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| Montana Administrative Register Notice 2-43-491 | No. 16 08/22/2013 | |
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BEFORE THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT BOARD OF THE STATE OF MONTANA
TO: All Concerned Persons
1. On September 23, 2013, at 9:00 a.m., the Public Employees' Retirement Board will hold a public hearing in Room 201, 100 N. Park Avenue, Helena, Montana, to consider the proposed adoption and amendment of the above-stated rules.
2. The Public Employees' Retirement Board will make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities who wish to participate in this rulemaking process or need an alternative accessible format of this notice. If you require an accommodation, contact the Public Employee Retirement Administration no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 16, 2013, to advise us of the nature of the accommodation that you need. Please contact Kris Vladic, Public Employee Retirement Administration, P.O. Box 200131; telephone (406) 444-2578; fax (406) 444-5428; TDD (406) 444-1421; or e-mail [email protected].
3. The rule as proposed to be adopted provides as follows:
NEW RULE I ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS ON BEHALF OF MONTANA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM EMPLOYEES IN THE OPTIONAL RETIREMENT PROGRAM (1) The additional employer contributions provided for in 19-3-316(3), MCA that are paid on behalf of MUS employees in the optional retirement program will be allocated as follows: (a) The 1.00% additional employer contribution will be directed to the PERS defined benefit plan trust fund. (b) The 0.27% additional employer contribution is already allocated to the PERS defined benefit retirement plan's plan choice rate pursuant to 19-21-214(2)(b), MCA. (c) The 0.1% additional employer contribution that commences July 1, 2014, will be directed to the PERS defined benefit plan trust fund unless the board determines pursuant to 19-3-2121, MCA that an increase in the plan choice rate is required to actuarially fund the PERS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan's share of the PERS defined benefit's plan unfunded liability. In that event, the 0.1% additional employer contribution will be directed to the PERS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan's plan choice rate.
AUTH: 19-2-403, 19-3-2104, MCA IMP: 19-3-2104, MCA
STATEMENT OF REASONABLE NECESSITY: Section 6, Chapter 390, Laws of 2013 amends 19-3-2117, MCA to allocate the additional employer contributions paid on behalf of PERS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan members. Unfortunately, there is no allocation for MUS employees in PERS-covered positions who elect to participate in the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) rather than either the PERS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan or the PERS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan. Section 19-21-214, MCA instructs the board regarding allocation of employer contributions to the ORP. That statute is silent regarding the additional employer contributions provided for in Section 4, Chapter 390, Laws of 2013. However, 19-21-214(3), MCA provides that employer contribution allocations are subject to adjustment by the board provided the adjustments are consistent with 19-3-2121, MCA.
Section 19-3-2121, MCA allows the board to use employer contributions to increase the plan choice rate contribution under certain circumstances. If those circumstances are met, the board has determined it to be appropriate to allocate the 0.1% increase to the plan choice rate. If the circumstances are not met, the 0.1% increase will go to help the defined benefit retirement plan's unfunded liability.
The board will ask the 2015 Legislature to amend 19-21-214, MCA to address the allocation of the additional employer contributions on behalf of MUS employees in PERS-covered positions who elect to participate in the ORP. The board will propose to the 2015 Legislature that the allocation mirror that in 19-3-2117, MCA for PERS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan members.
4. The rule as proposed to be amended provides as follows, new matter underlined, deleted matter interlined:
2.43.2114 REQUIRED EMPLOYER REPORTS (1) through (5) remain the same. (a) Commencing July 1, 2013, MUS shall transmit to MPERA the 1.0% additional employer contribution provided for in Chapter 390, Laws of 2013. (b) Commencing July 1, 2014, MUS shall also transmit to MPERA the 0.1% additional employer contribution provided for in Chapter 390, Laws of 2013. (6) remains the same.
AUTH: 19-2-403, MCA IMP: Section 4, Chapter 390, Laws of 2013, 19-20-506, 19-3-315, 19-3-316, 19-3-412, 19-3-1106, 19-3-2117, 19-7-1101, MCA
STATEMENT OF REASONABLE NECESSITY: Section 19-21-214, MCA allocates the current 0.27%additional employer contribution to the PERS defined benefit plan to eliminate the plan choice rate unfunded actuarial liability. However, Chapter 390, Laws of 2013 does not address the allocation of the additional employer contributions paid by MUS on behalf of employees in covered PERS positions who elect to participate in the ORP. Therefore, this amendment is necessary to ensure that MUS transmits the new additional employer contributions to MPERA for proper accounting.
5. Concerned persons may submit their data, views, or arguments either orally or in writing at the hearing. Written data, views or arguments may also be submitted to: Kris Vladic, Public Employee Retirement Administration, P.O. Box 200131, Helena, Montana, 59620-0513; telephone (406) 444-2578; fax (406) 444-5428; or e-mail [email protected], and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m., September 23, 2013.
6. Kris Vladic, Public Employee Retirement Administration, has been designated to preside over and conduct this hearing.
7. The Public Employees' Retirement Board maintains a list of interested persons who wish to receive notices of rulemaking actions proposed by this agency. Persons who wish to have their name added to the list shall make a written request that includes the name, e-mail, and mailing address of the person to receive notices and specifies for which program the person wishes to receive notices. Notices will be sent by e-mail unless a mailing preference is noted in the request. Such written request may be mailed or delivered to the contact person in 5 above or may be made by completing a request form at any rules hearing held by the Public Employees' Retirement Board.
8. An electronic copy of this proposal notice is available through the Secretary of State's web site at http://sos.mt.gov/ARM/Register. The Secretary of State strives to make the electronic copy of this notice conform to the official version of the notice, as printed in the Montana Administrative Register, but advises all concerned persons that in the event of a discrepancy between the official printed text of the notice and the electronic version of the notice, only the official printed text will be considered. In addition, although the Secretary of State works to keep its web site accessible at all times, concerned persons should be aware that the web site may be unavailable during some periods, due to system maintenance or technical problems.
9. The bill sponsor contact requirements of 2-4-302, MCA, apply and have been fulfilled. The primary bill sponsor was contacted by mail on May 21, 2013 and July 31, 2013.
10. With regard to the requirements of Chapter 318, Section 1, Laws of 2013, the board has determined that the adoption and amendment of the above-referenced rules will not significantly and directly impact small businesses.
/s/ Melanie Symons /s/ Scott Moore Melanie Symons, Legal Counsel Scott Moore and Rule Reviewer President Public Employees' Retirement Board
Certified to the Secretary of State August 12, 2013.
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For questions about the organization of the ARM or this web site, contact [email protected].
