The following is a synopsis of legislation enacted during the 2006 session of the General Assembly having an effect on the Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) and/or its members. The laws are effective July 1, 2006. Act No. 477 (Senate Bill 177) – Amends 47-2 to add 47-2-327 which provides that effective July 1, 2006, or on the date of employment, whichever is later, officers and employees of the State Road and Tollway Authority shall become ERS members. Any employee who was already a member of ERS on July 1, 2006 shall continue in the same membership status; otherwise all new employees shall be under the New Plan. Act No. 519 (House Bill 379) - Amends 47-2-123(b) to provide that members on July 1, 2006 shall not be entitled to disability benefits if the employer finds a comparable job within the department, taking the medical/physical impairments of the member into consideration. Act No. 580 (House Bill 644) - Amends 47-2-96.1 to allow up to ten (10) years of creditable service to any member who rendered temporary, full-time service in the legislative branch of state government prior to July 1, 2006. Member must make application by January 1, 2007 and pay employer and employee contributions that would have been paid during such period, plus regular interest thereon. Act No. 915 (House Bill 1020) – Amends 47-2-110, 47-4-101, 47-23-103, and 47-24-100 to provide that no retirement application will, in any case, be effective earlier than the first of the month following the final month of the applicant’s employment. Act No. 514 (House Bill 1151) – Amends 45-18-38 to provide that the ERS Board of Trustees shall be the successor to the Employee Benefit Council for the purpose of administering any deferred compensation plan provided to employees as referenced in 45-18-52. Other legislation of interest: Act No. 459 (House Bill 149) - Amends 18-4-22 to allow funds or benefits from a pension or retirement program as defined in 29 U.S.C. Section 1002(2)(A) or funds or benefits from an individual retirement allowance as defined in Section 408 or 408A of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to be exempt from the process of garnishment until paid or otherwise transferred to the member or beneficiary of such program. Such funds or benefits, when paid or transferred shall be exempt only to the extent provided in 18-4-20, unless a greater exemption is otherwise provided by law. | 
