 2.5-7, those wages, salaries, tips, commissions, monetary bonuses or professional fees, and other amounts received as compensation for personal services actually rendered, including any compensation deferred under a deferred compensation program.
EARNINGS. Shall have the meaning set forth in the following sections:
(1) Section 2.5-21 for group III members;
(2) Section 2.5-31 for group IV members;
(3) Section 2.5-41 for group I members;
(4) Section 2.5-51 for group II members;
(5) Section 2.5-61 for group V firefighters; and
(6) Section 2.5-71 for group VI firefighters.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. The individual appointed by the board to supervise the administrative affairs of the fund and carry out the business of the fund.
FISCAL YEAR. The period from October 1 of one year through September 30 of the following year.
FUND. The employees’ retirement fund of the City of Fort Worth, Texas.
GENERAL EMPLOYEE. A member of the fund who is not a police officer or firefighter.
GOVERNING BODY. The city council for the City of Fort Worth.
GROUP I MEMBER. A general employee hired prior to July 1, 2011.
GROUP II MEMBER. A general employee hired on or after July 1, 2011.
GROUP III MEMBER. A police officer hired prior to January 1, 2013.
GROUP IV MEMBER. A police officer hired on or after January 1, 2013.
GROUP V FIREFIGHTER.
(1) A firefighter member hired prior to January 10, 2015.
(2) Any member of the Fort Worth fire department, hired prior to January 10, 2015 who was hired in substantial compliance with Tex. Local Government Code Chapter 143, or as modified by the provisions of the city’s collective bargaining agreement with the Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 440, and any firefighter trainee who is employed by the city for the sole purpose of attending the City of Fort Worth fire department’s training academy.
GROUP VI FIREFIGHTER.
(1) A firefighter member hired on or after January 10, 2015.
(2) Any member of the Fort Worth fire department, hired on or after January 10, 2015, who was hired in substantial compliance with Tex. Local Government Code Chapter 143, or as modified by the provisions of the city’s collective bargaining agreement with the Fort Worth Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 440, and any firefighter trainee who is employed by the city for the sole purpose of attending the City of Fort Worth fire department’s training academy.
LEGITIMATE CHILDREN. Those children legitimate to their respective parent(s), as legitimacy is defined by the Texas Family Code and the Texas Probate Code, as amended.
LINE OF DUTY. In the course of the operation usual to a member’s employment, including all operations necessary, incident or appurtenant thereto or connected therewith, whether such operations are conducted at the usual place of employment or elsewhere.
MEMBER. A “participating member” as defined by Tex. Revised Civil Statutes Article 6243i, § 1.02(4).
NET EARNINGS FROM SELF- EMPLOYMENT. Shall constitute, for purposes of § 2.5-7, the NET EARNINGS FROM SELF- EMPLOYMENT as reflected upon the Internal Revenue Form Schedule SE and its successors, which schedule is attached to Internal Revenue Form 1040 and its successors.
NORMAL RETIREMENT DATE. Shall have the meaning set forth in the following sections:
(1) Section 2.5-22 for group III members/group III police members;
(2) Section 2.5-32 for group IV members/group IV police members;
(3) Section 2.5-42(a) for group I members/group I general members;
(4) Section 2.5-52 for group II members/group II general members;
(5) Section 2.5-62(a) for group V members/group V firefighters; and
(6) Section 2.5-72(a) for group VI members/group VI firefighters.
PERMISSIVE SERVICE CREDITS. A member’s voluntary purchase of additional periods of credited service pursuant to § 2.5-4(c).
POLICE OFFICER. A member of the City of Fort Worth police department, who has acquired civil service status pursuant to Tex. Local Government Code Chapter 143, as amended, as well as a beginning employee of the City of Fort Worth police department currently serving a one-year probationary period pursuant to Tex. Local Government Code Chapter 143, as amended.
REGULAR INTEREST. Two-year Treasury Bill rate on the last pay date of the calendar year. Regular Interest will be compounded annually. Regular Interest will not be applied to any year in which the member is not an active employee on the last pay date of the calendar year.
RETIREMENT BENEFIT. A pension for life, as provided in this chapter, payable each year in 12 equal monthly installments, beginning as of the date approved by the board in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.
STANDARD PENSION BENEFIT. Shall have the meaning set forth in the following sections:
(1) Section 2.5-25 for group III members;
(2) Section 2.5-35 for group IV members;
(3) Section 2.5-45 for group I members;
(4) Section 2.5-55 for group II members;
(5) Section 2.5-65 for group V firefighters; and
(6) Section 2.5-75 for group VI firefighters.
TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Complete severance of employment of any member as an employee of the city by any act or means except death, disability or retirement.
TRUSTEE. A person appointed or elected to administer the fund.
VESTED. The rights accrued under this article by a member of the fund who has been a member for five years or more, or who has attained his or her retirement date, as described in this chapter. Such rights shall also accrue to all members of the fund at the time of termination of the fund, at the time of any complete discontinuance of the city’s contributions to the fund, and to members affected at the time of any partial termination of the fund, but only to the extent that the benefits of such members have been funded.
VESTED TERMINATED. When used to describe a member in any group shall mean a member who:
(1) Voluntarily or involuntarily separates from the city prior to retirement;
(2) Is vested at the time of separation; and
(3) Does not receive a refund of any part of his contribution.
VESTED TERMINATED PENSION. Shall have the meaning as set forth in the following sections:
(1) Section 2.5-24(b) for group III members/group III police officers;
(2) Section 2.5-34(b) for group IV members/group IV police officers;
(3) Section 2.5-45(b) for group I members/group I general members;
(4) Section 2.5-54(b) for group II members/group II general members;
(5) Section 2.5-65(b) for group V members/group V firefighters; and
(6) Section 2.5-75(a) or (c) for group VI members/group VI firefighters.
VESTED TERMINATED RETIREMENT DATE. Shall have the meaning set forth in the following sections:
(1) Section 2.5-22(b) for group III members/group III police members;
(2) Section 2.5-32(b) for group IV members/group IV police members;
(3) Section 2.5-42(c) for group I members/group I general members;
(4) Section 2.5-52(b) for group II members/group II general members;
(5) Section 2.5-62(c) for group V members/group V firefighters; and
(6) Section 2.5-72(c) for group VI members/group VI firefighters.
(Ord. 20471-10-2012, § 2, passed 10-23-2012; Ord. 21459-09-2014, § 1, passed 9-16-2014; Ord. 21510-10-2014, § 1, passed 10-21-2014; Ord. 22977-10-2017, § 1, passed 10-24-2017; Ord. 23034-12-2017, § 1, passed 12-12-2017; Ord. 23516-12-2018, § 1, passed 12-11-2018)