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MRTA
Progress Report:
MRTA is Missouri’s Largest Education Association that serves Retired
Educators Exclusively.
1960-2005
Membership July, 2005 16,000+
Local Units July, 2005 122+
Legislative History
2003--W.A.R. (Work After Retirement) and the P.L.S.O. (Partial Lump
Sum Option) for teacher and non-teacher retirees now law. Continue work to eliminate
Social Security GPO (Government Pension Offset) and WEP (Windfall Elimination
Provision).
2002 — Working to convert MRTA sponsored $5000 death benefit to
life insurance. Working to eliminate Social Security GPO and WEP.
2001 — For Teachers: A monthly increase of $3.00 times number of
creditable service. For Non-Teachers: 1. An increase for all retirees of 7.1%;
2. Increase the COLA cap to 80%.
2000 — Sponsored legislation, which included a 3.5% increase in
retirement benefits for all teacher retirees and beneficiaries and increased the
COLA cap from 75% to 80%. Also provided a 3.4% increase for all non-teacher
retirees.
1999 — Sponsored legislation that provided a monthly benefit of
$5.00 times the number of creditable years of service to those retired prior to
July 1, 1999 and created a new $5000 death benefit. Provided a 7.4% increase for
non-teacher retirees.
1998 — Sponsored legislation that provided an 8.7% increase for all
teacher retirees and beneficiaries. Increased the non-teacher lifetime COLA from
65% to 75% and provided a Level Income Option to adjust with Social Security.
1997 — Changed the retiree benefit payment date to the last working
day of the month. Supported Health Maintenance Consumer Protection. Supported
improvements to the St. Louis Retirement System.
1996 — Increased lifetime COLA cap to 75% for PSRS. Sponsored
removal of the $24,000 salary cap for supplemental benefits. Increased minimum
benefit for 30-year service PSRS members to $1200. Supported amendments to the
St. Louis Retirement System.
1995 — $2 per month per year of service (maximum of $60) for
retirees receiving less that $24,000 in yearly benefits. Established new minimum
monthly benefit schedule: 15-19 year of service—$600; 20-24 years of
service—$1000; and 30+ years of service—$1100.
1994 —Sponsored a monthly minimum retirement benefit of $800 for
teachers with 25 or more years of creditable service. Supported improvements in
the Kansas City Retirement System.
1993 —Supported the Pop-Up provision for PSRS and the following
improvements for non-teacher retirees: 55-25 and out, COLA from 4% -5% and
lifetime COLA increased from 44% to 56% and supported improvements in Kansas
City and St. Louis Retirement Systems.
1992 — Sponsored Retired Teachers Day which is celebrated the
second Wednesday in June. Sponsored legislation, which changed lifetime COLA
increase from 56% to 65% fro retired members of the PSRS. Supported legislation
permitting retired teachers to substitute up to 550 hours.
1991 — Sponsored legislation for a minimum benefit of $600 per
month for teachers retired from the PSRS with 20 or more years of creditable
service. Increased the maximum yearly COLA for PSRS members to 5%.
1990 — Sponsored legislation to apply the COLA increase to current
benefit instead of first year benefit. Increased the $300 monthly minimum
benefit to $600 per month with a minimum of 20 years of service. Increased
lifetime COLA cap from 52% to 56% for teacher retirees and 32% to 44% fro
non-teacher retirees.
1989 — Increased lifetime COLA cap from 40% to 52% fro teacher
retirees. Supported improvements to the Kansas City and St. Louis Retirement
Systems.
1988 — Supported COLA fro retirees of the St. Louis Retirement
System. Supported legislation relating to long-term institutional care.
1987 — Sponsored legislation to provide a minimum retirement
benefit of $300 per month by the PSRS if member has 20 years of creditable
service and allowed non-teacher retirees to be employed for up to 360 hours
without interfering with retirement allowance. Guaranteed retirees receiving
benefits under chapter 169, RSMo, the right to participate in health insurance
in the school districts health insurance plan from which they retired. The
premium for teachers and retirees should be the same. The legislation also
applied to spouses and surviving children.
1986 — Increased the lifetime COLA increase from 32% to 40% for
retired members of the PSRS. Increased benefits for retired members of the St.
Louis Retirement System and gave retired members of the Kansas City Retirement
System representation on the Board of Trustees.
1984 — Sponsored legislation, which raised the ceiling for cost of
living, increases from 24% to 32% for retired members of the PSRS and active and
retired members of the Non-Teacher School Employee Retirement System of Missouri
to vote for members of the Board of Trustees. Supported legislation relating to
the Guardianship Code.
1981 — Supported legislation, which gave COLA to certain persons
receiving benefits from the Kansas City and the St. Louis Retirement Systems.
1980 —Sponsored passage of legislation which increased the maximum
annual COLA from 2% 5o 4% per year and increased the total maximum from 10% to
24% for all retirees. Supported the passage of Missouri’s Probate Code and the
elimination of state inheritance tax on most estates.
1978 — Supported passage of legislation eliminating the payment of
sales tax on the cost of prescription drugs.
1975 — Obtained for retirees and beneficiaries of the PSRS who
retired prior to September 1, 1972, and increase in benefits amounting to 2% per
year for each year the retiree had been retired prior to July 1, 1975. Total
increase limited to 10%.
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