Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5447
STATE OF MINNESOTA
EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION - 2009
_____________________
FIFTY-SECOND DAY
Saint Paul, Minnesota, Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The House of Representatives convened at
9:30 a.m. and was called to order by Al Juhnke, Speaker pro tempore.
Prayer was offered by the Reverend Ilene
Blanche, Rivers of Living Waters Christian Center, Lake City, Minnesota.
The members of the House gave the pledge
of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.
The roll was called and the following
members were present:
Abeler
Anderson, B.
Anderson, P.
Anderson, S.
Anzelc
Atkins
Beard
Bigham
Bly
Brod
Brown
Brynaert
Buesgens
Bunn
Carlson
Champion
Cornish
Davids
Davnie
Dean
Demmer
Dettmer
Dill
Dittrich
Doepke
Doty
Downey
Drazkowski
Eastlund
Eken
Emmer
Falk
Faust
Fritz
Gardner
Garofalo
Gottwalt
Greiling
Gunther
Hackbarth
Hamilton
Hansen
Hausman
Haws
Hayden
Hilstrom
Hilty
Holberg
Hoppe
Hornstein
Hortman
Hosch
Howes
Huntley
Jackson
Johnson
Juhnke
Kahn
Kalin
Kath
Kelly
Kiffmeyer
Knuth
Koenen
Kohls
Laine
Lanning
Lenczewski
Lesch
Liebling
Lieder
Lillie
Loeffler
Loon
Mack
Magnus
Mahoney
Mariani
Marquart
Masin
McFarlane
McNamara
Morgan
Morrow
Mullery
Murdock
Murphy, E.
Murphy, M.
Nelson
Newton
Nornes
Norton
Obermueller
Olin
Otremba
Paymar
Pelowski
Peppin
Persell
Peterson
Poppe
Reinert
Rosenthal
Rukavina
Ruud
Sailer
Sanders
Scalze
Scott
Seifert
Sertich
Severson
Shimanski
Simon
Slawik
Slocum
Smith
Sterner
Swails
Thao
Thissen
Tillberry
Torkelson
Urdahl
Wagenius
Ward
Welti
Westrom
Winkler
Zellers
Spk. Kelliher
A quorum was present.
The Speaker assumed the chair.
Solberg was excused.
Benson was excused until 11:45 a.m. Clark was excused until 1:40 p.m.
The Chief Clerk proceeded to read the
Journal of the preceding day. Peppin
moved that further reading of the Journal be dispensed with and that the
Journal be approved as corrected by the Chief Clerk. The motion prevailed.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5448
REPORTS OF CHIEF CLERK
S. F. No. 80
and H. F. No. 1206, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Simon moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 80 be substituted
for H. F. No. 1206 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 203
and H. F. No. 120, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Hosch moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 203 be substituted
for H. F. No. 120 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 548
and H. F. No. 695, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Hilstrom moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 548 be substituted
for H. F. No. 695 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 722
and H. F. No. 954, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Lesch moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 722 be substituted
for H. F. No. 954 and that the House File be indefinitely postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 848
and H. F. No. 729, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Poppe moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 848 be substituted
for H. F. No. 729 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
S. F. No. 1436
and H. F. No. 1639, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk for
comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Morrow moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 1436 be substituted
for H. F. No. 1639 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top
of Page 5449
S. F. No. 1890
and H. F. No. 1322, which had been referred to the Chief Clerk
for comparison, were examined and found to be identical with certain
exceptions.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
Thissen moved that
the rules be so far suspended that S. F. No. 1890 be substituted
for H. F. No. 1322 and that the House File be indefinitely
postponed. The motion prevailed.
SECOND READING OF SENATE BILLS
S. F. Nos. 80, 203, 548, 722, 848, 1436
and 1890 were read for the second time.
Sertich moved that the House recess
subject to the call of the Chair. The
motion prevailed.
RECESS
RECONVENED
The House reconvened and was called to
order by Speaker pro tempore Hortman.
There being no objection, the order of
business reverted to Reports of Standing Committees and Divisions.
REPORTS OF STANDING
COMMITTEES AND DIVISIONS
Carlson from the Committee on Finance
to which was referred:
H. F. No. 354, A bill for an act
relating to real property; providing for mediation prior to commencement of
mortgage foreclosure proceedings on homestead property; creating a homestead-lender
mediation account; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 357.18,
subdivision 1; 508.82, subdivision 1; 508A.82, subdivision 1; 580.021; 580.022,
subdivision 1; 580.23, by adding a subdivision; 582.30, subdivision 2;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 583.
Reported the same back with the
following amendments:
Page 9, line 12, delete everything
after "REQUIRED" and insert a period
Page 9, delete line 13
Page 9, delete subdivision 3 and
insert:
"Subd. 3. Creditor's
bad faith. If the mediator
finds that the creditor has not participated in the mediation in good faith,
and the creditor continues with the foreclosure proceeding, then the debtor
shall be a allowed a six-month redemption period."
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5450
Page 10, delete subdivision 4 and
insert:
"Subd. 4. Debtor's
lack of good faith. If the
mediator finds that the debtor has not participated in the mediation in good
faith, and the creditor continues with the foreclosure proceeding, then the
debtor shall execute a deed in lieu of foreclosure within 90 days of the filing
of the mediator's affidavit containing the finding of bad faith."
Page 10, delete subdivision 5
Page 12, line 26, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012"
Page 12, line 27, delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 12, line 29, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 14, line 11, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012"
Page 14, line 12, delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 14, line 17, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 14, line 26, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012"
Page 14, line 28, delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 14, line 33, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 15, line 6, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012" and delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 15, line 13, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 18, line 3, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012" and delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 18, line 9, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 18, line 18, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012"
Page 18, line 20, delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 18, line 25, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 18, line 35, delete "December
31, 2014" and insert "July 1, 2012" and delete "$50"
and insert "$49"
Page 19, line 7, delete "$4"
and insert "$3"
Page 21, line 11, delete "a
special revenue" and insert "an" and delete "general"
and insert "special revenue"
Amend the title as follows:
Page 1, line 4, after the semicolon,
insert "appropriating money;"
With the recommendation that when so
amended the bill pass and be re-referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The
report was adopted.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5451
Carlson from the Committee on Finance to which was
referred:
H. F. No. 723, A bill for an act relating to
retirement; various retirement plans; making various statutory changes needed
to accommodate the dissolution of the Minnesota Post Retirement Investment
Fund; redefining the value of pension plan assets for actuarial reporting
purposes; revising various disability benefit provisions of the general state
employees retirement plan, the correctional state employees retirement plan,
and the State Patrol retirement plan; making various administrative provision
changes; establishing a voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter
retirement plan administered by the Public Employees Retirement Association;
revising various volunteer firefighters' relief association provisions;
correcting 2008 drafting errors related to the Minneapolis Employees Retirement
Fund and other drafting errors; granting special retirement benefit authority
in certain cases; revising the special transportation pilots retirement plan of
the Minnesota State Retirement System; expanding the membership of the state
correctional employees retirement plan; extending the amortization target date
for the Fairmont Police Relief Association; modifying the number of board of
trustees members of the Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association; increasing
state education aid to offset teacher retirement plan employer contribution
increases; increasing teacher retirement plan member and employer
contributions; revising the normal retirement age and providing prospective
benefit accrual rate increases for teacher retirement plans; permitting the
Brimson Volunteer Firefighters' Relief Association to implement a different
board of trustees composition; permitting employees of the Minneapolis
Firefighters Relief Association and the Minneapolis Police Relief Association
to become members of the general employee retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association; creating a two-year demonstration
postretirement adjustment mechanism for the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association; creating a temporary postretirement option program for employees
covered by the general employee retirement plan of the Public Employees
Retirement Association; setting a statute of limitations for erroneous receipts
of the general employee retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement
Association; permitting the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System
board to create an early separation incentive program; permitting certain
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System faculty members to make a
second chance retirement coverage election upon achieving tenure; including the
Weiner Memorial Medical Center, Inc., in the Public Employees Retirement
Association privatization law; extending the approval deadline date for the
inclusion of the Clearwater County Hospital in the Public Employees Retirement
Association privatization law; requiring a report; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections
3A.02, subdivision 3, by adding a subdivision; 3A.03, by adding a subdivision;
3A.04, by adding a subdivision; 3A.115; 11A.08, subdivision 1; 11A.17,
subdivisions 1, 2; 11A.23, subdivisions 1, 2; 43A.34, subdivision 4; 43A.346,
subdivisions 2, 6; 69.011, subdivisions 1, 2, 4; 69.021, subdivisions 7, 9;
69.031, subdivisions 1, 5; 69.77, subdivision 4; 69.771, subdivision 3; 69.772,
subdivisions 4, 6; 69.773, subdivision 6; 127A.50, subdivision 1; 299A.465,
subdivision 1; 352.01, subdivision 2b, by adding subdivisions; 352.021, by
adding a subdivision; 352.04, subdivisions 1, 12; 352.061; 352.113, subdivision
4, by adding a subdivision; 352.115, by adding a subdivision; 352.12, by adding
a subdivision; 352.75, subdivisions 3, 4; 352.86, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2;
352.91, subdivision 3d; 352.911, subdivisions 3, 5; 352.93, by adding a
subdivision; 352.931, by adding a subdivision; 352.95, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, by adding a subdivision; 352B.02, subdivisions 1, 1a, 1c, 1d; 352B.08, by
adding a subdivision; 352B.10, subdivisions 1, 2, 5, by adding subdivisions;
352B.11, subdivision 2, by adding a subdivision; 352C.10; 352D.06, subdivision
1; 352D.065, by adding a subdivision; 352D.075, by adding a subdivision;
353.01, subdivisions 2, 2a, 6, 11b, 16, 16b; 353.0161, subdivision 1; 353.03,
subdivision 3a; 353.06; 353.27, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 7, 7b; 353.29, by adding
a subdivision; 353.31, subdivision 1b, by adding a subdivision; 353.33,
subdivisions 1, 3b, 7, 11, 12, by adding subdivisions; 353.65, subdivisions 2,
3; 353.651, by adding a subdivision; 353.656, subdivision 5a, by adding a
subdivision; 353.657, subdivision 3a, by adding a subdivision; 353.665,
subdivision 3; 353A.02, subdivisions 14, 23; 353A.05, subdivisions 1, 2;
353A.08, subdivisions 1, 3, 6a; 353A.081, subdivision 2; 353A.09, subdivision
1; 353A.10, subdivisions 2, 3; 353E.01, subdivisions 3, 5; 353E.04, by adding a
subdivision; 353E.06, by adding a subdivision; 353E.07, by adding a
subdivision; 353F.02, subdivision 4; 354.05, subdivision 38, by adding a
subdivision; 354.07, subdivision 4; 354.33, subdivision 5; 354.35, by adding a
subdivision; 354.42, subdivisions 1a, 2, 3, by adding subdivisions; 354.44,
subdivisions 4, 5, 6, by adding a subdivision; 354.46, by adding a subdivision;
354.47, subdivision 1; 354.48, subdivisions 4, 6, by adding a subdivision;
354.49, subdivision 2; 354.52, subdivisions 2a, 4b; 354.55, subdivisions 11,
13; 354.66, subdivision 6; 354.70, subdivisions 5, 6; 354A.011, subdivision
15a; 354A.096; 354A.12,
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5452
subdivisions 1, 2a, by adding subdivisions; 354A.29,
subdivision 3; 354A.31, subdivisions 4, 4a, 7; 354A.36, subdivision 6; 354B.21,
subdivision 2; 356.20, subdivision 2; 356.215, subdivisions 1, 11; 356.219,
subdivision 3; 356.315, by adding a subdivision; 356.32, subdivision 2;
356.351, subdivision 2; 356.401, subdivisions 2, 3; 356.465, subdivision 1, by
adding a subdivision; 356.611, subdivisions 3, 4; 356.635, subdivisions 6, 7;
356.96, subdivisions 1, 5; 422A.06, subdivision 8; 422A.08, subdivision 5;
423C.03, subdivision 1; 424A.001, subdivisions 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10,
by adding subdivisions; 424A.01; 424A.02, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3a, 7, 8, 9,
9a, 9b, 10, 12, 13; 424A.021; 424A.03; 424A.04; 424A.05, subdivisions 1, 2, 3,
4; 424A.06; 424A.07; 424A.08; 424A.10, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 424B.10,
subdivision 2, by adding subdivisions; 424B.21; 490.123, subdivisions 1, 3;
490.124, by adding a subdivision; Laws 1989, chapter 319, article 11, section
13; Laws 2006, chapter 271, article 5, section 5, as amended; Laws 2008,
chapter 349, article 14, section 13; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota
Statutes, chapters 136F; 352B; 353; 354; 356; 420; 424A; 424B; proposing coding
for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 353G; repealing Minnesota Statutes
2008, sections 11A.041; 11A.18; 11A.181; 352.119, subdivisions 2, 3, 4; 352.86,
subdivision 3; 352B.01, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3b, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11; 352B.26,
subdivisions 1, 3; 353.271; 353A.02, subdivision 20; 353A.09, subdivisions 2,
3; 354.05, subdivision 26; 354.06, subdivision 6; 354.55, subdivision 14;
354.63; 354A.29, subdivisions 2, 4, 5; 356.2165; 356.41; 356.431, subdivision
2; 422A.01, subdivision 13; 422A.06, subdivision 4; 422A.08, subdivision 5a; 424A.001,
subdivision 7; 424A.02, subdivisions 4, 6, 8a, 8b, 9b; 424A.09; 424B.10,
subdivision 1; 490.123, subdivisions 1c, 1e.
Reported the same back with the following amendments:
Delete everything after the enacting clause and
insert:
"ARTICLE 1
MINNESOTA POSTRETIREMENT INVESTMENT FUND DISSOLUTION
ACCOMMODATION
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.02, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Appropriation. The amounts required for payment of
retirement allowances provided by this section are appropriated annually to the
director from the participation of the legislators retirement plan in
the Minnesota postretirement investment fund or from the general fund as
provided in section 3A.115. The
retirement allowance must be paid is payable monthly to the
recipients entitled to those retirement allowances.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.02, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
retirement allowance under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.03, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 3. Legislators
retirement fund. (a) The
legislators retirement fund, a special retirement fund, is created within the
state treasury and must be credited with assets equal to the participation of
the legislators retirement plan in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund
as of June 30, 2009, and any investment proceeds on those assets.
(b) The payment of annuities under section 3A.115,
paragraph (b), is appropriated from the legislators retirement fund.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.04, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 2a. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5453
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 3A.115, is
amended to read:
3A.115 RETIREMENT ALLOWANCE APPROPRIATION; POSTRETIREMENT
ADJUSTMENT.
(a) The amount necessary to fund the
retirement allowance granted under this chapter to a former legislator upon
retirement retiring after June 30, 2003, is appropriated from the
general fund to the director to pay pension obligations due to the retiree.
(b) The
amount necessary to fund the retirement allowance granted under this chapter to
a former legislator retiring before July 1, 2003, must be paid from the
legislators retirement fund created under section 3A.03, subdivision 3, until
the assets of the fund are exhausted and at that time, the amount necessary to
fund the retirement allowances under this paragraph is appropriated from the
general fund to the director to pay pension obligations to the retiree.
(c) Retirement allowances payable to
retired legislators and their survivors under this chapter must be adjusted in
the same manner, at the same times, and in the same amounts as are benefits
payable from the Minnesota postretirement investment fund to retirees of a
participating public pension fund as provided in sections 3A.02,
subdivision 6, and 356.415.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.08,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Membership. There is created an Investment Advisory
Council consisting of 17 members. Ten of
these members shall must be experienced in general investment
matters. They shall be appointed by
the state board The state board must appoint the ten members. The other seven members shall be
are: the commissioner of finance;
the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System; the executive
director of the Public Employees Retirement Association; the executive director
of the Teachers Retirement Association; a retiree currently receiving benefits
from the postretirement investment fund a statewide retirement plan;
and two public employees who are active members of funds whose assets are
invested by the state board. The governor
must appoint the retiree and the public employees shall be appointed by
the governor for four-year terms.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.23,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Certification
of assets not needed for immediate use.
Each executive director administering a retirement fund or plan
enumerated in subdivision 4 shall, from time to time, certify to the state
board for investment those portions of the assets of the retirement fund or
plan which in the judgment of the executive director are not required for
immediate use. Assets of the fund or
plan required for participation in the Minnesota postretirement adjustment
fund, the combined investment fund, or the supplemental investment fund shall
be transferred to those funds as provided by sections 11A.01 to 11A.25.
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.23,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Investment. Retirement fund assets certified to the state
board pursuant to under subdivision 1 shall must be
invested by the state board subject to the provisions of section 11A.24. Retirement fund assets transferred to the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund, the combined investment fund or
the supplemental investment fund shall must be invested by the
state board as part of those funds.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.021, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5.
Determining applicable law. An annuity under this chapter must be
computed under the law in effect as of the last day for which the employee
receives pay, or if on medical leave, the day that the leave terminates. However, if the employee has returned to
covered employment following a termination, the employee must have earned at
least six months of allowable service following a return to employment as a
state employee in order to qualify for improved benefits resulting from any law
change enacted subsequent to that termination.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5454
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.04,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Fund
created. (a) There is created
a special fund to be known as the general state employees retirement fund. In that fund, employee contributions,
employer contributions, and other amounts authorized by law must be deposited.
(b) The general
state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System must
participate in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund. The amounts provided in section 352.119 must
be deposited in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.04,
subdivision 12, is amended to read:
Subd. 12. Fund
disbursement restricted. The general
state employees retirement fund and the participation in the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund must be disbursed only for the purposes
provided by law. The expenses of the
system and any benefits provided by law, other than benefits payable from
the Minnesota postretirement investment fund, must be paid from the general
state employees retirement fund. The
retirement allowances, retirement annuities, and disability benefits, as well
as refunds of any sum remaining to the credit of a deceased retired employee or
a disabled employee must be paid only from the general state employees
retirement fund after the needs have been certified and the amounts
withdrawn from the participation in the Minnesota postretirement investment
fund under section 11A.18. The
amounts necessary to make the payments from the general state employees
retirement fund and the participation in the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund are annually appropriated from these funds that
fund for those purposes.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.061, is
amended to read:
352.061 INVESTMENT BOARD TO INVEST FUNDS.
The director shall,
from time to time, certify to the State Board of Investment any portions of the
state employees retirement fund that in the judgment of the director are not
required for immediate use. Assets
from the state employees retirement fund must be transferred to the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund as provided in section 11A.18. The State Board of Investment shall
invest and reinvest sums so transferred, or certified, in
securities that are duly authorized legal investments under section
11A.24.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.113, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 13.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.115, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 14.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A retirement
annuity under this section and section 352.116 is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.12, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 2c.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A survivor
benefit under subdivision 2, 2a, or 2b is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5455
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.75,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Existing
retired members and benefit recipients.
As of July 1, 1978, the liability for all retirement annuities,
disability benefits, survivorship annuities, and survivor of deceased active
employee benefits paid or payable by the former Metropolitan Transit
Commission-Transit Operating Division employees retirement fund is transferred
to the Minnesota State Retirement System, and is no longer the liability of the
former Metropolitan Transit Commission-Transit Operating Division employees
retirement fund. The required
reserves for retirement annuities, disability benefits, and optional joint and
survivor annuities in effect on June 30, 1978, and the required reserves for
the increase in annuities and benefits provided under subdivision 6 must be
determined using a five percent interest assumption and the applicable
Minnesota State Retirement System mortality table and shall be transferred by
the Minnesota State Retirement System to the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund on July 1, 1978, but shall be considered transferred as of June
30, 1978. The annuity or benefit amount
in effect on July 1, 1978, including the increase granted under subdivision 6,
must be used for adjustments made under section 11A.18. For persons receiving benefits as
survivors of deceased former retirement annuitants, the benefits must be
considered as having commenced on the date on which the retirement annuitant
began receiving the retirement annuity.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.75,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Existing
deferred retirees. Any former member
of the former Metropolitan Transit Commission-Transit Operating Division
employees retirement fund is entitled to a retirement annuity from the Minnesota
State Retirement System if the employee:
(1) is not an
active employee of the Transit Operating Division of the former Metropolitan
Transit Commission on July 1, 1978; (2) has at least ten years of active
continuous service with the Transit Operating Division of the former
Metropolitan Transit Commission as defined by the former Metropolitan Transit
Commission-Transit Operating Division employees retirement plan document in
effect on December 31, 1977; (3) has not received a refund of contributions;
(4) has not retired or begun receiving an annuity or benefit from the former
Metropolitan Transit Commission-Transit Operating Division employees retirement
fund; (5) is at least 55 years old; and (6) submits a valid application for a
retirement annuity to the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement
System.
The person is
entitled to a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal old age
retirement allowance calculated under the former Metropolitan Transit
Commission-Transit Operating Division employees retirement fund plan document
in effect on December 31, 1977, subject to an early retirement reduction or
adjustment in amount on account of retirement before the normal retirement age
specified in that former Metropolitan Transit Commission-Transit Operating
Division employees retirement fund plan document.
The deferred
retirement annuity of any person to whom this subdivision applies must be
augmented. The required reserves
applicable to the deferred retirement annuity, determined as of the date the
allowance begins to accrue using an appropriate mortality table and an interest
assumption of five percent, must be augmented by interest at the rate of five
percent per year compounded annually from January 1, 1978, to January 1, 1981,
and three percent per year compounded annually from January 1, 1981, to the
first day of the month in which the annuity begins to accrue. Upon After the commencement of
the retirement annuity, the required reserves for the annuity must be
transferred to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund in accordance with
subdivision 2 and section 352.119 is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
On applying for a retirement annuity under this subdivision, the person
is entitled to elect a joint and survivor optional annuity under section
352.116, subdivision 3.
Sec. 18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.911,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Investment. The correctional employees retirement fund
shall participate in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund and in that
fund there shall be deposited the amounts provided in section 352.119. The balance of any assets of the
fund shall must be deposited in the Minnesota combined investment
funds as provided in section 11A.14, if applicable, or otherwise under section
11A.23.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5456
Sec. 19.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.911, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Fund disbursement restricted. The correctional employees retirement fund and
its share of participation in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund
shall must be disbursed only for the purposes provided for in the
applicable provisions in this chapter.
The proportional share of the expenses of the system and any benefits
provided in sections section 352.90 to 352.951, other than
benefits payable from the Minnesota postretirement investment fund, shall must
be paid from the correctional employees retirement fund. The retirement allowances, retirement
annuities, the disability benefits, the survivorship benefits, and any refunds
of accumulated deductions shall must be paid only from the
correctional employees retirement fund after those needs have been certified
by the executive director and the amounts withdrawn from the share of
participation in the Minnesota postretirement fund under section 11A.18. The amounts necessary to make the payments
from the correctional employees retirement fund and the participation in the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund are annually appropriated from those
funds that fund for those purposes.
Sec. 20.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.93, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
retirement annuity under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 21.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.931, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Sec. 22.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 8. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
disability benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 23.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.02, subdivision 1d, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1d. Fund revenue and expenses. The amounts provided for in this section must
be credited to the State Patrol retirement fund. All money received must be deposited by the
commissioner of finance in the State Patrol retirement fund. The fund must be used to pay the
administrative expenses of the retirement fund, and the benefits and annuities
provided in this chapter. Appropriate
amounts shall be transferred to or withdrawn from the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund as provided in section 352B.26.
Sec. 24.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.08, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 4. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
retirement annuity under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 25.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
disability benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Sec. 26.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.11, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 2e. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under subdivision 2, 2b, or 2c is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5457
Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352C.10, is
amended to read:
352C.10 BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS.
Retirement
allowances payable to retired constitutional officers and surviving spouse
benefits payable must be adjusted in the same manner, at the same times and
in the same amounts as are benefits payable from the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund to retirees of a participating public pension fund under
section 356.415.
Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352D.06,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Annuity;
reserves. When a participant attains
at least age 55, terminates from covered service, and applies for a retirement
annuity, the cash value of the participant's shares shall must be
transferred to the Minnesota postretirement investment general state
employees retirement fund and must be used to provide an annuity for
the retired employee based upon the participant's age when the benefit begins
to accrue according to the reserve basis used by the general state employees
retirement plan in determining pensions and reserves. The annuity under this subdivision is
eligible for postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352D.065, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 3a.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352D.075, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 2b.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A survivor
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 31. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.06, is
amended to read:
353.06 STATE BOARD OF INVESTMENT TO INVEST FUNDS.
The executive
director shall from time to time certify to the State Board of Investment for
investment such portions of the retirement fund as in its judgment may not be
required for immediate use. Assets
from the public employees retirement fund shall be transferred to the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund as provided in section 11A.18. The State Board of Investment shall
thereupon invest and reinvest the sum so certified, or transferred, in such
securities as are duly authorized as legal investments for state employees
retirement fund and shall have authority to sell, convey, and exchange such
securities and invest and reinvest the securities when it deems it desirable to
do so and shall sell securities upon request of the board of trustees when such
funds are needed for its purposes. All
of the provisions regarding accounting procedures and restrictions and
conditions for the purchase and sale of securities for the state employees
retirement fund shall under chapter 11A must apply to the
accounting, purchase and sale of securities for the public employees retirement
fund.
Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Income;
disbursements. There is a special
fund known as the "public employees retirement fund," the
"retirement fund," or the "fund," which shall
must include all the assets of the association. This fund shall must be
credited with all contributions, all interest and all other income authorized
by law. From this fund there is
appropriated the payments authorized by this chapter in the amounts and at such
time provided herein, including the expenses of administering the fund, and
including the proper share of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund.
Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.29, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 9.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. An annuity under
this section or section 353.30 is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5458
Sec. 34.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.31, subdivision 1b, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1b. Joint and survivor option. (a) Prior to payment of a surviving spouse
benefit under subdivision 1, the surviving spouse may elect to receive the 100
percent joint and survivor optional annuity under section 353.32, subdivision
1a, rather than a surviving spouse benefit.
(b) If there is a dependent child or children, and the
100 percent joint and survivor optional annuity for the surviving spouse, when
added to the dependent children's benefit under subdivisions 1 and 1a, exceeds
an amount equal to 70 percent of the member's specified average monthly salary,
the 100 percent joint and survivor annuity under section 353.32, subdivision
1a, must be reduced by the amount necessary so that the total family benefit
does not exceed the 70 percent maximum family benefit amount under subdivision
1a.
(c) The 100 percent joint and survivor optional
annuity must be restored to the surviving spouse, plus applicable
postretirement fund adjustments under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.41, through January 1, 2009, and thereafter under section 356.415,
as the dependent child or children become no longer dependent under section
353.01, subdivision 15.
Sec. 35.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.31, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 12. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under subdivision 1 or 1b or section 353.32, subdivision 1a,
1b, or 1c is eligible for postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 36.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33, subdivision 3b, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3b. Optional annuity election. A disabled member may elect to receive the
normal disability benefit or an optional annuity under section 353.30,
subdivision 3. The election of an
optional annuity must be made prior to the commencement of payment of the
disability benefit. The optional annuity
must begin to accrue on the same date as provided for the disability benefit.
(1) If a person who is not the spouse of a member is
named as beneficiary of the joint and survivor optional annuity, the person is
eligible to receive the annuity only if the spouse, on the disability
application form prescribed by the executive director, permanently waives the
surviving spouse benefits under sections 353.31, subdivision 1, and 353.32,
subdivision 1a. If the spouse of the
member refuses to permanently waive the surviving spouse coverage, the
selection of a person other than the spouse of the member as a joint annuitant
is invalid.
(2) If the spouse of the member permanently waives
survivor coverage, the dependent children, if any, continue to be eligible for
survivor benefits under section 353.31, subdivision 1, including the minimum
benefit in section 353.31, subdivision 1a.
The designated optional annuity beneficiary may draw the monthly
benefit; however, the amount payable to the dependent child or children and
joint annuitant must not exceed the 70 percent maximum family benefit under
section 353.31, subdivision 1a. If the
maximum is exceeded, the benefit of the joint annuitant must be reduced to the
amount necessary so that the total family benefit does not exceed the 70
percent maximum family benefit amount.
(3) If the spouse is named as the beneficiary of the
joint and survivor optional annuity, the spouse may draw the monthly benefits;
however, the amount payable to the dependent child or children and the joint
annuitant must not exceed the 70 percent maximum family benefit under section
353.31, subdivision 1a. If the maximum
is exceeded, each dependent child will receive ten percent of the member's
specified average monthly salary, and the benefit to the joint annuitant must
be reduced to the amount necessary so that the total family benefit does not
exceed the 70 percent maximum family benefit amount. The joint and survivor optional annuity must
be restored to the surviving spouse, plus applicable postretirement adjustments
under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.41 or section 356.415,
as the dependent child or children become no longer dependent under section
353.01, subdivision 15.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5459
Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33,
subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Partial
reemployment. If, following a work
or non-work-related injury or illness, a disabled person who remains totally
and permanently disabled as defined in section 353.01, subdivision 19, has
income from employment that is not substantial gainful activity and the rate of
earnings from that employment are less than the salary rate at the date of
disability or the salary rate currently paid for positions similar to the
employment position held by the disabled person immediately before becoming
disabled, whichever is greater, the executive director shall continue the
disability benefit in an amount that, when added to the earnings and any
workers' compensation benefit, does not exceed the salary rate at the date of
disability or the salary currently paid for positions similar to the employment
position held by the disabled person immediately before becoming disabled,
whichever is higher. The disability
benefit under this subdivision may not exceed the disability benefit originally
allowed, plus any postretirement adjustments payable after December 31, 1988,
in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.18, subdivision
10, or Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.41, through January 1, 2009, and
thereafter as provided in section 356.415.
No deductions for the retirement fund may be taken from the salary of a
disabled person who is receiving a disability benefit as provided in this
subdivision.
Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 13.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.651, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. An annuity under
this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.656,
subdivision 5a, is amended to read:
Subd. 5a. Cessation
of disability benefit. (a) The
association shall cease the payment of any disability benefit the first of the
month following the reinstatement of a member to full time or less than
full-time service in a position covered by the police and fire fund.
(b) A disability
benefit paid to a disabled member of the police and fire plan, that was granted
under laws in effect after June 30, 2007, terminates at the end of the month in
which the member:
(1) reaches normal
retirement age;
(2) if the
disability benefit is payable for a 60-month period as determined under
subdivisions 1 and 3, as applicable, the first of the month following the
expiration of the 60-month period; or
(3) if the
disabled member so chooses, the end of the month in which the member has
elected to convert to an early retirement annuity under section 353.651,
subdivision 4.
(c) If the
police and fire plan member continues to be disabled when the disability
benefit terminates under this subdivision, the member is deemed to be
retired. The individual is entitled to
receive a normal retirement annuity or an early retirement annuity under
section 353.651, whichever is applicable, as further specified in paragraph (d)
or (e). If the individual did not
previously elect an optional annuity under subdivision 1a, paragraph (a), the
individual may elect an optional annuity under subdivision 1a, paragraph (b).
(d) A member of
the police and fire plan who is receiving a disability benefit under this section
may, upon application, elect to receive an early retirement annuity under
section 353.651, subdivision 4, at any time after attaining age 50, but must
convert to a retirement annuity no later than the end of the month in which the
disabled
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5460
member attains
normal retirement age. An early
retirement annuity elected under this subdivision must be calculated on the
disabled member's accrued years of service and average salary as defined in
section 353.01, subdivision 17a, and when elected, the member is deemed to be
retired.
(e) When an
individual's benefit is recalculated as a retirement annuity under this
section, the annuity must be based on clause (1) or clause (2), whichever
provides the greater amount:
(1) the benefit
amount at the time of reclassification, including all prior adjustments
provided under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.18, through
January 1, 2009, and thereafter as provided in section 356.415; or
(2) a benefit
amount computed on the member's actual years of accrued allowable service
credit and the law in effect at the time the disability benefit first accrued,
plus any increases that would have applied since that date under section Minnesota
Statutes 2008, 11A.18, through January 1, 2009, and thereafter as
provided in section 356.415.
Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.656, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 14.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.657,
subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
Subd. 3a. Maximum
and minimum family benefits. (a) The
maximum monthly benefit per family must not exceed the following percentages of
the member's average monthly salary as specified in subdivision 3:
(1) 80 percent,
if the member's death was a line of duty death; or
(2) 70 percent,
if the member's death was not a line of duty death or occurred while the member
was receiving a disability benefit that accrued before July 1, 2007.
(b) The minimum
monthly benefit per family, including the joint and survivor optional annuity
under subdivision 2a, and section 353.656, subdivision 1a, must not be less
than the following percentage of the member's average monthly salary as
specified in subdivision 3:
(1) 60 percent,
if the death was a line of duty death; or
(2) 50 percent,
if the death was not a line of duty death or occurred while the member was
receiving a disability benefit that accrued before July 1, 2007.
(c) If the
maximum under paragraph (a) is exceeded, the monthly benefit of the joint
annuitant must be reduced to the amount necessary so that the total family
benefit does not exceed the applicable maximum.
The joint and survivor optional annuity must be restored, plus
applicable postretirement adjustments under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.41 or section 356.415, as the dependent child or children become no
longer dependent under section 353.01, subdivision 15.
Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.657, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 5.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A survivor
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 44. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.665,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Transfer
of assets. Unless the municipality
has elected to retain the consolidation account under subdivision 1, paragraph
(b), the assets of the former local police or fire consolidation account must
be transferred and upon transfer, the actuarial value of the assets of a former
local police or fire consolidation account less an
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5461
amount equal to
the residual assets as determined under subdivision 7, paragraph (f), are the
assets of the public employees police and fire fund as of July 1, 1999. The participation of a consolidation
account in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund becomes part of the
participation of the public employees police and fire fund in the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund. The remaining
assets, excluding the amounts for distribution under subdivision 7, paragraph
(f), become an asset of the public employees police and fire fund. The public employees police and fire fund
also must be credited as an asset with the amount of receivable assets under
subdivision 7, paragraph (e).
Sec. 45. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.02,
subdivision 14, is amended to read:
Subd. 14. Ineligible
investments. "Ineligible
investments" means any investment security or other asset held by the
relief association at or after the initiation of the consolidation procedure
which does not comply with the applicable requirements or limitations of
sections 11A.09, 11A.18, 11A.23, and 11A.24.
Sec. 46. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.02,
subdivision 23, is amended to read:
Subd. 23. Postretirement
adjustment. "Postretirement
adjustment" means any periodic or regular procedure for modifying the
amount of a retirement annuity, service pension, disability benefit, or
survivor benefit after the start of that annuity, pension, or benefit,
including but not limited to modifications of amounts from the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund under section 11A.18, subdivision 9
356.415, or any benefit escalation or benefit amount modification based on
changes in the salaries payable to active police officers or salaried
firefighters or changes in a cost-of-living index as provided for in the
existing relief association benefit plan.
Sec. 47. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.05,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Commission
actions. (a) Upon initiation of consolidation
as provided in section 353A.04, the executive director of the commission shall
direct the actuary retained under section 356.214 to undertake the preparation
of the actuarial calculations necessary to complete the consolidation.
(b) These actuarial
calculations shall include for each active member, each deferred former member,
each retired member, and each current beneficiary the computation of the
present value of future benefits, the future normal costs, if any, and the
actuarial accrued liability on the basis of the existing relief association
benefit plan and on the basis of the public employees police and fire fund
benefit plan. These actuarial
calculations shall also include for the total active, deferred, retired, and
benefit recipient membership the sum of the present value of future benefits,
the future normal costs, if any, and the actuarial accrued liability on the
basis of the existing relief association benefit plan, on the basis of the
public employees police and fire fund benefit plan, and on the basis of the
benefit plan which produced the largest present value of future benefits for
each person. The actuarial calculations
shall be prepared using the entry age actuarial cost method for all components
of the benefit plan and using the actuarial assumptions applicable to the fund
for the most recent actuarial valuation prepared under section 356.215, except
that the actuarial calculations on the basis of the existing relief association
benefit plan shall be prepared using an interest rate actuarial assumption
during the postretirement period which is in the same amount as the interest
rate actuarial assumption applicable to the preretirement period. The actuarial calculations shall include the
computation of the present value of the initial postretirement adjustment
anticipated by the executive director of the state board as payable after the
effective date of the consolidation from the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund under section 11A.18 356.415.
(c) The chief
administrative officer of the relief association shall, upon request, provide
in a timely manner to the executive director of the commission and to the
actuary retained under section 356.214 the most current available information
or documents, whichever applies, regarding the demographics of the active,
deferred, retired, and benefit recipient membership of the relief association,
the financial condition of the relief association, and the existing benefit
plan of the relief association.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5462
(d) Upon completion of the actuarial calculations
required by this subdivision, the actuary retained under section 356.214 shall
issue a report in the form of an appropriate summary of the actuarial
calculations and shall provide a copy of that report to the executive director
of the commission, the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association, the chief administrative officer of the relief association, the
chief administrative officer of the municipality in which the relief
association is located, and the state auditor.
Sec. 48.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.05, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. State board actions. (a) Upon approval of consolidation by the
membership as provided in section 353A.04, the executive director of the state
board shall review the existing investment portfolio of the relief association
for compliance with the requirements and limitations set forth in sections
11A.09, 11A.14, 11A.18, 11A.23, and 11A.24 and for appropriateness for
retention in the light of the established investment objectives of the state
board. The executive director of the
state board, using any reporting service retained by the state board, shall
determine the approximate market value of the existing assets of the relief
association upon the effective date of consolidation and the transfer of assets
from the relief association to the individual relief association consolidation
accounts at market value.
(b) The state board may require that the relief
association liquidate any investment security or other item of value which is
determined to be ineligible or inappropriate for retention by the state
board. The liquidation shall occur
before the effective date of consolidation and transfer of assets.
(c) If requested to do so by the chief administrative
officer of the relief association or of the municipality, the state board shall
provide advice on the means and procedures available to liquidate investment
securities and other assets determined to be ineligible or inappropriate.
Sec. 49.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.08, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Election of coverage by current retirees. (a) A person who is receiving a service
pension, disability benefit, or survivor benefit is eligible to elect benefit
coverage provided under the relevant provisions of the public employees police
and fire fund benefit plan or to retain benefit coverage provided under the
relief association benefit plan in effect on the effective date of the
consolidation. The relevant provisions
of the public employees police and fire fund benefit plan for the person
electing that benefit coverage are limited to participation in the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund for any future postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415 based on the amount of the benefit or pension payable on
December 31, if December 31 is the effective date of consolidation, or on the
December 1 following the effective date of the consolidation, if other than
December 31. The survivor benefit
payable on behalf of any service pension or disability benefit recipient who elects
benefit coverage under the public employees police and fire fund benefit plan
must be calculated under the relief association benefit plan and is subject to participation
in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund for any future
postretirement adjustments under section 356.415 based on the amount of
the survivor benefit payable.
(b) A survivor benefit calculated under the relief
association benefit plan which is first payable after June 30, 1997, to the
surviving spouse of a retired member of a consolidation account who, before
July 1, 1997, chose to participate in the Minnesota postretirement investment
fund adjustments as provided under this subdivision section
356.415 must be increased on the effective date of the survivor benefit on
an actuarial equivalent basis to reflect the change in the postretirement
interest rate actuarial assumption under section 356.215, subdivision 8, from
five percent to six percent under a calculation procedure and tables adopted by
the board and approved by the actuary retained under section 356.214.
(c) By electing the public employees police and fire
fund benefit plan, a current service pension or disability benefit recipient
who, as of the first January 1 occurring after the effective date of
consolidation, has been receiving the pension or benefit for at least seven
months, or any survivor benefit recipient who, as of the first January 1
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5463
occurring after the effective date of consolidation,
has been receiving the benefit on the person's own behalf or in combination
with a prior applicable service pension or disability benefit for at least
seven months is eligible to receive a partial adjustment payable from the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund under section 11A.18,
subdivision 9 356.415.
(d) The election by any pension or benefit recipient
must be made on or before the deadline established by the board of the Public
Employees Retirement Association in a manner that recognizes the number of
persons eligible to make the election and the anticipated time required to
conduct any required benefit counseling.
Sec. 50.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.08, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Election of coverage by active members. (a) A person who is an active member of a
police or fire relief association, other than a volunteer firefighter, has the
option to elect benefit coverage under the relevant provisions of the public
employees police and fire fund or to retain benefit coverage provided by the
relief association benefit plan in effect on the effective date of
consolidation. The relevant provisions
of the public employee police and fire fund benefit plan for the person
electing that benefit coverage are the relevant provisions of the public
employee police and fire fund benefit plan applicable to retirement annuities,
disability benefits, and survivor benefits, including participation in the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund adjustments under
section 356.415, but excluding any provisions governing the purchase of
credit for prior service or making payments in lieu of member contribution
deductions applicable to any period which occurred before the effective date of
consolidation.
(b) An active member is eligible to make an election
at one of the following times:
(1) within six months of the effective date of
consolidation;
(2) between the date on which the active member attains
the age of 49 years and six months and the date on which the active member
attains the age of 50 years; or
(3) on the date on which the active member terminates
active employment for purposes of receiving a service pension or disability
benefits, or within 90 days of the date the member terminates active employment
and defers receipt of a service pension, whichever applies.
Sec. 51.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.081, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Election of coverage. (a) Individuals eligible under subdivision 1
may elect, on a form prescribed by the executive director of the Public
Employees Retirement Association, to have survivor benefits calculated under
the relevant provisions of the public employees police and fire fund benefit
plan or to have survivor benefits calculated under the relief association
benefit plan. The relevant provisions of
the public employee police and fire fund benefit plan for the person electing
that benefit coverage are the relevant provisions of the public employee police
and fire fund benefit plan applicable to survivor benefits, including participation
in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund adjustments under
section 356.415.
(b) If the election results in an increased benefit
amount to the surviving spouse eligible under subdivision 1, or to eligible
children if there is no surviving spouse, the increased benefit accrues as of
the date on which the survivor benefits payable to the survivors from the
consolidation account were first paid. The back payment of any increase in prior
benefit amounts, plus any postretirement adjustments payable under section 356.41
356.415, or any increase payable under the local relief association bylaws
is payable as soon as practicable after the effective date of the election.
Sec. 52.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.09, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5464
Subdivision 1. Establishment of consolidation accounts. (a) The board of trustees of the Public
Employees Retirement Association shall establish a separate consolidation
account for each local relief association of a municipality that consolidates
with the Public Employees Retirement Association. The association shall credit to the
consolidation account the assets of the individual consolidating local relief
association upon transfer, member contributions received after consolidation
under subdivision 4, municipal contributions received after consolidation under
subdivision 5, and a proportionate share of any investment income earned after
consolidation. From the consolidation
account, the association shall pay for the transfer of any required reserves
to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund on account of persons electing
the type of benefit coverage provided by the public employees police and fire
fund under subdivisions 2 and 3 and section 353.271, subdivision 2, the
pension and benefit amounts on account of persons electing coverage by the
relief association benefit plan under section 353A.08, the benefit amounts not
payable from the Minnesota postretirement investment fund on account of
persons electing the type of benefit coverage provided by the public employees
police and fire fund under section 353A.08, and any direct administrative
expenses related to the consolidation account, and the proportional share of
the general administrative expenses of the association.
(b) Except as otherwise provided for in this section,
the liabilities and the assets of a consolidation account must be considered
for all purposes to be separate from the balance of the public employees police
and fire fund. The consolidation account
must be subject to separate accounting, a separate actuarial valuation, and
must be reported as a separate exhibit in any annual financial report or
actuarial valuation report of the public employees police and fire
consolidation fund, whichever applies.
The executive director of the public employees retirement association
shall maintain separate accounting records and balances for each consolidation
account.
Sec. 53.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.10, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Collection of late contributions. In the event of a refusal by a municipality
in which was located a local police or firefighters relief association which
has consolidated with the fund to pay to the fund any amount or amounts due
under section 353A.09, subdivisions 2 4 to 6, the executive
director of the public employees retirement association may notify the
Department of Revenue, the Department of Finance, and the state auditor of the
refusal and commence the necessary procedure to collect the amount or amounts
due from the amount of any state aid under sections 69.011 to 69.051,
amortization state aid under section 423A.02, or supplemental amortization
state aid under Laws 1984, chapter 564, section 48, as amended by Laws 1986,
chapter 359, section 20, which is payable to the municipality or to certify the
amount or amounts due to the county auditor for inclusion in the next tax levy
of the municipality or for collection from other revenue available to the
municipality, or both.
Sec. 54.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.10, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Levy and bonding authority. A municipality in which was located a local
police or firefighters relief association that has consolidated with the fund
may issue general obligation bonds of the municipality to defray all or a
portion of the principal amounts specified in section 353A.09, subdivisions 2
4 to 6, or certify to the county auditor a levy in the amount necessary to
defray all or a portion of the principal amount specified in section 353A.09,
subdivisions 2 4 to 6, or the annual amount specified in section
353A.09, subdivisions 2 4 to 6.
The municipality may pledge the full faith, credit, and taxing power of
the municipality for the payment of the principal of and interest on the general
obligation bonds. Any municipal bond may
be issued without an election under section 475.58 and may not be included in
the net debt of the municipality for purposes of any charter or statutory debt
limitation, nor may any tax levy for the payment of bond principal or interest
be subject to any limitation concerning rate or amount established by charter
or law.
Sec. 55.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.01, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Investment. (a) The public employees local government
correctional service retirement fund participates in the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5465
(b) The amounts provided in section 353.271 must be
deposited in that fund.
(c) The balance of any Assets of the public employees local government
correctional service retirement fund must be deposited in the Minnesota
combined investment fund as provided in section 11A.14, if applicable, or
otherwise invested under section 11A.23.
Sec. 56.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.01, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Fund disbursement restricted. (a) The public employees local government
correctional service retirement fund and its share of participation in the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund may be disbursed only for the
purposes provided for in this chapter.
(b) The proportional share of the necessary and
reasonable administrative expenses of the association and any benefits provided
in this chapter, other than benefits payable from the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund, must be paid from the public employees
local government correctional service retirement fund. Retirement annuities, disability benefits,
survivorship benefits, and any refunds of accumulated deductions may be paid
only from the correctional service retirement fund after those needs have been
certified by the executive director and any applicable amounts withdrawn
from the share of participation in the Minnesota postretirement fund under
section 11A.18.
(c) The amounts necessary to make the payments from
the public employees local government correctional service retirement fund and
its participation in the Minnesota postretirement investment fund are
annually appropriated from those funds for those purposes.
Sec. 57.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.04, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. An
annuity under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 58.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.06, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 9. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
disability benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 59.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353E.07, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 8. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments
under section 356.415.
Sec. 60.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.07, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Certification of funds to State Board of
Investment. It shall be is
the duty of the board from time to time to certify to the State Board of
Investment for investment as much of the funds in its hands as shall not be
needed for current purposes. Such
funds that are certified as to investment in the postretirement investment fund
shall include the amount as required for the total reserves needed for the
purposes described in section 354.63. The
State Board of Investment shall thereupon transfer such assets to the
appropriate fund provided herein, in accordance with the procedure set forth in
section 354.63, or invest and reinvest an amount equal to the sum so
certified in such securities as are now or may hereafter be duly authorized
legal investments for state employees retirement fund and all such securities
so transferred or purchased shall must be deposited with the
commissioner of finance. All interest
from these investments shall must be credited to the appropriate
funds teachers retirement fund and used for current purposes or
investments, except as hereinafter provided.
The State Board of Investment shall have has authority to
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5466
sell, convey, and exchange such securities and invest
and reinvest the funds when it deems it desirable to do so, and shall
must sell securities upon request of the officers of the association when
such officers determine funds are needed for its purposes. All of the provisions regarding accounting
procedures and restrictions and conditions for the purchase and sale of
securities for the state employees retirement fund shall under
chapter 11A must apply to the accounting, purchase and sale of securities
for the Teachers' Retirement Association.
Sec. 61.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.33, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Retirees not eligible for federal benefits. When any person retires after July 1, 1973,
who (1) has ten or more years of allowable service, and (2) does not have any
retroactive Social Security coverage by reason of the person's position in the
retirement system, and (3) does not qualify for federal old age and survivor
primary benefits at the time of retirement, the annuity must be computed under
section 354.44, subdivision 2, of the law in effect on June 30, 1969, except
that accumulations after June 30, 1957, must be calculated using the same
most recent mortality table approved under section 356.215,
subdivision 18, and interest assumption as are used to transfer the
required reserves to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund using
the applicable postretirement interest rate assumption specified in section
356.215, subdivision 8.
Sec. 62.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.35, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 3. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. An
annuity under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 63.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.42, subdivision 1a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 1a. Teachers retirement fund. (a) Within the Teachers Retirement
Association and the state treasury is created a special retirement fund, which
must include all the assets of the Teachers Retirement Association and all
revenue of the association. The fund is
the continuation of the fund established under Laws 1931, chapter 406, section
2, notwithstanding the repeal of Minnesota Statutes 1973, section 354.42, subdivision
1, by Laws 1974, chapter 289, section 59.
(b) The teachers retirement fund must be credited with
all employee and employer contributions, all investment revenue and gains, and
all other income authorized by law.
(c) From the teachers retirement fund is appropriated
the payments of annuities and benefits authorized by this chapter, the
transfers to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund, and the
reasonable and necessary expenses of administering the fund and the
association.
Sec. 64. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 354.44, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 7a. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. (a) A
retirement annuity under subdivision 2 or 6 is eligible for postretirement
adjustments under section 356.415.
(b) Retirement annuities payable from the teachers
retirement plan must not be in an amount less than the amount originally
determined on the date of retirement and as adjusted on each succeeding January
1 under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.18, before January 1, 2010, and
under section 356.415 after December 31, 2009.
Sec. 65.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.46, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
survivor benefit under subdivision 1, 2, 2a, or 2b, is eligible for
postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5467
Sec. 66. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.48, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 11.
Postretirement adjustment
eligibility. A disability
benefit under this section is eligible for postretirement adjustments under
section 356.415.
Sec. 67. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.55,
subdivision 13, is amended to read:
Subd. 13. Pre-1969
law retirements. Any person who
ceased teaching service prior to July 1, 1968, who has ten years or more of
allowable service and left accumulated deductions in the fund for the purpose
of receiving when eligible a retirement annuity, and retires shall
must have the annuity computed in accordance with the law in effect on June
30, 1969, except that the portion of the annuity based on accumulations after
June 30, 1957, under Minnesota Statutes 1967, section 354.44, subdivision 2,
and accumulations under Minnesota Statutes 1967, section 354.33, subdivision 1,
shall must be calculated using the mortality table established by
the board under section 354.07, subdivision 1, and approved under section
356.215, subdivision 18, and the postretirement interest rate
assumption specified in section 356.215, to transfer the required reserves
to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund subdivision 8.
Sec. 68. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.70,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Transfer
of assets. (a) On or before June 30,
2006, the chief administrative officer of the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement
Fund Association shall transfer to the Teachers Retirement Association the
entire assets of the special retirement fund of the Minneapolis Teachers
Retirement Fund Association. The
transfer of the assets of the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association
special retirement fund must include any accounts receivable that are
determined by the executive director of the State Board of Investment as
reasonably capable of being collected.
Legal title to account receivables that are determined by the executive director
of the State Board of Investment as not reasonably capable of being collected
transfers to Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, as of the date of the
determination of the executive director of the State Board of Investment. If the account receivables transferred to
Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, are subsequently recovered by the
school district, the superintendent of Special School District No. 1,
Minneapolis, shall transfer the recovered amount to the executive director of
the Teachers Retirement Association, in cash, for deposit in the teachers
retirement fund, less the reasonable expenses of the school district related to
the recovery.
(b) As of June
30, 2006, assets of the special retirement fund of the Minneapolis Teachers
Retirement Fund Association are assets of the Teachers Retirement Association
to be invested by the State Board of Investment pursuant to the provisions of
section 354.07, subdivision 4. The
Teachers Retirement Association is the successor in interest to all claims
which the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association may have or may
assert against any person and is the successor in interest to all claims which
could have been asserted against the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement
Fund Association, subject to the following exceptions and qualifications:
(1) the
Teachers Retirement Association is not liable for any claim against the
Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association, its former board or board
members, which is founded upon a claim of breach of fiduciary duty, where the act
or acts constituting the claimed breach were not done in good faith;
(2) the
Teachers Retirement Association may assert any applicable defense to any claim
in any judicial or administrative proceeding that the former Minneapolis
Teachers Retirement Fund Association or its board would otherwise have been
entitled to assert;
(3) the
Teachers Retirement Association may assert any applicable defense that the
Teachers Retirement Association may assert in its capacity as a statewide
agency; and
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5468
(4) the Teachers Retirement Association shall
indemnify any former fiduciary of the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund
Association consistent with the provisions of the Public Pension Fiduciary
Responsibility Act, in section 356A.11.
(c) From the assets of the former Minneapolis Teachers
Retirement Fund Association transferred to the Teachers Retirement Association,
an amount equal to the percentage figure that represents the ratio between the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund as of June 30,
2006, and the required reserves of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund
as of June 30, 2006, applied to the present value of future benefits payable to
annuitants of the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association as of
June 30, 2006, including any postretirement adjustment from the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund expected to be payable on January 1, 2007, must
be transferred to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund. The executive director of the State Board of
Investment shall estimate this ratio at the time of the transfer. By January 1, 2007, after all necessary financial
information becomes available to determine the actual funded ratio of the
Minnesota postretirement investment fund, the postretirement investment fund
must refund to the Teachers Retirement Association any excess assets or the
Teachers Retirement Association must contribute any deficiency to the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund with interest under Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
11A.18, subdivision 6. The balance of
the assets of the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association after
the transfer to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund must be credited
to the Teachers Retirement Association.
(d) If the assets transferred by the Minneapolis
Teachers Retirement Fund Association to the Teachers Retirement Association are
insufficient to meet its obligation to the Minnesota postretirement investment
fund, additional assets must be transferred by the executive director of the
Teachers Retirement Association to meet the amount required.
Sec. 69.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.70, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Benefit calculation. (a) For every deferred, inactive, disabled,
and retired member of the Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association
transferred under subdivision 1, and the survivors of these members, annuities
or benefits earned before the date of the transfer, other than future
postretirement adjustments, must be calculated and paid by the Teachers
Retirement Association under the laws, articles of incorporation, and bylaws of
the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association that were in effect
relative to the person on the date of the person's termination of active
service covered by the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association.
(b) Former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund
Association members who retired before July 1, 2006, must receive
postretirement adjustments after December 31, 2006, only as provided in Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 11A.18 or section 356.415. All other benefit recipients of the former
Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association must receive postretirement
adjustments after December 31, 2006, only as provided in section 356.41
356.415.
(c) This consolidation does not impair or diminish
benefits for an active, deferred, or retired member or a survivor of an active,
deferred, or retired member under the former Minneapolis Teachers Retirement
Fund Association in existence at the time of the consolidation, except that any
future guaranteed or investment-related postretirement adjustments must be paid
after July 1, 2006, in accordance with paragraph (b), and all benefits based on
service on or after July 1, 2006, must be determined only by laws governing the
Teachers Retirement Association.
Sec. 70.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.215, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For the purposes of sections 3.85 and
356.20 to 356.23, each of the terms in the following paragraphs has the meaning
given.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5469
(b) "Actuarial valuation" means a set of
calculations prepared by an actuary retained under section 356.214 if so
required under section 3.85, or otherwise, by an approved actuary, to determine
the normal cost and the accrued actuarial liabilities of a benefit plan,
according to the entry age actuarial cost method and based upon stated
assumptions including, but not limited to rates of interest, mortality, salary
increase, disability, withdrawal, and retirement and to determine the payment
necessary to amortize over a stated period any unfunded accrued actuarial
liability disclosed as a result of the actuarial valuation of the benefit plan.
(c) "Approved actuary" means a person who is
regularly engaged in the business of providing actuarial services and who is a
fellow in the Society of Actuaries.
(d) "Entry age actuarial cost method" means
an actuarial cost method under which the actuarial present value of the
projected benefits of each individual currently covered by the benefit plan and
included in the actuarial valuation is allocated on a level basis over the
service of the individual, if the benefit plan is governed by section 69.773,
or over the earnings of the individual, if the benefit plan is governed by any
other law, between the entry age and the assumed exit age, with the portion of
the actuarial present value which is allocated to the valuation year to be the
normal cost and the portion of the actuarial present value not provided for at
the valuation date by the actuarial present value of future normal costs to be
the actuarial accrued liability, with aggregation in the calculation process to
be the sum of the calculated result for each covered individual and with
recognition given to any different benefit formulas which may apply to various
periods of service.
(e) "Experience study" means a report
providing experience data and an actuarial analysis of the adequacy of the
actuarial assumptions on which actuarial valuations are based.
(f) "Actuarial value of assets" means:
(1) For the July 1, 2009, actuarial valuation, the market value of all assets as of the preceding
June 30, 2009, reduced by:
(1) (i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between the
June 30 that occurred three years earlier, 2006, and the
June 30 that occurred four years earlier, 2005, and the computed
increase in the market value of assets other than the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund over that fiscal year period if the assets
had increased at the percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used
in the actuarial valuation for the July 1 that occurred four years earlier
earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement
interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July 1, 2005;
(2) (ii) 40 percent of the difference between the actual net
change in the market value of assets other than the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund between the June 30 that occurred two years
earlier, 2007, and the June 30 that occurred three years
earlier, 2006, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that
fiscal year period if the assets had increased at the percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the
July 1 that occurred three years earlier earned a rate of return on
assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption
used in the actuarial valuation for July 1, 2006;
(3) (iii) 60 percent of the difference between the actual net
change in the market value of assets other than the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund between the June 30 that occurred one year
earlier, 2008, and the June 30 that occurred two years
earlier, 2007, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that
fiscal year period if the assets had increased at the percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the
July 1 that occurred two years earlier earned a rate of return on assets
equal to the annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in
the actuarial valuation for July 1, 2007; and
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5470
(4) (iv) 80 percent of the difference between
the actual net change in the market value of assets other than the Minnesota
postretirement investment fund between the immediately prior June 30,
2009, and the June 30 that occurred one year earlier,
2008, and the computed increase in the market value of assets other than
the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal year period
if the assets had increased at the percentage preretirement interest rate
assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the July 1 that occurred one
year earlier. earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual
percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2008; and
(v) if
applicable, 80 percent of the difference between the actual net change in the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had increased at 8.5 percent
annually.
(2) For the
July 1, 2010, actuarial valuation, the market value of all assets as of June
30, 2010, reduced by:
(i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2007, and June 30, 2006, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2006;
(ii) 40
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2008, and June 30, 2007, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2007;
(iii) 60
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2008;
(iv) 80
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2009, and the computed
increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if
the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July
1, 2009; and
(v) if
applicable, 60 percent of the difference between the actual net change in the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30, 2009,
and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of assets over
that fiscal year period if the assets had increased at 8.5 percent annually.
(3) For the
July 1, 2011, actuarial valuation, the market value of all assets as of June
30, 2011, reduced by:
(i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2008, and June 30, 2007, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2007;
(ii) 40
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of assets
other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal year
period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual
percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2008;
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5471
(iii) 60
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
the total assets between June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2009, and the computed
increase in the market value of the total assets over that fiscal year period
if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual
percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2009;
(iv) 80
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between June 30, 2011, and June 30, 2010, and the computed
increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if
the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July
1, 2010; and
(v) if
applicable, 40 percent of the difference between the actual net change in the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had increased at 8.5 percent
annually.
(4) For the
July 1, 2012, actuarial valuation, the market value of all assets as of June 30,
2012, reduced by:
(i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets other than the Minnesota postretirement investment fund over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for July 1, 2008;
(ii) 40
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between June 30, 2010, and June 30, 2009, and the computed
increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if
the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July
1, 2009;
(iii) 60
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of total
assets between June 30, 2011, and June 30, 2010, and the computed increase in
the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had
earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement
interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July 1, 2010;
(iv) 80
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between June 30, 2012, and June 30, 2011, and the computed
increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if
the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage
preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for July
1, 2011; and
(v) if
applicable, 20 percent of the difference between the actual net change in the
market value of the Minnesota postretirement investment fund between June 30,
2009, and June 30, 2008, and the computed increase in the market value of
assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had increased at 8.5 percent
annually.
(5) For the
July 1, 2013, and following actuarial valuations, the market value of all
assets as of the preceding June 30, reduced by:
(i) 20
percent of the difference between the actual net change in the market value of
total assets between the June 30 that occurred three years earlier and the June
30 that occurred four years earlier and the computed increase in the market
value of total assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had earned a
rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement interest
rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the July 1 that occurred
four years earlier;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5472
(ii) 40 percent of the difference between the actual
net change in the market value of total assets between the June 30 that
occurred two years earlier and the June 30 that occurred three years earlier
and the computed increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal
year period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the
annual percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for the July 1 that occurred three years earlier;
(iii) 60 percent of the difference between the actual
net change in the market value of total assets between the June 30 that
occurred one year earlier and the June 30 that occurred two years earlier and
the computed increase in the market value of total assets over that fiscal year
period if the assets had earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual
percentage preretirement interest rate assumption used in the actuarial
valuation for the July 1 that occurred two years earlier; and
(iv) 80 percent of the difference between the actual
net change in the market value of total assets between the most recent June 30
and the June 30 that occurred one year earlier and the computed increase in the
market value of total assets over that fiscal year period if the assets had
earned a rate of return on assets equal to the annual percentage preretirement
interest rate assumption used in the actuarial valuation for the July 1 that
occurred one year earlier.
(g) "Unfunded actuarial accrued liability"
means the total current and expected future benefit obligations, reduced by the
sum of the actuarial value of assets and the present value of future normal
costs.
(h) "Pension benefit obligation" means the
actuarial present value of credited projected benefits, determined as the
actuarial present value of benefits estimated to be payable in the future as a
result of employee service attributing an equal benefit amount, including the
effect of projected salary increases and any step rate benefit accrual rate
differences, to each year of credited and expected future employee service.
Sec. 71.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.215, subdivision 11, is amended to
read:
Subd. 11. Amortization contributions. (a) In addition to the exhibit indicating the
level normal cost, the actuarial valuation of the retirement plan must contain
an exhibit for financial reporting purposes indicating the additional annual
contribution sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability
and must contain an exhibit for contribution determination purposes indicating
the additional contribution sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial
accrued liability. For the retirement
plans listed in subdivision 8, paragraph (c), the additional contribution must
be calculated on a level percentage of covered payroll basis by the established
date for full funding in effect when the valuation is prepared, assuming annual
payroll growth at the applicable percentage rate set forth in subdivision 8, paragraph
(c). For all other retirement plans, the
additional annual contribution must be calculated on a level annual dollar
amount basis.
(b) For any retirement plan other than the Minneapolis
Employees Retirement Fund, the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association, and the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, if there has not been a change in the actuarial assumptions used
for calculating the actuarial accrued liability of the fund, a change in the benefit
plan governing annuities and benefits payable from the fund, a change in the
actuarial cost method used in calculating the actuarial accrued liability of
all or a portion of the fund, or a combination of the three, which change or
changes by itself or by themselves without inclusion of any other items of
increase or decrease produce a net increase in the unfunded actuarial accrued
liability of the fund, the established date for full funding is the first
actuarial valuation date occurring after June 1, 2020.
(c) For any retirement plan other than the Minneapolis
Employees Retirement Fund and the general employees retirement plan of the
Public Employees Retirement Association, if there has been a change in any or
all of the actuarial assumptions used for calculating the actuarial accrued
liability of the fund, a change in the benefit plan governing annuities and
benefits payable from the fund, a change in the actuarial cost method used in
calculating the
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5473
actuarial accrued liability of all or a portion of the
fund, or a combination of the three, and the change or changes, by itself or by
themselves and without inclusion of any other items of increase or decrease,
produce a net increase in the unfunded actuarial accrued liability in the fund,
the established date for full funding must be determined using the following
procedure:
(i) the
unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the fund must be determined in
accordance with the plan provisions governing annuities and retirement benefits
and the actuarial assumptions in effect before an applicable change;
(ii) the level
annual dollar contribution or level percentage, whichever is applicable, needed
to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability amount determined under
item (i) by the established date for full funding in effect before the change
must be calculated using the interest assumption specified in subdivision 8 in
effect before the change;
(iii) the
unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the fund must be determined in
accordance with any new plan provisions governing annuities and benefits
payable from the fund and any new actuarial assumptions and the remaining plan
provisions governing annuities and benefits payable from the fund and actuarial
assumptions in effect before the change;
(iv) the level
annual dollar contribution or level percentage, whichever is applicable, needed
to amortize the difference between the unfunded actuarial accrued liability
amount calculated under item (i) and the unfunded actuarial accrued liability
amount calculated under item (iii) over a period of 30 years from the end of
the plan year in which the applicable change is effective must be calculated
using the applicable interest assumption specified in subdivision 8 in effect
after any applicable change;
(v) the level
annual dollar or level percentage amortization contribution under item (iv)
must be added to the level annual dollar amortization contribution or level
percentage calculated under item (ii);
(vi) the period
in which the unfunded actuarial accrued liability amount determined in item
(iii) is amortized by the total level annual dollar or level percentage amortization
contribution computed under item (v) must be calculated using the interest
assumption specified in subdivision 8 in effect after any applicable change,
rounded to the nearest integral number of years, but not to exceed 30 years
from the end of the plan year in which the determination of the established
date for full funding using the procedure set forth in this clause is made and
not to be less than the period of years beginning in the plan year in which the
determination of the established date for full funding using the procedure set
forth in this clause is made and ending by the date for full funding in effect
before the change; and
(vii) the
period determined under item (vi) must be added to the date as of which the
actuarial valuation was prepared and the date obtained is the new established
date for full funding.
(d) For the
Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund, the established date for full funding is
June 30, 2020.
(e) For the general
employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, the
established date for full funding is June 30, 2031.
(f) For the
Teachers Retirement Association, the established date for full funding is June
30, 2037.
(g) For the correctional
state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System, the
established date for full funding is June 30, 2038.
(h) For the
judges retirement plan, the established date for full funding is June 30, 2038.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5474
(i) For the public employees police and fire
retirement plan, the established date for full funding is
June 30, 2038.
(j) For the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, the established date for full funding is June 30 of the 25th year
from the valuation date. In addition to
other requirements of this chapter, the annual actuarial valuation shall
contain an exhibit indicating the funded ratio and the deficiency or
sufficiency in annual contributions when comparing liabilities to the market
value of the assets of the fund as of the close of the most recent fiscal year.
(k) For the retirement plans for which the annual
actuarial valuation indicates an excess of valuation assets over the actuarial
accrued liability, the valuation assets in excess of the actuarial accrued
liability must be recognized as a reduction in the current contribution
requirements by an amount equal to the amortization of the excess expressed as
a level percentage of pay over a 30-year period beginning anew with each annual
actuarial valuation of the plan.
(l) In addition to calculating the unfunded actuarial
accrued liability of the retirement plan for financial reporting purposes under
paragraphs (a) to (j), the actuarial valuation of the retirement plan must also
include a calculation of the unfunded actuarial accrued liability of the
retirement plan for purposes of determining the amortization contribution
sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial liability of the Minnesota Post
Retirement Investment Fund. For this
exhibit, the calculation must be the unfunded actuarial accrued liability net
of the postretirement adjustment liability funded from the investment
performance of the Minnesota Post Retirement Investment Fund or the retirement
benefit fund.
Sec. 72.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.351, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Incentive. (a) For an employee eligible under
subdivision 1, if approved under paragraph (b), the employer may provide an
amount up to $17,000, to an employee who terminates service, to be used:
(1) unless the appointing authority has designated the
use under clause (2) or the use under clause (3) for the initial retirement
incentive applicable to that employing entity under Laws 2007, chapter 134,
after May 26, 2007, for deposit in the employee's account in the health care
savings plan established by section 352.98;
(2) notwithstanding section 352.01, subdivision 11, or
354.05, subdivision 13, whichever applies, if the appointing authority has
designated the use under this clause for the initial retirement incentive
applicable to that employing entity under Laws 2007, chapter 134, after May 26,
2007, for purchase of service credit for unperformed service sufficient to
enable the employee to retire under section 352.116, subdivision 1, paragraph
(b); 353.30; 354.44, subdivision 6, paragraph (b), or 354A.31, subdivision 6,
paragraph (b), whichever applies; or
(3) if the appointing authority has designated the use
under this clause for the initial retirement incentive applicable to the
employing entity under Laws 2007, chapter 134, after May 26, 2007, for purchase
of a lifetime annuity or an annuity for a specific number of years from the
applicable retirement plan to provide additional benefits, as provided in
paragraph (d).
(b) Approval to provide the incentive must be obtained
from the commissioner of finance if the eligible employee is a state employee
and must be obtained from the applicable governing board with respect to any
other employing entity. An employee is
eligible for the payment under paragraph (a), clause (2), if the employee uses
money from a deferred compensation account that, combined with the payment
under paragraph (a), clause (2), would be sufficient to purchase enough service
credit to qualify for retirement under section 352.116, subdivision 1,
paragraph (b); 353.30, subdivision 1a; 354.44, subdivision 6, paragraph (b), or
354A.31, subdivision 6, paragraph (b), whichever applies.
(c) The cost to purchase service credit under
paragraph (a), clause (2), must be made in accordance with
section 356.551.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5475
(d) The annuity
purchase under paragraph (a), clause (3), must be made using annuity factors,
as determined by the actuary retained under section 356.214, derived from
the applicable factors used by the applicable retirement plan to transfer
amounts to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund and to calculate
optional annuity forms. The purchased
annuity must be the actuarial equivalent of the incentive amount.
Sec. 73. [356.415]
POSTRETIREMENT ADJUSTMENTS; STATEWIDE RETIREMENT PLANS.
Subdivision
1. Annual
postretirement adjustments. (a)
Retirement annuity, disability benefit, or survivor benefit recipients of a
covered retirement plan are entitled to a postretirement adjustment annually on
January 1, as follows:
(1) a
postretirement increase of 2.5 percent must be applied each year, effective
January 1, to the monthly annuity or benefit of each annuitant or benefit
recipient who has been receiving an annuity or a benefit for at least 12 full
months prior to the January 1 increase; and
(2) for each
annuitant or benefit recipient who has been receiving an annuity or a benefit
for at least one full month, an annual postretirement increase of 1/12 of 2.5
percent for each month the person has been receiving an annuity or benefit must
be applied, effective January 1 following the year in which the person has been
retired for less than 12 months.
(b) The
increases provided by this section commence on January 1, 2010.
(c) An
increase in annuity or benefit payments under this section must be made
automatically unless written notice is filed by the annuitant or benefit
recipient with the executive director of the covered retirement plan requesting
that the increase not be made.
(d) The
retirement annuity payable to a person who retires before becoming eligible for
Social Security benefits and who has elected the optional payment as provided
in section 353.29, subdivision 6, or 354.35 must be treated as the sum of a
period certain retirement annuity and a life retirement annuity for the
purposes of any postretirement adjustment.
The period certain retirement annuity plus the life retirement annuity
must be the annuity amount payable until age 62 for section 353.29, subdivision
6, or age 62, 65, or normal retirement age, as selected by the member at
retirement, for an annuity amount payable under section 354.35. A postretirement adjustment granted on the
period certain retirement annuity must terminate when the period certain
retirement annuity terminates.
Subd. 2.
Covered retirement plans. The provisions of this section apply to
the following retirement plans:
(1) the
legislators retirement plan established under chapter 3A;
(2) the
correctional state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement
System established under chapter 352;
(3) the
general state employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement
System established under chapter 352;
(4) the
State Patrol retirement plan established under chapter 352B;
(5) the
elective state officers retirement plan established under chapter 352C;
(6) the
general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement
Association established under chapter 353;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5476
(7) the public employees police and fire retirement
plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association established under chapter
353;
(8) the local government correctional employees
retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association established
under chapter 353E;
(9) the teachers retirement plan established under
chapter 354; and
(10) the judges retirement plan established under
chapter 490.
Sec. 74.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 490.123, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Fund creation; revenue and authorized
disbursements. (a) There is created
a special fund to be known as the "judges' retirement fund."
(b) The judges' retirement fund must be credited with
all contributions; all interest, dividends, and other investment proceeds; and
all other income authorized by this chapter or other applicable law.
(c) From this fund there are appropriated the payments
authorized by this chapter, in the amounts and at the times provided, including
the necessary and reasonable expenses of the Minnesota State Retirement System
in administering the fund and the transfers to the Minnesota postretirement
investment fund.
Sec. 75.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 490.123, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Investment. (a) The executive director of the Minnesota
State Retirement System shall, from time to time, certify to the State Board of
Investment such portions of the judges' retirement fund as in the director's
judgment may not be required for immediate use.
(b) Assets from the judges' retirement fund must be
transferred to the Minnesota postretirement investment fund for retirement and
disability benefits as provided in sections 11A.18 and 352.119.
(c) (b) The
State Board of Investment shall thereupon invest and reinvest sums so transferred,
or certified, in such securities as are duly authorized legal
investments for such purposes under section 11A.24 in compliance with sections
356A.04 and 356A.06.
Sec. 76.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 490.124, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:
Subd. 14. Postretirement
adjustment eligibility. A
retirement annuity under subdivision 1, 3, or 5, a disability benefit under
subdivision 4, and a survivor's annuity under subdivision 9 or 11 are eligible
for postretirement adjustments under section 356.415.
Sec. 77. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 11A.041; 11A.18;
11A.181; 352.119, subdivisions 2, 3, and 4; 352B.26, subdivisions 1 and 3;
353.271; 353A.02, subdivision 20; 353A.09, subdivisions 2 and 3; 354.05,
subdivision 26; 354.55, subdivision 14; 354.63; 356.41; 356.431, subdivision 2;
422A.01, subdivision 13; 422A.06, subdivision 4; and 490.123, subdivisions 1c
and 1e, are repealed.
Sec. 78. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Sections 1 to 77 are effective July 1, 2009.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5477
ARTICLE 2
DISABILITY BENEFIT PROVISION CHANGES
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.34, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Officers exempted. Notwithstanding any provision to the
contrary, (a) conservation officers and crime bureau officers who were first
employed on or after July 1, 1973, and who are members of the State Patrol
retirement fund by reason of their employment, and members of the Minnesota
State Patrol Division and Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division of the
Department of Public Safety who are members of the State Patrol Retirement
Association by reason of their employment, shall may not continue
employment after attaining the age of 60 years, except for a fractional portion
of one year that will enable the employee to complete the employee's next full
year of allowable service as defined pursuant to section 352B.01 352B.011,
subdivision 3; and (b) conservation officers and crime bureau officers who were
first employed and are members of the State Patrol retirement fund by reason of
their employment before July 1, 1973, shall may not continue
employment after attaining the age of 70 years.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 299A.465, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Officer or firefighter disabled in line of
duty. (a) This subdivision applies
to any peace officer or firefighter:
(1) who the Public Employees Retirement Association or
the Minnesota State Retirement System determines is eligible to receive a
duty disability benefit pursuant to section 353.656 or 352B.10, subdivision
1, respectively; or
(2) who (i) does not qualify to receive disability
benefits by operation of the eligibility requirements set forth in section
353.656, subdivision 1, paragraph (b), (ii) retires pursuant to section
353.651, subdivision 4, or (iii) is a member of a local police or salaried
firefighters relief association and qualifies for a duty disability benefit
under the terms of plans of the relief associations, and the peace officer or
firefighter described in item (i), (ii), or (iii) has discontinued public
service as a peace officer or firefighter as a result of a disabling injury and
has been determined, by the Public Employees Retirement Association, to have
otherwise met the duty disability criteria set forth in section 353.01,
subdivision 41.
(b) A determination made on behalf of a peace officer
or firefighter described in paragraph (a), clause (2), must be at the request
of the peace officer or firefighter made for the purposes of this section. Determinations made in accordance with
paragraph (a) are binding on the peace officer or firefighter, employer, and
state. The determination must be made by
the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association or by
the executive director of the Minnesota State Retirement System, whichever
applies, and is not subject to section 356.96, subdivision 2. Upon making a determination, the executive
director shall provide written notice to the peace officer or firefighter and
the employer. This notice must include:
(1) a written statement of the reasons for the
determination;
(2) a notice that the person may petition for a review
of the determination by requesting that a contested case be initiated before
the Office of Administrative Hearings, the cost of which must be borne by the
peace officer or firefighter and the employer; and
(3) a statement that any person who does not petition
for a review within 60 days is precluded from contesting issues determined by
the executive director in any other administrative review or court procedure.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5478
If, prior to the contested case hearing, additional
information is provided to support the claim for duty disability as defined in
section 353.01, subdivision 41, or 352B.011, subdivision 7, whichever
applies, the executive director may reverse the determination without the
requested hearing. If a hearing is held
before the Office of Administrative Hearings, the determination rendered by the
judge conducting the fact-finding hearing is a final decision and order under section
14.62, subdivision 2a, and is binding on the applicable executive
director, the peace officer or firefighter, employer, and state. Review of a final determination made by the
Office of Administrative Hearings under this section may only be obtained by
writ of certiorari to the Minnesota Court of Appeals under sections 14.63 to
14.68. Only the peace officer or
firefighter, employer, and state have standing to participate in a judicial
review of the decision of the Office of Administrative Hearings.
(c) The officer's or firefighter's employer shall
continue to provide health coverage for:
(1) the officer or firefighter; and
(2) the officer's or firefighter's dependents if the
officer or firefighter was receiving dependent coverage at the time of the
injury under the employer's group health plan.
(d) The employer is responsible for the continued
payment of the employer's contribution for coverage of the officer or
firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's dependents. Coverage must continue for the officer or
firefighter and, if applicable, the officer's or firefighter's dependents until
the officer or firefighter reaches or, if deceased, would have reached the age
of 65. However, coverage for dependents
does not have to be continued after the person is no longer a dependent.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment and also applies to any member of the State Patrol
retirement plan who was awarded a duty disability benefit on or after July 1, 2008.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, subdivision 2b, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2b. Excluded employees. "State employee" does not include:
(1) students employed by the University of Minnesota,
or the state colleges and universities, unless approved for coverage by the
Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota or the Board of Trustees of the
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, whichever is applicable;
(2) employees who are eligible for membership in the
state Teachers Retirement Association, except employees of the Department of
Education who have chosen or may choose to be covered by the general state
employees retirement plan of the Minnesota State Retirement System instead of
the Teachers Retirement Association;
(3) employees of the University of Minnesota who are
excluded from coverage by action of the Board of Regents;
(4) officers and enlisted personnel in the National
Guard and the naval militia who are assigned to permanent peacetime duty and
who under federal law are or are required to be members of a federal retirement
system;
(5) election officers;
(6) persons who are engaged in public work for the
state but who are employed by contractors when the performance of the contract
is authorized by the legislature or other competent authority;
(7) officers and employees of the senate, or of the
house of representatives, or of a legislative committee or commission who are
temporarily employed;
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5479
(8) receivers,
jurors, notaries public, and court employees who are not in the judicial branch
as defined in section 43A.02, subdivision 25, except referees and adjusters
employed by the Department of Labor and Industry;
(9) patient and
inmate help in state charitable, penal, and correctional institutions including
the Minnesota Veterans Home;
(10) persons
who are employed for professional services where the service is incidental to
their regular professional duties and whose compensation is paid on a per diem
basis;
(11) employees
of the Sibley House Association;
(12) the
members of any state board or commission who serve the state intermittently and
are paid on a per diem basis; the secretary, secretary-treasurer, and treasurer
of those boards if their compensation is $5,000 or less per year, or, if they
are legally prohibited from serving more than three years; and the board of
managers of the State Agricultural Society and its treasurer unless the
treasurer is also its full-time secretary;
(13) state
troopers and persons who are described in section 352B.01, subdivision 2
352B.011, subdivision 10, clauses (2) to (6) (8);
(14) temporary
employees of the Minnesota State Fair who are employed on or after July 1 for a
period not to extend beyond October 15 of that year; and persons who are
employed at any time by the state fair administration for special events held
on the fairgrounds;
(15) emergency
employees who are in the classified service; except that if an emergency
employee, within the same pay period, becomes a provisional or probationary
employee on other than a temporary basis, the employee shall must
be considered a "state employee" retroactively to the beginning of
the pay period;
(16) temporary
employees in the classified service, and temporary employees in the
unclassified service who are appointed for a definite period of not more than
six months and who are employed less than six months in any one-year period;
(17) interns
hired for six months or less and trainee employees, except those listed in
subdivision 2a, clause (8);
(18) persons
whose compensation is paid on a fee basis or as an independent contractor;
(19) state
employees who are employed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State
Colleges and Universities in unclassified positions enumerated in section
43A.08, subdivision 1, clause (9);
(20) state
employees who in any year have credit for 12 months service as teachers in the
public schools of the state and as teachers are members of the Teachers
Retirement Association or a retirement system in St. Paul, Minneapolis, or
Duluth, except for incidental employment as a state employee that is not
covered by one of the teacher retirement associations or systems;
(21) employees
of the adjutant general who are employed on an unlimited intermittent or
temporary basis in the classified or unclassified service for the support of
Army and Air National Guard training facilities;
(22) chaplains
and nuns who are excluded from coverage under the federal Old Age, Survivors,
Disability, and Health Insurance Program for the performance of service as
specified in United States Code, title 42, section 410(a)(8)(A), as amended, if
no irrevocable election of coverage has been made under section 3121(r) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended through December 31, 1992;
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5480
(23)
examination monitors who are employed by departments, agencies, commissions,
and boards to conduct examinations required by law;
(24) persons
who are appointed to serve as members of fact-finding commissions or adjustment
panels, arbitrators, or labor referees under chapter 179;
(25) temporary
employees who are employed for limited periods under any state or federal
program for training or rehabilitation, including persons who are employed for
limited periods from areas of economic distress, but not including skilled and
supervisory personnel and persons having civil service status covered by the
system;
(26) full-time
students who are employed by the Minnesota Historical Society intermittently
during part of the year and full-time during the summer months;
(27) temporary
employees who are appointed for not more than six months, of the Metropolitan
Council and of any of its statutory boards, if the board members are appointed
by the Metropolitan Council;
(28) persons
who are employed in positions designated by the Department of Finance as
student workers;
(29) members of
trades who are employed by the successor to the Metropolitan Waste Control
Commission, who have trade union pension plan coverage under a collective
bargaining agreement, and who are first employed after June 1, 1977;
(30) off-duty
peace officers while employed by the Metropolitan Council;
(31) persons
who are employed as full-time police officers by the Metropolitan Council and
as police officers are members of the public employees police and fire fund;
(32) persons
who are employed as full-time firefighters by the Department of Military
Affairs and as firefighters are members of the public employees police and fire
fund;
(33) foreign
citizens with a work permit of less than three years, or an H-1b/JV visa valid
for less than three years of employment, unless notice of extension is supplied
which allows them to work for three or more years as of the date the extension
is granted, in which case they are eligible for coverage from the date
extended; and
(34) persons
who are employed by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities and who elected to remain members of the Public Employees
Retirement Association or the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund, whichever
applies, under Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 136C.75.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is amended
by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17a.
Occupational disability. "Occupational disability," for
purposes of determining eligibility for disability benefits for a correctional
employee, means a disabling condition that is expected to prevent the
correctional employee, for a period of not less than 12 months, from performing
the normal duties of the position held by the correctional employee.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5481
Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17b.
Duty disability, physical or
psychological. "Duty
disability, physical or psychological," for a correctional employee, means
an occupational disability that is the direct result of an injury incurred
during, or a disease arising out of, the performance of normal duties or the
performance of less frequent duties either of which are specific to the
correctional employee.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17c.
Regular disability, physical
or psychological. "Regular
disability, physical or psychological," for a correctional employee, means
an occupational disability resulting from a disease or an injury that arises
from any activities while not at work or from activities while at work
performing normal or less frequent duties that do not present inherent dangers
specific to covered correctional positions.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17d.
Normal duties. "Normal duties" means specific
tasks designated in the applicant's job description and which the applicant
performs on a day-to-day basis, but do not include less frequent duties which may
be requested to be done by the employer from time to time.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.01, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 17e.
Less frequent duties. "Less frequent duties" means
tasks designated in the applicant's job description as either required from
time to time or as assigned, but which are not carried out as part of the
normal routine of the applicant's job.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.113,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Medical
or psychological examinations; authorization for payment of benefit. (a) An applicant shall provide medical,
chiropractic, or psychological evidence to support an application for total and
permanent disability.
(b) The director
shall have the employee examined by at least one additional licensed
chiropractor, physician, or psychologist designated by the medical
adviser. The chiropractors, physicians,
or psychologists shall make written reports to the director concerning the
employee's disability including expert opinions as to whether the employee is
permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of section 352.01,
subdivision 17.
(c) The director
shall also obtain written certification from the employer stating whether the
employment has ceased or whether the employee is on sick leave of absence
because of a disability that will prevent further service to the employer and
as a consequence the employee is not entitled to compensation from the
employer.
(d) The medical
adviser shall consider the reports of the physicians, psychologists, and
chiropractors and any other evidence supplied by the employee or other
interested parties. If the medical
adviser finds the employee totally and permanently disabled, the adviser shall
make appropriate recommendation to the director in writing
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5482
together with
the date from which the employee has been totally disabled. The director shall then determine if the
disability occurred within 180 days 18 months of filing the
application, while still in the employment of the state, and the propriety of
authorizing payment of a disability benefit as provided in this section.
(e) A terminated
employee may apply for a disability benefit within 180 days 18 months
of termination as long as the disability occurred while in the employment of
the state. The fact that an employee is
placed on leave of absence without compensation because of disability does not
bar that employee from receiving a disability benefit.
(f) Unless the
payment of a disability benefit has terminated because the employee is no
longer totally disabled, or because the employee has reached normal retirement
age as provided in this section, the disability benefit must cease with the
last payment received by the disabled employee or which had accrued during the
lifetime of the employee unless there is a spouse surviving. In that event, the surviving spouse is
entitled to the disability benefit for the calendar month in which the disabled
employee died.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to disability
benefit applicants whose last day of public employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Job-related
disability Duty disability; computation of benefit. A covered correctional employee who becomes
disabled and who is expected to be physically or mentally unfit to perform the duties
of the position for at least one year as a direct result of an injury,
sickness, or other disability that incurred in or arose out of any act of duty
that makes the employee physically or mentally unable to perform the duties
is determined to have a duty disability, physical or psychological, as defined
under section 352.01, subdivision 17b, is entitled to a duty disability
benefit. The duty disability
benefit may must be based on covered correctional service
only. The duty disability benefit
amount is 50 percent of the average salary defined in section 352.93, plus an
additional percent equal to that specified in section 356.315, subdivision 5,
for each year of covered correctional service in excess of 20 years, ten
months, prorated for completed months.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Non-job-related
Regular disability; computation of benefit. A covered correctional employee who was
hired before July 1, 2009, after rendering at least one year of covered
correctional service, or a covered correctional employee who was first hired
after June 30, 2009, after rendering at least three years of covered
correctional plan service, becomes disabled and who is expected to be
physically or mentally unfit to perform the duties of the position for at least
one year because of sickness or injury that occurred while not engaged in
covered employment and who is determined to have a regular disability,
physical or psychological, as defined under section 352.01, subdivision 17c,
is entitled to a regular disability benefit. The regular disability benefit must be
based on covered correctional service only.
The regular disability benefit must be computed as provided in
section 352.93, subdivisions 1 and 2, and. The regular disability benefit of a covered
correctional employee who was first hired before July 1, 2009, and who is
determined to have a regular disability, physical or psychological, under this
subdivision must be computed as though the employee had at least 15 years
of covered correctional service.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Applying
for benefits; accrual. No
application for disability benefits shall may be made until after
the last day physically on the job. The
disability benefit shall begin begins to accrue the day following
the last day for which the employee is paid sick leave or annual leave,
but not earlier than 180 days before the date the application is filed. A terminated employee must file a written
application within the time frame specified under section 352.113, subdivision
4, paragraph (e).
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5483
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009,
and applies to disability benefit applicants whose last day of public
employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 13.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Medical or psychological evidence. (a) An applicant shall provide medical,
chiropractic, or psychological evidence to support an application for
disability benefits. The director shall
have the employee examined by at least one additional licensed physician,
chiropractor, or psychologist who is designated by the medical adviser. The physicians, chiropractors, or
psychologists with respect to a mental impairment, shall make written reports
to the director concerning the question of the employee's disability, including
their expert opinions as to whether the employee is disabled has an
occupational disability within the meaning of this section
352.01, subdivision 17a, and whether the employee has a duty disability,
physical or psychological, under section 352.01, subdivision 17b, or has a
regular disability, physical or psychological, under section 352.01,
subdivision 17c. The director shall
also obtain written certification from the employer stating whether or not the
employee is on sick leave of absence because of a disability that will prevent
further service to the employer performing normal duties as defined in
section 352.01, subdivision 17d, or performing less frequent duties as defined
in section 352.01, subdivision 17e, and as a consequence, the employee is
not entitled to compensation from the employer.
(b) If, on considering the reports by the physicians,
chiropractors, or psychologists and any other evidence supplied by the employee
or others, the medical adviser finds that the employee disabled has
an occupational disability within the meaning of this section
352.01, subdivision 17a, the advisor shall make the appropriate
recommendation to the director, in writing, together with the date from which
the employee has been disabled. The
director shall then determine the propriety of authorizing payment of a duty
disability benefit or a regular disability benefit as provided in
this section.
(c) Unless the payment of a disability benefit has
terminated because the employee is no longer disabled has an
occupational disability, or because the employee has reached either age 65
55 or the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability
benefit, whichever is later, the disability benefit must cease with the last
payment which was received by the disabled employee or which had accrued during
the employee's lifetime. While
disability benefits are paid, the director has the right, at reasonable times,
to require the disabled employee to submit proof of the continuance of the
an occupational disability claimed. If any examination indicates to the medical
adviser that the employee is no longer disabled has an
occupational disability, the disability payment must be discontinued upon
the person's reinstatement to state service or within 60 days of the finding,
whichever is sooner.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009,
and applies to disability benefit applicants whose last day of public
employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 14.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.95, subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Retirement status at normal retirement age. The disability benefit paid to a disabled
correctional employee under this section shall terminate terminates
at the end of the month in which the employee reaches age 65 55,
or the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability benefit,
whichever is later. If the disabled
correctional employee is still disabled when the employee reaches age 65
55, or the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability
benefit, whichever is later, the employee shall must be deemed to
be a retired employee. If the employee
had elected an optional annuity under subdivision 1a, the employee shall
receive an annuity in accordance with the terms of the optional annuity
previously elected. If the employee had
not elected an optional annuity under subdivision 1a, the employee may within
90 days of attaining age 65 55 or reaching the five-year
anniversary of the effective date of the disability benefit, whichever is
later, either elect to receive a normal retirement annuity computed in the
manner provided in section 352.93 or elect to receive an optional annuity as
provided in section 352.116, subdivision 3, based on the same length of service
as used in the calculation of the disability benefit. Election of an optional annuity must be made
within 90 days before attaining age 65 55 or
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5484
reaching the five-year anniversary of the effective
date of the disability benefit, whichever is later. If an optional annuity is elected, the
optional annuity shall begin begins to accrue on the first of the
month following the month in which the employee reaches age 65 55
or the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability benefit,
whichever is later.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to disability benefit
applicants whose last day of public employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 15. [352B.011]
DEFINITIONS.
Subdivision
1. Scope. For the purposes of this chapter, the
terms defined in this section have the meanings given them.
Subd. 2.
Accumulated deductions. "Accumulated deductions" means
the total sums deducted from the salary of a member and the total amount of
assessments paid by a member in place of deductions and credited to the
member's individual account as permitted by law without interest.
Subd. 3.
Allowable service. (a) "Allowable service" means:
(1) service
in a month during which a member is paid a salary from which a member
contribution is deducted, deposited, and credited in the State Patrol
retirement fund;
(2) for members
defined in subdivision 10, clause (1), service in any month for which payments
have been made to the State Patrol retirement fund under law; and
(3) for
members defined in subdivision 10, clauses (2) and (3), service for which
payments have been made to the State Patrol retirement fund under law, service
for which payments were made to the State Police officers retirement fund under
law after June 30, 1961, and all prior service which was credited to a member
for service on or before June 30, 1961.
(b)
Allowable service also includes any period of absence from duty by a member
who, by reason of injury incurred in the performance of duty, is temporarily
disabled and for which disability the state is liable under the workers'
compensation law, until the date authorized by the executive director for
commencement of payment of a disability benefit or until the date of a return
to employment.
Subd. 4.
Average monthly salary. (a) Subject to the limitations of section
356.611, "average monthly salary" means the average of the highest
monthly salaries for five years of service as a member upon which contributions
were deducted from pay under section 352B.02, or upon which appropriate
contributions or payments were made to the fund to receive allowable service
and salary credit as specified under the applicable law. Average monthly salary must be based upon all
allowable service if this service is less than five years.
(b) The
salary used for the calculation of "average monthly salary" means the
salary of the member as defined in section 352.01, subdivision 13. The salary used for the calculation of
"average monthly salary" does not include any lump-sum annual leave
payments and overtime payments made at the time of separation from state
service, any amounts of severance pay, or any reduced salary paid during the
period the person is entitled to workers' compensation benefit payments for
temporary disability.
Subd. 5.
Department head. "Department head" means the head
of any department, institution, or branch of the state service that directly
pays salaries from state funds to a member who prepares, approves, and submits
salary abstracts of employees to the commissioner of Minnesota Management and
Budget.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5485
Subd. 6.
Dependent child. "Dependent child" means a
natural or adopted unmarried child of a deceased member under the age of 18
years, including any child of the member conceived during the lifetime of the
member and born after the death of the member.
Subd. 7.
Duty disability. "Duty disability" means a
physical or psychological condition that is expected to prevent a member, for a
period of not less than 12 months, from performing the normal duties of the
position held by the person as a member of the State Patrol retirement fund,
and that is the direct result of any injury incurred during, or a disease
arising out of, the performance of normal duties or the actual performance of
less frequent duties, either of which are specific to protecting the property
and personal safety of others and that present inherent dangers that are
specific to the positions covered by the State Patrol retirement fund.
Subd. 8.
Fund. "Fund" means the State Patrol
retirement fund.
Subd. 9.
Less frequent duties. "Less frequent duties" means
tasks which are designated in the member's job description as either required from
time to time or as assigned, but which are not carried out as part of the
normal routine of the member's position.
Subd. 10.
Member. "Member" means:
(1) a State
Patrol member currently employed under section 299D.03 by the state, who is a
peace officer under section 626.84, and whose salary or compensation is paid
out of state funds;
(2) a
conservation officer employed under section 97A.201, currently employed by the
state, whose salary or compensation is paid out of state funds;
(3) a crime
bureau officer who was employed by the crime bureau and was a member of the
Highway Patrolmen's retirement fund on July 1, 1978, whether or not that person
has the power of arrest by warrant after that date, or who is employed as
police personnel, with powers of arrest by warrant under section 299C.04, and
who is currently employed by the state, and whose salary or compensation is
paid out of state funds;
(4) a person
who is employed by the state in the Department of Public Safety in a data
processing management position with salary or compensation paid from state
funds, who was a crime bureau officer covered by the State Patrol retirement
plan on August 15, 1987, and who was initially hired in the data processing
management position within the department during September 1987, or January
1988, with membership continuing for the duration of the person's employment in
that position, whether or not the person has the power of arrest by warrant
after August 15, 1987;
(5) a public
safety employee who is a peace officer under section 626.84, subdivision 1,
paragraph (c), and who is employed by the Division of Alcohol and Gambling
Enforcement under section 299L.01;
(6) a
Fugitive Apprehension Unit officer after October 31, 2000, who is employed by
the Office of Special Investigations of the Department of Corrections and who
is a peace officer under section 626.84;
(7) an
employee of the Department of Commerce defined as a peace officer in section
626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), who is employed by the Division of
Insurance Fraud Prevention under section 45.0135 after January 1, 2005,
and who has not attained the mandatory retirement age specified in section
43A.34, subdivision 4; and
(8) an
employee of the Department of Public Safety, who is a licensed peace officer
under section 626.84, subdivision 1, paragraph (c), and is employed as the
statewide coordinator of the Gang and Drug Oversight Council.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5486
Subd. 11.
Normal duties. "Normal duties" means specific
tasks which are designated in the member's job description and which the
applicant performs on a day-to-day basis, but do not include less frequent
duties which may be requested to be done by the employer from time to time.
Subd. 12.
Regular disability. "Regular disability" means a
physical or psychological condition that is expected to prevent a member, for a
period of not less than 12 months, from performing the normal duties of the
position held by a person who is a member of the State Patrol retirement plan,
and which results from a disease or an injury that arises from any activities
while not at work, or while at work and performing those normal or less
frequent duties that do not present inherent dangers that are specific to the
occupations covered by the State Patrol retirement plan.
Subd. 13.
Surviving spouse. "Surviving spouse" means a
member's or former member's legally married spouse who resided with the member
or former member at the time of death and was married to the member or former
member, for a period of at least one year, during or before the time of
membership.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), this section is effective
July 1, 2009.
(b)
Subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (1), is effective retroactively from July
1, 1969, and allowable service on the records of the State Patrol retirement
plan credit consistent with that provision is validated.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.02,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Fund
created; membership. A State Patrol
retirement fund is established. Its
membership consists of all persons defined in section 352B.01, subdivision 2
352B.011, subdivision 10.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 17. [352B.085]
SERVICE CREDIT FOR CERTAIN DISABILITY LEAVES OF ABSENCE.
A member on
leave of absence receiving temporary workers' compensation payments and a
reduced salary or no salary from the employer who is entitled to allowable
service credit for the period of absence under section 352B.011, subdivision 3,
paragraph (b), may make payment to the fund for the difference between salary
received, if any, and the salary that the member would normally receive if the
member was not on leave of absence during the period. The member shall pay an amount equal to the
member and employer contribution rate under section 352B.02, subdivisions 1b
and 1c, on the differential salary amount for the period of the leave of
absence. The employing department, at
its option, may pay the employer amount on behalf of the member. Payment made under this subdivision must
include interest at the rate of 8.5 percent per year, and must be completed
within one year of the member's return from the leave of absence.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 18. [352B.086]
SERVICE CREDIT FOR UNIFORMED SERVICE.
(a) A member
who is absent from employment by reason of service in the uniformed services,
as defined in United States Code, title 38, section 4303(13), and who returns
to state employment in a position covered by the plan upon discharge from
service in the uniformed services within the time frame required in United
States Code, title 38, section 4312(e), may obtain service credit for the
period of the uniformed service, provided that the member did not separate from
uniformed service with a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or under other
than honorable conditions.
(b) The
member may obtain credit by paying into the fund an equivalent member
contribution based on the member contribution rate or rates in effect at the
time that the uniformed service was performed multiplied by the full and
fractional years being purchased and applied to the annual salary rate. The annual salary rate is the average
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5487
annual salary
during the purchase period that the member would have received if the member
had continued to provide employment services to the state rather than to
provide uniformed service, or if the determination of that rate is not
reasonably certain, the annual salary rate is the member's average salary rate
during the 12-month period of covered employment rendered immediately preceding
the purchase period.
(c) The
equivalent employer contribution and, if applicable, the equivalent employer
additional contribution, must be paid by the employing unit, using the employer
and employer additional contribution rate or rates in effect at the time that
the uniformed service was performed, applied to the same annual salary rate or
rates used to compute the equivalent member contribution.
(d) If the
member equivalent contributions provided for in this subdivision are not paid
in full, the member's allowable service credit must be prorated by multiplying
the full and fractional number of years of uniformed service eligible for
purchase by the ratio obtained by dividing the total member contributions
received by the total member contributions otherwise required under this
subdivision.
(e) To
receive allowable service credit under this subdivision, the contributions
specified in this section must be transmitted to the fund during the period
which begins with the date on which the individual returns to state employment
covered by the plan and which has a duration of three times the length of the
uniformed service period, but not to exceed five years. If the determined payment period is
calculated to be less than one year, the contributions required under this
subdivision to receive service credit must be transmitted to the fund within
one year from the discharge date.
(f) The
amount of allowable service credit obtainable under this section may not exceed
five years, unless a longer purchase period is required under United States
Code, title 38, section 4312.
(g) The
employing unit shall pay interest on all equivalent member and employer
contribution amounts payable under this section. Interest must be computed at a rate of 8.5
percent compounded annually from the end of each fiscal year of the leave or
break in service to the end of the month in which payment is received.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 19. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Injuries;
payment amounts Duty disability.
A member who becomes disabled and who is expected to be physically or
mentally unfit to perform duties for at least one year as a direct result of an
injury, sickness, or other disability that incurred in or arose out of any act
of duty is determined to qualify for duty disability as defined in
section 352B.011, subdivision 7, is entitled to receive a duty
disability benefits benefit while disabled. The benefits must be paid in monthly installments. The duty disability benefit is an
amount equal to the member's average monthly salary multiplied by 60 percent,
plus an additional percent equal to that specified in section 356.315,
subdivision 6, for each year and pro rata for completed months of service in
excess of 20 years, if any.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 20. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Disabled
while not on duty Regular disability benefit. If A member with at least one year of
service becomes disabled and is expected to be physically or mentally unfit
to perform the duties of the position for at least one year because of sickness
or injury that occurred while not engaged in covered employment, the individual
who qualifies for a regular disability benefit as defined in section 352B.011,
subdivision 12, is entitled to a regular disability benefits benefit. The regular disability benefit must be
computed as if the individual were 55 years old at the date of disability and as
if the annuity was payable under section 352B.08. If a regular disability under this
subdivision occurs after one year of service but before 15 years of service,
the regular disability benefit must be computed as though the individual
had credit for 15 years of service.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5488
Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 2a. Applying
for benefits; accrual. No
application for disability benefits shall be made until after the last day
physically on the job. The disability
benefit begins to accrue the day following the last day for which the employee
is paid sick leave or annual leave but not earlier than 180 days before the
date the application is filed. A member
who is terminated must file a written application within the time frame
specified under section 352.113, subdivision 4, paragraph (e).
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to disability
benefit applicants whose last day of public employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.10,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Optional
annuity. A disabilitant may elect,
in lieu of spousal survivorship coverage under section 352B.11, subdivisions 2b
and 2c, the normal disability benefit or an optional annuity as provided in
section 352B.08, subdivision 3. The choice
of an optional annuity must be made in writing, on a form prescribed by the
executive director, and must be made before the commencement of the payment of
the disability benefit, or within 90 days before reaching age 65 55
or before reaching the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the
disability benefit, whichever is later.
The optional annuity is effective on the date on which the disability
benefit begins to accrue, or the month following the attainment of age 65
55 or following the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the
disability benefit, whichever is later.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009, and applies to disability
benefit applicants whose last day of public employment was after June 30, 2009.
Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.11,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Death;
payment to dependent children; family maximums. (a) Each dependent child, as defined
in section 352B.01, subdivision 10 352B.011, subdivision 6, is
entitled to receive a monthly annuity equal to ten percent of the average
monthly salary of the deceased member.
(b) A dependent child over 18 and under
23 years of age also may receive the monthly benefit provided in this section if
the child is continuously attending an accredited school as a full-time student
during the normal school year as determined by the director. If the child does not continuously attend
school, but separates from full-time attendance during any part of a school
year, the annuity must cease at the end of the month of separation.
(c) In addition, a payment of $20 per
month must be prorated equally to the surviving dependent children when the
former member is survived by more than one dependent child.
(d) Payments for the benefit of any
dependent child must be made to the surviving spouse, or if there is none, to
the legal guardian of the child.
(e) The monthly benefit for any one
family, including a surviving spouse benefit, if applicable, must not be less
than 50 percent nor exceed 70 percent of the average monthly salary of the
deceased member.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 24. REPEALER.
Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 352B.01, subdivisions 1, 2, 3, 3b, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and
11, are repealed.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5489
ARTICLE 3
STATE CORRECTIONAL RETIREMENT PLAN
MEMBERSHIP CHANGES
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352.91, subdivision 3d, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3d. Other correctional personnel. (a) "Covered correctional service"
means service by a state employee in one of the employment positions at a
correctional facility or at the Minnesota Security Hospital specified in
paragraph (b) if at least 75 percent of the employee's working time is spent in
direct contact with inmates or patients and the fact of this direct contact is
certified to the executive director by the appropriate commissioner.
(b) The employment positions are:
(1) automotive mechanic;
(2) baker;
(2) (3) central
services administrative specialist, intermediate;
(3) (4) central
services administrative specialist, principal;
(4) (5) chaplain;
(5) (6) chief
cook;
(6) (7) cook;
(7) (8) cook
coordinator;
(8) (9) corrections
program therapist 1;
(9) (10) corrections
program therapist 2;
(10) (11)
corrections program therapist 3;
(11) (12)
corrections program therapist 4;
(12) (13)
corrections inmate program coordinator;
(13) (14)
corrections transitions program coordinator;
(14) (15)
corrections security caseworker;
(15) (16)
corrections security caseworker career;
(16) (17)
corrections teaching assistant;
(17) (18)
delivery van driver;
(18) (19)
dentist;
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5490
(19) (20) electrician supervisor;
(20) (21) general maintenance
worker lead;
(21) (22) general repair worker;
(22) (23) library/information
research services specialist;
(23) (24) library/information
research services specialist senior;
(24) (25) library technician;
(25) (26) painter lead;
(26) (27) plant maintenance
engineer lead;
(27) (28) plumber supervisor;
(28) (29) psychologist 1;
(29) (30) psychologist 3;
(30) (31) recreation therapist;
(31) (32) recreation therapist
coordinator;
(32) (33) recreation program assistant;
(33) (34) recreation therapist
senior;
(34) (35) sports medicine
specialist;
(35) (36) work therapy assistant;
(36) (37) work therapy program
coordinator; and
(37) (38) work therapy technician.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective retroactively from May 29, 2007.
Sec. 2. MSRS-CORRECTIONAL;
ELIMINATION OF CERTAIN POSITION FROM COVERAGE.
Notwithstanding
any provision of Minnesota Statutes, section 352.91, to the contrary, including
Minnesota Statutes, section 352.91, subdivision 2, "covered correctional
service" does not mean service rendered by a state employee as an
automotive mechanic lead.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5491
ARTICLE 4
ADMINISTRATIVE
PROVISIONS
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.346,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Eligibility. (a) This section applies to a terminated
state employee who:
(1) for at
least the five years immediately preceding separation under clause (2), was
regularly scheduled to work 1,044 or more hours per year in a position covered
by a pension plan administered by the Minnesota State Retirement System or the
Public Employees Retirement Association;
(2) terminated
state or Metropolitan Council employment;
(3) at the time
of termination under clause (2), met the age and service requirements necessary
to receive an unreduced retirement annuity from the plan and satisfied requirements
for the commencement of the retirement annuity or, for a terminated employee
under the unclassified employees retirement plan, met the age and service
requirements necessary to receive an unreduced retirement annuity from the plan
and satisfied requirements for the commencement of the retirement annuity or
elected a lump-sum payment; and
(4) agrees to
accept a postretirement option position with the same or a different appointing
authority, working a reduced schedule that is both (i) a reduction of at least
25 percent from the employee's number of previously regularly scheduled work
hours; and (ii) 1,044 hours or less in state or Metropolitan Council service.
(b) For
purposes of this section, an unreduced retirement annuity includes a retirement
annuity computed under a provision of law which permits retirement, without
application of an earlier retirement reduction factor, whenever age plus years
of allowable service total at least 90.
(c) For
purposes of this section, as it applies to staff state employees who
are members of the Public Employees Retirement Association who are at least
age 62, the length of separation requirement and termination of service
requirement prohibiting return to work agreements under section 353.01,
subdivisions 11a and 28, are not applicable.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 43A.346,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Duration. Postretirement option employment shall be
is for an initial period not to exceed one year. During that period, the appointing authority
may not modify the conditions specified in the written offer without the
person's consent, except as required by law or by the collective bargaining
agreement or compensation plan applicable to the person. At the end of the initial period, the
appointing authority has sole discretion to determine if the offer of a
postretirement option position will be renewed, renewed with modifications, or
terminated. If the person is under
age 62, an offer of renewal and any related verbal offer or agreement must not
be made until at least 30 days after termination of the person's previous
postretirement option employment. Postretirement
option employment may be renewed for periods of up to one year, not to exceed a
total duration of five years. No person shall
may be employed in one or a combination of postretirement option positions
under this section for a total of more than five years.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5492
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 352B.02,
subdivision 1a, is amended to read:
Subd. 1a. Member
contributions. (a) Each The
member shall pay a sum equal to the following contribution is
10.40 percent of the member's salary, which constitutes the member contribution
to the fund:.
before
July 1, 2007 8.40
from
July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008 9.10
from
July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009 9.80
from
July 1, 2009, and thereafter 10.40.
(b)
These contributions must be made by deduction from salary as provided in
section 352.04, subdivision 4.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
352B.02, subdivision 1c, is amended to read:
Subd.
1c. Employer
contributions. (a) In addition to
member contributions, department heads shall pay a sum equal to the
following 15.60 percent of the salary upon which deductions were
made, which shall constitute constitutes the employer
contribution to the fund:.
before
July 1, 2007 12.60
from
July 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008 13.60
from
July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009 14.60
from
July 1, 2009, and thereafter 15.60.
(b)
Department contributions must be paid out of money appropriated to departments
for this purpose.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec.
5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.01, subdivision 16, is amended to read:
Subd.
16. Allowable
service; limits and computation. (a)
"Allowable service" means:
(1)
service during years of actual membership in the course of which employee deductions
were withheld from salary and contributions were made, at the
applicable rates under section 353.27, 353.65, or 353E.03;
(2)
periods of service
covered by payments in lieu of salary deductions under section sections
353.27, subdivision 12, and 353.35;
(2) (3) service in years during
which the public employee was not a member but for which the member later
elected, while a member, to obtain credit by making payments to the fund as
permitted by any law then in effect;
(3) (4) a period of authorized
leave of absence with pay from which deductions for employee contributions are
made, deposited, and credited to the fund;
(4) (5) a period of authorized
personal, parental, or medical leave of absence without pay, including a leave
of absence covered under the federal Family Medical Leave Act, that does not
exceed one year, and for which a member obtained service credit for each month
in the leave period by payment under section 353.0161 to the fund made in place
of salary deductions. An employee must
return to public service and render a minimum of three months of allowable
service in order to be eligible to make payment under section 353.0161 for a
subsequent authorized leave of absence without pay. Upon payment, the employee must be granted
allowable service credit for the purchased period;
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5493
(5) (6) a periodic, repetitive
leave that is offered to all employees of a governmental subdivision. The leave program may not exceed 208 hours
per annual normal work cycle as certified to the association by the employer. A participating member obtains service credit
by making employee contributions in an amount or amounts based on the member's
average salary that would have been paid if the leave had not been taken. The employer shall pay the employer and
additional employer contributions on behalf of the participating member. The employee and the employer are responsible
to pay interest on their respective shares at the rate of 8.5 percent a year,
compounded annually, from the end of the normal cycle until full payment is
made. An employer shall also make the
employer and additional employer contributions, plus 8.5 percent interest,
compounded annually, on behalf of an employee who makes employee contributions
but terminates public service. The
employee contributions must be made within one year after the end of the annual
normal working cycle or within 20 30 days after termination of
public service, whichever is sooner. The
executive director shall prescribe the manner and forms to be used by a
governmental subdivision in administering a periodic, repetitive leave. Upon payment, the member must be granted
allowable service credit for the purchased period;
(6) (7) an authorized temporary or
seasonal layoff under subdivision 12, limited to three months allowable service
per authorized temporary or seasonal layoff in one calendar year. An employee who has received the maximum
service credit allowed for an authorized temporary or seasonal layoff must
return to public service and must obtain a minimum of three months of allowable
service subsequent to the layoff in order to receive allowable service for a
subsequent authorized temporary or seasonal layoff; or
(7) (8) a period during which a
member is absent from employment by a governmental subdivision by reason of service
in the uniformed services, as defined in United States Code, title 38, section
4303(13), if the member returns to public service with the same governmental
subdivision upon discharge from service in the uniformed service within the
time frames required under United States Code, title 38, section 4312(e),
provided that the member did not separate from uniformed service with a
dishonorable or bad conduct discharge or under other than honorable
conditions. The service is credited if
the member pays into the fund equivalent employee contributions based upon the
contribution rate or rates in effect at the time that the uniformed service was
performed multiplied by the full and fractional years being purchased and
applied to the annual salary rate. The annual
salary rate is the average annual salary during the purchase period that the
member would have received if the member had continued to be employed in
covered employment rather than to provide uniformed service, or, if the
determination of that rate is not reasonably certain, the annual salary rate is
the member's average salary rate during the 12-month period of covered
employment rendered immediately preceding the period of the uniformed
service. Payment of the member
equivalent contributions must be made during a period that begins with the date
on which the individual returns to public employment and that is three times
the length of the military leave period, or within five years of the date of
discharge from the military service, whichever is less. If the determined payment period is less than
one year, the contributions required under this clause to receive service
credit may be made within one year of the discharge date. Payment may not be accepted following 20
30 days after termination of public service under subdivision 11a. If the member equivalent contributions
provided for in this clause are not paid in full, the member's allowable
service credit must be prorated by multiplying the full and fractional number
of years of uniformed service eligible for purchase by the ratio obtained by
dividing the total member contributions received by the total member
contributions otherwise required under this clause. The equivalent employer contribution, and, if
applicable, the equivalent additional employer contribution must be paid by the
governmental subdivision employing the member if the member makes the
equivalent employee contributions. The
employer payments must be made from funds available to the employing unit,
using the employer and additional employer contribution rate or rates in effect
at the time that the uniformed service was performed, applied to the same
annual salary rate or rates used to compute the equivalent member
contribution. The governmental
subdivision involved may appropriate money for those payments. The amount of service credit obtainable under
this section may not exceed five years unless a longer purchase period is
required under United States Code, title 38, section 4312. The employing unit shall pay interest on all
equivalent member and employer contribution amounts payable under this
clause. Interest must be computed at a
rate of 8.5 percent compounded annually from the end of each fiscal year of the
leave or the break in service to the end of the month in which the payment is
received. Upon payment, the employee
must be granted allowable service credit for the purchased period.;
or
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5494
(9)
a period specified under subdivision 40.
(b)
For calculating benefits under sections 353.30, 353.31, 353.32, and 353.33 for
state officers and employees displaced by the Community Corrections Act,
chapter 401, and transferred into county service under section 401.04,
"allowable service" means the combined years of allowable service as
defined in paragraph (a), clauses (1) to (6), and section 352.01, subdivision
11.
(c)
For a public employee who has prior service covered by a local police or
firefighters relief association that has consolidated with the Public Employees
Retirement Association or to which section 353.665 applies, and who has elected
the type of benefit coverage provided by the public employees police and fire
fund either under section 353A.08 following the consolidation or under section
353.665, subdivision 4, "applicable service" is a period of service
credited by the local police or firefighters relief association as of the
effective date of the consolidation based on law and on bylaw provisions
governing the relief association on the date of the initiation of the
consolidation procedure.
(d)
No member may receive more than 12 months of allowable service credit in a year
either for vesting purposes or for benefit calculation purposes.
(e)
MS 2002 [Expired]
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec.
6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.01, subdivision 16b, is amended to read:
Subd.
16b. Uncredited military service credit purchase. (a) A public employee who has at least three
years of allowable service with the Public Employees Retirement Association or
the public employees police and fire plan and who performed service in the
United States armed forces before becoming a public employee, or who failed to
obtain service credit for a military leave of absence under subdivision 16,
paragraph (h) (a), clause 7, is entitled to purchase allowable
service credit for the initial period of enlistment, induction, or call to
active duty without any voluntary extension by making payment under section
356.551. This authority is voided
if the public employee has not purchased service credit from any other
Minnesota defined benefit public employee pension plan, other than a
volunteer fire plan, for the same period of service, or if the
separation from the United States armed forces was under less than honorable
conditions.
(b)
A public employee who desires to purchase service credit under paragraph (a)
must apply with the executive director to make the purchase. The application must include all necessary
documentation of the public employee's qualifications to make the purchase,
signed written permission to allow the executive director to request and
receive necessary verification of applicable facts and eligibility
requirements, and any other relevant information that the executive director
may require.
(c)
Allowable service credit for the purchase period must be granted by the Public
Employees Retirement Association or the public employees police and fire plan,
whichever applies, to the purchasing public employee upon receipt of the
purchase payment amount. Payment must be
made before the effective date of retirement of the public employee
employee's termination of public service or termination of membership,
whichever is earlier.
(d)
This subdivision is repealed July 1, 2013.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5495
Sec.
7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.0161, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision
1. Application. This section applies to employees covered by
any plan specified in this chapter or chapter 353E for any period of authorized
leave of absence specified in section 353.01, subdivision 16, paragraph (a),
clause (4) (5), for which the employee obtains credit for
allowable service by making payment as specified in this section to the
applicable fund.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec.
8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.03, subdivision 3a, is amended to read:
Subd.
3a. Executive
director. (a) Appointment. The board shall
appoint an executive director on the basis of education, experience in the
retirement field, and leadership ability. The executive director must have had at least
five years' experience in an executive level management position, which has
included responsibility for pensions, deferred compensation, or employee
benefits. The executive director serves
at the pleasure of the board. The salary
of the executive director is as provided by section 15A.0815.
(b)
Duties.
The management of the association is vested in the executive
director who shall be the executive and administrative head of the
association. The executive director
shall act as adviser to the board on all matters pertaining to the association
and shall also act as the secretary of the board. The executive director shall:
(1)
attend all meetings of the board;
(2)
prepare and recommend to the board appropriate rules to carry out the
provisions of this chapter;
(3)
establish and maintain an adequate system of records and accounts following
recognized accounting principles and controls;
(4)
designate, with the approval of the board, up to two persons who may serve in
the unclassified service and whose salaries are set in accordance with section
43A.18, subdivision 3, appoint a confidential secretary in the unclassified
service, and appoint employees to carry out this chapter, who are subject to
chapters 43A and 179A in the same manner as are executive branch employees;
(5)
organize the work of the association as the director deems necessary to fulfill
the functions of the association, and define the duties of its employees and
delegate to them any powers or duties, subject to the control of, and under
such conditions as, the executive director may prescribe;
(6)
with the approval of the board, contract for the services of an approved
actuary, professional management services, and any other consulting services as
necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter. All contracts are subject to chapter
16C. The commissioner of administration
shall not approve, and the association shall not enter into, any contract to
provide lobbying services or legislative advocacy of any kind. Any approved actuary retained by the
executive director shall function as the actuarial advisor of the board and the
executive director and may perform actuarial valuations and experience
studies to supplement those performed by the actuary retained . In addition to filing requirements under
section 356.214., any supplemental actuarial valuations or
experience studies shall be filed with the executive director of the Legislative
Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
Copies of professional management survey reports shall be transmitted to
the secretary of the senate, the chief clerk of the house of representatives,
and the Legislative Reference Library as provided by section 3.195, and to the
executive director of the commission at the same time as reports are furnished
to the board. Only management firms
experienced in conducting management surveys of federal, state, or local public
retirement systems shall be qualified to contract with the director hereunder;
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5496
(7)
with the approval of the board provide in-service training for the employees of
the association;
(8)
make refunds of accumulated contributions to former members and to the
designated beneficiary, surviving spouse, legal representative or next of kin
of deceased members or deceased former members, as provided in this chapter;
(9)
determine the amount of the annuities and disability benefits of members
covered by the association and authorize payment of the annuities and benefits
beginning as of the dates on which the annuities and benefits begin to accrue,
in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;
(10)
pay annuities, refunds, survivor benefits, salaries, and necessary operating
expenses of the association;
(11)
prepare and submit to the board and the legislature an annual financial report
covering the operation of the association, as required by section 356.20;
(12)
prepare and submit biennial and annual budgets to the board for its approval
and submit the approved budgets to the Department of Finance for approval by
the commissioner;
(13)
reduce all or part of the accrued interest payable under section 353.27,
subdivisions 12, 12a, and 12b, or 353.28, subdivision 5, upon receipt of proof
by the association of an unreasonable processing delay or other extenuating
circumstances of the employing unit; and notwithstanding section 353.27,
subdivision 7, may waive the payment of accrued interest to the member if a
credit has been taken by the employer to correct an employee deduction taken in
error and if the accrued interest is $10 or less. The executive director shall prescribe and
submit for approval by the board the conditions under which such interest may
be reduced; and
(14)
with the approval of the board, perform such other duties as may be required for
the administration of the association and the other provisions of this chapter
and for the transaction of its business.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec.
9. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
353.27, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Employee
contribution. (a) For a basic
member, the employee contribution is the following applicable percentage
of the total 9.10 percent of salary amount for a "basic
member" and. For a "coordinated
member": coordinated member,
the employee contribution is six percent of salary plus any contribution rate
adjustment under subdivision 3b.
Basic
Program Coordinated
Program
Effective
before January 1, 2006 9.10 5.10
Effective
January 1, 2006 9.10 5.50
Effective
January 1, 2007 9.10 5.75
Effective
January 1, 2008 9.10 6.00
plus any contribution rate
adjustment
under subdivision 3b
(b) These contributions must be made
by deduction from salary as defined in section 353.01, subdivision 10, in the
manner provided in subdivision 4. If any
portion of a member's salary is paid from other than public funds, the member's
employee contribution must be based on the total salary received by the member
from all sources.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5497
Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27,
subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Employer
contribution. (a) For a basic
member, the employer contribution is the following applicable percentage
of the total 9.10 percent of salary amount for "basic
members" and. For "coordinated
members": a coordinated
member, the employer contribution is six percent of salary plus any
contribution rate adjustment under subdivision 3b.
Basic
Program Coordinated
Program
Effective
before January 1, 2006 9.10 5.10
Effective
January 1, 2006 9.10 5.50
Effective
January 1, 2007 9.10 5.75
Effective
January 1, 2008 9.10 6.00
plus any contribution rate
adjustment
under subdivision 3b
(b) This contribution must be made from
funds available to the employing subdivision by the means and in the manner
provided in section 353.28.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27,
subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd. 7. Adjustment
for erroneous receipts or disbursements.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), erroneous employee deductions
and erroneous employer contributions and additional employer contributions for
a person, who otherwise does not qualify for membership under this chapter, are
considered:
(1) valid if the initial erroneous
deduction began before January 1, 1990.
Upon determination of the error by the association, the person may
continue membership in the association while employed in the same position for
which erroneous deductions were taken, or file a written election to terminate
membership and apply for a refund upon termination of public service or defer
an annuity under section 353.34; or
(2) invalid, if the initial erroneous
employee deduction began on or after January 1, 1990. Upon determination of the error, the
association shall refund all erroneous employee deductions and all erroneous
employer contributions as specified in paragraph (d) (e). No person may claim a right to continued or
past membership in the association based on erroneous deductions which began on
or after January 1, 1990.
(b) Erroneous deductions taken from
the salary of a person who did not qualify for membership in the association by
virtue of concurrent employment before July 1, 1978, which required
contributions to another retirement fund or relief association established for
the benefit of officers and employees of a governmental subdivision, are
invalid. Upon discovery of the error, the
association shall remove all invalid service and, upon termination of public
service, the association shall refund all erroneous employee deductions to the
person, with interest as determined under section 353.34, subdivision 2,
and all erroneous employer contributions without interest to the
employer. This paragraph has both
retroactive and prospective application.
(c) Adjustments to correct employer
contributions and employee deductions taken in error from amounts which are not
salary under section 353.01, subdivision 10, are invalid upon discovery by
the association and must be refunded made as specified in
paragraph (d) (e). The period
of adjustment must be limited to the fiscal year in which the error is
discovered by the association and the immediate two preceding fiscal years.
(d) If there is evidence of fraud or
other misconduct on the part of the employee or the employer, the board of
trustees may authorize adjustments to the account of a member or former member
to correct erroneous employee deductions and employer contributions on invalid
salary and the recovery of any overpayments for a period longer than provided
for under paragraph (c).
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5498
(d) (e) Upon discovery of the receipt of erroneous employee
deductions and employer contributions under paragraph (a), clause
(2), or paragraph (c), the association must require the employer to discontinue
the erroneous employee deductions and erroneous employer contributions
reported on behalf of a member. Upon
discontinuation, the association either must refund :
(1) for a member, provide a refund or
credit to the employer in the amount of the invalid employee deductions to the person without
interest and with interest on the invalid employee deductions at the
rate specified under section 353.34, subdivision 2, from the received date of
each invalid salary transaction through the date the credit or refund is made;
and the employer must pay the refunded employee deductions plus interest to the
member;
(2) for a former member who:
(i) is not receiving a retirement
annuity or benefit, return the erroneous employee deductions to the former
member through a refund with interest at the rate specified under section
353.34, subdivision 2, from the received date of each invalid salary
transaction through the date the credit or refund is made; or
(ii) is receiving a retirement annuity
or disability benefit, or a person who is receiving an optional annuity or
survivor benefit, for whom it has been determined an overpayment must be
recovered, adjust the payment amount and recover the overpayments as provided
under this section; and
(3) return the invalid employer contributions reported
on behalf of a member or former member to the employer or provide by
providing a credit against future contributions payable by the employer for
the amount of all erroneous deductions and contributions. If the employing unit receives a credit under
this paragraph, the employing unit is responsible for refunding to the
applicable employee any amount that had been erroneously deducted from the person's
salary. In the event that a retirement
annuity or disability benefit has been computed using invalid service or
salary, the association must adjust the annuity or benefit and recover any
overpayment under subdivision 7b.
(e) (f) In the event that a salary warrant or check
from which a deduction for the retirement fund was taken has been canceled or
the amount of the warrant or check returned to the funds of the department
making the payment, a refund of the sum deducted, or any portion of it that is
required to adjust the deductions, must be made to the department or
institution.
(f) Any refund to a member under this
subdivision that is reasonably determined to cause the plan to fail to be a
qualified plan under section 401(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as
amended, may not be refunded and instead must be credited against future
contributions payable by the employer.
The employer receiving the credit is responsible for refunding to the
applicable employee any amount that had been erroneously deducted from the
person's salary.
(g) If the accrual date of any
retirement annuity, survivor benefit, or disability benefit is within the
limitation period specified in paragraph (c), and an overpayment has resulted
by using invalid service or salary, or due to any erroneous calculation
procedure, the association must recalculate the annuity or benefit payable and
recover any overpayment as provided under subdivision 7b.
(h) Notwithstanding the provisions of
this subdivision, the association may apply the Revenue Procedures defined in the
federal Internal Revenue Service Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System
and not issue a refund of erroneous employee deductions and employer
contributions or not recover a small overpayment of benefits if the cost to
correct the error would exceed the amount of the member refund or overpayment.
(i) Any fees or penalties assessed by
the federal Internal Revenue Service for any failure by an employer to follow
the statutory requirements for reporting eligible members and salary must be
paid by the employer.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) This section is effective the day following enactment.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5499
(b) The interest required on
deductions in error as provided in paragraph (e) must be applied to any refunds
paid on or after June 1, 2009.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27,
subdivision 7b, is amended to read:
Subd. 7b. Recovery
of overpayments to members.
(a) In the event of an overpayment to a member, retiree,
beneficiary, or other person, the executive director shall recover the
overpayment by suspending or reducing the payment of a retirement annuity,
refund, disability benefit, survivor benefit, or optional annuity payable to
the applicable person or the person's estate, whichever applies, under this
chapter until all outstanding money has been recovered determines that
an overpaid annuity or benefit that is the result of invalid salary included in
the average salary used to calculate the payment amount must be recovered, the
association must determine the amount of the employee deductions taken in error
on the invalid salary, with interest determined in the manner provided for a former
member under subdivision 7, paragraph (e), clause (2), item (i), and must
subtract that amount from the total annuity or benefit overpayment, and the
remaining balance of the overpaid annuity or benefit, if any, must be recovered.
(b) If the invalid employee deductions
plus interest exceed the amount of the overpaid benefits, the balance must be
refunded to the person to whom the benefit or annuity is being paid.
(c) Any invalid employer contributions
reported on the invalid salary must be credited to the employer as provided in
subdivision 7, paragraph (e).
(d) If a member or former member, who
is receiving a retirement annuity or disability benefit for which an
overpayment is being recovered, dies before recovery of the overpayment is
completed and a joint and survivor optional annuity is payable, the remaining
balance of the overpaid annuity or benefit must continue to be recovered from
the payment to the optional annuity beneficiary.
(e) If the association finds that a
refund has been overpaid to a former member, beneficiary or other person, the
amount of the overpayment must be recovered.
(f) The board of trustees shall adopt
policies directing the period of time and manner for the collection of any
overpaid retirement or optional annuity, and survivor or disability benefit, or
a refund that the executive director determines must be recovered as provided
under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Age,
service, and salary requirements. A
coordinated or basic member who has at least three years of allowable
service and becomes totally and permanently disabled before normal retirement
age, and a basic member who has at least three years of allowable service
and who becomes totally and permanently disabled, upon application as
defined under section 353.031, is entitled to a disability benefit in an amount
determined under subdivision 3. If the disabled
person's public service has terminated at any time, at least two of the
required three years of allowable service must have been rendered after last
becoming an active member.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 1a.
Benefit restriction. No person is entitled to receive
disability benefits and a retirement annuity at the same time.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5500
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33,
subdivision 11, is amended to read:
Subd. 11. Coordinated
member disabilitant transfer to retirement status. No person is entitled to receive
disability benefits and a retirement annuity at the same time. The disability benefits paid to a coordinated
member must terminate when the person reaches normal retirement age. If the coordinated member is still totally
and permanently disabled upon attaining normal retirement age, the coordinated
member is deemed to be on retirement status.
If an optional annuity is elected under subdivision 3a, the coordinated
member shall receive an annuity under the terms of the optional annuity
previously elected, or, if an optional annuity is not elected under subdivision
3a, the coordinated member may elect to receive a normal retirement annuity
under section 353.29 or an annuity equal to the disability benefit paid before
the coordinated member reaches normal retirement age, whichever amount is
greater, or elect to receive an optional annuity under section 353.30, subdivision
3. The annuity of a disabled coordinated
member who attains normal retirement age must be computed under the law in
effect upon attainment of normal retirement age. Election of an optional annuity must be made
before the coordinated member attains normal retirement age. If an optional annuity is elected, the
election is effective on the date on which the person attains normal retirement
age and the optional annuity begins to accrue on the first day of the month
next following the month in which the person attains that age.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.33,
subdivision 12, is amended to read:
Subd. 12. Basic disability
disabilitant transfer to retirement status; survivor benefits. (a) If a basic member who is receiving
a disability benefit under subdivision 3:
(1) dies before attaining age 65 or within five years of
the effective date of the disability, whichever is later, the surviving spouse
is entitled to receive a survivor benefit under section 353.31, unless and
any dependent child or children are entitled to dependent child benefits under
section 353.31, subdivision 1b, paragraph (b).
If there are no dependent children, in lieu of the survivor benefit
specified under section 353.31, the surviving spouse elected may
elect to receive a refund under section 353.32, subdivision 1;.
(2) (b) If a basic member who is receiving a
disability benefit under subdivision 3 is living at age 65 or five years
after the effective date of the disability, whichever is later, the basic
member may continue to receive a normal retirement annuity equal to
the disability benefit previously received, adjusted for the amount no
longer payable under subdivision 3, paragraph (b), or the person may elect
a joint and survivor optional annuity under section 353.31, subdivision
1b. The election of the joint and
survivor optional annuity must occur within 90 days of attaining age 65 or of
reaching the five-year anniversary of the effective date of the disability
benefit, whichever is later. The
optional annuity takes effect on the first day of the month following the month
in which the person attains age 65 or reaches the five-year anniversary of the
effective date of the disability benefit, whichever is later; or.
(3) if there is a dependent child or
children under clause (1) or (2), the dependent child is entitled to a
dependent child benefit under section 353.31, subdivision 1b, paragraph (b).
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.65,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Employee
contribution rate. (a)
The employee contribution is an amount equal to the 9.4 percent
of the total salary of the member specified in paragraph (b). This contribution must be made by deduction
from salary in the manner provided in subdivision 4. Where any portion of a member's salary is
paid from other than public funds, the member's employee contribution is based
on the total salary received from all sources.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5501
(b) For calendar year 2006, the employee contribution
rate is 7.0 percent. For calendar year
2007, the employee contribution rate is 7.8 percent. For calendar year 2008, the employee contribution
rate is 8.6 percent. For calendar year
2009 and thereafter, the employee contribution rate is 9.4 percent.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 18.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.65, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Employer contribution rate. (a) The employer contribution shall
be an amount equal to the is 14.1 percent of the total salary
of every the member as specified in paragraph (b). This contribution shall must be
made from funds available to the employing subdivision by the means and in the
manner provided in section 353.28.
(b) For calendar year 2006, the employer contribution
rate is 10.5 percent. For calendar year
2007, the employer contribution rate is 11.7 percent. For calendar year 2008, the employer
contribution rate is 12.9 percent. For
calendar year 2009 and thereafter, the employer contribution rate is 14.1
percent.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 19.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353A.08, subdivision 6a, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6a. Military service contribution and refund. A person who was an active member of a local
police or firefighters relief association upon its consolidation with the
public employees retirement association, and who was otherwise eligible for
automatic service credit for military service under Minnesota Statutes 2000,
section 423.57, and who has not elected the type of benefit coverage provided
by the public employees police and fire fund at the time of consolidation, must
make employee contributions under section 353.01, subdivision 16, paragraph (h)
(a), clause (8), to receive allowable service credit from the association
for a military service leave after the effective date of the
consolidation. A person who later
elects, under subdivision 3, to retain benefit coverage under the bylaws of the
local relief association is eligible for a refund from the association at the
time of retirement. The association
shall refund the employee contributions plus interest at the rate of six
percent, compounded quarterly, from the date on which contributions were made
until the first day of the month in which the refund is paid. The employer shall receive a refund of the
employer contributions. The association
shall not pay a refund to a person who later elects, under subdivision 3, the
type of benefit coverage provided by the public employees police and fire fund
or to the person's employer.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 20.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353F.02, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Medical facility. "Medical facility" means:
(1) Bridges Medical Services;
(2) the City of Cannon Falls Hospital;
(3) Clearwater County Memorial Hospital doing business
as Clearwater Health Services in Bagley;
(4) the Dassel Lakeside Community Home;
(5) the Fair Oaks Lodge, Wadena;
(6) the Glencoe Area Health Center;
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5502
(7) Hutchinson Area Health Care;
(8) the Lakefield Nursing Home;
(9) the Lakeview Nursing Home in
Gaylord;
(10) the Luverne Public Hospital;
(11) the Oakland Park Nursing Home;
(12) the RenVilla Nursing Home;
(13) the Rice Memorial Hospital in
Willmar, with respect to the Department of Radiology and the Department of
Radiation/Oncology;
(14) the St. Peter Community Health
Care Center;
(15) the Waconia-Ridgeview Medical
Center; and
(16) the Weiner Memorial Medical
Center, Inc.; and
(17) the Worthington Regional Hospital.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective upon compliance with Minnesota Statutes,
section 353F.02, subdivision 3.
Sec. 21. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.05, is
amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 42.
Fiscal year. The fiscal year of the association begins
on July 1 of each calendar year and ends on June 30 of the following calendar
year.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 22. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.42,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Employee
contribution. (a) For a basic
member, the employee contribution to the fund is an amount equal to the
following percentage 9.0 percent of the member's salary of
a member:. For a coordinated
member, the employee contribution is 5.5 percent of the member's salary.
(1) after July 1, 2006, for a teacher
employed by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, 5.5 percent if the
teacher is a coordinated member, and 9.0 percent if the teacher is a basic
member;
(2) for every other teacher, after
July 1, 2006, 5.5 percent if the teacher is a coordinated member and 9.0
percent if the teacher is a basic member.
(b) This contribution must be made by
deduction from salary. Where any portion
of a member's salary is paid from other than public funds, the member's
employee contribution must be based on the entire salary received.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5503
Sec. 23. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.44,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Retirement
annuity accrual date. (a) An annuity
payment begins to accrue, provided that the age and service requirements under
subdivision 1 are satisfied, after the termination of teaching service, or
after the application for retirement has been filed with the board,
whichever is later executive director, as follows:
(1) on the 16th day of after
the month of termination or filing if the termination or filing occurs
on or before the 15th day of the month of teaching service;
(2) on the first day of the month
following the month of termination or filing if the termination or filing
occurs on or after the 16th day of the month day of receipt of
application if the application is filed with the executive director after the
six-month period that occurs immediately following the termination of teaching
service;
(3) on July 1 for all school
principals and other administrators who receive a full annual contract salary
during the fiscal year for performance of a full year's contract duties; or
(4) a later date to be either the
first or the 16th day of a month occurring within the six-month period
immediately following the termination of teaching service as specified under
paragraph (b) by the member.
(b) (4) if an application for retirement is filed
with the board executive director during the six-month period
that occurs immediately following the termination of teaching service, the
annuity may begin to accrue as if the application for retirement had been filed
with the board on the date teaching service terminated or a later date under
paragraph (a), clause (4).
(b) A member, or a person authorized
to act on behalf of the member, may specify a different date of retirement from
that determined in paragraph (a), as follows:
(1) if the application is filed on or
before the date of termination of teaching service, the accrual date may be a
date no earlier than the day after the termination of teaching service and no
later than six months after the termination date; or
(2) if the application is filed
during the six-month period that occurs immediately following the termination
of teaching service, the accrual date may begin to accrue retroactively, but no
earlier than the day after teaching service terminated and no later than six
months after the termination date.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective January 1, 2010.
Sec. 24. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.44,
subdivision 5, is amended to read:
Subd. 5. Resumption
of teaching service after retirement.
(a) Any person who retired under the provisions of this chapter and has
thereafter resumed teaching in any employer unit to which this chapter applies
is eligible to continue to receive payments in accordance with the annuity
except that all or a portion of the annuity payments must be deferred during
the calendar year immediately following any calendar the fiscal year
in which the person's salary from the teaching service is in an amount greater
than $46,000. The amount of the annuity
deferral is one-half of the salary amount in excess of $46,000 and must be
deducted from the annuity payable for the calendar year immediately following
the calendar fiscal year in which the excess amount was earned.
(b) If the person is retired for only
a fractional part of the calendar fiscal year during the initial
year of retirement, the maximum reemployment salary exempt from triggering a
deferral as specified in this subdivision must be prorated for that calendar
fiscal year.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5504
(c) After a person has reached the
Social Security normal retirement age, no deferral requirement is applicable
regardless of the amount of salary.
(d) The amount of the retirement
annuity deferral must be handled or disposed of as provided in section 356.47.
(e) For the purpose of this
subdivision, salary from teaching service includes, but is not limited to:
(1) all income for services performed
as a consultant or an independent contractor for an employer unit covered by
the provisions of this chapter; and
(2) the greater of either the income
received or an amount based on the rate paid with respect to an administrative
position, consultant, or independent contractor in an employer unit with
approximately the same number of pupils and at the same level as the position
occupied by the person who resumes teaching service.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective January 1, 2010.
Sec. 25. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.47,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Death
before retirement. (a) If a member
dies before retirement and is covered under section 354.44, subdivision 2, and
neither an optional annuity, nor a reversionary annuity, nor a benefit under
section 354.46, subdivision 1, is payable to the survivors if the member was a
basic member, then the surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse,
the designated beneficiary is entitled to an amount equal to the member's
accumulated deductions with interest credited to the account of the member to
the date of death of the member. If the
designated beneficiary is a minor, interest must be credited to the date the
beneficiary reaches legal age, or the date of receipt, whichever is earlier.
(b) If a member dies before
retirement and is covered under section 354.44, subdivision 6, and neither an
optional annuity, nor reversionary annuity, nor the benefit described in
section 354.46, subdivision 1, is payable to the survivors if the member was a
basic member, then the surviving spouse, or if there is no surviving spouse,
the designated beneficiary is entitled to an amount equal to the member's
accumulated deductions credited to the account of the member as of June 30,
1957, and from July 1, 1957, to the date of death of the member, the member's
accumulated deductions plus six percent interest compounded annually.
(c) If the designated beneficiary
under paragraph (b) is a minor, any interest credited under that paragraph must
be credited to the date the beneficiary reaches legal age, or the date of
receipt, whichever is earlier.
(d) The amount of any refund payable
under this subdivision must be reduced by any permanent disability payment
under section 354.48 received by the member.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 26. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.48,
subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Determination
by executive director. (a) The
executive director shall have the member examined by at least two licensed physicians,
licensed chiropractors, or licensed psychologists selected by the medical
adviser.
(b) These physicians, chiropractors,
or psychologists with respect to a mental impairment, shall make written
reports to the executive director concerning the member's disability, including
expert opinions as to whether or not the member is permanently and totally
disabled within the meaning of section 354.05, subdivision 14.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5505
(c) The executive director shall also
obtain written certification from the last employer stating whether or not the
member was separated from service because of a disability which would reasonably
prevent further service to the employer and as a consequence the member is not
entitled to compensation from the employer.
(d) If, upon the consideration of the
reports of the physicians, chiropractors, or psychologists and any other
evidence presented by the member or by others interested therein, the executive
director finds that the member is totally and permanently disabled, the
executive director shall grant the member a disability benefit.
(e) An employee who is placed on leave
of absence without compensation because of disability is not barred from
receiving a disability benefit.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 27. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.48,
subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Regular
physical examinations. At least once
each year during the first five years following the allowance of a disability
benefit to any member, and at least once in every three-year period thereafter,
the executive director shall may require the disability beneficiary
recipient to undergo an expert examination by a physician or physicians,
by a chiropractor or chiropractors, or by one or more psychologists with
respect to a mental impairment, engaged by the executive director. If an examination indicates that the member
is no longer permanently and totally disabled or that the member is engaged or
is able to engage in a substantial gainful occupation, payments of the
disability benefit by the association must be discontinued. The payments must be discontinued as soon as
the member is reinstated to the payroll following sick leave, but payment may
not be made for more than 60 days after the physicians, the chiropractors, or
the psychologists engaged by the executive director find that the person is no
longer permanently and totally disabled.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 28. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.49,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Calculation. (a) Except as provided in section
354.44, subdivision 1, any person who ceases to be a member by reason of
termination of teaching service, shall is entitled to receive a
refund in an amount equal to the accumulated deductions credited to the account
as of June 30, 1957, and after July 1, 1957, the accumulated deductions with
interest at the rate of six percent per annum compounded annually. For the purpose of this subdivision, interest
shall must be computed on fiscal year end balances to the first
day of the month in which the refund is issued.
(b) If the person has received
permanent disability payments under section 354.48, the refund amount must be
reduced by the amount of those payments.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 29. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.52,
subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
Subd. 2a. Annual
Postretirement income reports reporting. On or before each February 15, a
representative authorized by an Each employing unit must report to
the executive director the amount of income earned during the previous calendar
fiscal year by each retiree for teaching service performed after
retirement. This annual report must
be shall be done through the payroll reporting system and is based
on reemployment income as defined in section 354.44, subdivision 5, and it
must be made on a form provided by the executive director. Signing Submitting the report
salary data through payroll reporting has the force and effect of an
oath as to the correctness of the amount of postretirement reemployment income
earned.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective January 1, 2010.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5506
Sec. 30. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.52,
subdivision 4b, is amended to read:
Subd. 4b. Payroll
cycle reporting requirements. An
employing unit shall provide the following data to the association for payroll
warrants on an ongoing basis within 14 calendar days after the date of the
payroll warrant in a format prescribed by the executive director:
(1) association member number;
(2) employer-assigned employee number;
(3) Social Security number;
(4) amount of each salary deduction;
(5) amount of salary as defined in
section 354.05, subdivision 35, from which each deduction was made;
(6) reason for payment;
(7) service credit;
(8) the beginning and ending dates of
the payroll period covered and the date of actual payment;
(9) fiscal year of salary earnings;
(10) total remittance amount including
employee, employer, and additional employer contributions; and
(11) reemployed annuitant salary under
section 354.44, subdivision 5; and
(11) (12) other information as may be required by
the executive director.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective January 1, 2010.
Sec. 31. [354.543]
PRIOR OR UNCREDITED MILITARY SERVICE CREDIT PURCHASE.
Subdivision 1.
Service credit purchase
authorized. (a) If paragraph
(b) does not apply, a teacher who has at least three years of allowable service
credit with the Teachers Retirement Association and who performed service in
the United States armed forces before becoming a teacher as defined in section
354.05, subdivision 2, or who failed to obtain service credit for a military
leave of absence under the provisions of section 354.53, is entitled to
purchase allowable and formula service credit for the initial period of
enlistment, induction, or call to active duty without any voluntary extension
by making payment under section 356.551.
(b) A service credit purchase is
prohibited if:
(1) the teacher separated from service
with the United States armed forces with a dishonorable or bad conduct
discharge or under other than honorable conditions; or
(2) the teacher has purchased or
otherwise received service credit from any Minnesota defined benefit public
employee pension plan, other than a volunteer fire plan, for the same period of
service.
Subd. 2.
Application and documentation. A teacher who desires to purchase service
credit under subdivision 1 must apply with the executive director to make
the purchase. The application must
include all necessary documentation of the teacher's qualifications to make the
purchase, signed written permission to allow the executive director to request
and receive necessary verification of applicable facts and eligibility
requirements, and any other relevant information that the executive director
may require.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5507
Subd. 3.
Service credit grant. Allowable and formula service credit for
the purchase period must be granted by the Teachers Retirement Association to
the purchasing teacher upon receipt of the purchase payment amount. Payment must be made before the teacher's
termination of teaching service.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 32. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.55,
subdivision 11, is amended to read:
Subd. 11. Deferred
annuity; augmentation. (a) Any
person covered under section 354.44, subdivision 6, who ceases to render
teaching service, may leave the person's accumulated deductions in the fund for
the purpose of receiving a deferred annuity at retirement. Eligibility for an annuity under this
subdivision is governed pursuant to section 354.44, subdivision 1, or 354.60.
(b) The amount of the deferred
retirement annuity is determined by section 354.44, subdivision 6, and augmented
as provided in this subdivision. The
required reserves related to that portion of for the annuity
which had accrued when the member ceased to render teaching service must be
augmented, as further specified in this subdivision, by interest compounded
annually from the first day of the month following the month during which the
member ceased to render teaching service to the effective date of retirement.
(c) There shall be No augmentation is not
creditable if this the deferral period is less than three
months or if this period commences prior to deferral commenced before
July 1, 1971. The rates of
interest used for this purpose must be five percent compounded annually
commencing July 1, 1971, until January 1, 1981, and three percent compounded
annually thereafter until January 1 of the year following the year in which the
former member attains age 55 and from that date to the effective date of
retirement, the rate is five percent compounded annually if the employee became
an employee before July 1, 2006, and at 2.5 percent compounded annually if the
employee becomes an employee after June 30, 2006.
(d) For persons who became covered
employees before July 1, 2006, with a deferral period commencing after June 30,
1971, the annuity must be augmented using five percent interest compounded
annually until January 1, 1981, and three percent interest compounded annually
thereafter until January 1 of the year following the year in which the deferred
annuitant attains age 55. From that date
to the effective date of retirement, the rate is five percent compounded
annually.
(e) For persons who become covered
employees after June 30, 2006, the interest rate used to augment the deferred
annuity is 2.5 percent interest compounded annually.
(f) If a person has more than one period of uninterrupted
service, a separate average salary determined under section 354.44, subdivision
6, must be used for each period and the required reserves related to each
period must be augmented by interest pursuant to as specified in this
subdivision. The sum of the augmented
required reserves so determined shall be the basis for purchasing is
the present value of the deferred annuity. For the purposes of this subdivision,
"period of uninterrupted service" means a period of covered teaching
service during which the member has not been separated from active service for
more than one fiscal year.
(g) If a person repays a refund, the service restored by
the repayment must be considered as continuous with the next period of service
for which the person has allowable service credit with this fund
in the Teachers Retirement Association.
(h) If a person does not render teaching service in any
one fiscal year or more consecutive fiscal years and then resumes teaching
service, the formula percentages used from the date of the resumption of
teaching service must be those applicable to new members.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5508
(i) The mortality table and interest assumption used to
compute the annuity must be the applicable mortality table established by the
board under section 354.07, subdivision 1, and the interest rate assumption
under section 356.215 in effect when the member retires. A period of uninterrupted service for the
purposes of this subdivision means a period of covered teaching service during
which the member has not been separated from active service for more than one
fiscal year.
(c) (j) In no case shall may the
annuity payable under this subdivision be less than the amount of annuity
payable pursuant to under section 354.44, subdivision 6.
(d) (k) The requirements and provisions for retirement
before normal retirement age contained in section 354.44, subdivision 6, clause
(3) or (5), shall also apply to an employee fulfilling the requirements
with a combination of service as provided in section 354.60.
(e) (l) The augmentation provided by this
subdivision applies to the benefit provided in section 354.46, subdivision 2.
(f) (m) The augmentation provided by this
subdivision shall does not apply to any period in which a person
is on an approved leave of absence from an employer unit covered by the
provisions of this chapter.
(g) (n) The retirement annuity or disability
benefit of, or the survivor benefit payable on behalf of, a former teacher who
terminated service before July 1, 1997, which is not first payable until after
June 30, 1997, must be increased on an actuarial equivalent basis to reflect
the change in the postretirement interest rate actuarial assumption under
section 356.215, subdivision 8, from five percent to six percent under a
calculation procedure and tables adopted by the board as recommended by an
approved actuary and approved by the actuary retained under section 356.214.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 33. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354A.096, is
amended to read:
354A.096 MEDICAL LEAVE.
Any teacher in the coordinated
program of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the new law
coordinated program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association who is
on an authorized medical leave of absence and subsequently returns to teaching
service is entitled to receive allowable service credit, not to exceed one
year, for the period of leave, upon making the prescribed payment to the
fund. This payment must include the
required employee and employer contributions at the rates specified in section
354A.12, subdivisions 1 and 2 2a, as applied to the member's
average full-time monthly salary rate on the date the leave of absence
commenced plus annual interest at the rate of 8.5 percent per year from the end
of the fiscal year during which the leave terminates to the end of the month
during which payment is made. The member
must pay the total amount required unless the employing unit, at its option,
pays the employer contributions. The
total amount required must be paid by the end of the fiscal year following the
fiscal year in which the leave of absence terminated or before the member
retires, whichever is earlier. Payment
must be accompanied by a copy of the resolution or action of the employing authority
granting the leave and the employing authority, upon granting the leave, must
certify the leave to the association in a manner specified by the executive
director. A member may not receive more
than one year of allowable service credit during any fiscal year by making
payment under this section. A member may
not receive disability benefits under section 354A.36 and receive allowable
service credit under this section for the same period of time.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5509
Sec. 34. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354A.12,
subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
Subd. 2a. Employer
regular and additional contribution rates contributions. (a) The employing units shall make the
following employer contributions to teachers retirement fund associations:
(1) for any coordinated member of a
teachers retirement fund association in a city of the first class, the
employing unit shall pay the employer Social Security taxes;
(2) for any coordinated member of one of the following
teachers retirement fund associations in a city of the first class, the
employing unit shall make a regular employer contribution to the respective
retirement fund association in an amount equal to the designated percentage of
the salary of the coordinated member as provided below:
Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association 4.50 percent
St.
Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association 4.50 percent
(3) (2) for
any basic member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the
employing unit shall make a regular employer contribution to the respective
retirement fund in an amount equal to 8.00 percent of the salary of the basic
member;
(4) (3) for
a basic member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the
employing unit shall make an additional employer contribution to the respective
fund in an amount equal to 3.64 percent of the salary of the basic member;
(5) (4) for
a coordinated member of a teachers retirement fund association in a city of the
first class, the employing unit shall make an additional employer contribution
to the respective fund in an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the
coordinated member's salary, as provided below:
Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund
Association 1.29
percent
St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association 3.84
percent
July 1, 1993 - June 30, 1994 0.50
percent
July 1, 1994 - June 30, 1995 1.50
percent
July 1, 1997, and thereafter 3.84
percent
(b) The regular and additional employer contributions must be remitted
directly to the respective teachers retirement fund association at least once
each month. Delinquent amounts are
payable with interest under the procedure in subdivision 1a.
(c) Payments of regular and additional employer contributions for school
district or technical college employees who are paid from normal operating
funds must be made from the appropriate fund of the district or technical
college.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 35. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 6. Adjustment
for erroneous receipts. (a)
Adjustments to correct employer contributions and employee deductions taken in
error from amounts which are not salary under section 354A.011, subdivision 24,
must be made as specified in this section.
(b) Upon discovery of the receipt of erroneous employee deductions and
employer contributions under paragraph (a), the executive director must require
the employer to discontinue the erroneous employee deductions and erroneous
employer contributions reported on behalf of an active member. Upon discontinuation, the executive
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5510
director must provide for a refund or credit to the employer in the amount
of the invalid employee deductions with interest on the employee deductions at
the rate specified in section 354A.37, subdivision 3, from the received date of
each invalid salary transaction to the first day of the month in which the credit
or refund is made. The employer must pay
the refunded employee deductions plus interest to the active member.
(c) If the individual is a former member who is not receiving a
retirement annuity or benefit and has not received a refund under section 354A.37,
subdivision 3, related to the applicable service, the executive director must
return the erroneous employee deductions to the former member through a refund
with interest at the rate specified in section 354A.37, subdivision 3, from the
received date of each invalid salary transaction to the first day of the month
in which the credit or refund is made.
(d) The executive director must return the invalid employer contributions
reported on behalf of a member or former member to the employer by providing a
credit against future contributions payable by the employer.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec. 36. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 7. Recovery
of benefit overpayments. (a)
If the executive director discovers, within the time period specified in
subdivision 8 following the payment of a refund or the accrual date of any
retirement annuity, survivor benefit, or disability benefit, that benefit overpayment
has occurred due to using invalid service or salary, or due to any erroneous
calculation procedure, the executive director must recalculate the annuity or
benefit payable and recover any overpayment.
The executive director shall recover the overpayment by requiring direct
repayment or by suspending or reducing the payment of a retirement annuity or
other benefit payable under this chapter to the applicable person or the
person's estate, whichever applies, until all outstanding amounts have been recovered.
(b) In the event the executive director determines that an overpaid
annuity or benefit that is the result of invalid salary included in the average
salary used to calculate the payment amount must be recovered, the executive
director must determine the amount of the employee deductions taken in error on
the invalid salary, with interest as determined under 354A.37, subdivision 3,
and must subtract that amount from the total annuity or benefit overpayment,
and the remaining balance of the overpaid annuity or benefit, if any, must be
recovered.
(c) If the invalid employee deductions plus interest exceed the amount of
the overpaid benefits, the balance must be refunded to the person to whom the
benefit or annuity is being paid.
(d) Any invalid employer contributions reported on the invalid salary
must be credited against future contributions payable by the employer.
(e) If a member or former member, who is receiving a retirement annuity or
disability benefit for which an overpayment is being recovered, dies before
recovery of the overpayment is completed and an optional annuity or refund is
payable, the remaining balance of the overpaid annuity or benefit must continue
to be recovered from the payment to the optional annuity beneficiary or refund
recipient.
(f) The board of trustees shall adopt policies directing the period of
time and manner for the collection of any overpaid retirement or optional
annuity, and survivor or disability benefit, or a refund that the executive
director determines must be recovered as provided under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5511
Sec. 37. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 8. Additional
procedures. (a) If paragraph (b)
does not apply, the period of adjustment under subdivisions 6 and 7 is limited
to the fiscal year in which the error is discovered by the executive director
and the immediate two preceding fiscal years.
(b) If there is evidence of fraud or other misconduct on the part of the
employee or the employer, the board of trustees may authorize adjustments to
the account of a member or former member to correct erroneous employee
deductions and employer contributions on invalid salary and the recovery of any
overpayments for a period longer than specified under paragraph (a).
(c) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, the executive
director may apply the Revenue Procedures defined in the Internal Revenue
Service Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System and not issue a refund of
erroneous employee deductions and employer contributions or not recover a small
overpayment of benefits if the cost to correct the error would exceed the
amount of the refund or overpayment.
(d) Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, interest of $10 or
less shall not be payable to a member or former member.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec. 38. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 9. Employer
responsibility for fees, penalties.
Any fees or penalties assessed by the Internal Revenue Service for
any failure by an employer to follow the statutory requirements for reporting
eligible members and salary must be paid by the employer.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec. 39. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.36, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6. Requirement for regular physical examinations. At least once each year during the first five
years following the granting of a disability benefit to a coordinated member by
the board and at least once in every three year period thereafter, the board shall
may require the disability benefit recipient to undergo an expert
examination as a condition for continued entitlement of the benefit recipient
to receive a disability benefit. If
the board requires an examination, the expert examination must be made at
the place of residence of the disability benefit recipient or at any other
place mutually agreeable to the disability benefit recipient and the
board. The expert examination must be
made by a physician or physicians, by a chiropractor or chiropractors, or by
one or more psychologists engaged by the board.
The physician or physicians, the chiropractor or chiropractors, or the
psychologist or psychologists with respect to a mental impairment, conducting
the expert examination shall make a written report to the board concerning the
disability benefit recipient and the recipient's disability, including a
statement of the expert opinion of the physician, chiropractor, or psychologist
as to whether or not the member remains permanently and totally disabled within
the meaning of section 354A.011, subdivision 14. If the board determines from consideration of
the written expert examination report of the physician, of the chiropractor, or
of the psychologist, with respect to a mental impairment, that the disability
benefit recipient is no longer permanently and totally disabled or if the board
determines that the benefit recipient is engaged or is able to engage in a
gainful occupation, unless the disability benefit recipient is partially
employed under subdivision 7, then further disability benefit payments from the
fund must be discontinued. The
discontinuation of disability benefits must occur immediately if the disability
recipient is
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5512
reinstated to the district payroll following sick leave and within 60
days of the determination by the board following the expert examination and
report of the physician or physicians, chiropractor or chiropractors, or psychologist
or psychologists engaged by the board that the disability benefit recipient is
no longer permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of section
354A.011, subdivision 14.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 40. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 356.401, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Automatic deposits. (a) The
chief administrative officer of a covered retirement plan may remit, through an
automatic deposit system, annuity, benefit, or refund payments only to a
financial institution associated with the National Automated Clearinghouse
Association or a comparable successor organization that is trustee for a person
who is eligible to receive the annuity, benefit, or refund.
(b) Upon the request of a retiree, disabilitant, survivor, or former
member, the chief administrative officer of a covered retirement plan may remit
the annuity, benefit, or refund check payment to the applicable
financial institution for deposit in the person's individual account or the
person's joint account. If an
overpayment of benefits is paid after the death of the annuitant or benefit
recipient, the chief administrative officer of the pension plan is authorized
to issue an administrative subpoena consistent with the requirements of section
13A.02, requiring the applicable financial institution to disclose the names of
all joint and co-owners of the account and a description of all deposits to,
and withdrawals from, the account which take place on or after the death of the
annuitant or benefit recipient. An
overpayment to a joint account after the death of the annuitant or benefit
recipient must be repaid to the fund of the applicable covered retirement plan
by the joint tenant if the overpayment is not repaid to that fund by the
financial institution associated with the National Automated Clearinghouse
Association or its successor. The
governing board of the covered retirement plan may prescribe the conditions
under which these payments may be made.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 41. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 356.465, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Inclusion as recipient. Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary of the laws, articles of incorporation, or bylaws
governing a covered retirement plan specified in subdivision 3, A retiring
member may designate a qualified supplemental needs trust under subdivision 2
as the remainder recipient on an optional retirement annuity form for a period
not to exceed the lifetime of the beneficiary of the supplemental needs trust.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 42. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 356.465, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4. Expanded
eligibility. (a)
Notwithstanding subdivision 1, for a retirement plan specified in paragraph
(b), a designation under subdivision 1 may be made by an active, disabled,
deferred, or retiring member.
(b) The applicable plan is the Teachers Retirement Association established
under chapter 354.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 43. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.611, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd. 3. Maximum benefit limitations.
A member's annual benefit, if necessary, must be reduced to the extent
required by section 415(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, as
adjusted by the United States secretary of the treasury under section 415(d) of
the Internal Revenue Code for any applicable increases in the cost of living
after the
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5513
member's termination of employment. For purposes of
section 415 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, the limitation year of
a pension plan covered by this section must be the fiscal year or calendar year
of that plan, whichever is applicable. The
accrued benefit limitation described in section 415(e) of the Internal Revenue
Code must cease to be effective for limitation years beginning after December
31, 1999.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 44.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.611, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Compensation. (a) For purposes of this section,
compensation means a member's compensation actually paid or made available for
any limitation year determined as provided by including items
described in federal treasury regulation section 1.415-2(d)(10)
1.415(c)-2(b) and excluding items described in federal treasury regulation
section 1.415(c)-2(c).
(b) Compensation for any period includes:
(1) any elective deferral as defined in section
402(g)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code;
(2) any elective amounts that are not includable in a
member's gross income by reason of sections 125 or 457 of the federal
Internal Revenue Code; and
(3) any elective amounts that are not includable in a
member's gross income by reason of section 132(f)(4) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 45.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.635, subdivision 6, is amended to
read:
Subd. 6. Eligible retirement plan. (a) An "eligible retirement plan"
is:
(1) an individual retirement account under section
408(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code;
(2) an individual retirement annuity plan under
section 408(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code;
(3) an annuity plan under section 403(a) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code;
(4) a qualified trust plan under section 401(a) of the
federal Internal Revenue Code that accepts the distributee's eligible
rollover distribution;
(5) an annuity contract under section 403(b) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code; or
(6) an eligible deferred compensation plan under
section 457(b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, which is maintained
by a state or local government and which agrees to separately account for the
amounts transferred into the plan; or
(7) in the case of an eligible rollover distribution
to a nonspousal beneficiary, an individual account or annuity treated as an
inherited individual retirement account under section 402(c)(11) of the federal
Internal Revenue Code.
(b) For distributions of after-tax contributions which
are not includable in gross income, the after-tax portion may be transferred
only to an individual retirement account or annuity described in section 408(a)
or (b) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, or to a qualified defined
contribution plan described in either section 401(a) or
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5514
403(a) of the federal Internal Revenue Code,
that agrees to separately account for the amounts transferred, including
separately accounting for the portion of the distribution which is includable
in gross income and the portion of the distribution which is not includable.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 46.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.635, subdivision 7, is amended to
read:
Subd. 7. Distributee. A "distributee" is:
(1) an employee or a former employee;
(2) the surviving spouse of an employee or former
employee; or
(3) the former spouse of the employee or former
employee who is the alternate payee under a qualified domestic relations order
as defined in section 414(p) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, or
who is a recipient of a court-ordered equitable distribution of marital
property, as provided in section 518.58.; or
(4) a nonspousal beneficiary of an employee or former
employee who qualifies for a distribution under the plan and is a designated
beneficiary as defined in section 401(a)(9)(E) of the federal Internal Revenue
Code.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Sec. 47.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 356.96, subdivision 5, is amended to
read:
Subd. 5. Petition for review. (a) A person who claims a right under
subdivision 2 may petition for a review of that decision by the governing board
of the covered pension plan.
(b) A petition under this section must be sent to the
chief administrative officer by mail and must be postmarked no later than 60
days after the person received the notice required by subdivision 3. The petition must include the person's
statement of the reason or reasons that the person believes the decision of the
chief administrative officer should be reversed or modified. The petition may include all documentation
and written materials that the petitioner deems to be relevant. In developing a record for review by the
board when a decision is appealed, the executive director may direct that the
applicant participate in a fact-finding session conducted by an administrative
law judge assigned by the Office of Administrative Hearings and, as applicable,
participate in a vocational assessment conducted by a qualified rehabilitation
counselor on contract with the applicable retirement system.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective the day
following final enactment.
Sec. 48. Laws
2006, chapter 271, article 5, section 5, as amended by Laws 2008, chapter 349,
article 5, section 36, is amended to read:
Sec. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) Sections 1, 3, and 4 are effective the day
following final enactment and section 3 has effect retroactively from July 25,
2005.
(b) Section 2 with respect to the Cannon Falls
Hospital District is effective upon the latter of:
(1) the day after the governing body of the Cannon
Falls Hospital District and its chief clerical officer meet the requirements
under Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3; and
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5515
(2) the first day of the month following certification to the Cannon Falls
Hospital District by the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association that the actuarial accrued liability of the special benefit
coverage proposed for extension to the privatized City of Cannon Falls Hospital
employees under section 1 does not exceed the actuarial gain otherwise to be
accrued by the Public Employees Retirement Association, as calculated by the
consulting actuary retained under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.214. The cost of the actuarial calculations must
be borne by the current employer or by the entity which is the employer
following the privatization.
(c) Section 2, with respect to Clearwater County Memorial Hospital, is
effective upon the latter of:
(1) the day after the governing body of Clearwater County and its chief
clerical officer meet the requirements under Minnesota Statutes, section
645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, except that the certificate of approval must be
filed before January 1, 2009 2010; and
(2) the first day of the month following certification to Clearwater
County by the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association
that the actuarial accrued liability of the special benefit coverage proposed
for extension to the privatized Clearwater Health Services employees under
section 2 does not exceed the actuarial gain otherwise to be accrued by the
Public Employees Retirement Association, as calculated by the consulting
actuary retained under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.214. The cost of the actuarial calculations must
be borne by the current employer or by the entity which is the employer
following the privatization.
(d) Section 2 with respect to the Dassel Lakeside Community Home is
effective upon the latter of:
(1) the day after the governing body of the city of Dassel and its chief
clerical officer timely complete compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section
645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3; and
(2) the first day of the month next following certification to the Dassel
City Council by the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association that the actuarial accrued liability of the special benefit
coverage proposed for extension to the privatized Dassel Lakeside Community
Home employees under section 2 does not exceed the actuarial gain otherwise to
be accrued by the Public Employees Retirement Association, as calculated by the
consulting actuary retained under Minnesota Statutes, section 356.214. The cost of the actuarial calculations must
be borne by the city of Dassel or by the entity which is the employer following
the privatization.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 49. CITY OF DULUTH AND DULUTH AIRPORT AUTHORITY; CORRECTING ERRONEOUS
EMPLOYEE DEDUCTIONS, EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS AND ADJUSTING OVERPAID BENEFITS.
Subdivision 1. Application. Notwithstanding any provisions of
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 353.27, subdivisions 7 and 7b, or Minnesota Statutes
2008, chapters 353 and 356, to the contrary, this section establishes the
procedures by which the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement
Association shall adjust erroneous employee deductions and employer
contributions paid on behalf of active employees and former members by the city
of Duluth and by the Duluth Airport Authority on amounts determined by the
executive director to be invalid salary under Minnesota Statutes, section
353.01, subdivision 10, reported between January 1, 1997, and October 23, 2008,
and for adjusting benefits that were paid to former members and their
beneficiaries based upon invalid salary amounts.
Subd. 2. Refunds
of employee deductions. (a)
The executive director shall refund to active employees or former members who
are not receiving retirement annuities or benefits all erroneous employee
deductions identified by the city of Duluth or by the Duluth Airport Authority
as deductions taken from amounts determined to be invalid salary. The refunds must include interest at the rate
specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 353.34, subdivision 2, from the date
each invalid employee deduction was received through the date each refund is
paid.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5516
(b) The refund payment for active employees must be sent to the applicable
governmental subdivision which must pay the refunded employee deductions plus
interest to the active members who are employees of the city of Duluth or who
are employees of the Duluth Airport Authority, as applicable.
(c) Refunds to former members must be mailed by the executive director of
the Public Employees Retirement Association to the former member's last known
address.
Subd. 3. Benefit
adjustments. (a) For a former
member who is receiving a retirement annuity or disability benefit, or for a
person receiving an optional annuity or survivor benefit, the executive
director must:
(1) adjust the annuity or benefit payment to the correct monthly benefit
amount payable by reducing the average salary under Minnesota Statutes, section
353.01, subdivision 17a, by the invalid salary amounts;
(2) determine the amount of the overpaid benefits paid from the effective
date of the annuity or benefit payment to the first of the month in which the
monthly benefit amount is corrected;
(3) calculate the amount of employee deductions taken in error on invalid salary,
including interest at the rate specified in Minnesota Statutes, section 353.34,
subdivision 2, from the date each invalid employee deduction was received
through the date the annuity or benefit is adjusted as provided under clause
(1); and
(4) determine the net amount of overpaid benefits by reducing the amount
of the overpaid annuity or benefit as determined in clause (2) by the amount of
the erroneous employee deductions with interest determined in clause (3).
(b) If a former member's erroneous employee deductions plus interest
determined under this section exceeds the amount of the person's overpaid
benefits, the balance must be refunded to the person to whom the annuity or
benefit is being paid.
(c) The executive director shall recover the net amount of all overpaid
annuities or benefits as provided under subdivision 4.
Subd. 4. Employer
credits and obligations. (a)
The executive director shall provide a credit without interest to the city of
Duluth and to the Duluth Airport Authority for the amount of that governmental
subdivision's erroneous employer contributions.
The credit must first be used to offset the net amount of the overpaid
retirement annuities and the disability and survivor benefits that remains
after applying the amount of erroneous employee deductions with interest as
provided under subdivision 3, paragraph (a), clause (4). The remaining erroneous employer
contributions, if any, must be credited against future employer contributions
required to be paid by the applicable governmental subdivision. If the overpaid benefits exceed the employer
contribution credit, the balance of the overpaid benefits is the obligation of
the city of Duluth or the Duluth Airport Authority, whichever is applicable.
(b) The Public Employees Retirement Association board of trustees shall
determine the period of time and manner for the collection of overpaid
retirement annuities and benefits, if any, from the city of Duluth and the
Duluth Airport Authority.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) This section is effective for the city of Duluth the day after
the Duluth city council and the chief clerical officer of the city of Duluth
timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021,
subdivisions 2 and 3, for members who are, and former members who were,
employees of the city of Duluth.
(b) This section is effective for the Duluth Airport Authority the day
after the Duluth Airport Authority and the chief clerical officer of the Duluth
Airport Authority timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes,
section 645.021, subdivisions 2 and 3, for members who are, and former members
who were, employees of the Duluth Airport Authority.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5517
Sec. 50. APPLICATION OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION ERRONEOUS
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS PROVISION; ELECTION.
(a) If adjustments under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivision
7, due to invalid salary amounts are in process as of the effective date of
this section for employees or former employees of a governmental subdivision,
the governing body of the governmental subdivision may elect to have the
statute of limitations under Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivision 7,
paragraphs (c) and (g), apply to adjustments or corrections in process as of
the effective date of Minnesota Statutes, section 353.27, subdivision 7, by a
resolution of the governing body transmitted to the Public Employees Retirement
Association executive director within 90 days after the effective date of this
section.
(b) If the governing body of the governmental subdivision declines the
treatment permitted under paragraph (a) or fails to submit a resolution in a
timely manner, the statute of limitations does not apply to adjustments or
corrections in process as of the effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day after final enactment.
Sec. 51. REPEALER.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 354.06, subdivision 6; and 354.55,
subdivision 14, are repealed.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
ARTICLE 5
LOCAL GOVERNMENT POSTRETIREMENT OPTION PROGRAM
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 353.01, subdivision 11b, is amended to read:
Subd. 11b. Termination of membership.
(a) "Termination of membership" means the conclusion of
membership in the association for a person who has not terminated public
service under subdivision 11a and occurs:
(1) when a person files a written election with the association to
discontinue employee deductions under section 353.27, subdivision 7, paragraph
(a), clause (1);
(2) when a city manager files a written election with the association to
discontinue employee deductions under section 353.028, subdivision 2; or
(3) when a member transfers to a temporary position and becomes excluded
from membership under subdivision 2b, clause (4).; or
(4) when a member is approved to participate in the postretirement option
authorized under section 353.371.
(b) The termination of membership under clause clauses (3) and
(4) must be reported to the association by the governmental subdivision.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment.
Sec. 2. [353.371] POSTRETIREMENT OPTION.
Subdivision 1. Eligibility. (a) This section applies to a basic or
coordinated member of the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association who:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5518
(1) for at least the five years immediately preceding separation under
clause (2), was regularly scheduled to work 1,044 or more hours per year in a
position covered by the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association;
(2) terminates membership as defined under section 353.01, subdivision
11b;
(3) at the time of termination under clause (2), was at least age 62 and
met the age and service requirements necessary to receive a retirement annuity
from the plan and satisfied requirements for the commencement of the retirement
annuity;
(4) agrees to accept a postretirement option position with the same or a
different governmental subdivision, working a reduced schedule that is both:
(i) a reduction of at least 25 percent from the employee's number of
previously regularly scheduled work hours; and
(ii) 1,044 hours or less in public; and
(5) is not eligible for participation in the state employee
postretirement option program under section 43A.346.
(b) For purposes of this section, the length of separation requirement and
termination of service requirement prohibiting return to work agreements under
section 353.01, subdivisions 11a and 28, are not applicable.
Subd. 2. Annuity
reduction not applicable. Notwithstanding
any law to the contrary, the provisions of section 353.37 governing annuities
of reemployed annuitants do not apply for the duration of a terminated member's
employment in a postretirement option position.
Subd. 3. Governing
body discretion. The
governing body of the governmental subdivision has sole discretion to determine
if and the extent to which a postretirement option position under this section
is available to a terminated member. Any
offer of such a position must be made in writing to the person by the governing
body's designee in a manner prescribed by the executive director.
Subd. 4. Duration. Postretirement option employment shall be
for an initial period not to exceed one year.
At the end of the initial period, the governing body has sole discretion
to determine if the offer of a postretirement option position will be renewed,
renewed with modifications, or terminated.
Postretirement option employment may be renewed annually, but may not be
renewed after the individual attains retirement age as defined in United States
Code, title 42, section 416(l).
Subd. 5. Copy
to fund. The appointing
authority shall provide the Public Employees Retirement Association with
documentation, as prescribed by the executive director, of the terms of any agreement
entered into with a member who accepts continuing employment with the
appointing authority under the terms of this section, and any subsequent
renewal agreement.
Subd. 6. No
service credit. Notwithstanding
any law to the contrary, a person may not earn service credit in the general
employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association for
employment covered under this section, and employer contributions and payroll
deductions for the retirement fund must not be made based on earnings of a
person working under an agreement covered by this section. No change may be made to a monthly annuity or
retirement allowance based on employment under this section.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5519
Subd. 7. Subsequent
employment. If a person has
been in a postretirement option position and accepts any other position in
public service beyond the period of time for which the person participated in
the postretirement option provided under this section, the person may not earn
service credit in the general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees
Retirement Association, no employer contributions or payroll deductions for the
retirement fund may be made, and the provisions of section 353.37 apply.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective the day following final enactment and
expires on June 30, 2011. Individuals
must not be appointed to a postretirement option position after that date.
ARTICLE 6
TEACHER RETIREMENT BENEFIT AND FUNDING CHANGES
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 127A.50, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Aid adjustment. Beginning in
fiscal year 1998 and each year thereafter, the commissioner of education shall
adjust state aid payments to school operating funds for Independent School
District No. 625 and Independent School District No. 709 by the net amount of
clauses (1) and, (2), and (5), for Special School District
No. 1 by the net amount of clauses (1), (2), and (4), and (5),
and for all other districts, including charter schools, but excluding any
education organizations that are prohibited from receiving direct state aids
under section 123A.26 or 125A.75, subdivision 7, by the net amount of clauses
(1), (2), (3), and (4), and (5):
(1) a decrease equal to each district's share of the fiscal year 1997
adjustment effected under Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 124.2139;
(2) an increase equal to one percent of the salaries paid to members of
the general plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association in fiscal year
1997, multiplied by 0.35 for fiscal year 1998 and 0.70 each year thereafter;
(3) a decrease equal to 2.34 percent of the salaries paid to members of
the Teachers Retirement Association in fiscal year 1997; and
(4) an increase equal to 0.5 percent of the salaries paid to members of
the Teachers Retirement Association in fiscal year 2007.; and
(5) an increase equal to the specified percentage of the salaries paid to
coordinated program members of the Teachers Retirement Association, to
coordinated program members of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund
Association, and to members of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association
in fiscal year 2012 as follows:
fiscal
year 2012 0.5
percent
fiscal
year 2013 0.5
percent
fiscal
year 2014 0.5
percent
fiscal
year 2015 0.5
percent
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.05, subdivision 38, is amended to read:
Subd.
38. Normal
retirement age. "Normal
retirement age" means age 65 for a person who first became a member of
the association or a member of a pension fund listed in section 356.30,
subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989. For
a person who first becomes a member of the association after June 30, 1989,
normal retirement age means the higher of age 65 or "retirement age,"
as defined in United States Code, title 42, section 416(l), as amended, but not
to exceed age 66. For a person
with 30 years of service, normal retirement age means age 62.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5520
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.42, subdivision 2, is amended to
read:
Subd. 2. Employee. (a) The employee contribution to the fund is
an amount equal to the following percentage of the salary of a member:
(1) after July 1, 2006, for a teacher employed by
Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, 5.5 percent if the teacher is a
coordinated member, and 9.0 percent if the teacher is a basic member;
(2) for every other teacher, after July 1, 2006, 5.5
percent if the teacher is a coordinated member and 9.0 percent if the teacher
is a basic member.
Period Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
(1) before July 1, 2011 5.5
percent 9
percent
(2) after June 30, 2011, and before
July 1, 2012 6
percent 9
percent
(3) after June 30, 2012, and before
July 1, 2013 6.5
percent 9
percent
(4) unless paragraph (c) applies, after
June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7
percent 9
percent
(5) unless paragraph (c) applies, after
June 30, 2014 7.5
percent 9
percent
(b) When an employee contribution rate changes for a
fiscal year, the new contribution rate is effective for the entire salary paid
for each employer unit with the first payroll cycle reported.
(c) After July 1, 2012, a scheduled contribution
increase under paragraph (a), clause (4) or (5), is suspended if the most
recent actuarial valuation prepared under section 356.215 indicates that there
is no contribution deficiency when the total employee contributions, employer
contributions under subdivision 3, and direct state aid under section 354A.12
and chapter 422A are compared to the actuarial required contributions of the
retirement plan.
(b) (d) This contribution must be made by deduction from
salary. Where any portion of a member's
salary is paid from other than public funds, the member's employee contribution
must be based on the entire salary received.
EFFECTIVE
DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 354.42, subdivision 3, is amended to
read:
Subd. 3. Employer. (a) The regular employer contribution to the
fund by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, after July 1, 2006, and
before July 1, 2007, is an amount equal to 5.0 percent of the salary of each of
its teachers who is a coordinated member and 9.0 percent of the salary of each
of its teachers who is a basic member.
After July 1, 2007, and before July 1, 2011, the regular employer
contribution to the fund by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, is an
amount equal to 5.5 percent of salary of each coordinated member and 9.5
percent of salary of each basic member.
The additional employer contribution to the fund by Special School District
No. 1, Minneapolis, after July 1, 2006, is an amount equal to 3.64 percent of
the salary of each teacher who is a coordinated member or is a basic
member. The regular employer
contribution to the fund by Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, is an
amount equal to the following percentage of the salary of each teacher:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5521
Period Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
(1)
before July 1, 2011 5.5
percent 9.5
percent
(2)
after June 30, 2011, and before
July
1, 2012 6
percent 9.5
percent
(3)
after June 30, 2012, and before
July
1, 2013 6.5
percent 9.5
percent
(4)
unless paragraph (d) applies, after
June
30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7
percent 9.5
percent
(5)
unless paragraph (d) applies, after
June
30, 2014 7.5
percent 9.5
percent
(b)
When an employer contribution rate changes for a fiscal year, the new
contribution rate is effective for the entire salary paid for each employer
unit with the first payroll cycle reported.
(b) (c) The employer contribution to the fund for every other employer
is an amount equal to 5.0 percent of the salary of each coordinated member and
9.0 percent of the salary of each basic member before July 1, 2007, and 5.5
percent of the salary of each coordinated member and 9.5 percent of the salary
of each basic member after June 30, 2007., and before July
1, 2011. The regular employer
contribution to the fund by every other employer is an amount equal to the
following percentage of the salary of each teacher:
Period Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
(1) after June 30, 2011, and before
July
1, 2012 6
percent 9.5
percent
(2)
after June 30, 2012, and before
July
1, 2013 6.5
percent 9.5
percent
(3)
unless paragraph (d) applies, after
June
30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7
percent 9.5
percent
(4)
unless paragraph (d) applies, after
June
30, 2014 7.5
percent 9.5
percent
(d)
After July 1, 2012, a scheduled contribution increase under paragraph (a),
clause (4) or (5), and paragraph (c), clause (3) or (4), is suspended if the
most recent actuarial valuation prepared under section 356.215 indicates that
there is no contribution deficiency when the total employee contributions,
employer contributions under subdivision 3, and direct state aid under section
354A.12 and chapter 422A are compared to the actuarial required contributions
of the retirement plan.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
5. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.42, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
4b. Determination. (a) For purposes of this section, a
contribution sufficiency exists if the total of the employee contributions, the
employer contributions, and any additional employer contributions, if
applicable, exceeds the total of the normal cost, the administrative expenses,
and the amortization contribution of the retirement
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5522
plan
as reported in the most recent actuarial valuation of the retirement plan
prepared by the actuary retained under section 356.214 and prepared under
section 356.215 and the standards for actuarial work of the Legislative
Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
(b)
For purposes of this section, a contribution deficiency exists if the total
employee contributions, the employer contributions, and any additional employer
contributions are less than the total of the normal cost, the administrative
expenses, and the amortization contribution of the retirement plan as reported
in the most recent actuarial valuation of the retirement plan prepared by the
actuary retained under section 356.214 and prepared under section 356.215 and
the standards for actuarial work of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and
Retirement.
Sec.
6. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.42, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
4c. Contribution
rate revision. Notwithstanding
the contribution rate provisions stated in plan law, the employee and employer
contribution rates must be adjusted:
(1)
if after July 1, 2014, the regular actuarial valuations of the plan under
section 356.215 indicate that there is a contribution sufficiency under
subdivision 2 equal to or greater than 0.5 percent of covered payroll for two consecutive
years, the employee and employer contribution rates for the plan must be
decreased as determined under subdivision 4 to a level such that the
sufficiency equals no more than 0.25 percent of covered payroll based on the
most recent actuarial valuation; or
(2)
if after July 1, 2014, the regular actuarial valuations of the plan under
section 356.215 indicate that there is a deficiency equal to or greater than
0.5 percent of covered payroll for two consecutive years, the employee and
employer contribution rates for the plan must be increased as determined under
subdivision 4 to a level such that no deficiency exists based on the most
recent actuarial valuation.
Sec.
7. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.42, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
4d. Reporting,
commission review. (a) The
contribution rate increase or decrease must be determined by the executive
director of the Teachers Retirement Association, must be reported to the chair
and the executive director of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and
Retirement on or before the next February 1, and, if the Legislative Commission
on Pensions and Retirement does not recommend against the rate change or does
not recommend a modification in the rate change, is effective on the next July
1 following the determination by the executive director that a contribution
deficiency or sufficiency has existed for two consecutive fiscal years based on
the most recent actuarial valuations under section 356.215. If the actuarially required contribution
exceeds or is less than the total support provided by the combined employee and
employer contribution rates for the applicable plan by more than 0.5 percent of
covered payroll, the plan employee and employer contribution rates must be
adjusted incrementally over one or more years to a level such that there
remains a contribution sufficiency of no more than 0.25 percent of covered
payroll.
(b)
No incremental adjustment may exceed 0.25 percent of payroll for either the employee
or employer contribution rates per year in which any adjustment is
implemented. A contribution rate
adjustment under this section must not be made until at least two years have
passed since fully implementing a previous adjustment under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
8. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354.44, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd.
6. Computation
of formula program retirement annuity.
(a) The formula retirement annuity must be computed in accordance with
the applicable provisions of the formulas stated in paragraph (b) or (d) on the
basis of each member's average salary under section 354.05, subdivision 13a,
for the period of the member's formula service credit.
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5523
(b) This paragraph, in conjunction with paragraph (c),
applies to a person who first became a member of the association or a member of
a pension fund listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989,
unless paragraph (d), in conjunction with paragraph (e), produces a higher
annuity amount, in which case paragraph (d) applies. The average salary as defined in section
354.05, subdivision 13a, multiplied by the following percentages per year of
formula service credit shall determine determines the amount of
the annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled for service
rendered before July 1, 2006:
Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
Each year of service during first ten the percent specified in the percent
specified
section
356.315, subdivision 1, in
section 356.315,
per
year
subdivision 3, per year
Each year of service thereafter the percent specified in the percent
specified
section
356.315, subdivision 2, in
section 356.315,
per
year subdivision
4, per year
For service rendered on or after July 1, 2006, the
average salary as defined in section 354.05, subdivision 13a, multiplied by the
following percentages per year of service credit, determines the amount the
annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled:
Coordinated
Member Basic
Member
Each year of service during first ten the percent specified in the percent
specified
section
356.315, subdivision 1a, in
section 356.315,
per
year subdivision
3, per year
Each year of service after ten years the percent specified in the percent
specified
of service section
356.315, subdivision 2b, in
section 356.315,
per
year subdivision
4, per year
(c)(i) This paragraph applies only to a person who
first became a member of the association or a member of a pension fund listed
in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989, and whose annuity is
higher when calculated under paragraph (b), in conjunction with this paragraph
than when calculated under paragraph (d), in conjunction with paragraph (e).
(ii) Where any member retires prior to normal
retirement age under a formula annuity, the member shall must be
paid a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal annuity provided in
paragraph (b) reduced by one-quarter of one percent for each month that the
member is under normal retirement age at the time of retirement except that for
any member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit, the reduction shall
must be applied only for each month that the member is under age 62.
(iii) Any member whose attained age plus credited
allowable service totals 90 years is entitled, upon application, to a
retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal annuity provided in
paragraph (b), without any reduction by reason of early retirement.
(d) This paragraph applies to a member who has become
at least 55 years old and first became a member of the association after June
30, 1989, and to any other member who has become at least 55 years old and
whose annuity amount when calculated under this paragraph and in conjunction
with paragraph (e), is higher than it is when calculated under paragraph (b),
in conjunction with paragraph (c). For a
basic member, the average salary, as defined in section 354.05, subdivision
13a, multiplied by the percent specified by section 356.315, subdivision 4, for
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5524
each year of service for a basic member shall
determine determines the amount of the retirement annuity to which
the basic member is entitled. The
annuity of a basic member who was a member of the former Minneapolis Teachers
Retirement Fund Association as of June 30, 2006, must be determined according
to the annuity formula under the articles of incorporation of the former
Minneapolis Teachers Retirement Fund Association in effect as of that date. For a coordinated member, the average salary,
as defined in section 354.05, subdivision 13a, multiplied by the percent
specified in section 356.315, subdivision 2, for each year of service rendered
before July 1, 2006, and by the percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision 2b, for each year of service rendered on or after
July 1, 2006, and before July 1, 2011, and by the percent
specified in section 356.315, subdivision 2c, for each year of service rendered
after June 30, 2011, determines the amount of the retirement annuity to
which the coordinated member is entitled.
For a member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit,
the person's normal retirement age is age 62 and the age 55 minimum early
reduced benefit retirement age does not apply to the person.
(e) This paragraph applies to a person who has become at
least 55 years old and first becomes a member of the association after June 30,
1989, and to any other member who has become at least 55 years old and whose
annuity is higher when calculated under paragraph (d) in conjunction with this
paragraph than when calculated under paragraph (b), in conjunction with
paragraph (c). An employee who retires
under the formula annuity before the normal retirement age shall as
defined by section 354.05, subdivision 38, must be paid the normal annuity
provided in paragraph (d) reduced so that the reduced annuity is the actuarial
equivalent of the annuity that would be payable to the employee if the employee
deferred receipt of the annuity and the annuity amount were augmented at an
annual rate of three percent compounded annually from the day the annuity
begins to accrue until the normal retirement age if the employee became an
employee before July 1, 2006, and at 2.5 percent compounded annually if the
employee becomes an employee after June 30, 2006. For a member who has 30 or more years of
allowable service credit, the person's normal retirement age is age 62 and the
age 55 minimum early reduced benefit retirement age does not apply to the
person.
(f) No retirement annuity is payable to a former employee
with a salary that exceeds 95 percent of the governor's salary unless and until
the salary figures used in computing the highest five successive years average
salary under paragraph (a) have been audited by the Teachers Retirement
Association and determined by the executive director to comply with the
requirements and limitations of section 354.05, subdivisions 35 and 35a.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 9. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 354A.011, subdivision 15a, is amended to read:
Subd. 15a. Normal retirement age. "Normal retirement age" means age
65 for a person who first became a member of the coordinated program of the
St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the new law coordinated
program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association or a member of a
pension fund listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989. For a person who first became a member of the
coordinated program of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the
new law coordinated program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association
after June 30, 1989, normal retirement age means the higher of age 65 or
retirement age, as defined in United States Code, title 42, section 416(l), as
amended, but not to exceed age 66. For
a person with 30 years of service, normal retirement age means age 62. For a person who is a member of the basic
program of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the old law
coordinated program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association, normal
retirement age means the age at which a teacher becomes eligible for a normal
retirement annuity computed upon meeting the age and service requirements
specified in the applicable provisions of the articles of incorporation or
bylaws of the respective teachers retirement fund association.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5525
Sec. 10. Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 354A.12, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Employee contributions. (a) The contribution required to be paid
by each member of a teachers retirement fund association shall must
not be less than the percentage of total salary specified below for the
applicable association and program:
Association and Program Percentage
of Total Salary
Duluth
Teachers Retirement Fund Association
old law and new law
coordinated programs 5.5
percent
(1) before July 1, 2011 5.5
percent
(2) after June 30,
2011, and before July 1, 2012 6
percent
(3) after June 30,
2012, and before July 1, 2013 6.5
percent
(4) unless paragraph
(b) applies, after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7 percent
(5) unless paragraph
(b) applies, after June 30, 2014 7.5
percent
St.
Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association
basic program 8
percent
coordinated program 5.5
percent
(6) before July 1, 2011 5.5
percent
(7) after June 30,
2011, and before July 1, 2012 6
percent
(8) after June 30,
2012, and before July 1, 2013 6.5
percent
(9) unless paragraph
(b) applies, after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 7 percent
(10) unless paragraph
(b) applies, after June 30, 2014 7.5
percent
(b)
When an employee contribution rate changes for a fiscal year, the new
contribution rate is effective for the entire salary paid for each employer
unit with the first payroll cycle reported.
(c)
After July 1, 2012, a scheduled contribution increase under paragraph (a),
clause (4), (5), (9), or (10), is suspended if the most recent actuarial
valuation prepared under section 356.215 indicates that there is no
contribution deficiency when the total employee contributions, employer
contributions under subdivision 3, and direct state aid are compared to the
actuarial required contributions of the retirement plan.
(d)
Contributions shall
must be made by deduction from salary and must be remitted directly to the
respective teachers retirement fund association at least once each month.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5526
Sec.
11. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354A.12, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
Subd.
2a. Employer
regular and additional contribution rates.
(a) The employing units shall make the following employer contributions
to teachers retirement fund associations:
(1)
for any coordinated member of a teachers retirement fund association in a city
of the first class, the employing unit shall pay the employer Social Security
taxes;
(2)
for any coordinated member of one of the following teachers retirement fund
associations in a city of the first class, the employing unit shall make a
regular employer contribution to the respective retirement fund association in
an amount equal to the designated percentage of the salary of the coordinated
member as provided below:
Duluth
Teachers Retirement Fund Association 4.50
percent
(A) before July 1, 2011 4.5
percent
(B) after June 30, 2011,
and before July 1, 2012 5
percent
(C) after June 30, 2012,
and before July 1, 2013 5.5
percent
(D) unless clause (3)
applies, after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 6 percent
(E) unless clause (3)
applies, after June 30, 2014 6.5
percent
St. Paul
Teachers Retirement Fund Association 4.50
percent
(F) before July 1, 2011 4.5
percent
(G) after June 30, 2011,
and before July 1, 2012 5
percent
(H) after June 30, 2012,
and before July 1, 2013 5.5
percent
(I) unless clause (3)
applies, after June 30, 2013, and before July 1, 2014 6 percent
(J) unless clause (3) applies,
after June 30, 2014 6.5
percent
(3) After July 1, 2012, a scheduled contribution increase under
paragraph (a), clause (2), item (D), (E), (I), or (J), is suspended if the most
recent actuarial valuation prepared under section 356.215 indicates that there
is no contribution deficiency when the total employee contributions, employer
contributions under subdivision 3, and direct state aid are compared to the
actuarial required contributions of the retirement plan;
(4) for any
basic member of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the
employing unit shall make a regular employer contribution to the respective
retirement fund in an amount equal to 8.00 percent of the salary of the basic
member;
(4) (5) for a basic member of the St. Paul
Teachers Retirement Fund Association, the employing unit shall make an
additional employer contribution to the respective fund in an amount equal to
3.64 percent of the salary of the basic member;
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5527
(5) (6) for a coordinated member of a
teachers retirement fund association in a city of the first class, the
employing unit shall make an additional employer contribution to the respective
fund in an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the coordinated
member's salary, as provided below:
Duluth Teachers
Retirement Fund Association 1.29
percent
St. Paul Teachers
Retirement Fund Association
July 1, 1993 -
June 30, 1994 0.50
percent
July 1, 1994 -
June 30, 1995 1.50
percent
July 1, 1997, and
thereafter 3.84
percent
(b) When an employer contribution rate changes for a fiscal year, the
new contribution rate is effective for the entire salary paid for each employer
unit with the first payroll cycle reported.
(c) The
regular and additional employer contributions must be remitted directly to the
respective teachers retirement fund association at least once each month. Delinquent amounts are payable with interest
under the procedure in subdivision 1a.
(c) (d) Payments of regular and additional
employer contributions for school district or technical college employees who
are paid from normal operating funds must be made from the appropriate fund of
the district or technical college.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4a. Determination. (a) For purposes of this section, a
contribution sufficiency exists if, for purposes of the applicable plan, the
total of the employee contributions, the employer contributions, and any
additional employer contributions, if applicable, exceeds the total of the
normal cost, the administrative expenses, and the amortization contribution of
the retirement plan as reported in the most recent actuarial valuation of the
retirement plan prepared by the actuary retained under section 356.214 and
prepared under section 356.215 and the standards for actuarial work of the
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
(b) For purposes of this section, a contribution deficiency exists if,
for the applicable plan, the total employee contributions, employer
contributions, and any additional employer contributions are less than the
total of the normal cost, the administrative expenses, and the amortization
contribution of the retirement plan as reported in the most recent actuarial
valuation of the retirement plan prepared by the actuary retained under section
356.214 and prepared under section 356.215 and the standards for actuarial work
of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4b. Contribution
rate revision. Notwithstanding
the contribution rate provisions stated in plan law, the employee and employer
contribution rates must be adjusted:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5528
(1) if after July 1, 2014, the regular actuarial valuations of the
applicable plan under section 356.215 indicate that there is a contribution sufficiency
under subdivision 2 equal to or greater than 0.5 percent of covered payroll for
two consecutive years, the employee and employer contribution rates for the
applicable plan must be decreased as determined under subdivision 4 to a level
such that the sufficiency equals no more than 0.25 percent of covered payroll
based on the most recent actuarial valuation; or
(2) if after July 1, 2014, the regular actuarial valuations of the
applicable plan under section 356.215 indicate that there is a deficiency equal
to or greater than 0.5 percent of covered payroll for two consecutive years,
the employee and employer contribution rates for the applicable plan must be
increased as determined under subdivision 4 to a level such that no deficiency
exists based on the most recent actuarial valuation.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.12, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd. 4c. Reporting,
commission review. (a) The contribution
rate increase or decrease must be determined by the executive director of the
Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association or the St. Paul Teachers Retirement
Fund Association, and must be reported to the chair and the executive director
of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement on or before the next
February 1, and, if the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement does
not recommend against the rate change or does not recommend a modification in
the rate change, is effective on the next July 1 following the determination by
the executive director that a contribution deficiency or sufficiency has
existed for two consecutive fiscal years based on the most recent actuarial
valuations under section 356.215. If the
actuarially required contribution exceeds or is less than the total support
provided by the combined employee and employer contribution rates for the
applicable plan by more than 0.5 percent of covered payroll, the applicable
plan employee and employer contribution rates must be adjusted incrementally
over one or more years to a level such that there remains a contribution
sufficiency of no more than 0.25 percent of covered payroll.
(b) No incremental adjustment may exceed 0.25 percent of payroll for
either the employee or employer contribution rates per year in which any
adjustment is implemented. For an
applicable plan, a contribution rate adjustment under this section must not be
made until at least two years have passed since fully implementing a previous
adjustment under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 354A.31, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4. Computation of normal coordinated retirement annuity; St. Paul fund. (a) This subdivision applies to the
coordinated program of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association.
(b) The normal coordinated retirement annuity is an amount equal to a
retiring coordinated member's average salary under section 354A.011,
subdivision 7a, multiplied by the retirement annuity formula percentage.
(c) This paragraph, in conjunction with subdivision 6, applies to a
person who first became a member or a member in a pension fund listed in
section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989, unless paragraph (d), in
conjunction with subdivision 7, produces a higher annuity amount, in which case
paragraph (d) will apply. The
retirement annuity formula percentage for purposes of this paragraph is the
percent specified in section 356.315, subdivision 1, per year for each year of
coordinated service for the first ten years and the percent specified in
section 356.315, subdivision 2, for each year of coordinated service
thereafter. The average salary multiplied by the following retirement
annuity formula percentage per year of allowable service determines the amount
of the annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled for service
rendered before July 1, 2011:
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5529
Each
year of service during first ten years the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
1, per year
Each
year of service thereafter the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
2, per year
For
service rendered on or after July 1, 2011, the average salary multiplied by the
following retirement annuity formula percentage per year of allowable service determines
the amount of the annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled:
Each
year of service during first ten years the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
1a, per year
Each
year of service thereafter the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
2b, per year
(d) This
paragraph applies to a person who has become at least 55 years old and who
first becomes a member after June 30, 1989, and to any other member who has
become at least 55 years old and whose annuity amount, when calculated under
this paragraph and in conjunction with subdivision 7 is higher than it is when
calculated under paragraph (c), in conjunction with the provisions of
subdivision 6. The retirement annuity
formula percentage for purposes of this paragraph is the percent specified in
section 356.315, subdivision 2, for each year of coordinated service before
July 1, 2011, and by the percent specified in section 356.315, subdivision 2c,
for each year of service rendered after June 30, 2011. For a member who has 30 or more years of
allowable service credit, the person's normal retirement age is age 62 and the
age 55 minimum early reduced benefit retirement age does not apply to
the person.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
16. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354A.31, subdivision 4a, is amended to read:
Subd.
4a. Computation
of normal coordinated retirement annuity; Duluth fund. (a) This subdivision applies to the new law
coordinated program of the Duluth Teachers Retirement Fund Association.
(b) The
normal coordinated retirement annuity is an amount equal to a retiring
coordinated member's average salary under section 354A.011, subdivision 7a,
multiplied by the retirement annuity formula percentage.
(c) This
paragraph, in conjunction with subdivision 6, applies to a person who first
became a member or a member in a pension fund listed in section 356.30,
subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989, unless paragraph (d), in conjunction with
subdivision 7, produces a higher annuity amount, in which case paragraph (d)
applies. The retirement annuity
formula percentage for purposes of this paragraph is the percent specified in
section 356.315, subdivision 1, per year for each year of coordinated service
for the first ten years and the percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision 2, for each subsequent year of coordinated service. The
average salary multiplied by the following retirement annuity formula
percentage per year of allowable service determines the amount of the annuity
to which the member qualifying therefor is entitled for service rendered before
July 1, 2011:
Each
year of service during first ten years the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
1, per year
Each
year of service thereafter the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
2, per year
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5530
For
service rendered on or after July 1, 2011, the average salary multiplied by the
following retirement annuity formula percentage per year of allowable service
determines the amount of the annuity to which the member qualifying therefor is
entitled:
Each
year of service during first ten years the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
1a, per year
Each
year of service thereafter the
percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision
2b, per year
(d) This
paragraph applies to a person who is at least 55 years old and who first becomes
a member after June 30, 1989, and to any other member who is at least 55
years old and whose annuity amount, when calculated under this paragraph and in
conjunction with subdivision 7, is higher than it is when calculated under
paragraph (c) in conjunction with subdivision 6. The retirement annuity formula percentage for
purposes of this paragraph is the percent specified in section 356.315,
subdivision 2, for each year of coordinated service before July 1, 2011, and
by the percent specified in section 356.315, subdivision 2c, for each year of
service rendered after June 30, 2011.
For a member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit, the
person's normal retirement age is age 62 and the age 55 minimum early reduced
benefit retirement age does not apply to the person.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
17. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354A.31, subdivision 7, is amended to read:
Subd.
7. Actuarial
reduction for early retirement. This
subdivision applies to a person who has become at least 55 years old and first
becomes a coordinated member after June 30, 1989, and to any other coordinated
member who has become at least 55 years old and whose annuity is higher when
calculated using the retirement annuity formula percentage in subdivision 4,
paragraph (d), and subdivision 4a, paragraph (d), in conjunction with this
subdivision than when calculated under subdivision 4, paragraph (c), or
subdivision 4a, paragraph (c), in conjunction with subdivision 6. A coordinated member who retires before the
full benefit age shall as defined by section 354A.011, subdivision
15a, must be paid the retirement annuity calculated using the retirement
annuity formula percentage in subdivision 4, paragraph (d), or subdivision 4a,
paragraph (d), reduced so that the reduced annuity is the actuarial equivalent
of the annuity that would be payable to the member if the member deferred
receipt of the annuity and the annuity amount were augmented at an annual rate
of three percent compounded annually from the day the annuity begins to accrue
until the normal retirement age if the employee became an employee before July
1, 2006, and at 2.5 percent compounded annually from the day the annuity begins
to accrue until the normal retirement age if the person initially becomes a
teacher after June 30, 2006. For a
member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit, the person's
normal retirement age is age 62 and the age 55 minimum early reduced benefit
retirement age does not apply to the person.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
Sec.
18. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
356.315, is amended by adding a subdivision to read:
Subd.
2c. Certain
coordinated members. The
applicable benefit accrual rate is 2.1 percent.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2011.
ARTICLE 7
MNSCU
RELATED RETIREMENT PROVISIONS
Section
1. [136F.481]
EARLY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
Journal of
the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5531
(a)
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Board of Trustees of
the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities may offer a targeted early separation
incentive program for its employees.
(b)
The early separation incentive program may include one or both of the
following:
(1)
cash incentives, not to exceed one year of base salary; or
(2) employer
contributions to the postretirement healthcare savings plan established under
section 352.98.
(c) To
be eligible to receive an incentive, an employee must be at least age 55 and
must have at least five years of employment by the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities System. The board of
trustees shall establish the eligibility requirements for system employees to
receive an incentive. The board of
trustees shall file a copy of its proposed eligibility requirements with the
chairs and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Higher Education and the
Higher Education Budget and Policy Division of the Senate Committee on Finance
and with the chair and ranking members of the Higher Education and Workforce
Development Finance and Policy Division of the Finance Committee of the House
of Representatives at least 30 days before their final adoption by the board of
trustees, shall post the same document on the system website at the same time,
and shall hold a public hearing on the proposed eligibility requirements. The type and any additional amount of the
incentive to be offered may vary by employee classification, as specified by
the board.
(d)
The president of a college or university, consistent with paragraphs (b) and
(c), may designate:
(1) specific
departments or programs at the college or university whose employees are
eligible to be offered the incentive program; or
(2)
positions at the college or university eligible to be offered the incentive
program.
(e)
The chancellor, consistent with paragraphs (b) and (c), may designate:
(1)
system office divisions whose employees are eligible to be offered the
incentive program; or
(2)
positions at the system office eligible to be offered the incentive program.
(f)
Acceptance of the offered incentive must be voluntary on the part of the
employee and must be in writing. The
incentive may only be offered at the sole discretion of the president of the
applicable college or university.
(g) A
decision by the president of a college or university or by the chancellor not
to offer an incentive may not be challenged.
(h)
The cost of the incentive is payable by the college or university on whose
behalf the president offered the incentive or from the system office budget if
the chancellor offered the incentive. If
a college or university is merged, the remaining cost of any early separation
incentive must be borne by the successor institution. If a college or university is closed, the
remaining cost of any early separation incentive must be borne by the board of
trustees.
(i)
Annually, the chancellor and the president of each college or university must
report on the number and types of early separation incentives which were
offered and utilized under this section.
The report must be filed annually with the board of trustees and with
the Legislative Reference Library on or before September 1.
EFFECTIVE DATE; SUNSET.
This section is effective the day following final enactment and
expires June 30, 2014.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5532
Sec.
2. [136F.482]
APPLICATION OF OTHER LAWS.
Unilateral
implementation of section 136F.481 by the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities, by the chancellor, or by a president of a
college or university is not an unfair labor practice under chapter 179A.
EFFECTIVE DATE; SUNSET.
This section is effective the day following final enactment and
expires June 30, 2014.
Sec.
3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354B.21, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd.
2. Coverage;
election. (a) For Eligible
persons who were employed by the former state university system or the former
community college system before May 1, 1995, the person has the retirement
coverage that the person had for employment immediately before May 1, 1995.
(b)
For all other eligible persons (a) Eligible persons who were employed by the Minnesota
State Colleges and Universities System on or after June 30, 2009, unless otherwise specified in this
section, the eligible person is are authorized to elect
prospective Teachers Retirement Association plan coverage rather than coverage
by the plan established by this chapter.
The election of prospective Teachers Retirement Association plan
coverage shall must be made within one year of commencing
eligible Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system employment. If an election is not made within the
specified election period due to a termination of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities system employment, an election may be made within 90 days of
returning to eligible Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system
employment. All elections are
irrevocable. Prior to Before making
an election, the eligible person shall be is covered by
the plan indicated as default coverage under subdivision 3.
(b)
Except as provided in paragraph (c), a purchase of service credit in the Teachers Retirement
Association plan for any period or periods of Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities system employment occurring prior to before the
election under paragraph (b) (a) is prohibited.
(c)
Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b), a faculty member who is a member of the
individual retirement account plan who first achieves tenure or its equivalent
at a Minnesota state college or university after June 30, 2009, may
elect to transfer retirement coverage under the teachers retirement plan within
one year of the faculty member achieving tenure or its equivalent at a
Minnesota state college or university.
The faculty member electing Teachers Retirement Association coverage
under this paragraph must purchase service credit in the Teachers Retirement
Association for the entire period of time covered under the individual
retirement account plan and the purchase payment amount must be determined
under section 356.551. The Teachers
Retirement Association may charge a faculty member transferring coverage a reasonable
fee to cover the costs associated with computing the actuarial cost of
purchasing service credit and making the transfer. A faculty member transferring from the
individual retirement account plan to the Teachers Retirement Association may
use any balances to the credit of the faculty member in the individual
retirement account plan, any balances to the credit of the faculty member in
the higher education supplemental retirement plan established under chapter
354C, or any source specified in section 356.441, subdivision 1, to purchase
the service credit in the Teachers Retirement Association. If the total amount of payments under this
paragraph are less than the total purchase payment amount under section 356.551,
the payment amounts must be refunded to the applicable source. The retirement coverage transfer and service
credit purchase authority under this paragraph expires with respect to any
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System faculty initially hired after
June 30, 2014.
EFFECTIVE DATE.
This section is effective July 1, 2009.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5533
ARTICLE 8
ST. PAUL
TEACHERS RETIREMENT FUND ASSOCIATION
POSTRETIREMENT
ADJUSTMENTS
Section
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
354A.29, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Postretirement
adjustment. (a) The postretirement
adjustment described in the articles and bylaws of the St. Paul Teachers
Retirement Fund Association this section must be determined by the executive
director of the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association and approved by
the board annually after June 30 using the procedures under this section.
(b) On
January 1, each eligible person who has been receiving an annuity or
benefit under the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, or this chapter for at
least 12 three calendar months as of the end of the fiscal
last day of the previous calendar year is eligible to receive a
postretirement adjustment of 2.0 percent that is payable each January 1
increase as further specified in this subdivision.
(c) A
percentage adjustment must be computed and paid under this subdivision to
eligible persons under paragraph (b).
This adjustment is determined by reference to the Consumer Price Index
for urban wage earners and clerical workers all items index as reported by the
Bureau of Labor Statistics within the United States Department of Labor each
year as part of the determination of annual cost-of-living adjustments to
recipients of federal old-age, survivors, and disability insurance. For calculations of the cost-of-living
adjustment under paragraph (d), the term "average third quarter Consumer
Price Index value" means the sum of the monthly index values as initially
reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the months of July, August, and
September, divided by 3.
(d)
Before January 1 of each year, the executive director must calculate the amount
of the cost-of-living adjustment by dividing the most recent average third
quarter index value by the same average third quarter index value from the
previous year, subtract one from the resulting quotient, and express the result
as a percentage amount, which must be rounded to the nearest one-tenth of one
percent.
(e) The
amount calculated under paragraph (d) is the full cost-of-living adjustment to
be applied as a permanent increase to the regular payment of each eligible
member on January 1 of the next calendar year.
For any eligible member whose effective date of benefit commencement
occurred during the calendar year before the cost-of-living adjustment is
applied, the full increase amount must be prorated on the basis of whole
calendar quarters in benefit payment status in the calendar year prior to the
January 1 on which the cost-of-living adjustment is applied, calculated to the
third decimal place.
(f) The
adjustment may not be less than zero, nor greater than five percent.
Sec.
2. BYLAW
REVISION AUTHORIZATION.
Consistent
with Minnesota Statutes, section 354A.12, subdivision 4, the board of the St.
Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association shall revise the bylaws or articles of
incorporation of the teachers retirement fund association to conform with
section 1.
Sec.
3. REPEALER.
Minnesota
Statutes 2008, section 354A.29, subdivisions 2, 4, and 5, are repealed.
Sec.
4. EFFECTIVE
DATE.
Sections
1 to 3 are effective January 1, 2010, and expire June 30, 2011.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5534
ARTICLE 9
LOCAL
POLICE AND PAID FIRE RELIEF
ASSOCIATION
CHANGES
Section
1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
69.77, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd.
4. Relief
association financial requirements; minimum municipal obligation. (a) The officers of the relief association
shall determine the financial requirements of the relief association and
minimum obligation of the municipality for the following calendar year in
accordance with the requirements of this subdivision. The financial requirements of the relief
association and the minimum obligation of the municipality must be determined
on or before the submission date established by the municipality under
subdivision 5.
(b) The financial
requirements of the relief association for the following calendar year must be
based on the most recent actuarial valuation or survey of the special fund of
the association if more than one fund is maintained by the association, or of
the association, if only one fund is maintained, prepared in accordance with
sections 356.215, subdivisions 4 to 15, and 356.216, as required under
subdivision 10. If an actuarial estimate
is prepared by the actuary of the relief association as part of obtaining a modification
of the benefit plan of the relief association and the modification is
implemented, the actuarial estimate must be used in calculating the subsequent
financial requirements of the relief association.
(c) If
the relief association has an unfunded actuarial accrued liability as reported
in the most recent actuarial valuation or survey, the total of the amounts
calculated under clauses (1), (2), and (3), constitute the financial
requirements of the relief association for the following year. If the relief association does not have an
unfunded actuarial accrued liability as reported in the most recent actuarial
valuation or survey, the amount calculated under clauses (1) and (2) constitute
the financial requirements of the relief association for the following
year. The financial requirement elements
are:
(1) the
normal level cost requirement for the following year, expressed as a dollar
amount, which must be determined by applying the normal level cost of the
relief association as reported in the actuarial valuation or survey and
expressed as a percentage of covered payroll to the estimated covered payroll
of the active membership of the relief association, including any projected
change in the active membership, for the following year;
(2) for
the Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association, the Fairmont Police Relief
Association, and the Virginia Fire Department Relief Association, to the dollar
amount of normal cost determined under clause (1) must be added an amount equal
to the dollar amount of the administrative expenses of the special fund of the
association if more than one fund is maintained by the association, or of the
association if only one fund is maintained, for the most recent year,
multiplied by the factor of 1.035. The
administrative expenses are those authorized under section 69.80. No amount of administrative expenses under
this clause are to be included in the financial requirements of the Minneapolis
Firefighters Relief Association or the Minneapolis Police Relief Association;
and
(3) to
the dollar amount of normal cost and expenses determined under clauses (1) and
(2) must be added an amount equal to the level annual dollar amount which is
sufficient to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability by December
31, 2010, the Fairmont Police Relief Association, the Minneapolis Firefighters
Relief Association, and the Virginia Fire Department Relief Association, by the
date determined under section 356.216, paragraph (a), clause (2), for the
Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association, and by December 31, 2020, for
the Minneapolis Police Relief Association, as determined from the actuarial
valuation or survey of the fund, using an interest assumption set at the
applicable rate specified in section 356.215, subdivision 8. The, by that fund's amortization
date as specified in this clause applies to all local police or
salaried firefighters' relief associations and that date supersedes any
amortization date specified in any applicable special law paragraph (d).
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5535
(d) The Minneapolis Firefighters Relief Association
special fund amortization date is determined under section 423C.15, subdivisions
3 and 4. The Virginia Fire Department
Relief Association special fund amortization date is December 31, 2010. The Minneapolis Police Relief Association
special fund and the Fairmont Police Relief Association special fund
amortization date is December 31, 2020.
The Bloomington Fire Department Relief Association special fund
amortization date is determined under section 356.216, paragraph (a), clause
(2). The amortization date specified in
this paragraph supersedes any amortization date specified in any applicable
special law.
(d) (e) The minimum obligation of the municipality is an
amount equal to the financial requirements of the relief association reduced by
the estimated amount of member contributions from covered salary anticipated
for the following calendar year and the estimated amounts anticipated for the
following calendar year from the applicable state aid program established under
sections 69.011 to 69.051 receivable by the relief association after any
allocation made under section 69.031, subdivision 5, paragraph (b), clause (2),
or 423A.01, subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (6), from the local
police and salaried firefighters' relief association amortization aid program
established under section 423A.02, subdivision 1, from the supplementary
amortization state-aid program established under section 423A.02, subdivision
1a, and from the additional amortization state aid under section 423A.02,
subdivision 1b.
EFFECTIVE
DATE; LOCAL APPROVAL. This section is effective the day after the
Fairmont City Council and the chief clerical officer of the city of Fairmont
timely complete their compliance with Minnesota Statutes, section 645.021,
subdivisions 2 and 3.
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 423A.02, subdivision 1, is amended to
read:
Subdivision 1. Amortization state aid. (a) A municipality in which is located a
local police or salaried firefighters' relief association to which the
provisions of section 69.77, apply, that had an unfunded actuarial accrued
liability in the most recent relief association actuarial valuation, is
entitled, upon application as required by the commissioner of revenue, to
receive local police and salaried firefighters' relief association amortization
state aid if the municipality and the appropriate relief association both
comply with the applicable provisions of sections 69.031, subdivision 5,
69.051, subdivisions 1 and 3, and 69.77.
If a municipality loses entitlement for amortization state aid in any
year because its local relief association no longer has an unfunded actuarial
accrued liability, the municipality is not entitled to amortization state aid
in any subsequent year.
(b) The total amount of amortization state aid to all
entitled municipalities must not exceed $5,055,000.
(c) Subject to the adjustment for the city of
Minneapolis provided in this paragraph, the amount of amortization state aid to
which a municipality is entitled annually is an amount equal to the level
annual dollar amount required to amortize, by December 31, 2010, the unfunded
actuarial accrued liability of the special fund of the appropriate relief
association as reported in the December 31, 1978, actuarial valuation of the
relief association prepared under sections 356.215 and 356.216, reduced by the
dollar amount required to pay the interest on the unfunded actuarial accrued
liability of the special fund of the relief association for calendar year 1981
set at the rate specified in Minnesota Statutes 1978, section 356.215,
subdivision 8. For the city of Minneapolis,
the amortization state aid amount thus determined must be reduced by $747,232
on account of the Minneapolis Police Relief Association and by $772,768 on
account of the Minneapolis Fire Department Relief Association. If the amortization state aid amounts
determined under this paragraph exceed the amount appropriated for this
purpose, the amortization state aid for actual allocation must be reduced pro
rata.
(d) Payment of amortization state aid to
municipalities must be made directly to the municipalities involved in three
equal installments on July 15, September 15, and November 15 annually. Upon receipt of amortization state aid, the
municipal treasurer shall transmit the aid amount to the treasurer of the local
relief association for immediate deposit in the special fund of the relief
association.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5536
(e) The
commissioner of revenue shall prescribe and periodically revise the form for
and content of the application for the amortization state aid.
Sec.
3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section
423A.02, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
Subd.
3. Reallocation
of amortization or supplementary amortization state aid. (a) Seventy percent of the difference between
$5,720,000 and the current year amortization aid or supplemental amortization
aid distributed under subdivisions 1 and 1a that is not distributed for any
reason to a municipality for use by a local police or salaried fire relief
association must be distributed by the commissioner of revenue according to
this paragraph. The commissioner shall
distribute 70 50 percent of the amounts derived under this
paragraph to the Teachers Retirement Association, ten percent to the Duluth
Teachers Retirement Fund Association, and 30 40 percent to
the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association to fund the unfunded
actuarial accrued liabilities of the respective funds. These payments shall be made on or before
June 30 each fiscal year. The amount
required under this paragraph is appropriated annually from the general fund to
the commissioner of revenue. If the St.
Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association becomes fully funded, its eligibility
for this aid ceases. Amounts remaining
in the undistributed balance account at the end of the biennium if aid
eligibility ceases cancel to the general fund.
(b) In
order to receive amortization and supplementary amortization aid under
paragraph (a), Independent School District No. 625, St. Paul, must make
contributions to the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association in
accordance with the following schedule:
Fiscal
Year Amount
1996 $0
1997 $0
1998 $200,000
1999 $400,000
2000 $600,000
2001
and thereafter $800,000
(c) Special School District No. 1, Minneapolis, and the
city of Minneapolis must each make contributions to the Teachers Retirement
Association in accordance with the following schedule:
Fiscal
Year City
amount School
district amount
1996 $0 $0
1997 $0 $0
1998 $250,000 $250,000
1999 $400,000 $400,000
2000 $550,000 $550,000
2001 $700,000 $700,000
2002 $850,000 $850,000
2003 and
thereafter $1,000,000 $1,000,000
(d) Money contributed under paragraph (a)
and either paragraph (b) or (c), as applicable, must be credited to a separate
account in the applicable teachers retirement fund and may not be used in
determining any benefit increases. The
separate account terminates for a fund when the aid payments to the fund under
paragraph (a) cease.
(e) Thirty percent of the difference
between $5,720,000 and the current year amortization aid or supplemental
amortization aid under subdivisions 1 and 1a that is not distributed for any
reason to a municipality for use by a local police or salaried firefighter
relief association must be distributed under section 69.021, subdivision 7,
paragraph (d), as additional funding to support a minimum fire state aid amount
for volunteer firefighter relief associations.
The amount required under this paragraph is appropriated annually to the
commissioner of revenue.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5537
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 423C.03,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Board
composition and elections. The board
shall consist of two persons appointed by the city and ten the number
of other members specified in the association bylaws, but not to exceed
ten, who must be selected by the members.
Elections for active and retired positions on the board shall be
conducted pursuant to the association's bylaws.
EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is
effective the day following final enactment.
ARTICLE 10
VOLUNTARY STATEWIDE LUMP SUM VOLUNTEER
FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT PLAN
Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.17,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Purpose;
accounts; continuation. (a) The
purpose of the supplemental investment fund is to provide an investment vehicle
for the assets of various public retirement plans and funds.
(b) The fund consists of seven eight investment
accounts: an income share account, a
growth share account, an international share account, a money market account, a
fixed interest account, a bond market account, and a common stock index
account, and a volunteer firefighter account.
(c) The supplemental investment fund is a continuation of
the supplemental retirement fund in existence on January 1, 1980.
Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 11A.17,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Assets. (a) The assets of the supplemental
investment fund shall consist of the money certified and transmitted to
the state board from the participating public retirement plans and funds or
from the board of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities under section
136F.45 and from the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter
retirement plan under section 353G.08.
(b) With the exception of the assets
of the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund, the assets must be used to purchase
investment shares in the investment accounts as specified by the plan or
fund. The assets of the voluntary
statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund must be invested in
the volunteer firefighter account.
(c) These accounts must be valued at least on a monthly
basis but may be valued more frequently as determined by the State Board of
Investment.
Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.011,
subdivision 1, is amended to read:
Subdivision 1. Definitions. Unless the language or context clearly indicates
that a different meaning is intended, the following words and terms shall,
for the purposes of this chapter and chapters 423, 423A, 424 and 424A,
have the meanings ascribed to them:
(a) "Commissioner" means the
commissioner of revenue.
(b) "Municipality" means:
(1) a home rule charter or statutory
city;
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5538
(2) an organized town;
(3) a park district subject to chapter 398;
(4) the University of Minnesota;
(5) for purposes of the fire state aid program only,
an American Indian tribal government entity located within a federally
recognized American Indian reservation;
(6) for purposes of the police state aid program only,
an American Indian tribal government with a tribal police department which
exercises state arrest powers under section 626.90, 626.91, 626.92, or 626.93;
(7) for purposes of the police state aid program only,
the Metropolitan Airports Commission with respect to peace officers covered
under chapter 422A; and
(8) for purposes of the police state aid program only,
the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Public Safety with
respect to peace officers covered under chapter 352B.
(c) "Minnesota Firetown Premium Report"
means a form prescribed by the commissioner containing space for reporting by
insurers of fire, lightning, sprinkler leakage and extended coverage premiums
received upon risks located or to be performed in this state less return
premiums and dividends.
(d) "Firetown" means the area serviced by
any municipality having a qualified fire department or a qualified incorporated
fire department having a subsidiary volunteer firefighters' relief association.
(e) "Market value" means latest available
market value of all property in a taxing jurisdiction, whether the property is
subject to taxation, or exempt from ad valorem taxation obtained from information
which appears on abstracts filed with the commissioner of revenue or equalized
by the State Board of Equalization.
(f) "Minnesota Aid to Police Premium Report"
means a form prescribed by the commissioner for reporting by each fire and
casualty insurer of all premiums received upon direct business received by it
in this state, or by its agents for it, in cash or otherwise, during the
preceding calendar year, with reference to insurance written for insuring
against the perils contained in auto insurance coverages as reported in the
Minnesota business schedule of the annual financial statement which each
insurer is required to file with the commissioner in accordance with the
governing laws or rules less return premiums and dividends.
(g) "Peace officer" means any person:
(1) whose primary source of income derived from wages
is from direct employment by a municipality or county as a law enforcement
officer on a full-time basis of not less than 30 hours per week;
(2) who has been employed for a minimum of six months
prior to December 31 preceding the date of the current year's certification
under subdivision 2, clause (b);
(3) who is sworn to enforce the general criminal laws
of the state and local ordinances;
(4) who is licensed by the Peace Officers Standards
and Training Board and is authorized to arrest with a warrant; and
(5) who is a member of a local police relief
association to which section 69.77 applies, the State Patrol retirement plan,
the public employees police and fire fund, or the Minneapolis Employees
Retirement Fund.
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5539
(h) "Full-time equivalent number
of peace officers providing contract service" means the integral or
fractional number of peace officers which would be necessary to provide the contract
service if all peace officers providing service were employed on a full-time
basis as defined by the employing unit and the municipality receiving the
contract service.
(i) "Retirement benefits other
than a service pension" means any disbursement authorized under section
424A.05, subdivision 3, clauses (2) and (3).
(j) "Municipal clerk, municipal
clerk-treasurer, or county auditor" means the person who was elected or
appointed to the specified position or, in the absence of the person, another person
who is designated by the applicable governing body. In a park district, the clerk is the
secretary of the board of park district commissioners. In the case of the University of Minnesota,
the clerk is that official designated by the Board of Regents. For the Metropolitan Airports Commission, the
clerk is the person designated by the commission. For the Department of Natural Resources or
the Department of Public Safety, the clerk is the respective commissioner. For a tribal police department which
exercises state arrest powers under section 626.90, 626.91, 626.92, or 626.93,
the clerk is the person designated by the applicable American Indian tribal
government.
(k) "Voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan" means the retirement plan
established by chapter 353G.
Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.011,
subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2. Qualification
for fire or police state aid. (a) Unless
retirement coverage is provided by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan, in order to qualify to receive fire state aid,
on or before March 15 annually, in conjunction with the financial report
required pursuant to section 69.051, the clerk of each municipality having a
duly organized fire department as provided in subdivision 4, or the secretary
of each independent nonprofit firefighting corporation having a subsidiary
incorporated firefighters' relief association whichever is applicable, and the
fire chief, shall jointly certify the existence of the municipal fire
department or of the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation, whichever
is applicable, which meets the minimum qualification requirements set forth in
this subdivision, and the fire personnel and equipment of the municipal fire
department or the independent nonprofit firefighting corporation as of the
preceding December 31.
(b) Where retirement coverage is
provided by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement
plan, the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association
shall certify the existence of that coverage for each municipality and the
municipal clerk or independent nonprofit firefighting corporation secretary,
whichever applies, and the applicable fire chief shall certify the fire
personnel and fire department equipment as of the preceding December 31.
(c) Certification shall must be made to the
commissioner on a form prescribed by the commissioner and shall include any
other facts the commissioner may require.
The certification shall must be made to the commissioner
in duplicate. Each copy of the
certificate shall must be duly executed and is deemed to
be an original. The commissioner
shall forward one copy to the auditor of the county wherein the fire department
is located and shall retain one copy.
(b) (d) On or before March 15 annually the clerk of each
municipality having a duly organized police department and having a duly
incorporated relief association shall certify that fact to the county auditor
of the county where the police department is located and to the commissioner on
a form prescribed by the commissioner together with the other facts the
commissioner or auditor may require.
(e) Except as provided in subdivision 2b, on or before
March 15 annually, the clerk of each municipality and the auditor of each
county employing one or more peace officers as defined in subdivision 1, clause
(g), shall certify the number of such peace officers to the commissioner on
forms prescribed by the commissioner.
Credit for officers
Journal of the
House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - Top of Page 5540
employed less than a full year shall
must be apportioned. Each full month
of employment of a qualifying officer during the calendar year shall entitle
entitles the employing municipality or county to credit for 1/12 of the
payment for employment of a peace officer for the entire year. For purposes of sections 69.011 to 69.051,
employment of a peace officer shall commence commences when the
peace officer is entered on the payroll of the respective municipal police
department or county sheriff's department.
No peace officer shall may be included in the
certification of the number of peace officers by more than one municipality or
county for the same month.
Sec. 5.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.011, subdivision 4, is amended to
read:
Subd. 4. Qualification for state aid. Any municipality in this state having for more
than one year an organized fire department and officially established by the
governing body of the municipality or an independent nonprofit fire fighting
corporation created under the nonprofit corporation act of this state and
operating exclusively for fire fighting purposes and providing retirement and
relief benefits to its members or, having a separate subsidiary
incorporated firefighter's relief and pension association providing retirement
and relief benefits, or participating in the voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan, may qualify to receive state aid if
it meets the following minimum requirements or equivalent as determined by the
state fire marshal by July 1, 1972:
(a) ten paid or volunteer firefighters including a
fire chief and assistant fire chief, and
(b) regular scheduled meetings and frequent drills
including instructions in fire fighting tactics and in the use, care, and
operation of all fire apparatus and equipment, and
(c) a motorized fire truck equipped with a motorized
pump, 250 gallon or larger water tank, 300 feet of one inch or larger fire hose
in two lines with combination spray and straight stream nozzles, five-gallon
hand pumps--tank extinguisher or equivalent, dry chemical extinguisher or equivalent,
ladders, extension ladders, pike poles, crow bars, axes, lanterns, fire coats,
helmets, boots, and
(d) apparatus suitably housed in a building of good
construction with facilities for care of hose and equipment, and
(e) a reliable and adequate method of receiving fire
alarms by telephone or with electric siren and suitable means of sounding an
alarm, and
(f) if response is to be provided outside the
corporate limits of the municipality wherein the fire department is located,
the municipality has another piece of motorized apparatus to make the response,
and
(g) other requirements the commissioner establishes by
rule.
Sec. 6.
Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 69.021, subdivision 7, is amended to
read:
Subd. 7. Apportionment of fire state aid to municipalities
and relief associations. (a) The
commissioner shall apportion the fire state aid relative to the premiums
reported on the Minnesota Firetown Premium Reports filed under this chapter to
each municipality and/or firefighters relief association.
(b) The commissioner shall calculate an initial fire
state aid allocation amount for each municipality or fire department under
paragraph (c) and a minimum fire state aid allocation amount for each
municipality or fire department under paragraph (d). The municipality or fire department must
receive the larger fire state aid amount.
(c) The initial fire state aid allocation amount is
the amount available for apportionment as fire state aid under subdivision 5,
without inclusion of any additional funding amount to support a minimum fire
state aid amount under section 423A.02, subdivision 3, allocated one-half in
proportion to the population as shown in the last official
Journal of the House - 52nd Day - Tuesday, May 12,
2009 - Top of Page 5541
statewide federal census for each fire town and
one-half in proportion to the market value of each fire town, including (1) the
market value of tax exempt property and (2) the market value of natural
resources lands receiving in lieu payments under sections 477A.11 to 477A.14,
but excluding the market value of minerals.
In the case of incorporated or municipal fire departments furnishing
fire protection to other cities, towns, or townships as evidenced by valid fire
service contracts filed with the commissioner, the distribution must be
adjusted proportionately to take into consideration the crossover fire
protection service. Necessary
adjustments shall must be made to subsequent apportionments. In the case of municipalities or independent
fire departments qualifying for the aid, the commissioner shall calculate the
state aid for the municipality or relief association on the basis of the
population and the market value of the area furnished fire protection service
by the fire department as evidenced by duly executed and valid fire service
agreements filed with the commissioner.
If one or more fire departments are furnishing contracted fire service
to a city, town, or township, only the population and market value of the area
served by each fire department may be considered in calculating the state aid
and the fire departments furnishing service shall enter into an agreement
apportioning among themselves the percent of the population and the market
value of each service area. The
agreement must be in writing and must be filed with the commissioner.
(d) The minimum fire state aid
allocation amount is the amount in addition to the initial fire state allocation
amount that is derived from any additional funding amount to support a minimum
fire state aid amount under section 423A.02, subdivision 3, and allocated to
municipalities with volunteer firefighters relief associations or covered by
the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan based
on the number of active volunteer firefighters who are members of the relief
association as reported in the annual financial reporting for the calendar year
1993 to the Office of the State Auditor, but not to exceed 30 active volunteer
firefighters, so that all municipalities or fire departments with volunteer
firefighters relief associations receive in total at least a minimum fire state
aid amount per 1993 active volunteer firefighter to a maximum of 30
firefighters. If a relief association is
established after calendar year 1993 and before calendar year 2000, the number
of active volunteer firefighters who are members of the relief association as
reported in the annual financial reporting for calendar year 1998 to the Office
of the State Auditor, but not to exceed 30 active volunteer firefighters, shall
be used in this determination. If a
relief association is established after calendar year 1999, the number of
active volunteer firefighters who are members of the relief association as
reported in the first annual financial reporting submitted to the Office of the
State Auditor, but not to exceed 20 active volunteer firefighters, must be used
in this determination. If a relief
association is terminated as a result of providing retirement coverage for
volunteer firefighters by the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan under chapter 353G, the number of active volunteer
firefighters of the municipality covered by the statewide plan as certified by
the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association to the
commissioner and the state auditor, but not to exceed 30 active firefighters,
must be used in this determination.
(e) Unless the firefighters of the
applicable fire department are members of the voluntary statewide lump-sum
volunteer firefighter retirement plan, the fire state aid must be paid to
the treasurer of the municipality where the fire department is located and the
treasurer of the municipality shall, within 30 days of receipt of the fire
state aid, transmit the aid to the relief association if the relief association
has filed a financial report with the treasurer of the municipality and has met
all other statutory provisions pertaining to the aid apportionment. If the firefighters of the applicable fire
department are members of the voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer
firefighter retirement plan, the fire state aid must be paid to the executive
director of the Public Employees Retirement Association and deposited in the
voluntary statewide lump-sum volunteer firefighter retirement fund.
(f) The commissioner may make rules
to permit the administration of the provisions of this section.