19-7-711. Guaranteed annual benefit adjustment. (1) Subject to subsection (2), on January 1 of each year, the permanent monthly benefit payable during the preceding January to each recipient who is eligible under subsection (3) must be increased by the applicable percentage provided in subsection (4).

(2) (a) If a recipient's benefit payable during the preceding January has been increased by one or more adjustments not provided for in this section and the adjustments amount to less than an annualized increase of the applicable percentage provided in subsection (4), then the recipient's benefit must be adjusted by an amount that will provide a total annualized increase of the applicable percentage in the benefit paid since the preceding January.

(b) If a recipient's benefit payable during the preceding January has been increased by one or more adjustments not provided for in this section and the increases amount to more than an annualized increase of the applicable percentage provided in subsection (4), then the benefit increase provided under this section must be 0%.

(c) If a benefit recipient is a contingent annuitant receiving an optional benefit upon the death of the original payee that occurred since the preceding January, the new recipient's monthly benefit must be increased to the applicable percentage provided in subsection (5) more than the amount that the contingent annuitant would have received had the contingent annuitant received a benefit during the preceding January.

(3) Except as provided in subsection (2)(b), a benefit recipient is eligible for and must receive the minimum annual benefit adjustment provided for in this section if the benefit's commencement date is at least 12 months prior to January 1 of the year in which the adjustment is to be made.

(4) (a) The applicable percentage is 3% for benefit recipients hired or assuming office:

(i) before July 1, 2007; or

(ii) on or after July 1, 2007, if the benefit recipient is an existing member of a benefit plan for which the applicable percentage is 3%.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (4)(a)(ii), the applicable percentage is 1.5% for benefit recipients hired or assuming office on or after July 1, 2007.

(5) (a) The applicable percentage rate for a contingent annuitant described in subsection (2)(c) is 3% if the original payee:

(i) was hired or assumed office before July 1, 2007; or

(ii) was an existing member of a benefit plan for which the applicable percentage is 3%.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (5)(a)(ii), the applicable percentage rate for a contingent annuitant described in subsection (2)(c) is 1.5% if the original payee was hired or assumed office on or after July 1, 2007.

(6) The board shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of this section.