Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

CHAPTER 424A. VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RETIREMENT

Table of Sections
Section Headnote
424A.001 DEFINITIONS.
424A.002 AUTHORIZATION OF NEW OR CONTINUING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS.
424A.01 MEMBERSHIP IN A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION.
424A.015 GENERALLY APPLICABLE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION PENSION PLAN REGULATION.
424A.016 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION SPECIFIC REGULATION.
424A.02 DEFINED BENEFIT RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS; SERVICE PENSIONS.
424A.021 CREDIT FOR BREAK IN SERVICE TO PROVIDE UNIFORMED SERVICE.
424A.03 UNIFORMITY OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER SERVICE PENSION AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
424A.04 VOLUNTEER RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS; BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
424A.05 RELIEF ASSOCIATION SPECIAL FUND.
424A.06 RELIEF ASSOCIATION GENERAL FUND.
424A.07 NONPROFIT FIREFIGHTING CORPORATIONS; ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS.
424A.08 MUNICIPALITY WITHOUT RELIEF ASSOCIATION; AUTHORIZED DISBURSEMENTS.
424A.09 [Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]
424A.10 STATE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFIT; VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.

424A.001 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Terms defined.

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used in this chapter, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given.

Subd. 1a.Ancillary benefit.

"Ancillary benefit" means a benefit payable from the special fund of the relief association other than a service pension that is permitted by law and that is provided for in the relief association bylaws.

Subd. 1b.Defined benefit relief association.

"Defined benefit relief association" means a volunteer firefighters' relief association that provides a lump-sum service pension, provides a monthly benefit service pension, or provides a lump-sum service pension as an alternative to the monthly benefit service pension.

Subd. 1c.Defined contribution relief association.

"Defined contribution relief association" means a volunteer firefighters' relief association that provides a service pension based solely on an individual account balance rather than a specified annual lump-sum or monthly benefit service pension amount.

Subd. 2.Fire department.

"Fire department" includes a municipal fire department or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation.

Subd. 3.Municipality.

"Municipality" means a municipality which has established a fire department with which the relief association is directly associated, or the municipalities which have entered into a contract with the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation of which the relief association is a subsidiary.

Subd. 4.Relief association.

(a) "Relief association" or "volunteer firefighters' relief association" means a volunteer firefighters' relief association or a volunteer firefighters' division or account of a partially salaried and partially volunteer firefighters' relief association that is:

(1) organized and incorporated as a nonprofit corporation to provide retirement benefits to volunteer firefighters under chapter 317A and any laws of the state;

(2) governed by this chapter and sections 69.771 to 69.775; and

(3) directly associated with:

(i) a fire department established by municipal ordinance;

(ii) an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation that is organized under the provisions of chapter 317A and that operates primarily for firefighting purposes; or

(iii) a fire department operated as or by a joint powers entity that operates primarily for firefighting purposes.

(b) "Relief association" or "volunteer firefighters' relief association" does not mean:

(1) the Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association governed by section 69.77; Minnesota Statutes 2000, chapter 424; and Laws 1965, chapter 446, as amended; or

(2) the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan governed by chapter 353G.

(c) A relief association or volunteer firefighters' relief association is a governmental entity that receives and manages public money to provide retirement benefits for individuals providing the governmental services of firefighting and emergency first response.

Subd. 5.Special fund.

"Special fund" means the special fund of a volunteer firefighters' relief association or the account for volunteer firefighters within the special fund of a partially salaried and partially volunteer firefighters' relief association.

Subd. 6.

[Repealed, 2010 c 359 art 13 s 13]

Subd. 7.

[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]

Subd. 8.Firefighting service.

"Firefighting service," if the applicable municipality approves for a fire department that is a municipal department, or if the applicable contracting municipality or municipalities approve for a fire department that is an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, includes fire department service rendered by fire prevention personnel.

Subd. 9.Separate from active service.

"Separate from active service" means that a firefighter permanently ceases to perform fire suppression duties with a particular volunteer fire department, permanently ceases to perform fire prevention duties, permanently ceases to supervise fire suppression duties, and permanently ceases to supervise fire prevention duties.

Subd. 10.Volunteer firefighter.

"Volunteer firefighter" means a person who either:

(1) was a member of the applicable fire department or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation and a member of the relief association on July 1, 2006; or

(2) became a member of the applicable fire department or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation and is eligible for membership in the applicable relief association after June 30, 2006, and

(i) is engaged in providing emergency response services or delivering fire education or prevention services as a member of a municipal fire department, a joint powers entity fire department, or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation;

(ii) is trained in or is qualified to provide fire suppression duties or to provide fire prevention duties under subdivision 8; and

(iii) meets any other minimum firefighter and service standards established by the fire department or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation or specified in the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the relief association.

424A.002 AUTHORIZATION OF NEW OR CONTINUING VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS.

Subdivision 1.Authorization.

A municipal fire department or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, with approval by the applicable municipality or municipalities, may establish a new volunteer firefighters' relief association or may retain an existing volunteer firefighters' relief association.

Subd. 2.Defined benefit or defined contribution relief association.

The articles of incorporation or the bylaws of the volunteer firefighters' relief association must specify that the relief association is either a defined benefit relief association subject to sections 69.771 to 69.774, 424A.015, and 424A.02 or is a defined contribution relief association subject to sections 424A.015 and 424A.016.

424A.01 MEMBERSHIP IN A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION.

Subdivision 1.Minors.

No volunteer firefighters' relief association associated with a municipality or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation may include as a relief association member a minor serving as a volunteer firefighter.

Subd. 2.Status of substitute volunteer firefighters.

No person who is serving as a substitute volunteer firefighter may be considered to be a firefighter for purposes of chapter 69 or this chapter and no substitute volunteer firefighter is authorized to be a member of any volunteer firefighters' relief association governed by chapter 69 or this chapter.

Subd. 3.Status of nonmember volunteer firefighters.

No person who is serving as a firefighter in a fire department but who is not a member of the applicable firefighters' relief association is entitled to any service pension or ancillary benefits from the relief association.

Subd. 3a.

[Repealed, 1989 c 319 art 10 s 8]

Subd. 4.Exclusion of persons constituting an unwarranted health risk.

The board of trustees of every relief association may exclude from membership in the relief association all applicants who, due to some medically determinable physical or mental impairment or condition, is determined to constitute a predictable and unwarranted risk of imposing liability for an ancillary benefit at any age earlier than the minimum age specified for receipt of a service pension. Notwithstanding any provision of section 363A.25, it is a good and valid defense to a complaint or action brought under chapter 363A that the board of trustees of the relief association made a good faith determination that the applicant suffers from an impairment or condition constituting a predictable and unwarranted risk for the relief association if the determination was made following consideration of: (1) the person's medical history; and (2) the report of the physician completing a physical examination of the applicant undertaken at the expense of the relief association.

Subd. 5.Fire prevention personnel.

(a) If the fire department is a municipal department and the applicable municipality approves, or if the fire department is an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation and the contracting municipality or municipalities approve, the fire department may employ or otherwise utilize the services of persons as volunteer firefighters to perform fire prevention duties and to supervise fire prevention activities.

(b) Personnel serving in fire prevention positions are eligible to be members of the applicable volunteer firefighter relief association and to qualify for service pension or other benefit coverage of the relief association on the same basis as fire department personnel who perform fire suppression duties.

(c) Personnel serving in fire prevention positions also are eligible to receive any other benefits under the applicable law or practice for services on the same basis as personnel who are employed to perform fire suppression duties.

Subd. 6.Return to active firefighting after break in service.

(a) The requirements of this section apply to all breaks in service, except breaks in service mandated by federal or state law.

(b)(1) If a firefighter who has ceased to perform or supervise fire suppression and fire prevention duties for at least 60 days resumes performing active firefighting with the fire department associated with the relief association, if the bylaws of the relief association so permit, the firefighter may again become an active member of the relief association. A firefighter who returns to active service and membership is subject to the service pension calculation requirements under this section.

(2) A firefighter who has been granted an approved leave of absence not exceeding one year by the fire department or by the relief association is exempt from the minimum period of resumption service requirement of this section.

(3) A person who has a break in service not exceeding one year but has not been granted an approved leave of absence and who has not received a service pension or disability benefit may be made exempt from the minimum period of resumption service requirement of this section by the relief association bylaws.

(4) If the bylaws so provide, a firefighter who returns to active relief association membership under this paragraph may continue to collect a monthly service pension, notwithstanding the service pension eligibility requirements under chapter 424A.

(c) If a former firefighter who has received a service pension or disability benefit returns to active relief association membership under paragraph (b), the firefighter may qualify for the receipt of a service pension from the relief association for the resumption service period if the firefighter meets the service requirements of section 424A.016, subdivision 3, or 424A.02, subdivision 2. No firefighter may be paid a service pension more than once for the same period of service.

(d) If a former firefighter who has not received a service pension or disability benefit returns to active relief association membership under paragraph (b), the firefighter may qualify for the receipt of a service pension from the relief association for the original and resumption service periods if the firefighter meets the service requirements of section 424A.016, subdivision 3, or 424A.02, subdivision 2, based on the original and resumption years of service credit.

(e) A firefighter who returns to active lump-sum relief association membership under paragraph (b) and who qualifies for a service pension under paragraph (c) must have, upon a subsequent cessation of duties, any service pension for the resumption service period calculated as a separate benefit. If a lump-sum service pension had been paid to the firefighter upon the firefighter's previous cessation of duties, a second lump-sum service pension for the resumption service period must be calculated by applying the service pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's termination of the resumption service for all years of the resumption service.

(f) A firefighter who had not been paid a lump-sum service pension returns to active relief association membership under paragraph (b), who did not meet the minimum period of resumption service requirement specified in the relief association's bylaws, but who does meet the minimum service requirement of section 424A.02, subdivision 2, based on the firefighter's original and resumption years of active service, must have, upon a subsequent cessation of duties, a service pension for the original and resumption service periods calculated by applying the service pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's termination of the resumption service, or, if the bylaws so provide, based on the service pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's previous cessation of duties. The service pension for a firefighter who returns to active lump-sum relief association membership under this paragraph, but who had met the minimum period of resumption service requirement specified in the relief association's bylaws, must be calculated by applying the service pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's termination of the resumption service.

(g) If a firefighter receiving a monthly benefit service pension returns to active monthly benefit relief association membership under paragraph (b), and if the relief association bylaws do not allow for the firefighter to continue collecting a monthly service pension, any monthly benefit service pension payable to the firefighter is suspended as of the first day of the month next following the date on which the firefighter returns to active membership. If the firefighter was receiving a monthly benefit service pension, and qualifies for a service pension under paragraph (c), the firefighter is entitled to an additional monthly benefit service pension upon a subsequent cessation of duties calculated based on the resumption service credit and the service pension accrual amount in effect on the date of the termination of the resumption service. A suspended initial service pension resumes as of the first of the month next following the termination of the resumption service. If the firefighter was not receiving a monthly benefit service pension and meets the minimum service requirement of section 424A.02, subdivision 2, a service pension must be calculated by applying the service pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's termination of the resumption service for all years of service credit.

(h) A firefighter who was not receiving a monthly benefit service pension returns to active relief association membership under paragraph (b), who did not meet the minimum period of resumption service requirement specified in the relief association's bylaws, but who does meet the minimum service requirement of section 424A.02, subdivision 2, based on the firefighter's original and resumption years of active service, must have, upon a subsequent cessation of duties, a service pension for the original and resumption service periods calculated by applying the service pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's termination of the resumption service, or, if the bylaws so provide, based on the service pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's previous cessation of duties. The service pension for a firefighter who returns to active relief association membership under this paragraph, but who had met the minimum period of resumption service requirement specified in the relief association's bylaws, must be calculated by applying the service pension amount in effect on the date of the firefighter's termination of the resumption service.

(i) For defined contribution plans, a firefighter who returns to active relief association membership under paragraph (b) and who qualifies for a service pension under paragraph (c) or (d) must have, upon a subsequent cessation of duties, any service pension for the resumption service period calculated as a separate benefit. If a service pension had been paid to the firefighter upon the firefighter's previous cessation of duties, and if the firefighter meets the minimum service requirement of section 424A.016, subdivision 3, based on the resumption years of service, a second service pension for the resumption service period must be calculated to include allocations credited to the firefighter's individual account during the resumption period of service and deductions for administrative expenses, if applicable.

(j) For defined contribution plans, if a firefighter who had not been paid a service pension returns to active relief association membership under paragraph (b), and who meets the minimum service requirement of section 424A.016, subdivision 3, based on the firefighter's original and resumption years of service, must have, upon a subsequent cessation of duties, a service pension for the original and resumption service periods calculated to include allocations credited to the firefighter's individual account during the resumption period of service and deductions for administrative expenses, if applicable, less any amounts previously forfeited under section 424A.016, subdivision 4.

424A.015 GENERALLY APPLICABLE VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION PENSION PLAN REGULATION.

Subdivision 1.Separation from active service; exception.

(a) No service pension is payable to a person while the person remains an active member of the respective fire department, and a person who is receiving a service pension is not entitled to receive any other benefits from the special fund of the relief association.

(b) No relief association as defined in section 424A.001, subdivision 4, may pay a service pension or disability benefit to a former member of the relief association if that person has not separated from active service with the fire department to which the relief association is directly associated, unless:

(1) the person is employed subsequent to retirement by the municipality or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, whichever applies, to perform duties within the municipal fire department or corporation on a full-time basis;

(2) the governing body of the municipality or of the corporation has filed its determination with the board of trustees of the relief association that the person's experience with and service to the fire department in that person's full-time capacity would be difficult to replace; and

(3) the bylaws of the relief association were amended to provide for the payment of a service pension or disability benefit for such full-time employees.

Subd. 2.No assignment or garnishment.

A service pension or ancillary benefits paid or payable from the special fund of a relief association to any person receiving or entitled to receive a service pension or ancillary benefits is not subject to garnishment, judgment, execution, or other legal process, except as provided in section 518.58, 518.581, or 518A.53. No person entitled to a service pension or ancillary benefits from the special fund of a relief association may assign any service pension or ancillary benefit payments, and the association does not have the authority to recognize any assignment or pay over any sum which has been assigned.

Subd. 3.Purchase of annuity contract.

A relief association that provides a service pension in a single payment, if the governing articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide, may purchase an annuity contract on behalf of a retiring member in an amount equal to the service pension otherwise payable at the request of the person and in place of a direct payment to the person. The annuity contract must be purchased from an insurance carrier licensed to do business in this state.

Subd. 4.Transfer to individual retirement account.

A relief association that is a qualified pension plan under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and that provides a single payment service pension, at the written request of the applicable retiring member or, following the death of the active member, at the written request of the deceased member's surviving spouse, may directly transfer on an institution-to-institution basis the eligible member's lump-sum pension or the death or survivor benefit attributable to the member, whichever applies, to the requesting person's individual retirement account under section 408(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended.

Subd. 5.Minnesota deferred compensation plan transfers.

A relief association may directly transfer on an institution-to-institution basis the eligible member's lump-sum pension amount to the requesting member's account in the Minnesota deferred compensation plan, if:

(1) the governing articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide;

(2) the volunteer firefighter participates in the Minnesota deferred compensation plan at the time of retirement; and

(3) the applicable retiring firefighter requests in writing that the relief association do so.

424A.016 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS' RELIEF ASSOCIATION SPECIFIC REGULATION.

Subdivision 1.Defined contribution relief association authorization.

If the articles of incorporation or the bylaws governing the volunteer firefighters' relief association so provide exclusively, the relief association may pay a defined contribution lump-sum service pension instead of a defined benefit service pension governed by section 424A.02.

Subd. 2.Defined contribution service pension eligibility.

(a) A relief association, when its articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide, may pay out of the assets of its special fund a defined contribution service pension to each of its members who:

(1) separates from active service with the fire department;

(2) reaches age 50;

(3) completes at least five years of active service as an active member of the municipal fire department to which the relief association is associated;

(4) completes at least five years of active membership with the relief association before separation from active service; and

(5) complies with any additional conditions as to age, service, and membership that are prescribed by the bylaws of the relief association.

(b) In the case of a member who has completed at least five years of active service as an active member of the fire department to which the relief association is associated on the date that the relief association is established and incorporated, the requirement that the member complete at least five years of active membership with the relief association before separation from active service may be waived by the board of trustees of the relief association if the member completes at least five years of inactive membership with the relief association before the date of the payment of the service pension. During the period of inactive membership, the member is not entitled to receive any disability benefit coverage, is not entitled to receive additional individual account allocation of fire state aid or municipal contribution towards a service pension, and is considered to have the status of a person entitled to a deferred service pension.

(c) The service pension earned by a volunteer under this chapter and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the relief association may be paid whether or not the municipality or nonprofit firefighting corporation to which the relief association is associated qualifies for the receipt of fire state aid under chapter 69.

Subd. 3.Reduced vesting schedule.

If the articles of incorporation or bylaws of a defined contribution relief association so provide, a relief association may pay a reduced service pension not to exceed the nonforfeitable percentage of the account balance to a retiring member who has completed fewer than 20 years of service. The reduced service pension may be paid when the retiring member meets the minimum age and service requirements of subdivision 2. The nonforfeitable percentage of pension amounts are as follows:

Completed Years of Service Nonforfeitable Percentage of Pension Amount
5 40 percent
6 52 percent
7 64 percent
8 76 percent
9 88 percent
10 and thereafter 100 percent

Subd. 4.Individual accounts.

(a) An individual account must be established for each firefighter who is a member of the relief association.

(b) To each individual active member account must be credited an equal share of:

(1) any amounts of fire state aid received by the relief association;

(2) any amounts of municipal contributions to the relief association raised from levies on real estate or from other available municipal revenue sources exclusive of fire state aid; and

(3) any amounts equal to the share of the assets of the special fund to the credit of:

(i) any former member who terminated active service with the fire department to which the relief association is associated before meeting the minimum service requirement provided for in subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and has not returned to active service with the fire department for a period no shorter than five years; or

(ii) any retired member who retired before obtaining a full nonforfeitable interest in the amounts credited to the individual member account under subdivision 2, paragraph (b), and any applicable provision of the bylaws of the relief association. In addition, any investment return on the assets of the special fund must be credited in proportion to the share of the assets of the special fund to the credit of each individual active member account. Administrative expenses of the relief association payable from the special fund may be deducted from individual accounts in a manner specified in the bylaws of the relief association.

(c) If the bylaws so permit and as the bylaws define, the relief association may credit any investment return on the assets of the special fund to the accounts of inactive members.

(d) Amounts to be credited to individual accounts must be allocated uniformly for all years of active service and allocations must be made for all years of service, except for caps on service credit if so provided in the bylaws of the relief association. The allocation method may utilize monthly proration for fractional years of service, as the bylaws or articles of incorporation of the relief association so provide. The bylaws or articles of incorporation may define a "month," but the definition must require a calendar month to have at least 16 days of active service. If the bylaws or articles of incorporation do not define a "month," a "month" is a completed calendar month of active service measured from the member's date of entry to the same date in the subsequent month.

(e) At the time of retirement under subdivision 2 and any applicable provision of the bylaws of the relief association, a retiring member is entitled to that portion of the assets of the special fund to the credit of the member in the individual member account which is nonforfeitable under subdivision 3 and any applicable provision of the bylaws of the relief association based on the number of years of service to the credit of the retiring member.

(f) Annually, the secretary of the relief association shall certify the individual account allocations to the state auditor at the same time that the annual financial statement or financial report and audit of the relief association, whichever applies, is due under section 69.051.

Subd. 5.Service pension installment payments.

(a) A defined contribution relief association, if the governing bylaws so provide, may pay, at the option of the intended recipient and in lieu of a single payment of a service pension or a survivor benefit, the service pension or survivor benefit in installments.

(b) The election of installment payments is irrevocable and must be made by the intended recipient in writing and filed with the secretary of the relief association no later than 30 days before the commencement of payment of the service pension or survivor benefit.

(c) The amount of the installment payments must be the fractional portion of the remaining account balance equal to one divided by the number of remaining annual installment payments.

Subd. 6.Deferred service pensions.

(a) A member of a relief association is entitled to a deferred service pension if the member:

(1) has completed the lesser of the minimum period of active service with the fire department specified in the bylaws or 20 years of active service with the fire department;

(2) has completed at least five years of active membership in the relief association; and

(3) separates from active service and membership. The requirement that a member separate from active service and membership is waived for persons who have discontinued their volunteer firefighter duties and who are employed on a full-time basis under section 424A.015, subdivision 1.

(b) The deferred service pension is payable when the former member reaches at least age 50, or at least the minimum age specified in the bylaws governing the relief association if that age is greater than age 50, and when the former member makes a valid written application.

(c) A defined contribution relief association may, if its governing bylaws so provide, credit interest or additional investment performance on the deferred lump-sum service pension during the period of deferral. If provided for in the bylaws, the interest must be paid:

(1) at the investment performance rate actually earned on that portion of the assets if the deferred benefit amount is invested by the relief association in a separate account established and maintained by the relief association;

(2) at the investment performance rate actually earned on that portion of the assets if the deferred benefit amount is invested in a separate investment vehicle held by the relief association; or

(3) at the investment return on the assets of the special fund of the defined contribution volunteer firefighter relief association in proportion to the share of the assets of the special fund to the credit of each individual deferred member account through the accounting date on which the investment return is recognized by and credited to the special fund.

(d) Unless the bylaws of a relief association that has elected to pay interest or additional investment performance on deferred lump-sum service pensions under paragraph (c) specifies a different interest or additional investment performance method, including the interest or additional investment performance period starting date and ending date, the interest or additional investment performance on a deferred service pension is creditable as follows:

(1) for a relief association that has elected to pay interest or additional investment performance under paragraph (c), clause (1) or (3), beginning on the date that the member separates from active service and membership and ending on the accounting date immediately before the deferred member commences receipt of the deferred service pension; or

(2) for a relief association that has elected to pay interest or additional investment performance under paragraph (c), clause (2), beginning on the date that the member separates from active service and membership and ending on the date that the separate investment vehicle is valued immediately before the date on which the deferred member commences receipt of the deferred service pension.

(e) The deferred service pension is governed by and must be calculated under the general statute, special law, relief association articles of incorporation, and relief association bylaw provisions applicable on the date on which the member separated from active service with the fire department and active membership in the relief association.

Subd. 7.Limitation on ancillary benefits.

(a) A defined contribution relief association may only pay an ancillary benefit which would constitute an authorized disbursement as specified in section 424A.05. The ancillary benefit for active members must equal the vested and nonvested amount of the individual account of the member.

(b) For deferred members, the ancillary benefit must equal the vested amount of the individual account of the member. For the recipient of installment payments of a service pension, the ancillary benefit must equal the remaining balance in the individual account of the recipient.

(c)(1) If a survivor or death benefit is payable under the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the benefit must be paid:

(i) as a survivor benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased firefighter;

(ii) as a survivor benefit to the surviving children of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse;

(iii) as a survivor benefit to a designated beneficiary of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse or surviving children; or

(iv) as a death benefit to the estate of the deceased active or deferred firefighter if no surviving spouse, no surviving children, and no beneficiary designated.

(2) If there are no surviving children, the surviving spouse may waive, in writing, wholly or partially, the spouse's entitlement to a survivor benefit.

(d) For purposes of this section, for a defined contribution volunteer fire relief association, a trust created under chapter 501B may be a designated beneficiary. If a trust payable to the surviving children organized under chapter 501B has been established as authorized by this section and there is no surviving spouse, the survivor benefit may be paid to the trust, notwithstanding the requirements of this section.

Subd. 8.Filing of bylaw amendments.

Each relief association to which this section applies must file a revised copy of its governing bylaws with the state auditor upon the adoption of any amendment to its governing bylaws by the relief association. Failure of the relief association to file a copy of the bylaws or any bylaw amendments with the state auditor disqualifies the municipality from the distribution of any future fire state aid until this filing requirement has been completed.

424A.02 DEFINED BENEFIT RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS; SERVICE PENSIONS.

Subdivision 1.Authorization.

(a) A defined benefit relief association, when its articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide, may pay out of the assets of its special fund a defined benefit service pension to each of its members who: (1) separates from active service with the fire department; (2) reaches age 50; (3) completes at least five years of active service as an active member of the municipal fire department to which the relief association is associated; (4) completes at least five years of active membership with the relief association before separation from active service; and (5) complies with any additional conditions as to age, service, and membership that are prescribed by the bylaws of the relief association. A service pension computed under this section may be prorated monthly for fractional years of service as the bylaws or articles of incorporation of the relief association so provide. The bylaws or articles of incorporation may define a "month," but the definition must require a calendar month to have at least 16 days of active service. If the bylaws or articles of incorporation do not define a "month," a "month" is a completed calendar month of active service measured from the member's date of entry to the same date in the subsequent month. The service pension earned by a volunteer firefighter under this chapter and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the volunteer firefighters' relief association may be paid whether or not the municipality or nonprofit firefighting corporation to which the relief association is associated qualifies for the receipt of fire state aid under chapter 69.

(b) In the case of a member who has completed at least five years of active service as an active member of the fire department to which the relief association is associated on the date that the relief association is established and incorporated, the requirement that the member complete at least five years of active membership with the relief association before separation from active service may be waived by the board of trustees of the relief association if the member completes at least five years of inactive membership with the relief association before the date of the payment of the service pension. During the period of inactive membership, the member is not entitled to receive disability benefit coverage, is not entitled to receive additional service credit towards computation of a service pension, and is considered to have the status of a person entitled to a deferred service pension under subdivision 7.

(c) No municipality or nonprofit firefighting corporation may delegate the power to take final action in setting a service pension or ancillary benefit amount or level to the board of trustees of the relief association or to approve in advance a service pension or ancillary benefit amount or level equal to the maximum amount or level that this chapter would allow rather than a specific dollar amount or level.

Subd. 2.Nonforfeitable portion of service pension.

(a) If the articles of incorporation or bylaws of a defined benefit relief association so provide, the relief association may pay a reduced service pension to a retiring member who has completed fewer than 20 years of service. The reduced service pension may be paid when the retiring member meets the minimum age and service requirements of subdivision 1.

(b) The amount of the reduced service pension may not exceed the amount calculated by multiplying the service pension appropriate for the completed years of service as specified in the bylaws multiplied by the applicable nonforfeitable percentage of pension.

(c) For a defined benefit volunteer firefighter relief association that pays a lump-sum service pension, a monthly benefit service pension, or a lump-sum service pension or a monthly benefit service pension as alternative benefit forms, the nonforfeitable percentage of pension amounts are as follows:

Completed Years of Service Nonforfeitable Percentage of Pension Amount
5 40 percent
6 44 percent
7 48 percent
8 52 percent
9 56 percent
10 60 percent
11 64 percent
12 68 percent
13 72 percent
14 76 percent
15 80 percent
16 84 percent
17 88 percent
18 92 percent
19 96 percent
20 and thereafter 100 percent

Subd. 3.Flexible service pension maximums.

(a) Annually on or before August 1 as part of the certification of the financial requirements and minimum municipal obligation determined under section 69.772, subdivision 4, or 69.773, subdivision 5, as applicable, the secretary or some other official of the relief association designated in the bylaws of each defined benefit relief association shall calculate and certify to the governing body of the applicable qualified municipality the average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter for the most recent three-year period. The amount of available financing includes any amounts of fire state aid received or receivable by the relief association, any amounts of municipal contributions to the relief association raised from levies on real estate or from other available revenue sources exclusive of fire state aid, and one-tenth of the amount of assets in excess of the accrued liabilities of the relief association calculated under section 69.772, subdivision 2; 69.773, subdivisions 2 and 4; or 69.774, subdivision 2, if any.

(b) The maximum service pension which the defined benefit relief association has authority to provide for in its bylaws for payment to a member retiring after the calculation date when the minimum age and service requirements specified in subdivision 1 are met must be determined using the table in paragraph (c) or (d), whichever applies.

(c) For a defined benefit relief association where the governing bylaws provide for a monthly service pension to a retiring member, the maximum monthly service pension amount per month for each year of service credited that may be provided for in the bylaws is the greater of the service pension amount provided for in the bylaws on the date of the calculation of the average amount of the available financing per active covered firefighter or the maximum service pension figure corresponding to the average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter:

Minimum Average Amount of Available Financing per Firefighter Maximum Service Pension Amount Payable per Month for Each Year of Service
$ ... $ .25
41 .50
81 1.00
122 1.50
162 2.00
203 2.50
243 3.00
284 3.50
324 4.00
365 4.50
405 5.00
486 6.00
567 7.00
648 8.00
729 9.00
810 10.00
891 11.00
972 12.00
1053 13.00
1134 14.00
1215 15.00
1296 16.00
1377 17.00
1458 18.00
1539 19.00
1620 20.00
1701 21.00
1782 22.00
1823 22.50
1863 23.00
1944 24.00
2025 25.00
2106 26.00
2187 27.00
2268 28.00
2349 29.00
2430 30.00
2511 31.00
2592 32.00
2673 33.00
2754 34.00
2834 35.00
2916 36.00
2997 37.00
3078 38.00
3159 39.00
3240 40.00
3321 41.00
3402 42.00
3483 43.00
3564 44.00
3645 45.00
3726 46.00
3807 47.00
3888 48.00
3969 49.00
4050 50.00
4131 51.00
4212 52.00
4293 53.00
4374 54.00
4455 55.00
4536 56.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2008
4617 57.00
4698 58.00
4779 59.00
4860 60.00
4941 61.00
5022 62.00
5103 63.00
5184 64.00
5265 65.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2009
5346 66.00
5427 67.00
5508 68.00
5589 69.00
5670 70.00
5751 71.00
5832 72.00
5913 73.00
5994 74.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2010
6075 75.00
6156 76.00
6237 77.00
6318 78.00
6399 79.00
6480 80.00
6561 81.00
6642 82.00
6723 83.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2011
6804 84.00
6885 85.00
6966 86.00
7047 87.00
7128 88.00
7209 89.00
7290 90.00
7371 91.00
7452 92.00
Effective beginning December 31, 2012
7533 93.00
7614 94.00
7695 95.00
7776 96.00
7857 97.00
7938 98.00
8019 99.00
8100 100.00
any amount in excess of
8100 100.00

(d) For a defined benefit relief association in which the governing bylaws provide for a lump-sum service pension to a retiring member, the maximum lump-sum service pension amount for each year of service credited that may be provided for in the bylaws is the greater of the service pension amount provided for in the bylaws on the date of the calculation of the average amount of the available financing per active covered firefighter or the maximum service pension figure corresponding to the average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter for the applicable specified period:

Minimum Average Amount of Available Financing per Firefighter Maximum Lump-Sum Service Pension Amount Payable for Each Year of Service
$ ... $ 10
11 20
16 30
23 40
27 50
32 60
43 80
54 100
65 120
77 140
86 160
97 180
108 200
131 240
151 280
173 320
194 360
216 400
239 440
259 480
281 520
302 560
324 600
347 640
367 680
389 720
410 760
432 800
486 900
540 1000
594 1100
648 1200
702 1300
756 1400
810 1500
864 1600
918 1700
972 1800
1026 1900
1080 2000
1134 2100
1188 2200
1242 2300
1296 2400
1350 2500
1404 2600
1458 2700
1512 2800
1566 2900
1620 3000
1672 3100
1726 3200
1753 3250
1780 3300
1820 3375
1834 3400
1888 3500
1942 3600
1996 3700
2023 3750
2050 3800
2104 3900
2158 4000
2212 4100
2265 4200
2319 4300
2373 4400
2427 4500
2481 4600
2535 4700
2589 4800
2643 4900
2697 5000
2751 5100
2805 5200
2859 5300
2913 5400
2967 5500
3021 5600
3075 5700
3129 5800
3183 5900
3237 6000
3291 6100
3345 6200
3399 6300
3453 6400
3507 6500
3561 6600
3615 6700
3669 6800
3723 6900
3777 7000
3831 7100
3885 7200
3939 7300
3993 7400
4047 7500
Effective beginning December 31, 2008
4101 7600
4155 7700
4209 7800
4263 7900
4317 8000
4371 8100
4425 8200
4479 8300
Effective beginning December 31, 2009
4533 8400
4587 8500
4641 8600
4695 8700
4749 8800
4803 8900
4857 9000
4911 9100
Effective beginning December 31, 2010
4965 9200
5019 9300
5073 9400
5127 9500
5181 9600
5235 9700
5289 9800
5343 9900
5397 10,000
any amount in excess of
5397 10,000

(e) For a defined benefit relief association in which the governing bylaws provide for a monthly benefit service pension as an alternative form of service pension payment to a lump-sum service pension, the maximum service pension amount for each pension payment type must be determined using the applicable table contained in this subdivision.

(f) If a defined benefit relief association establishes a service pension in compliance with the applicable maximum contained in paragraph (c) or (d) and the minimum average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter is subsequently reduced because of a reduction in fire state aid or because of an increase in the number of active firefighters, the relief association may continue to provide the prior service pension amount specified in its bylaws, but may not increase the service pension amount until the minimum average amount of available financing per firefighter under the table in paragraph (c) or (d), whichever applies, permits.

(g) No defined benefit relief association is authorized to provide a service pension in an amount greater than the largest applicable flexible service pension maximum amount even if the amount of available financing per firefighter is greater than the financing amount associated with the largest applicable flexible service pension maximum.

(h) The method of calculating service pensions must be applied uniformly for all years of active service. Credit must be given for all years of active service except for caps on service credit if so provided in the bylaws of the relief association.

Subd. 3a.Penalty for paying pension greater than applicable maximum.

(a) If a defined benefit relief association pays a service pension greater than the maximum service pension associated with the applicable average amount of available financing per active covered firefighter under the table in subdivision 3, paragraph (c) or (d), whichever applies, the maximum service pension under subdivision 3, paragraph (f), or the applicable maximum service pension amount specified in subdivision 3, paragraph (g), whichever is less, the state auditor shall:

(1) disqualify the municipality or the nonprofit firefighting corporation associated with the relief association from receiving fire state aid by making the appropriate notification to the municipality and the commissioner of revenue, with the disqualification applicable for the next apportionment and payment of fire state aid; and

(2) order the treasurer of the applicable relief association to recover the amount of the overpaid service pension or pensions from any retired firefighter who received an overpayment.

(b) Fire state aid amounts from disqualified municipalities for the period of disqualifications under paragraph (a), clause (1), must be credited to the amount of fire insurance premium tax proceeds available for the next subsequent fire state aid apportionment.

(c) The amount of any overpaid service pension recovered under paragraph (a), clause (2), must be credited to the amount of fire insurance premium tax proceeds available for the next subsequent fire state aid apportionment.

(d) The determination of the state auditor that a relief association has paid a service pension greater than the applicable maximum must be made on the basis of the information filed by the relief association and the municipality with the state auditor under sections 69.011, subdivision 2, and 69.051, subdivision 1 or 1a, whichever applies, and any other relevant information that comes to the attention of the state auditor. The determination of the state auditor is final. An aggrieved municipality, relief association, or person may appeal the determination under section 480A.06.

Subd. 4.

[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]

Subd. 5.

[Repealed, 1999 c 222 art 11 s 1]

Subd. 6.

[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]

Subd. 7.Deferred service pensions.

(a) A member of a defined benefit relief association is entitled to a deferred service pension if the member:

(1) has completed the lesser of either the minimum period of active service with the fire department specified in the bylaws or 20 years of active service with the fire department;

(2) has completed at least five years of active membership in the relief association; and

(3) separates from active service and membership. The requirement that a member separate from active service and membership is waived for persons who have discontinued their volunteer firefighter duties and who are employed on a full-time basis under section 424A.015, subdivision 1.

(b) The deferred service pension is payable when the former member reaches at least age 50, or at least the minimum age specified in the bylaws governing the relief association if that age is greater than age 50, and when the former member makes a valid written application.

(c) A defined benefit relief association that provides a lump-sum service pension governed by subdivision 3 may, when its governing bylaws so provide, pay interest on the deferred lump-sum service pension during the period of deferral. If provided for in the bylaws, interest must be paid in one of the following manners:

(1) at the investment performance rate actually earned on that portion of the assets if the deferred benefit amount is invested by the relief association in a separate account established and maintained by the relief association;

(2) at the investment performance rate actually earned on that portion of the assets if the deferred benefit amount is invested in a separate investment vehicle held by the relief association; or

(3) at an interest rate of up to five percent, compounded annually, as set by the board of directors and approved as provided in subdivision 10.

(d) Interest under paragraph (c), clause (3), is payable following the date on which the municipality has approved the deferred service pension interest rate established by the board of trustees.

(e) Unless the bylaws of a relief association that has elected to pay interest or additional investment performance on deferred lump-sum service pensions under paragraph (c) specifies a different interest or additional investment performance method, including the interest or additional investment performance period starting date and ending date, the interest or additional investment performance on a deferred service pension is creditable as follows:

(1) for a relief association that has elected to pay interest or additional investment performance under paragraph (c), clause (1) or (3), beginning on the date that the member separates from active service and membership and ending on the accounting date immediately before the deferred member commences receipt of the deferred service pension; or

(2) for a relief association that has elected to pay interest or additional investment performance under paragraph (c), clause (2), beginning on the date that the member separates from active service and membership and ending on the date that the separate investment vehicle is valued immediately before the date on which the deferred member commences receipt of the deferred service pension.

(f) For a deferred service pension that is transferred to a separate account established and maintained by the relief association or separate investment vehicle held by the relief association, the deferred member bears the full investment risk subsequent to transfer and in calculating the accrued liability of the volunteer firefighters relief association that pays a lump-sum service pension, the accrued liability for deferred service pensions is equal to the separate relief association account balance or the fair market value of the separate investment vehicle held by the relief association.

(g) The deferred service pension is governed by and must be calculated under the general statute, special law, relief association articles of incorporation, and relief association bylaw provisions applicable on the date on which the member separated from active service with the fire department and active membership in the relief association.

Subd. 8.Lump-sum service pensions; installment payments.

(a) A defined benefit relief association, if the governing bylaws so provide, may pay, at the option of the intended recipient and in lieu of a single payment of a lump-sum service pension or survivor benefit, a lump-sum service pension or survivor benefit in installments.

(b) The election of installment payments is irrevocable and must be made by the intended recipient in writing and filed with the secretary of the relief association no later than 30 days before the commencement of payment of the service pension or survivor benefit. The amount of the installment payments must be determined in any reasonable manner provided for in the governing bylaws, but the total amount of installment payments may not exceed the single payment service pension amount plus interest at an annual rate of five percent on the amount of delayed payments for the period during which payment was delayed.

Subd. 8a.

[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]

Subd. 8b.

[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]

Subd. 9.Limitation on ancillary benefits.

A defined benefit relief association, including any volunteer firefighters relief association governed by section 69.77 or any volunteer firefighters division of a relief association governed by chapter 424, may only pay ancillary benefits which would constitute an authorized disbursement as specified in section 424A.05 subject to the following requirements or limitations:

(1) with respect to a defined benefit relief association in which governing bylaws provide solely for a lump-sum service pension to a retiring member, or provide a retiring member the choice of either a lump-sum service pension or a monthly service pension and the lump-sum service pension was chosen, no ancillary benefit may be paid to any former member or paid to any person on behalf of any former member after the former member (i) terminates active service with the fire department and active membership in the relief association; and (ii) commences receipt of a service pension as authorized under this section; and

(2) with respect to any defined benefit relief association, no ancillary benefit paid or payable to any member, to any former member, or to any person on behalf of any member or former member, may exceed in amount the total earned service pension of the member or former member. The total earned service pension must be calculated by multiplying the service pension amount specified in the bylaws of the relief association at the time of death or disability, whichever applies, by the years of service credited to the member or former member. The years of service must be determined as of (i) the date the member or former member became entitled to the ancillary benefit; or (ii) the date the member or former member died entitling a survivor or the estate of the member or former member to an ancillary benefit. The ancillary benefit must be calculated without regard to whether the member had attained the minimum amount of service and membership credit specified in the governing bylaws. For active members, the amount of a permanent disability benefit or a survivor benefit must be equal to the member's total earned service pension except that the bylaws of a defined benefit relief association may provide for the payment of a survivor benefit in an amount not to exceed five times the yearly service pension amount specified in the bylaws on behalf of any member who dies before having performed five years of active service in the fire department with which the relief association is affiliated.

(3)(i) If a lump sum survivor or death benefit is payable under the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the benefit must be paid:

(A) as a survivor benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased firefighter;

(B) as a survivor benefit to the surviving children of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse;

(C) as a survivor benefit to a designated beneficiary of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse or surviving children; or

(D) as a death benefit to the estate of the deceased active or deferred firefighter if no surviving children and no beneficiary designated.

(ii) If there are no surviving children, the surviving spouse may waive, in writing, wholly or partially, the spouse's entitlement to a survivor benefit.

(4)(i) If a monthly benefit survivor or death benefit is payable under the articles of incorporation or bylaws, the benefit must be paid:

(A) as a survivor benefit to the surviving spouse of the deceased firefighter;

(B) as a survivor benefit to the surviving children of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse;

(C) as a survivor benefit to a designated beneficiary of the deceased firefighter if no surviving spouse or surviving children; or

(D) as a death benefit to the estate of the deceased active or deferred firefighter if no surviving spouse, no surviving children, and no beneficiary designated.

(ii) If there are no surviving children, the surviving spouse may waive, in writing, wholly or partially, the spouse's entitlement to a survivor benefit.

(iii) For purposes of this clause, if the relief association bylaws authorize a monthly survivor benefit payable to a designated beneficiary, the relief association bylaws may limit the total survivor benefit amount payable.

(5) For purposes of this section, for a monthly benefit volunteer fire relief association or for a combination lump-sum and monthly benefit volunteer fire relief association where a monthly benefit service pension has been elected by or a monthly benefit is payable with respect to a firefighter, a designated beneficiary must be a natural person. For purposes of this section, for a lump-sum volunteer fire relief association or for a combination lump-sum and monthly benefit volunteer fire relief association where a lump-sum service pension has been elected by or a lump-sum benefit is payable with respect to a firefighter, a trust created under chapter 501B may be a designated beneficiary. If a trust is payable to the surviving children organized under chapter 501B as authorized by this section and there is no surviving spouse, the survivor benefit may be paid to the trust, notwithstanding a requirement of this section to the contrary.

Subd. 9a.Postretirement increases.

Notwithstanding any provision of general or special law to the contrary, a defined benefit relief association paying a monthly service pension may provide a postretirement increase to retired members and ancillary benefit recipients of the relief association if (1) the relief association adopts an appropriate bylaw amendment; and (2) the bylaw amendment is approved by the municipality pursuant to subdivision 10 and section 69.773, subdivision 6. The postretirement increase is applicable only to retired members and ancillary benefit recipients receiving a service pension or ancillary benefit as of the effective date of the bylaw amendment. The authority to provide a postretirement increase to retired members and ancillary benefit recipients of a relief association contained in this subdivision supersedes any prior special law authorization relating to the provision of postretirement increases.

Subd. 9b.

[Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]

Subd. 10.Local approval of bylaw amendments; filing requirements.

(a) Each defined benefit relief association to which this section applies must file a revised copy of its governing bylaws with the state auditor upon the adoption of any amendment to its governing bylaws by the relief association or upon the approval of any amendment to its governing bylaws granted by the governing body of each municipality served by the fire department to which the relief association is directly associated. Failure of the relief association to file a copy of the bylaws or any bylaw amendments with the state auditor disqualifies the municipality from the distribution of any future fire state aid until this filing requirement has been completed.

(b) If the special fund of the relief association does not have a surplus over full funding under section 69.772, subdivision 3, paragraph (c), clause (5), or 69.773, subdivision 4, and if the municipality is required to provide financial support to the special fund of the relief association under section 69.772 or 69.773, no bylaw amendment which would affect the amount of, the manner of payment of, or the conditions for qualification for service pensions or ancillary benefits or disbursements other than administrative expenses authorized under section 69.80 payable from the special fund of the relief association is effective until it has been ratified as required under section 69.772, subdivision 6, or 69.773, subdivision 6. If the special fund of the relief association has a surplus over full funding under section 69.772, subdivision 3, or 69.773, subdivision 4, and if the municipality is not required to provide financial support to the special fund under this section, the relief association may adopt or amend without municipal ratification its articles of incorporation or bylaws which increase or otherwise affect the service pensions or ancillary benefits payable from the special fund if authorized under section 69.772, subdivision 6, or 69.773, subdivision 6.

(c) If the relief association pays only a lump-sum pension, the financial requirements are to be determined by the board of trustees following the preparation of an estimate of the expected increase in the accrued liability and annual accruing liability of the relief association attributable to the change. If the relief association pays a monthly benefit service pension, the financial requirements are to be determined by the board of trustees following either an updated actuarial valuation including the proposed change or an estimate of the expected actuarial impact of the proposed change prepared by the actuary of the relief association. If a relief association adopts or amends its articles of incorporation or bylaws without municipal ratification under this subdivision, and, subsequent to the amendment or adoption, the financial requirements of the special fund under this section are such so as to require financial support from the municipality, the provision which was implemented without municipal ratification is no longer effective without municipal ratification, and any service pensions or ancillary benefits payable after that date must be paid only in accordance with the articles of incorporation or bylaws as amended or adopted with municipal ratification.

Subd. 11.

[Repealed, 2000 c 461 art 16 s 13]

Subd. 12.Transfer of service credit to new district.

Notwithstanding the requirements of subdivision 1 or any other law, a member of a fire department which is disbanded upon formation of a fire district to serve substantially the same geographic area, who serves as an active firefighter with the new district fire department, and is a member of the district firefighters' defined benefit relief association is entitled to a nonforfeitable service pension from the new relief association upon completion of a combined total of 20 years active service in the disbanded and the new departments. The amount of the service pension is based upon years of service in the new department only and must be in an amount equal to the accrued liability for the appropriate years of service calculated in accordance with section 69.772, subdivision 2.

Subd. 13.Combined service pensions.

(a) If the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the defined benefit relief associations so provide, a volunteer firefighter with credit for service as an active firefighter in more than one defined benefit volunteer firefighters relief association is entitled, when the applicable requirements of paragraph (b) are met and when otherwise qualified, to a prorated service credit from each relief association.

(b) A volunteer firefighter receiving a prorated service pension under this subdivision must have a total amount of service credit of ten years or more, if the bylaws of every affected relief association do not specify only a five-year service vesting requirement, or five years or more, if the bylaws of every affected relief association require only a five-year service vesting requirement, as a member of two or more relief associations otherwise qualified. The member must have one year or more of service credit in each relief association. The prorated service pension must be based on the service pension amount in effect for the relief association on the date on which active volunteer firefighting services covered by that relief association terminate. To receive a service pension under this subdivision, the firefighter must become a member of the second or succeeding association and must give notice of membership to the prior association within two years of the date of termination of active service with the prior association. The notice must be attested to by the second or subsequent relief association secretary.

424A.021 CREDIT FOR BREAK IN SERVICE TO PROVIDE UNIFORMED SERVICE.

Subdivision 1.Authorization.

Subject to restrictions stated in this section, a volunteer firefighter who is absent from firefighting service due to service in the uniformed services, as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 4303(13), may obtain service credit if the relief association is a defined benefit plan or an allocation by the relief association as though the person was an active member if the relief association is a defined contribution plan for the period of the uniformed service, not to exceed five years, unless a longer period is required under United States Code, title 38, section 4312.

Subd. 2.Limitations.

(a) To be eligible for service credit or an allocation as though an active member under this section, the volunteer firefighter must return to firefighting service with coverage by the same relief association or by the successor to that relief association upon discharge from service in the uniformed service within the time frame required in United States Code, title 38, section 4312(e).

(b) Service credit or an allocation as though an active member is not authorized if the firefighter separates from uniformed service with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or under other than honorable conditions.

(c) Service credit or an allocation as though an active member is not authorized if the firefighter fails to provide notice to the fire department that the individual is leaving to provide service in the uniformed service, unless it is not feasible to provide that notice due to the emergency nature of the situation.

424A.03 UNIFORMITY OF VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER SERVICE PENSION AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

Subdivision 1.Limitation on nonuniformity of pensions.

Every partially salaried and partially volunteer firefighters' relief association must provide service pensions to volunteer firefighter members based on the years of service of the members not on the compensation paid to the members for firefighting services. Each relief association must provide service pensions to salaried members as set forth in chapter 424 and applicable special laws.

Subd. 2.Penalties for violations.

A municipality which has a fire department associated with a relief association which violates the provisions of subdivision 1 is directly associated or which contracts with an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation associated with a relief association which violates the provisions of subdivision 1 is a subsidiary may not be included in the apportionment of fire state aid to the applicable county auditor under section 69.021, subdivision 6, and may not be included in the apportionment of fire state aid by the county auditor to the various municipalities under section 69.021, subdivision 7.

Subd. 3.Exception to application of limitation and penalty.

The limitation provided for in subdivision 1 does not apply to any relief association which before January 1, 1957, had established a definite service pension formula for members of the partially salaried and partially volunteer firefighters' relief association who are regularly employed firefighters.

424A.04 VOLUNTEER RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS; BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

Subdivision 1.Membership.

(a) A relief association that is directly associated with a municipal fire department must be managed by a board of trustees consisting of nine members. Six trustees must be elected from the membership of the relief association and three trustees must be drawn from the officials of the municipalities served by the fire department to which the relief association is directly associated. The bylaws of a relief association which provides a monthly benefit service pension may provide that one of the six trustees elected from the relief association membership may be a retired member receiving a monthly pension who is elected by the membership of the relief association. The three municipal trustees must be one elected municipal official and one elected or appointed municipal official who are designated as municipal representatives by the municipal governing board annually and the chief of the municipal fire department.

(b) A relief association that is a subsidiary of an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation must be managed by a board of trustees consisting of nine members. Six trustees must be elected from the membership of the relief association, two trustees must be drawn from the officials of the municipalities served by the fire department to which the relief association is directly associated, and one trustee must be the fire chief serving with the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation. The bylaws of a relief association may provide that one of the six trustees elected from the relief association membership may be a retired member receiving a monthly pension who is elected by the membership of the relief association. The two municipal trustees must be elected or appointed municipal officials, selected as follows:

(1) if only one municipality contracts with the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, the municipal trustees must be two officials of the contracting municipality who are designated annually by the governing body of the municipality; or

(2) if two or more municipalities contract with the independent nonprofit corporation, the municipal trustees must be one official from each of the two largest municipalities in population who are designated annually by the governing bodies of the applicable municipalities.

(c) The municipal trustees for a relief association that is directly associated with a fire department operated as or by a joint powers entity must be the fire chief of the fire department and two trustees designated annually by the joint powers board. The municipal trustees for a relief association that is directly associated with a fire department service area township must be the fire chief of the fire department and two trustees designated by the township board.

(d) If a relief association lacks the municipal board members provided for in paragraph (a), (b), or (c) because the fire department is not located in or associated with an organized municipality, joint powers entity, or township, the municipal board members must be the fire chief of the fire department and two board members appointed from the fire department service area by the board of commissioners of the applicable county.

(e) The term of the appointed municipal board members is one year or until the person's successor is qualified, whichever is later.

(f) A municipal trustee under paragraph (a), (b), (c), or (d) has all the rights and duties accorded to any other trustee, except the right to be an officer of the relief association board of trustees.

(g) A board must have at least three officers, who are a president, a secretary and a treasurer. These officers must be elected from among the elected trustees by either the full board of trustees or by the relief association membership, as specified in the bylaws. In no event may any trustee hold more than one officer position at any one time. The terms of the elected trustees and of the officers of the board must be specified in the bylaws of the relief association, but may not exceed three years. If the term of the elected trustees exceeds one year, the election of the various trustees elected from the membership must be staggered on as equal a basis as is practicable.

Subd. 2.Fiduciary duty.

The board of trustees of a relief association shall undertake their activities consistent with chapter 356A.

Subd. 2a.Fiduciary responsibility.

In the discharge of their respective duties, the officers and trustees shall be held to the standard of care specified in section 11A.09. In addition, the trustees shall act in accordance with chapter 356A. Each member of the board is a fiduciary and shall undertake all fiduciary activities in accordance with the standard of care of section 11A.09, and in a manner consistent with chapter 356A. No fiduciary of a relief association shall cause a relief association to engage in a transaction if the fiduciary knows or should know that the transaction constitutes one of the following direct or indirect transactions:

(1) sale or exchange or leasing of any real property between the relief association and a board member;

(2) lending of money or other extension of credit between the relief association and a board member or member of the relief association;

(3) furnishing of goods, services, or facilities between the relief association and a board member; or

(4) transfer to a board member, or use by or for the benefit of a board member, of any assets of the relief association. A transfer of assets does not mean the payment of relief association benefits or administrative expenses permitted by law.

Subd. 3.Conditions on relief association consultants.

(a) If a volunteer firefighter relief association employs or contracts with a consultant to provide legal or financial advice, the secretary of the relief association shall obtain and the consultant shall provide to the secretary of the relief association a copy of the consultant's certificate of insurance.

(b) A consultant is any person who is employed under contract to provide legal or financial advice and who is or who represents to the volunteer firefighter relief association that the person is:

(1) an actuary;

(2) a certified public accountant;

(3) an attorney;

(4) an investment advisor or manager, or an investment counselor;

(5) an investment advisor or manager selection consultant;

(6) a pension benefit design advisor or consultant; or

(7) any other financial consultant.

424A.05 RELIEF ASSOCIATION SPECIAL FUND.

Subdivision 1.Establishment of special fund.

Every volunteer firefighters' relief association shall establish and maintain a special fund within the relief association.

Subd. 2.Special fund assets and revenues.

The special fund must be credited with all fire state aid moneys received under sections 69.011 to 69.051, all taxes levied by or other revenues received from the municipality under sections 69.771 to 69.776 or any applicable special law requiring municipal support for the relief association, any moneys or property donated, given, granted or devised by any person which is specified for use for the support of the special fund and any interest or investment return earned upon the assets of the special fund. The treasurer of the relief association is the custodian of the assets of the special fund and must be the recipient on behalf of the special fund of all revenues payable to the special fund. The treasurer shall maintain adequate records documenting any transaction involving the assets or the revenues of the special fund. These records and the bylaws of the relief association are public and must be open for inspection by any member of the relief association, any officer or employee of the state or of the municipality, or any member of the public, at reasonable times and places.

Subd. 3.Authorized disbursements from special fund.

Disbursements from the special fund may not be made for any purpose other than one of the following:

(1) for the payment of service pensions to retired members of the relief association if authorized and paid under law and the bylaws governing the relief association;

(2) for the purchase of an annuity for the applicable person under section 424A.015, subdivision 3, for the transfer of service pension or benefit amounts to the applicable person's individual retirement account under section 424A.015, subdivision 4, or to the applicable person's account in the Minnesota deferred compensation plan under section 424A.015, subdivision 5;

(3) for the payment of temporary or permanent disability benefits to disabled members of the relief association if authorized and paid under law and specified in amount in the bylaws governing the relief association;

(4) for the payment of survivor benefits or for the payment of a death benefit to the estate of the deceased active or deferred firefighter, if authorized and paid under law and specified in amount in the bylaws governing the relief association;

(5) for the payment of the fees, dues and assessments to the Minnesota State Fire Department Association and to the Minnesota Area Relief Association Coalition in order to entitle relief association members to membership in and the benefits of these associations or organizations;

(6) for the payment of insurance premiums to the state Volunteer Firefighters Benefit Association, or an insurance company licensed by the state of Minnesota offering casualty insurance, in order to entitle relief association members to membership in and the benefits of the association or organization; and

(7) for the payment of administrative expenses of the relief association as authorized under section 69.80.

Subd. 3a.Corrections of erroneous special fund deposits.

Upon notification of funds deposited in error in the special fund and after presentation of evidence that the error occurred in good faith, the state auditor may require the relief association to provide a written legal opinion concluding that the transfer of funds from the special fund is consistent with federal and state law. Taking into consideration the evidence of good faith presented and the legal opinion, if any, provided, the state auditor may order the transfer from the special fund to the appropriate fund or account an amount equal to the funds deposited in error.

Subd. 4.Investments of assets of the special fund.

The assets of the special fund must be invested only in securities authorized by section 69.775.

424A.06 RELIEF ASSOCIATION GENERAL FUND.

Subdivision 1.Establishment of general fund.

A volunteer firefighters' relief association may establish and maintain a general fund within the relief association.

Subd. 2.General fund assets and revenues.

(a) The general fund, if established, must be credited with the following:

(1) all money received from dues other than dues payable as contributions under the bylaws of the relief association to the special fund;

(2) all money received from fines;

(3) all money received from initiation fees;

(4) all money received as entertainment revenues; and

(5) any money or property donated, given, granted or devised by any person, either for the support of the general fund of the relief association or for unspecified purposes.

(b) The treasurer of the relief association is the custodian of the assets of the general fund and must be the recipient on behalf of the general fund of all revenues payable to the general fund. The treasurer shall maintain adequate records documenting any transaction involving the assets or the revenues of the general fund. These records must be open for inspection by any member of the relief association at reasonable times and places.

Subd. 3.Authorized disbursements from the general fund.

Disbursements from the general fund may be made for any purpose that is authorized by either the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the relief association.

Subd. 4.Investment of assets of the general fund.

The assets of the general fund may be invested in any securities that are authorized by the bylaws of the relief association and may be certified for investment by the State Board of Investment in fixed income pools or in a separately managed account at the discretion of the State Board of Investment as provided in section 11A.14.

424A.07 NONPROFIT FIREFIGHTING CORPORATIONS; ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIEF ASSOCIATIONS.

Before paying any service pensions or retirement benefits under section 424A.02 or before becoming entitled to receive any amounts of fire state aid upon transmittal from a contracting municipality under section 69.031, subdivision 5, a nonprofit firefighting corporation shall establish a volunteer firefighters' relief association governed by this chapter.

424A.08 MUNICIPALITY WITHOUT RELIEF ASSOCIATION; AUTHORIZED DISBURSEMENTS.

(a) Any qualified municipality which is entitled to receive fire state aid but which has no volunteer firefighters' relief association directly associated with its fire department and which has no full-time firefighters with retirement coverage by the public employees police and fire retirement plan shall deposit the fire state aid in a special account established for that purpose in the municipal treasury. Disbursement from the special account may not be made for any purpose except:

(1) payment of the fees, dues and assessments to the Minnesota State Fire Department Association and to the state Volunteer Firefighters' Benefit Association in order to entitle its firefighters to membership in and the benefits of these state associations;

(2) payment of the cost of purchasing and maintaining needed equipment for the fire department; and

(3) payment of the cost of construction, acquisition, repair, or maintenance of buildings or other premises to house the equipment of the fire department.

(b) A qualified municipality which is entitled to receive fire state aid, which has no volunteer firefighters' relief association directly associated with its fire department, which does not participate in the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan under chapter 353G, and which has full-time firefighters with retirement coverage by the public employees police and fire retirement plan may disburse the fire state aid as provided in paragraph (a), for the payment of the employer contribution requirement with respect to firefighters covered by the public employees police and fire retirement plan under section 353.65, subdivision 3, or for a combination of the two types of disbursements.

(c) A municipality that has no volunteer firefighters' relief association directly associated with it and that participates in the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan under chapter 353G shall transmit any fire state aid that it receives to the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund.

424A.09 [Repealed, 2009 c 169 art 10 s 58]

424A.10 STATE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFIT; VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.

Subdivision 1. Definitions.

For purposes of this section:

(1) "qualified recipient" means an individual who receives a lump-sum distribution of pension or retirement benefits from a volunteer firefighters' relief association or from the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan for service that the individual has performed as a volunteer firefighter;

(2) "survivor of a deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter" means the surviving spouse of a deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter under section 424A.001, subdivision 6, or, if none, the surviving child or children of a deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter;

(3) "active volunteer firefighter" means a person who regularly renders fire suppression service for a municipal fire department or an independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, who has met the statutory and other requirements for relief association membership, and who is deemed by the relief association under law and its bylaws to be a fully qualified member of the relief association or from the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan for at least one month; and

(4) "deferred volunteer firefighter" means a former active volunteer firefighter who terminated active firefighting service, has sufficient service credit from the applicable relief association or from the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan to be entitled to a service pension under the bylaws of the relief association, but has not applied for or has not received the service pension.

Subd. 2.Payment of supplemental benefit.

(a) Upon the payment by a volunteer firefighters' relief association or by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan of a lump-sum distribution to a qualified recipient, the association must pay a supplemental benefit to the qualified recipient. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, the relief association must pay the supplemental benefit out of its special fund and the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan must pay the supplemental benefit out of the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan. This benefit is an amount equal to ten percent of the regular lump-sum distribution that is paid on the basis of the recipient's service as a volunteer firefighter. In no case may the amount of the supplemental benefit exceed $1,000. A supplemental benefit under this paragraph may not be paid to a survivor of a deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter in that capacity.

(b) Upon the payment by a relief association or the retirement plan of a lump-sum survivor benefit to a survivor of a deceased active volunteer firefighter or of a deceased deferred volunteer firefighter, the association may pay a supplemental survivor benefit to the survivor of the deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter from the special fund of the relief association if its articles of incorporation or bylaws so provide and the retirement plan may pay a supplemental survivor benefit to the survivor of the deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighter from the retirement fund if chapter 353G so provides. The amount of the supplemental survivor benefit is 20 percent of the survivor benefit, but not to exceed $2,000.

(c) An individual may receive a supplemental benefit under paragraph (a) or under paragraph (b), but not under both paragraphs with respect to one lump-sum volunteer firefighter benefit.

Subd. 3.State reimbursement.

(a) Each year, to be eligible for state reimbursement of the amount of supplemental benefits paid under subdivision 2 during the preceding calendar year, the volunteer firefighters' relief association or the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan shall apply to the commissioner of revenue by February 15. By March 15, the commissioner shall reimburse the relief association for the amount of the supplemental benefits paid by the relief association to qualified recipients and to survivors of deceased active or deferred volunteer firefighters.

(b) The commissioner of revenue shall prescribe the form of and supporting information that must be supplied as part of the application for state reimbursement. The commissioner of revenue shall reimburse the relief association by paying the reimbursement amount to the treasurer of the municipality where the association is located and shall reimburse the retirement plan by paying the reimbursement amount to the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association. Within 30 days after receipt, the municipal treasurer shall transmit the state reimbursement to the treasurer of the association if the association has filed a financial report with the municipality. If the relief association has not filed a financial report with the municipality, the municipal treasurer shall delay transmission of the reimbursement payment to the association until the complete financial report is filed. If the association has dissolved or has been removed as a trustee of state aid, the treasurer shall deposit the money in a special account in the municipal treasury, and the money may be disbursed only for the purposes and in the manner provided in section 424A.08. When paid to the association, the reimbursement payment must be deposited in the special fund of the relief association and when paid to the retirement plan, the reimbursement payment must be deposited in the retirement fund of the plan.

(c) A sum sufficient to make the payments is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner of revenue.

Subd. 4.In lieu of income tax exclusion.

(a) The supplemental benefit provided by this section is in lieu of the state income tax exclusion for lump-sum distributions of retirement benefits paid to volunteer firefighters.

(b) If the law is modified to exclude or exempt volunteer firefighters' lump-sum distributions from state income taxation, the supplemental benefits under this section are no longer payable, beginning with the first calendar year in which the exclusion or exemption is effective. This subdivision does not apply to exemption of all or part of a lump-sum distribution under section 290.032 or 290.0802.

Subd. 5.Retroactive reimbursement in certain instances.

A supplemental survivor benefit may be paid by a relief association for the death of an active volunteer firefighter or of a deferred volunteer firefighter that occurred on or after August 1, 2005, if the relief association articles of incorporation or bylaws provide for a supplemental survivor benefit and provide for retroactivity.

Official Publication of the State of Minnesota
Revisor of Statutes