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Ga. Const. art. III, § X, ¶ II — Increasing benefits authorized | Georgia Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA

ARTICLE III. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Paragraph II. Increasing benefits authorized.

Public funds may be expended for the purpose of increasing benefits being paid pursuant to any retirement or pension system wholly or partially supported from public funds.

1976 Constitution.

- Art. X, Sec. I, Para. V.

JUDICIAL DECISIONS

Cited in Carter v. Haynes, 228 Ga. 462, 186 S.E.2d 115 (1971); Richmond County v. Pierce, 234 Ga. 274, 215 S.E.2d 665 (1975).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Editor's notes.

- In light of the similarity of the provisions, opinions under former Ga. Const. 1976, Art. X, Sec. I, Para. V and antecedent provisions, relating to the ability of the General Assembly to provide for increased retirement benefits, are included in the annotations for this paragraph.

Increases in teacher's retirement benefits arising from state funds.

- A constitutional amendment would be necessary to authorize an increase in retirement benefits, to be paid from state funds, to retired teachers in any local system funded through appropriations made by municipal corporations, counties, or any political subdivision. 1974 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 74-14.

A supplemental retirement plan for public employees which does not require a substantial benefit to the employer, in the form of new service or otherwise, violates the prohibitions against governmental gratuities and extra compensation for services rendered. 1996 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U96-21.

Effect of

§§ 47-3-120 and47-3-124 and Ga. Const. 1976, Art. X, Sec. I, Para. V (see Ga. Const. 1983, Art. III, Sec. X, Para. II). - Upon reading Ga. L. 1975, p. 357, §§ 2 and 3, Ga. L. 1975, p. 1328, § 1 and Ga. L. 1974, p. 1139, § 1 (see now O.C.G.A. §§ 47-3-120 and47-3-124) within the context of the provisions concerning teacher retirement systems (see now O.C.G.A. Ch. 3, T. 47), and upon considering precipitant events leading to passage of the provisions, it became evident that the aforementioned Georgia laws (see now O.C.G.A. §§ 47-3-120 and 47-3-124) and Ga. Const. 1976, Art. X, Sec. I, Para. V (see Ga. Const. 1983, Art. III, Sec. X, Para. II) were designed to include theretofore excluded local fund retirees under the minimum Teachers Retirement System benefits statute. 1975 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 75-9.

Ga. L. 1975, p. 357, §§ 2 and 3, Ga. L. 1975, p. 1328, § 1 and Ga. L. 1974, p. 1139, § 1 (see now O.C.G.A. §§ 47-3-120 and47-3-124) were accompanied by and conditioned upon ratification of Ga. Const. 1976, Art. X, Sec. I, Para. V (see Ga. Const. 1983, Art. III, Sec. X, Para. II), an amendment to the Georgia Constitution authorizing the General Assembly to provide by law Teachers Retirement System retirement benefits to teachers retiring with a local retirement fund. 1975 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 75-9.

A retired member of the Teachers Retirement System is entitled to receive the $9.00 minimum retirement benefits whether the member is retired as a member of the TRS or is receiving minimum retirement benefits by virtue of the member's teaching service under a local retirement fund. 1975 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 75-27.

Application.

- This paragraph should not be applied to persons who neither render services as public school employees nor made the required contributions to the Public School Employees' Retirement System. 1971 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 71-73.(see Ga. Const. 1983, Art. III, Sec. X, Para. II).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

ALR.

- Increase of pension benefits as applicable to those already receiving benefits, 118 A.L.R. 992.