Section 33-1-5.1
Retirement plans for employees of Alabama State Port Authority.
(a) The Alabama State Port Authority may establish and fund retirement plans for various employees of the Alabama State Port Authority including but not limited to those employees who are employed by the port authority under Section 36-26-19, those employees who are "exempt" under Section 36-26-19, those employees who are employed by the port authority under Section 33-1-16 as locomotive engineers, locomotive firemen, switchmen, and switch engine foremen, and hostlers engaged in the operation of the terminal railroads provided for by said section, and those employees of the port authority who are not otherwise covered under the State Employees' Retirement System and pay the costs of the establishment and funding of the retirement plans from the revenues of the port authority.
(b) The retirement plans and benefits shall be in amounts as defined in individual labor contracts and deemed appropriate and desirable by the port authority for the benefit of those employees of the port authority who are not otherwise covered under the State Employees' Retirement System and who have been declared eligible for disability or retirement benefits by the U.S. Social Security Administration or under the U.S. Railroad Retirement Act.
(c) The port authority may establish and fund the retirement plans solely out of the revenues of the port authority and may execute contracts to establish the retirement funds and provide the benefits under the plan provided by this section. The general administration and responsibility for the proper operation of the retirement plans and for making effective the provisions of this section are vested in the port authority and the port authority may establish committees as deemed necessary and appropriate. The port authority may designate, appoint, and discharge administrators and trustees under the plans and engage actuarial and other services as required to transact the business of the retirement plans. All of the benefits to be provided under this section may be included in one or more contracts issued by the same or different administrators, trustees, and companies and may cover groups of employees under separate contracts as deemed necessary and appropriate by the port authority. The port authority shall establish the plans and shall award such contract or contracts on a basis as determined by the benefits afforded, the costs to be incurred and paid for solely out of the revenues of the port authority as the port authority deems necessary and appropriate.
(d) The contract or contracts shall provide for retirement benefits for the retired employees of the port authority not covered by the retirement plan of the State of Alabama and as defined by the rules and regulations of the port authority, on terms deemed appropriate by the port authority. The port authority shall adopt rules and regulations prescribing the conditions under which retiring employees may participate in or withdraw from the plans.
(e) The port authority may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of the retirement plans.
(f) The benefits provided for hereunder shall not exceed the retirement benefits provided for other employees of the state under established state retirement plans.
(g) The port authority may develop a retirement incentive program for all employees of the port authority who are eligible to retire from state service and who retire prior to September 30, 1997. The port authority shall promulgate any administrative regulations necessary to carry out the program in a fair and equitable manner. The costs of any retirement incentive program shall be paid out of the revenues of the port authority. Retirement incentive monies paid to an employee shall not exceed a sum in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year of creditable state service of the employee, which shall be paid in addition to any other benefits or entitlements. An employee choosing to participate in this program will not be eligible to participate in any other early retirement incentive program offered by the State of Alabama in 1997.
(h) The port authority shall prepare a cost-benefit analysis for the program and annually on the first legislative day of each regular session of the Legislature submit a report to the members of the Alabama Legislature and the Governor on the financial benefits of the retirement incentive program.
(Acts 1982, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 82-674, p. 106, §1; Acts 1997, No. 97-142, §1.)