Amount of increase - Persons other than persons whose employer participated in Employees' Retirement System.

(a) Commencing October 1, 2005, each person, except those whose employer participated in the Employees' Retirement System pursuant to Sections 36-27-6, 36-27-7, and 36-27-7.1, whose effective date of retirement for purposes of receiving benefits from the Employees' Retirement System is prior to October 1, 2004, and who is receiving or is entitled to receive a monthly allowance from the Employees' Retirement System, shall receive a cost-of-living increase of four percent in their gross monthly benefit, but not less than fifteen dollars ($15) per month.

(b) Beneficiaries of deceased members or deceased retirees, except where the deceased member or deceased retiree retired from an employer participating in the Employees' Retirement System pursuant to Sections 36-27-6, 36-27-7, and 36-27-7.1, if the date of death for the deceased member, or the effective date of retirement for the deceased retiree for purposes of receiving benefits from the Employees' Retirement System was prior to October 1, 2004, shall receive a cost-of-living increase of four percent in their gross monthly benefit, but not less than fifteen dollars ($15) per month.

(Act 2005-316, 1st Sp. Sess., §5.)