CHAPTER 175

175.021 Legislative declaration. (1) It is hereby declared by the Legislature that firefighters perform state and municipal functions; that it is their duty to extinguish fires, to protect life, and to protect property at their own risk and peril; that it is their duty to prevent conflagration and to continuously instruct school personnel, public officials, and private citizens in the prevention of fires and firesafety; that they protect both life and property from local emergencies as defined in s. 252.34; and that their activities are vital to the public safety. It is further declared that firefighters employed by special fire control districts serve under the same circumstances and perform the same duties as firefighters employed by municipalities and should therefore be entitled to the benefits available under this chapter. Therefore, the Legislature declares that it is a proper and legitimate state purpose to provide a uniform retirement system for the benefit of firefighters and intends, in implementing the provisions of s. 14, Art. X of the State Constitution as they relate to municipal and special district firefighters’ pension trust fund systems and plans, that such retirement systems or plans be managed, administered, operated, and funded in such manner as to maximize the protection of the firefighters’ pension trust funds. Pursuant to s. 18, Art. VII of the State Constitution, the Legislature hereby determines and declares that this act fulfills an important state interest. (2) This chapter hereby establishes, for all municipal and special district pension plans existing under this chapter, including chapter plans and local law plans, minimum benefits and minimum standards for the operation and funding of such plans, hereinafter referred to as firefighters’ pension trust funds, which must be met as conditions precedent to the plan or plan sponsor’s receiving a distribution of insurance premium tax revenues under s. 175.121. Minimum benefits and minimum standards for each plan may not be diminished by local charter, ordinance, or resolution or by special act of the Legislature and may not be reduced or offset by any other local, state, or federal law that includes firefighters in its operation, except as provided under s. 112.65. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 1, ch. 79-380; s. 7, ch. 83-334; s. 1, ch. 86-41; s. 12, ch. 93-193; s. 1, ch. 99-1; s. 65, ch. 99-2; s. 58, ch. 2011-142; s. 1, ch. 2015-39. 175.025 Short title. This chapter may be cited as the “Marvin B. Clayton Firefighters Pension Trust Fund Act.” History. — s. 1, ch. 2004-21. 175.032 Definitions. For any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire control district, or local law plan under this chapter, the term: (1) “Additional premium tax revenues” means revenues received by a municipality or special fire control district pursuant to s. 175.121 which exceed base premium tax revenues. (2) “Average final compensation” for: (a) A full-time firefighter means one-twelfth of the average annual compensation of the 5 best years of the last 10 years of creditable service before retirement, termination, or death, or the career average as a full-time firefighter, whichever is greater. A year is 12 consecutive months or such other consecutive period of time as is used and consistently applied. (b) A volunteer firefighter means the average salary of the 5 best years of the last 10 best contributing years before change in status to a permanent full-time firefighter or retirement as a volunteer firefighter or the career average of a volunteer firefighter, whichever is greater. (3) “Base premium tax revenues” means: (a) For a local law plan in effect on October 1, 2003, the revenues received by a municipality or special fire control district pursuant to s. 175.121 for the 2002 calendar year. (b) For a local law plan created between October 1, 2003, and March 1, 2015, inclusive, the revenues received by a municipality or special fire control district pursuant to s. 175.121 based upon the tax collections during the second calendar year of participation. (4) “Chapter plan” means a separate defined benefit pension plan for firefighters which incorporates by reference the provisions of this chapter and has been adopted by the governing body of a municipality or special district. Except as specifically authorized in this chapter, the provisions of a chapter plan may not differ from the plan provisions set forth in ss. 175.021-175.341 and ss. 175.361-175.401. Actuarial valuations of chapter plans shall be conducted by the division as provided by s. 175.261(1). (5) “Compensation” or “salary” means, for noncollectively bargained service earned before July 1, 2011, or for service earned under collective bargaining agreements in place before July 1, 2011, the fixed monthly remuneration paid a firefighter. If remuneration is based on actual services rendered, as in the case of a volunteer firefighter, the term means the total cash remuneration received yearly for such services, prorated on a monthly basis. For noncollectively bargained service earned on or after July 1, 2011, or for service earned under collective bargaining agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2011, the term has the same meaning except that when calculating retirement benefits, up to 300 hours per year in overtime compensation may be included as specified in the plan or collective bargaining agreement, but payments for accrued unused sick or annual leave may not be included. (a) Any retirement trust fund or plan that meets the requirements of this chapter does not, solely by virtue of this subsection, reduce or diminish the monthly retirement income otherwise payable to each firefighter covered by the retirement trust fund or plan. (b) The member’s compensation or salary contributed as employee-elective salary reductions or deferrals to any salary reduction, deferred compensation, or tax-sheltered annuity program authorized under the Internal Revenue Code shall be deemed to be the compensation or salary the member would receive if he or she were not participating in such program and shall be treated as compensation for retirement purposes under this chapter. (c) For any person who first becomes a member in any plan year beginning on or after January 1, 1996, compensation for that plan year may not include any amounts in excess of the Internal Revenue Code s. 401(a)(17) limitation, as amended by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, which limitation of $150,000 shall be adjusted as required by federal law for qualified government plans and further adjusted for changes in the cost of living in the manner provided by Internal Revenue Code s. 401(a)(17)(B). For any person who first became a member before the first plan year beginning on or after January 1, 1996, the limitation on compensation may not be less than the maximum compensation amount that was allowed to be taken into account under the plan in effect on July 1, 1993, which limitation shall be adjusted for changes in the cost of living since 1989 in the manner provided by Internal Revenue Code s. 401(a)(17)(1991). (6) “Creditable service” or “credited service” means the aggregate number of years of service and fractional parts of years of service of any firefighter, omitting intervening years and fractional parts of years when such firefighter may not have been employed by the municipality or special fire control district, subject to the following conditions: (a) A firefighter may not receive credit for years or fractional parts of years of service if he or she has withdrawn his or her contributions to the fund for those years or fractional parts of years of service, unless the firefighter repays into the fund the amount he or she has withdrawn, plus interest determined by the board. The member has at least 90 days after his or her reemployment to make repayment. (b) A firefighter may voluntarily leave his or her contributions in the fund for 5 years after leaving the employ of the fire department, pending the possibility of being rehired by the same department, without losing credit for the time he or she has participated actively as a firefighter. If the firefighter is not reemployed as a firefighter with the same department within 5 years, his or her contributions shall be returned without interest. (c) Credited service under this chapter shall be provided only for service as a firefighter or for military service and does not include credit for any other type of service. A municipality, by local ordinance, or a special fire control district, by resolution, may provide for the purchase of credit for military service prior to employment as well as for prior service as a firefighter for some other employer as long as a firefighter is not entitled to receive a benefit for such prior service. For purposes of determining credit for prior service as a firefighter, in addition to service as a firefighter in this state, credit may be given for federal, other state, or county service if the prior service is recognized by the Division of State Fire Marshal as provided in chapter 633, or the firefighter provides proof to the board of trustees that his or her service is equivalent to the service required to meet the definition of a firefighter. (d) In determining the creditable service of any firefighter, credit for up to 5 years of the time spent in the military service of the Armed Forces of the United States shall be added to the years of actual service if: 1. The firefighter is in the active employ of an employer immediately before such service and leaves a position, other than a temporary position, for the purpose of voluntary or involuntary service in the Armed Forces of the United States. 2. The firefighter is entitled to reemployment under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. 3. The firefighter returns to his or her employment as a firefighter of the municipality or special fire control district within 1 year after the date of release from such active service. (7) “Deferred Retirement Option Plan” or “DROP” means a local law plan retirement option in which a firefighter may elect to participate. A firefighter may retire for all purposes of the plan and defer receipt of retirement benefits into a DROP account while continuing employment with his or her employer. However, a firefighter who enters the DROP and who is otherwise eligible to participate may not be precluded from participation or continued participation in a supplemental plan in existence on, or created after, March 12, 1999. (8) “Defined contribution plan” means the component of a local law plan, as provided in s. 175.351(1), to which deposits, if any, are made to provide benefits for firefighters, or for firefighters and police officers if both are included. Such component is an element of a local law plan and exists in conjunction with the defined benefit plan component that meets minimum benefits and minimum standards. The retirement benefits, if any, of the defined contribution plan component shall be provided through individual member accounts in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and related regulations and are limited to the contributions, if any, made into each member’s account and the actual accumulated earnings, net of expenses, earned on the member’s account. (9) “Division” means the Division of Retirement of the Department of Management Services. (10) “Enrolled actuary” means an actuary who is enrolled under Subtitle C of Title III of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and who is a member of the Society of Actuaries or the American Academy of Actuaries. (11)(a) “Firefighter” means a person employed solely by a constituted fire department of any municipality or special fire control district who is certified as a firefighter as a condition of employment in accordance with s. 633.408 and whose duty it is to extinguish fires, to protect life, or to protect property. The term includes all certified, supervisory, and command personnel whose duties include, in whole or in part, the supervision, training, guidance, and management responsibilities of full-time firefighters, part-time firefighters, or auxiliary firefighters but does not include part-time firefighters or auxiliary firefighters. However, for purposes of this chapter only, the term also includes public safety officers who are responsible for performing both police and fire services, who are certified as police officers or firefighters, and who are certified by their employers to the Chief Financial Officer as participating in this chapter before October 1, 1979. Effective October 1, 1979, public safety officers who have not been certified as participating in this chapter are considered police officers for retirement purposes and are eligible to participate in chapter 185. Any plan may provide that the fire chief has an option to participate in that plan. (b) “Volunteer firefighter” means any person whose name is carried on the active membership roll of a constituted volunteer fire department or a combination of a paid and volunteer fire department of any municipality or special fire control district and whose duty it is to extinguish fires, to protect life, and to protect property. Compensation for services rendered by a volunteer firefighter does not disqualify him or her as a volunteer. A person may not be disqualified as a volunteer firefighter solely because he or she has other gainful employment. Any person who volunteers assistance at a fire but is not an active member of a department described herein is not a volunteer firefighter within the meaning of this paragraph. (12) “Firefighters’ Pension Trust Fund” means a trust fund, by whatever name known, as provided under s. 175.041, for the purpose of assisting municipalities and special fire control districts in establishing and maintaining a retirement plan for firefighters. (13) “Local law municipality” means any municipality in which a local law plan exists. (14) “Local law plan” means a retirement plan that includes both a defined benefit plan component and a defined contribution plan component for firefighters, or for firefighters and police officers if both are included, as described in s. 175.351, established by municipal ordinance, special district resolution, or special act of the Legislature, which enactment sets forth all plan provisions. Local law plan provisions may vary from the provisions of this chapter if minimum benefits and minimum standards are met. However, any such variance must provide a greater benefit for firefighters. Actuarial valuations of local law plans shall be conducted by an enrolled actuary as provided in s. 175.261(2). (15) “Local law special fire control district” means any special fire control district in which a local law plan exists. (16) “Minimum benefits” means the benefits specified in ss. 175.021-175.341 and ss. 175.361-175.401. (17) “Minimum standards” means the standards specified in ss. 175.021-175.401. (18) “Property insurance” means property insurance as defined in s. 624.604 and covers real and personal property within the corporate limits of a municipality, or within the boundaries of a special fire control district, within the state. The term “multiple peril” means a combination or package policy that includes both property and casualty coverage for a single premium. (19) “Retiree” or “retired firefighter” means a firefighter who has entered retirement status. For the purposes of a plan that includes a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), a firefighter who enters the DROP is considered a retiree for all purposes of the plan. However, a firefighter who enters the DROP and who is otherwise eligible to participate may not be precluded from participation or continued participation in a supplemental plan in existence on, or created after, March 12, 1999. (20) “Retirement” means a firefighter’s separation from municipal or fire district employment as a firefighter with immediate eligibility for benefits under the plan. For purposes of a plan that includes a Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP), “retirement” means the date a firefighter enters the DROP. (21) “Special act plan” means a plan subject to the provisions of this chapter which was created by an act of the Legislature and continues to require an act of the Legislature to alter plan benefits. (22) “Special benefits” means benefits provided in a defined contribution plan for firefighters. (23) “Special fire control district” means a special district, as defined in s. 189.012, established for the purposes of extinguishing fires, protecting life, and protecting property within the incorporated or unincorporated portions of a county or combination of counties, or within any combination of incorporated and unincorporated portions of a county or combination of counties. The term does not include any dependent or independent special district, as those terms are defined in s. 189.012, the employees of which are members of the Florida Retirement System pursuant to s. 121.051(1) or (2). (24) “Supplemental plan” means a plan to which deposits are made to provide special benefits for firefighters, or for firefighters and police officers if both are included. Such a plan is an element of a local law plan and exists in conjunction with a defined benefit plan component that meets minimum benefits and minimum standards. Any supplemental plan in existence on March 1, 2015, shall be deemed to be a defined contribution plan in compliance with s. 175.351(6). (25) “Supplemental plan municipality” means a local law municipality in which any supplemental plan existed as of December 1, 2000. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 2, ch. 79-380; s. 1, ch. 79-388; s. 1, ch. 81-168; s. 2, ch. 86-41; s. 13, ch. 93-193; s. 918, ch. 95-147; s. 13, ch. 95-154; s. 2, ch. 99-1; s. 1, ch. 2000-159; s. 1, ch. 2002-66; s. 160, ch. 2003-261; s. 3, ch. 2009-97; s. 4, ch. 2011-216; s. 126, ch. 2013-183; s. 68, ch. 2014-22; s. 2, ch. 2015-39; s. 13, ch. 2025-6. 175.041 Firefighters’ Pension Trust Fund created; applicability of provisions. For any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire control district, or local law plan under this chapter: (1) There shall be established a special fund exclusively for the purpose of this chapter, which in the case of chapter plans shall be known as the “Firefighters’ Pension Trust Fund,” in each municipality and each special fire control district of this state heretofore or hereafter created which now has or which may hereafter have a constituted fire department or an authorized volunteer fire department, or any combination thereof. (2) To qualify as a fire department or volunteer fire department or combination thereof under the provisions of this chapter, the department shall own and use apparatus for the fighting of fires that was in compliance with National Fire Protection Association Standards for Automotive Fire Apparatus at the time of purchase. (3) The provisions of this chapter shall apply only to municipalities organized and established pursuant to the laws of the state and to special fire control districts, and said provisions shall not apply to the unincorporated areas of any county or counties except with respect to special fire control districts that include unincorporated areas, nor shall the provisions hereof apply to any governmental entity whose firefighters are eligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System. (a) Special fire control districts that include, or consist exclusively of, unincorporated areas of one or more counties may levy and impose the tax and participate in the retirement programs enabled by this chapter. (b) With respect to the distribution of premium taxes, a single consolidated government consisting of a former county and one or more municipalities, consolidated pursuant to s. 3 or s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution, is also eligible to participate under this chapter. The consolidated government shall notify the division when it has entered into an interlocal agreement to provide fire services to a municipality within its boundaries. The municipality may enact an ordinance levying the tax as provided in s. 175.101. Upon being provided copies of the interlocal agreement and the municipal ordinance levying the tax, the division may distribute any premium taxes reported for the municipality to the consolidated government as long as the interlocal agreement is in effect. (c) Any municipality that has entered into an interlocal agreement to provide fire protection services to any other incorporated municipality, in its entirety, for a period of 12 months or more may be eligible to receive the premium taxes reported for such other municipality. In order to be eligible for such premium taxes, the municipality providing the fire services must notify the division that it has entered into an interlocal agreement with another municipality. The municipality receiving the fire services may enact an ordinance levying the tax as provided in s. 175.101. Upon being provided copies of the interlocal agreement and the municipal ordinance levying the tax, the division may distribute any premium taxes reported for the municipality receiving the fire services to the participating municipality providing the fire services as long as the interlocal agreement is in effect. (4) No municipality shall establish more than one retirement plan for public safety officers which is supported in whole or in part by the distribution of premium tax funds as provided by this chapter or chapter 185, nor shall any municipality establish a retirement plan for public safety officers which receives premium tax funds from both this chapter and chapter 185. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 1, ch. 65-153; ss. 2, 3, ch. 79-380; s. 1, ch. 79-388; s. 14, ch. 93-193; s. 3, ch. 99-1; s. 1, ch. 2002-29; s. 2, ch. 2005-205. 175.051 Actuarial deficits not state obligation. For any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire control district, or local law plan under this chapter, actuarial deficits, if any, arising under this chapter shall not be the obligation of the state. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 4, ch. 99-1. 175.061 Board of trustees; members; terms of office; meetings; legal entity; costs; attorney’s fees. For any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire control district, or local law plan under this chapter: (1) In each municipality and in each special fire control district there is hereby created a board of trustees of the firefighters’ pension trust fund, which shall be solely responsible for administering the trust fund. Effective October 1, 1986, and thereafter: (a) The membership of the board of trustees for a chapter plan consists of five members, two of whom, unless otherwise prohibited by law, must be legal residents of the municipality or special fire control district and must be appointed by the governing body of the municipality or special fire control district, and two of whom must be full-time firefighters as defined in s. 175.032 who are elected by a majority of the active firefighters who are members of such plan. With respect to any chapter plan or local law plan that, on January 1, 1997, allowed retired firefighters to vote in such elections, retirees may continue to vote in such elections. The fifth member shall be chosen by a majority of the previous four members as provided herein, and such person’s name shall be submitted to the governing body of the municipality or special fire control district. Upon receipt of the fifth person’s name, the governing body of the municipality or special fire control district shall, as a ministerial duty, appoint such person to the board of trustees. The fifth member shall have the same rights as each of the other four members, shall serve as trustee for a period of 2 years, and may succeed himself or herself in office. Each resident member shall serve as trustee for a period of 2 years, unless sooner replaced by the governing body at whose pleasure he or she serves, and may succeed himself or herself as a trustee. Each firefighter member shall serve as trustee for a period of 2 years, unless he or she sooner leaves the employment of the municipality or special fire control district as a firefighter, whereupon a successor shall be chosen in the same manner as an original appointment. Each firefighter may succeed himself or herself in office. The terms of office of the appointed and elected members may be amended by municipal ordinance, special act of the Legislature, or resolution adopted by the governing body of the special fire control district to extend the terms from 2 years to 4 years. The length of the terms of office shall be the same for all board members. (b) The membership of boards of trustees for local law plans shall be as follows: 1. If a municipality or special fire control district has a pension plan for firefighters only, the provisions of paragraph (a) apply. 2. If a municipality has a pension plan for firefighters and police officers, the provisions of paragraph (a) apply, except that one member of the board must be a firefighter and one member of the board must be a police officer as defined in s. 185.02, respectively elected by a majority of the active firefighters or police officers who are members of the plan. 3. A board of trustees operating a local law plan on July 1, 1999, which is combined with a plan for general employees shall hold an election of the firefighters, or firefighters and police officers, if included, to determine whether a plan is to be established for firefighters only, or for firefighters and police officers where included. Based on the election results, a new board shall be established as provided in subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., as appropriate. The municipality or fire control district shall enact an ordinance or resolution to implement the new board by October 1, 1999. The newly established board shall take whatever action is necessary to determine the amount of assets attributable to firefighters, or firefighters and police officers where included. Such assets include all employer, employee, and state contributions made by or on behalf of firefighters, or firefighters and police officers where included, and any investment income derived from such contributions. All such moneys shall be transferred into the newly established retirement plan, as directed by the board. With respect to a board of trustees operating a local law plan on June 30, 1986, this paragraph does not permit the reduction of the membership percentage of firefighters, or of firefighters and police officers where a joint or mixed fund exists. However, for the sole purpose of changing municipal representation, a municipality may by ordinance change the municipal representation on the board of trustees operating a local law plan by ordinance, only if such change does not reduce the membership percentage of firefighters, or firefighters and police officers, or the membership percentage of the municipal representation. (c) Whenever the active firefighter membership of a closed chapter plan or closed local law plan as provided in s. 175.371 falls below 10, an active firefighter member seat may be held by either a retired member or an active firefighter member of the plan who is elected by the active and retired members of the plan. If there are no active or retired firefighters remaining in the plan or capable of serving, the remaining board members may elect an individual to serve in the active firefighter seat. Upon receipt of such person’s name, the legislative body of the municipality or special fire control district shall, as a ministerial duty, appoint such person to the board of trustees. This paragraph applies only to those plans that are closed to new members under s. 175.371(2), and does not apply to any other municipality or fire control district having a chapter or local law plan. (2) The trustees shall by a majority vote elect from their number a chair and a secretary. The secretary of the board shall keep a complete minute book of the actions, proceedings, or hearings of the board. The trustees shall not receive any compensation as such, but may receive expenses and per diem as provided by Florida law. (3) The board of trustees shall meet at least quarterly each year. (4) Each board of trustees shall be a legal entity with, in addition to other powers and responsibilities contained herein, the power to bring and defend lawsuits of every kind, nature, and description. (5) In any judicial proceeding or administrative proceeding under chapter 120 brought under or pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover the costs thereof, together with reasonable attorney’s fees. (6) The provisions of this section may not be altered by a participating municipality or special fire control district operating a chapter plan or local law plan under this chapter. (7) The board of trustees may, upon written request of the retiree of the plan, or by a dependent, if authorized by the retiree or the retiree’s beneficiary, authorize the plan administrator to withhold from the monthly retirement payment funds that are necessary to pay for the benefits being received through the governmental entity from which the employee retired, to pay the certified bargaining agent of the governmental entity, and to make any payments for child support or alimony. Upon the written request of the retiree of the plan, the board may also authorize the plan administrator to withhold from the retirement payment those funds necessary to pay for premiums for accident, health, and long-term care insurance for the retiree and the retiree’s spouse and dependents. A retirement plan does not incur liability for participation in this permissive program if its actions are taken in good faith. (8)(a) The board of trustees shall: 1. Provide a detailed accounting report of its expenses for each fiscal year to the plan sponsor and the Department of Management Services and make the report available to each member of the plan and post the report on the board’s website, if the board has a website. The report must include all administrative expenses that, for purposes of this subsection, are expenses relating to any legal counsel, actuary, plan administrator, and all other consultants, and all travel and other expenses paid to or on behalf of the members of the board of trustees or anyone else on behalf of the plan. 2. Operate under an administrative expense budget for each fiscal year, provide a copy of the budget to the plan sponsor, and make available a copy of the budget to plan members before the beginning of the fiscal year. If the board of trustees amends the administrative expense budget, the board must provide a copy of the amended budget to the plan sponsor and make available a copy of the amended budget to plan members. (b) Notwithstanding s. 175.351(2) and (3), a local law plan created by special act before May 27, 1939, must comply with the provisions of this subsection. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 2, ch. 81-168; s. 3, ch. 86-41; s. 15, ch. 93-193; s. 919, ch. 95-147; s. 5, ch. 99-1; s. 3, ch. 2002-66; s. 7, ch. 2004-21; s. 4, ch. 2009-97; s. 5, ch. 2011-216; s. 3, ch. 2015-39. 175.071 General powers and duties of board of trustees. For any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire control district, or local law plan under this chapter: (1) The board of trustees, subject to the fiduciary standards in ss. 112.656, 112.661, and 518.11, the Code of Ethics in ss. 112.311-112.3187, and the requirements in s. 112.662, may: (a) Invest and reinvest the assets of the firefighters’ pension trust fund in annuity and life insurance contracts of life insurance companies in amounts sufficient to provide, in whole or in part, the benefits to which all of the participants in the firefighters’ pension trust fund are entitled under this chapter and pay the initial and subsequent premiums thereon. (b) Invest and reinvest the assets of the firefighters’ pension trust fund in: 1. Time or savings accounts of a national bank, a state bank insured by the Bank Insurance Fund, or a savings, building, and loan association insured by the Savings Association Insurance Fund administered by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or a state or federal chartered credit union whose share accounts are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. 2. Obligations of the United States or obligations guaranteed as to principal and interest by the government of the United States. 3. Bonds issued by the State of Israel. 4. Bonds, stocks, or other evidences of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state or organized territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, if: a. The corporation is listed on any one or more of the recognized national stock exchanges or on the National Market System of the NASDAQ Stock Market and, in the case of bonds only, holds a rating in one of the three highest classifications by a major rating service; and b. The board of trustees may not invest more than 5 percent of its assets in the common stock or capital stock of any one issuing company, nor may the aggregate investment in any one issuing company exceed 5 percent of the outstanding capital stock of that company or the aggregate of its investments under this subparagraph at cost exceed 50 percent of the assets of the fund. This paragraph applies to all boards of trustees and participants. However, if a municipality or special fire control district has a duly enacted pension plan pursuant to, and in compliance with, s. 175.351, and the trustees desire to vary the investment procedures, the trustees of such plan must request a variance of the investment procedures as outlined herein only through a municipal ordinance, special act of the Legislature, or resolution by the governing body of the special fire control district; if a special act, or a municipality by ordinance adopted before July 1, 1998, permits a greater than 50-percent equity investment, such municipality is not required to comply with the aggregate equity investment provisions of this paragraph. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, this section may not be construed to take away any preexisting legal authority to make equity investments that exceed the requirements of this paragraph. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board of trustees may invest up to 25 percent of plan assets in foreign securities on a market-value basis. The investment cap on foreign securities may not be revised, amended, increased, or repealed except as provided by general law. (c) Issue drafts upon the firefighters’ pension trust fund pursuant to this act and rules prescribed by the board of trustees. All such drafts must be consecutively numbered, be signed by the chair and secretary, or by two individuals designated by the board who are subject to the same fiduciary standards as the board of trustees under this subsection, and state upon their faces the purpose for which the drafts are drawn. The treasurer or depository of each municipality or special fire control district shall retain such drafts when paid, as permanent vouchers for disbursements made, and no money may be otherwise drawn from the fund. (d) Convert into cash any securities of the fund. (e) Keep a complete record of all receipts and disbursements and the board’s acts and proceedings. (2) Any and all acts and decisions shall be effectuated by vote of a majority of the members of the board; however, no trustee shall take part in any action in connection with the trustee’s own participation in the fund, and no unfair discrimination shall be shown to any individual firefighter participating in the fund. (3) The board’s action on all claims for retirement under this act shall be final, provided, however, that the rules and regulations of the board have been complied with. (4) The secretary of the board of trustees shall keep a record of all persons receiving retirement payments under the provisions of this chapter, in which shall be noted the time when the pension is allowed and when the pension shall cease to be paid. In this record, the secretary shall keep a list of all firefighters employed by the municipality or special fire control district. The record shall show the name, address, and time of employment of such firefighters and when they cease to be employed by the municipality or special fire control district. (5) The sole and exclusive administration of, and the responsibilities for, the proper operation of the firefighters’ pension trust fund and for making effective the provisions of this chapter are vested in the board of trustees; however, nothing herein shall empower a board of trustees to amend the provisions of a retirement plan without the approval of the municipality or special fire control district. The board of trustees shall keep in convenient form such data as shall be necessary for an actuarial valuation of the firefighters’ pension trust fund and for checking the actual experience of the fund. (6)(a) At least once every 3 years, the board of trustees shall retain a professionally qualified independent consultant who shall evaluate the performance of any existing professional money manager and shall make recommendations to the board of trustees regarding the selection of money managers for the next investment term. These recommendations shall be considered by the board of trustees at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The date, time, place, and subject of this meeting shall be advertised in the same manner as for any meeting of the board. (b) For purposes of this subsection, the term “professionally qualified independent consultant” means a consultant who, based on education and experience, is professionally qualified to evaluate the performance of professional money managers, and who, at a minimum: 1. Provides his or her services on a flat-fee basis. 2. Is not associated in any manner with the money manager for the pension fund. 3. Makes calculations according to the American Banking Institute method of calculating time-weighted rates of return. All calculations must be made net of fees. 4. Has 3 or more years of experience working in the public sector. (7) To assist the board in meeting its responsibilities under this chapter, the board, if it so elects, may: (a) Employ independent legal counsel at the pension fund’s expense. (b) Employ an independent enrolled actuary, as defined in s. 175.032, at the pension fund’s expense. (c) Employ such independent professional, technical, or other advisers as it deems necessary at the pension fund’s expense. If the board chooses to use the municipality’s or special district’s legal counsel or actuary, or chooses to use any of the municipality’s or special district’s other professional, technical, or other advisers, it must do so only under terms and conditions acceptable to the board. (8) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(b) and as provided in s. 215.473, the board of trustees must identify and publicly report any direct or indirect holdings it may have in any scrutinized company, as defined in that section, and proceed to sell, redeem, divest, or withdraw all publicly traded securities it may have in that company beginning January 1, 2010. The divestiture of any such security must be completed by September 30, 2010. The board and its named officers or investment advisors may not be deemed to have breached their fiduciary duty in any action taken to dispose of any such security, and the board shall have satisfactorily discharged the fiduciary duties of loyalty, prudence, and sole and exclusive benefit to the participants of the pension fund and their beneficiaries if the actions it takes are consistent with the duties imposed by s. 215.473, and the manner of the disposition, if any, is reasonable as to the means chosen. For the purposes of effecting compliance with that section, the pension fund shall designate terror-free plans that allocate their funds among securities not subject to divestiture. No person may bring any civil, criminal, or administrative action against the board of trustees or any employee, officer, director, or advisor of such pension fund based upon the divestiture of any security pursuant to this subsection. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 1, ch. 65-365; ss. 22, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 3, ch. 81-168; s. 4, ch. 86-41; s. 16, ch. 93-193; s. 920, ch. 95-147; s. 1, ch. 98-134; s. 66, ch. 99-2; s. 17, ch. 99-392; s. 27, ch. 2000-151; s. 5, ch. 2009-97; s. 18, ch. 2010-5; s. 4, ch. 2015-39; s. 6, ch. 2023-28. 175.081 Use of annuity or insurance policies. When the board of trustees of any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire control district, or local law plan purchases annuity or life insurance contracts to provide all or any part of the benefits as provided for by this chapter, the following principles shall be observed: (1) Only those firefighters who have been members of the firefighters’ pension trust fund for 1 year or more may participate in the insured plan. (2) Individual policies shall be purchased only when a group insurance plan is not feasible. (3) Each application and policy shall designate the firefighters’ pension trust fund as owner of the policy. (4) Policies shall be written on an annual premium basis. (5) The type of policy shall be one which for the premium paid provides each individual with the maximum retirement benefit at his or her earliest statutory normal retirement age. (6) Death benefit, if any, should not exceed: (a) One hundred times the estimated normal retirement income, based on the assumption that the present rate of compensation continues without change to normal retirement date, or (b) Twice the annual rate of compensation as of the date of termination of service, or (c) The single-sum value of the accrued deferred retirement income (beginning at normal retirement date) at date of termination of service, whichever is greatest. (7) An insurance plan may provide that the assignment of insurance contract to separating firefighters shall be at least equivalent to the return of the firefighters’ contributions used to purchase the contract. An assignment of contract discharges the municipality or special fire control district, as appropriate, from all further obligation to the participant under the plan even though the cash value of such contract may be less than the firefighters’ contributions. (8) Provisions shall be made, either by issuance of separate policies or otherwise, that the separating firefighter does not receive cash value and other benefits under the policies assigned to him or her which exceed the present value of his or her vested interest under the firefighters’ pension trust fund, inclusive of his or her contribution to the plan; the contributions by the state shall not be exhausted faster merely because the method of funding adopted was through insurance companies. (9) The firefighter shall have the right at any time to give the board of trustees written instructions designating the primary and contingent beneficiaries to receive death benefits or proceeds and the method of settlement of the death benefit or proceeds, or requesting a change in the beneficiary designation or method of settlement previously made, subject to the terms of the policy or policies on his or her life. Upon receipt of such written instructions, the board of trustees shall take necessary steps to effectuate the designation or change of beneficiary or settlement option. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 4, ch. 81-168; s. 17, ch. 93-193; s. 921, ch. 95-147; s. 6, ch. 99-1. 175.091 Creation and maintenance of fund. For any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire control district, or local law plan under this chapter: (1) The firefighters’ pension trust fund in each municipality and in each special fire control district shall be created and maintained in the following manner: (a) By payment to the fund of the net proceeds of the 1.85-percent excise or other similar tax which may be imposed by the municipality or special fire control district upon fire insurance companies, fire insurance associations, or other property insurers on their gross receipts on premiums from holders of policies, which policies cover real or personal property within the corporate limits of such municipality, in the case of a municipal government, and within the legally defined jurisdiction of the district, in the case of a special fire control district. Whenever a municipality maintains a firefighters’ pension trust fund under the provisions of this chapter but is partially contained within the boundaries of a special fire control district, that portion of the 1.85-percent excise, license, or other similar tax which is collected for insurance policies covering property within the jurisdiction of both the municipality and the special fire control district shall be given to the firefighters’ pension trust fund of the fire service provider. Remaining revenues collected pursuant to this chapter shall be distributed to the municipality or special fire control district according to the location of the insured property. (b) Except as reduced or increased contributions are authorized by subsection (2), by the payment to the fund of 5 percent of the salary of each uniformed firefighter who is a member or duly enrolled in the fire department of any municipality or special fire control district, which 5 percent shall be deducted by the municipality or special fire control district from the compensation due to the firefighter and paid over to the board of trustees of the firefighters’ pension trust fund wherein such firefighter is employed. No firefighter shall have any right to the money so paid into the fund except as provided in this chapter. (c) By all fines and forfeitures imposed and collected from any firefighter because of the violation of any rule and regulation promulgated by the board of trustees. (d) By mandatory payment by the municipality or special fire control district of a sum equal to the normal cost of and the amount required to fund any actuarial deficiency shown by an actuarial valuation conducted under part VII of chapter 112 after taking into account the amounts described in paragraphs (b), (c), (e), (f), and (g) and the tax proceeds described in paragraph (a) which are used to fund benefits in a defined benefit plan component. (e) By all gifts, bequests, and devises when donated to the fund. (f) By all accretions to the fund by way of interest or dividends on bank deposits, or otherwise. (g) By all other sources or income now or hereafter authorized by law for the augmentation of such firefighters’ pension trust fund. (2) Member contribution rates may be adjusted as follows: (a) The employing municipality or special fire control district, by local ordinance or resolution, may elect to make an employee’s contributions. However, under no circumstances may a municipality or special fire control district reduce the member contribution to less than one-half of 1 percent of salary. (b) Firefighter member contributions may be increased by consent of the members’ collective bargaining representative or, if none, by majority consent of firefighter members of the fund. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require adjustment of member contribution rates in effect on the date this act becomes a law, including rates that exceed 5 percent of salary, provided that such rates are at least one-half of 1 percent of salary. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 1, ch. 65-58; s. 1, ch. 67-218; s. 5, ch. 81-168; s. 5, ch. 86-41; s. 18, ch. 93-193; s. 7, ch. 97-96; s. 7, ch. 99-1; s. 6, ch. 2011-216; s. 5, ch. 2015-39. 175.101 State excise tax on property insurance premiums authorized; procedure. For any municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local law municipality, local law special fire control district, or local law plan under this chapter: (1) Each municipality or special fire control district in this state described and classified in s. 175.041, having a lawfully established firefighters’ pension trust fund or municipal fund or special fire control district fund, by whatever name known, providing pension benefits to firefighters as provided under this chapter, may assess and impose on every insurance company, corporation, or other insurer now engaged in or carrying on, or who shall hereinafter engage in or carry on, the business of property insurance as shown by the records of the Office of Insurance Regulation of the Financial Services Commission, an excise tax in addition to any lawful license or excise tax now levied by each of the municipalities or special fire control districts, respectively, amounting to 1.85 percent of the gross amount of receipts of premiums from policyholders on all premiums collected on property insurance policies covering property within the corporate limits of such municipalities or within the legally defined boundaries of special fire control districts, respectively. Whenever the boundaries of a special fire control district that has lawfully established a firefighters’ pension trust fund encompass a portion of the corporate territory of a municipality that has also lawfully established a firefighters’ pension trust fund, that portion of the tax receipts attributable to insurance policies covering property situated both within the municipality and the special fire control district shall be given to the fire service provider. For the purpose of this section, the boundaries of a special fire control district include an area that has been annexed until the completion of the 4-year period provided for in s. 171.093(4), or other agreed-upon extension, or if a special fire control district is providing services under an interlocal agreement executed in accordance with s. 171.093(3). The agent shall identify the fire service provider on the property owner’s application for insurance. Remaining revenues collected pursuant to this chapter shall be distributed to the municipality or special fire control district according to the location of the insured property. (2) In the case of multiple peril policies with a single premium for both the property and casualty coverages in such policies, 70 percent of such premium shall be used as the basis for the 1.85-percent tax. (3) This excise tax shall be payable annually on March 1 of each year after the passage of an ordinance, in the case of a municipality, or resolution, in the case of a special fire control district, assessing and imposing the tax authorized by this section. Installments of taxes shall be paid according to the provision of s. 624.5092(2)(a), (b), and (c). This section also applies to any municipality consisting of a single consolidated government which is made up of a former county and one or more municipalities, consolidated pursuant to the authority in s. 3 or s. 6(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution, and to property insurance policies covering property within the boundaries of the consolidated government, regardless of whether the properties are located within one or more separately incorporated areas within the consolidated government, provided the properties are being provided fire protection services by the consolidated government. This section also applies to any municipality, as provided in s. 175.041(3)(c), which has entered into an interlocal agreement to receive fire protection services from another municipality participating under this chapter. The excise tax may be levied on all premiums collected on property insurance policies covering property located within the corporate limits of the municipality receiving the fire protection services, but will be available for distribution to the municipality providing the fire protection services. History. — s. 1, ch. 63-249; s. 2, ch. 67-218; ss. 13, 35, ch. 69-106; s. 6, ch. 81-168; s. 6, ch. 86-41; s. 23, ch. 87-99; s. 14, ch. 88-206; s. 10, ch. 89-167; s. 19, ch. 93-193; s. 8, ch. 99-1; s. 2, ch. 2002-29; s. 161, ch. 2003-261; s. 3, ch. 2005-205; s. 6, ch. 2009-97. 175.1015 Determination of local premium tax situs. (1)(a) Any insurance company that is obligated to report and remit the excise tax on property insurance premiums imposed under s. 175.101 shall be held harmless from any liability, including, but not limited to, liability for taxes, interest, or penalties that would otherwise be due solely as a result of an assignment of an insured property to an incorrect local taxing jurisdiction if the insurance company exercises due diligence in applying an electronic database provided by the Department of Revenue under subsection (2). Insurance companies that do not use the electronic database provided by the Department of Revenue or that do not exercise due diligence in applying the electronic database for tax years on or after January 1, 2006, are subject to a 0.5 percent penalty on the portion of the premium pertaining to any insured risk that is improperly assigned, whether assigned to an improper local taxing jurisdiction, not assigned to a local taxing jurisdiction when it should be assigned to a local taxing jurisdiction, or assigned to a local taxing jurisdiction when it should not be assigned to a local taxing jurisdiction. (b) Any insurance company that is obligated to report and remit the excise tax on commercial property insurance premiums imposed under s. 175.101 and is unable, after due diligence, to assign an insured property to a specific local taxing jurisdiction for purposes of complying with paragraph (a) shall remit the excise tax on commercial property insurance premiums using a methodology of apportionment in a manner consistent with the remittance for the 2004 calendar year. An insurance company which makes two contacts with the agent responsible for a commercial property insurance application for the purpose of verifying information on the application necessary for the assignment to the appropriate taxing jurisdiction shall be considered to have exercised due diligence. Any insurance company which complies with the provisions of this paragraph shall not be subject to the penalty provided in paragraph (a). (2)(a) The Department of Revenue shall, subject to legislative appropriation, create as soon as practical and feasible, and thereafter shall maintain, an electronic database that conforms to any format approved by the American National Standards Institute’s Accredited Standards Committee X12 and that designates for each street address and address range in the state, including any multiple postal street addresses applicable to one street location, the local taxing jurisdiction in which the street address and address range is located, and the appropriate code for each such participating local taxing jurisdiction, identified by one nationwide standard numeric code. The nationwide standard numeric code must contain the same number of numeric digits, and each digit or combination of digits must refer to the same level of taxing jurisdiction throughout the United States and must be in a format similar to FIPS 55-3 or other appropriate standard approved by the Federation of Tax Administrators and the Multistate Tax Commission. Each address or address range must be provided in standard postal format, including the street number, street number range, street name, and zip code. Each year after the creation of the initial database, the Department of Revenue shall annually create and maintain a database for the current tax year. Each annual database must be calendar-year specific. (b)1. Each participating local taxing jurisdiction shall furnish to the Department of Revenue all information needed to create the electronic database as soon as practical and feasible. The information furnished to the Department of Revenue must specify an effective date. 2. Each participating local taxing jurisdiction shall furnish to the Department of Revenue all information needed to create and update the current year’s database, including changes in annexations, incorporations, and reorganizations and any other changes in jurisdictional boundaries, as well as changes in eligibility to participate in the excise tax imposed under this chapter. The information must specify an effective date and must be furnished to the Department of Revenue by July 1 of the current year. 3. The Department of Revenue shall create and update the current year’s database in accordance with the information furnished by participating local taxing jurisdictions under subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., as appropriate. To the extent practicable, the Department of Revenue shall post each new annual database on a website by September 1 of each year. Each participating local taxing jurisdiction shall have access to this website and, within 30 days thereafter, shall provide any corrections to the Department of Revenue. The Department of Revenue shall finalize the current year’s database and post it on a website by November 1 of the current year. If a dispute in jurisdictional boundaries cannot be resolved so that changes in boundaries may be included, as appropriate, in the database by November 1, the changes may not be retroactively included in the current year’s database and the boundaries will remain the same as in the previous year’s database. The finalized database must be used in assigning policies and premiums to the proper local taxing jurisdiction for the insurance premium tax return due on the following March 1 for the tax year 2005. For subsequent tax years, the finalized database must be used in assigning policies and premiums to the proper local taxing jurisdiction for the insurance premium tax return due for the tax year beginning on or after the January 1 following the website posting of the database. Information contained in the electronic database is conclusive for purposes of this chapter. The electronic database is not an order, a rule, or a policy of general applicability. 4. Each annual database must identify the additions, deletions, and other changes to the preceding version of the database. (3)(a) As used in this section, the term “due diligence” means the care and attention that is expected from and is ordinarily exercised by a reasonable and prudent person under the circumstances. (b) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, an insurance company is exercising due diligence if the insurance company complies with the provisions of paragraph (1)(b) or if the insurance company assigns an insured’s premium to local taxing jurisdictions in accordance with the Department of Revenue’s annual database and with respect to such database: 1. Expends reasonable resources to accurately and reliably implement such method; 2. Maintains adequate internal controls to correctly include in its database of policyholders the location of the property insured, in the proper address format, so that matching with the department’s database is accurate; and 3. Corrects errors in the assignment of addresses to local taxing jurisdictions within 120 days after the insurance company discovers the errors. (4) There is annually appropriated from the moneys collected under this chapter and deposited in the Police and F