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HF 344

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/04/2013 03:05pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Bill Text Versions

Engrossments
Introduction Posted on 02/04/2013

Current Version - as introduced

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A bill for an act
relating to retirement; Public Employees Retirement Association privatization
chapter; removing legislative approval requirements; modifying legislative
notification requirements; clarifying privatized public hospital pension benefit
eligibility; making various administrative changes; amending Minnesota Statutes
2012, sections 353F.02, subdivisions 3, 6, by adding a subdivision; 353F.025,
subdivisions 1, 2; 353F.03; 353F.04; 353F.05; 353F.051, subdivision 1; 353F.052;
353F.06; 353F.07; 353F.08; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 353F.02,
subdivisions 4, 5; 353F.025, subdivision 3.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.02, subdivision 3, is amended to read:


Subd. 3.

Effective datenew text begin of privatizationnew text end .

"Effective datenew text begin of privatizationnew text end " means
the date that the operation of deleted text begin thedeleted text end new text begin a new text end medical facility or other public employing unit is
assumed by another employer or the date that deleted text begin thedeleted text end new text begin a new text end medical facility or other public
employing unit is purchased by another employer and active membership in the Public
Employees Retirement Association consequently terminates.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.02, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:


new text begin Subd. 4a. new text end

new text begin Privatized former public employer. new text end

new text begin "Privatized former public
employer" means a medical facility or other public employing unit formerly included in
the definition of governmental subdivision under section 353.01, subdivision 6, that is
privatized and whose employees are certified for participation under this chapter.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.02, subdivision 6, is amended to read:


Subd. 6.

deleted text begin Terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin Privatized former new text end public
deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee.

deleted text begin "Terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin (a) "Privatized former
new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee" means a person who:

(1) was employed new text begin by the privatized former public employer new text end on the day before the
effective date deleted text begin by the medical facility or other public employing unitdeleted text end new text begin of privatizationnew text end ; or

(2) terminated employment with the deleted text begin medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former
new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end new text begin employer new text end on the day before the effective date; and

(3) was a participant in the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association at the time of termination of employment with the
deleted text begin medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end new text begin employernew text end .

new text begin (b) "Privatized former public employee" does not mean a person who, on the day
before the effective date of privatization, was simultaneously employed with the privatized
former public employer and by a governmental subdivision under section 353.01,
subdivision 6, and who, after the effective date of privatization, continues to accrue
service credit under section 353.01, subdivision 16, through simultaneous employment
with a governmental subdivision.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.025, subdivision 1, is amended to read:


Subdivision 1.

Eligibility determination.

(a) The chief clerical officer of a
governmental subdivision may submit a resolution from the governing body to the
executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association which supports
providing coverage under this chapter for employees of that governmental subdivision
who are privatized, and which states that the governing body will pay for actuarial
calculations, as further specified in paragraph (c).

(b) The governing body must also provide a copy of any applicable purchase or
lease agreement and any other information requested by the executive director to allow the
executive director to verify that under the proposed employer change, the new employer
does not qualify as a governmental subdivision under section 353.01, subdivision 6,
making the employees ineligible for continued coverage as active members of the general
employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association.

(c) Following receipt of a resolution and a determination by the executive director
that the new employer is not a governmental subdivision, the executive director shall
direct the consulting actuary retained under section 356.214 to determine whether the
general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, if
coverage under this chapter is provided, is expected to receive a net gain or a net loss if
privatization occurs. A net gain is expected if the actuarial liability of the special benefit
coverage provided under this chapter, if extended to the applicable employees under the
privatization, is less than the actuarial gain otherwise to accrue to the plan. A net loss is
expected if the actuarial accrued liability of the special benefit coverage provided under
this chapter, if extended to the applicable employees under the privatization, is more than
the actuarial gain otherwise to accrue to the plan. The date of the actuarial calculations
used to make this determination must be within one year of the effective datedeleted text begin , as defined
in section
deleted text end deleted text begin 353F.02, subdivision 3deleted text end new text begin of privatizationnew text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.025, subdivision 2, is amended to read:


Subd. 2.

deleted text begin Recommendation to legislaturedeleted text end new text begin Reporting privatizationsnew text end .

(a) If the
actuarial calculations under subdivision 1, paragraph (c), indicate deleted text begin thatdeleted text end new text begin privatization can
be approved because
new text end a net gain to the general employees retirement plan of the Public
Employees Retirement Association is expected deleted text begin due to the privatizationdeleted text end , or if paragraph deleted text begin (c)
deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end applies, the executive director shallnew text begin , following acceptance of the actuarial calculations
by the board of trustees,
new text end forward deleted text begin a recommendationdeleted text end new text begin notice new text end and supporting documentation
to the chair deleted text begin of the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement, the chair of the
Governmental Operations, Reform, Technology and Elections Committee of the house of
representatives, the chair of the State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
Committee of the senate,
deleted text end and the executive director of the Legislative Commission
on Pensions and Retirementnew text begin and the chairs and the ranking minority members of the
committees with jurisdiction over governmental operations in the house of representatives
and senate
new text end . deleted text begin The recommendation must be in the form of an addition to the definition of
"medical facility" under section 353F.02, subdivision 4, or to "other public employing
unit" under section 353F.02, subdivision 5, whichever is applicable. The recommendation
must be forwarded to the legislature before January 15 for the recommendation to be
considered in that year's legislative session. The recommendation may be included as part
of public pension administrative legislation under section 356B.05.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (b) If a medical facility or other public employing unit listed under section 353F.02,
subdivision 4 or 5, fails to privatize within one year of the final enactment date of the
legislation adding the entity to the applicable definition, its inclusion under this chapter is
voided, and the executive director shall include in the subsequent proposed legislation under
paragraph (a) a recommendation that the applicable entity be stricken from the definition.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (c)deleted text end new text begin (b) new text end If the calculations under subdivision 1, paragraph (c), indicate a net loss, the
executive director shall deleted text begin forward a recommendationdeleted text end new text begin recommend to the board of trustees
new text end that the privatization be deleted text begin included as an addition under paragraph (a)deleted text end new text begin approved new text end if the chief
clerical officer of the applicable governmental subdivision submits a resolution from
the governing body specifying that a lump sum payment will be made to the deleted text begin executive
director
deleted text end new text begin Public Employees Retirement Association new text end equal to the net loss, plus interest.
The interest must be computed using the applicable new text begin ultimate new text end preretirement interest rate
assumption under section 356.215, subdivision 8, expressed as a monthly rate, from the
date of the actuarial valuation from which the actuarial accrued liability data was used to
determine the net loss in the actuarial study under subdivision 1, to the date of payment,
with annual compounding. Payment must be made on or after the effective date deleted text begin defined
under section 353F.02
deleted text end new text begin of privatizationnew text end .

new text begin (c) The Public Employees Retirement Association must maintain a list that includes
the names of all privatized former public employers in the association's comprehensive
annual financial report and on the association's Web site. Annually by March 1, the
association must submit to the executive director of the Legislative Commission on
Pensions and Retirement the names of any privatized former public employers approved
since the publication of the previous fiscal year's comprehensive annual financial report.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.03, is amended to read:


353F.03 VESTING RULE FOR CERTAIN EMPLOYEES.

Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 353 to the contrary, a deleted text begin terminated medical
facility or other
deleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee is eligible to receive a
retirement annuity under section 353.29 of the edition of Minnesota Statutes published
in the year before the year in which the privatization occurred, without regard to the
requirement specified in section 353.01, subdivision 47.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.04, is amended to read:


353F.04 AUGMENTATION INTEREST RATES FOR deleted text begin TERMINATED
MEDICAL OR OTHER
deleted text end new text begin PRIVATIZED FORMER new text end PUBLIC deleted text begin EMPLOYING UNIT
FACILITY
deleted text end EMPLOYEES.

Subdivision 1.

Enhanced augmentation rates.

(a) The deferred annuity of a
deleted text begin terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee is
subject to augmentation under section 353.71, subdivision 2, of the edition of Minnesota
Statutes published in the year in which the privatization occurred, except that the rate of
augmentation is as specified in this subdivision.

(b) This paragraph applies if the deleted text begin legislation adding the medical facility or other
employing unit to section 353F.02, subdivision 4 or 5, as applicable,
deleted text end new text begin effective date of
privatization
new text end was deleted text begin enacted before July 26, 2005, and became effective before January 1,
2008, for the Hutchinson Area Health Care
deleted text end new text begin on new text end or before January 1, 2007, deleted text begin for all other
medical facilities and all other employing units
deleted text end new text begin and also applies to Hutchinson Area Health
Care with a privatization effective date of January 1, 2008
new text end . For a deleted text begin terminated medical
facility or other
deleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee, the augmentation
rate is 5.5 percent compounded annually until January 1 following the year in which the
person attains age 55. From that date to the effective date of retirement, the augmentation
rate is 7.5 percent compounded annually.

(c) If paragraph (b) is not applicable, and if the effective date of the privatization is
before January 1, 2011, the augmentation rate is four percent compounded annually until
January 1, following the year in which the person attains age 55. From that date to the
effective date of retirement, the augmentation rate is six percent compounded annually.

(d) If the effective date of the privatization is after December 31, 2010, the applicable
augmentation rate depends on the result of computations specified in section 353F.025,
subdivision 1
. If those computations indicate no loss or a net gain to the fund of the
general employees retirement plan of the Public Employees Retirement Association, the
augmentation rate is 2.0 percent compounded annually until the effective date of retirement.
If the computations under that subdivision indicate a net loss to the fund if a 2.0 percent
augmentation rate is used, but a net gain or no loss if a 1.0 percent rate is used, then the
augmentation rate is 1.0 percent compounded annually until the effective date of retirement.

deleted text begin (e) The term "effective date of the privatization" as used in this subdivision means
the "effective date" as defined in section 353F.02, subdivision 3.
deleted text end

Subd. 2.

Exceptions.

The increased augmentation rates specified in subdivision
1 do not apply deleted text begin if the terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin to a privatized former new text end public
deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee:

(1) new text begin beginning the first of the month in which the privatized former public employee
new text end becomes covered again by a retirement plan enumerated in section 356.30, subdivision 3new text begin , if
the employee continues to be covered and accrues at least six months of credited service
new text end ; deleted text begin or
deleted text end

new text begin (2) beginning the first of the month after a privatized former public employee
terminates service with the successor entity; or
new text end

deleted text begin (2)deleted text end new text begin (3) if the person new text end begins receipt of a retirement annuity while employed by
the employer which assumed operations of new text begin or purchased new text end the deleted text begin medical facility or other
deleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unit or purchased the medical facility or other public
employing unit
deleted text end new text begin employernew text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 8.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.05, is amended to read:


353F.05 AUTHORIZATION FOR ADDITIONAL ALLOWABLE SERVICE
FOR EARLY RETIREMENT PURPOSES.

(a) For the purpose of determining eligibility for early retirement benefits provided
under section 353.30, subdivision 1a, of the edition of Minnesota Statutes published in
the year before the year in which the privatization occurred, and notwithstanding any
provision of chapter 353, to the contrary, the years of allowable service for a deleted text begin terminated
medical facility or other
deleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee who transfers
employment on the effective date new text begin of privatization new text end and does not apply for a refund of
contributions under section 353.34, subdivision 1, of the edition of Minnesota Statutes
published in the year before the year in which the privatization occurred, or any similar
provision, includes service with the successor employer to the deleted text begin medical facility or other
deleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end new text begin employer new text end following the effective date. The
successor employer shall provide any reports that the executive director of the Public
Employees Retirement Association may reasonably request to permit calculation of
benefits.

(b) To be eligible for early retirement benefits under this section, the individual must
separate from service with the successor new text begin to the privatized former public new text end employer deleted text begin to the
medical facility
deleted text end . The deleted text begin terminated eligible individualdeleted text end new text begin privatized former public employeenew text end , or
an individual authorized to act on behalf of that deleted text begin individualdeleted text end new text begin employeenew text end , may apply for an
annuity following application procedures under section 353.29, subdivision 4.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 9.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.051, subdivision 1, is amended to read:


Subdivision 1.

Eligibility.

A deleted text begin terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former
new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee who is totally and permanently disabled under Minnesota
Statutes 1998, section 353.01, subdivision 19, and who had a medically documented
preexisting condition of the disability before the termination of coverage, may apply for
a disability benefit.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 10.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.052, is amended to read:


353F.052 APPLICATION OF SURVIVING SPOUSE, DEPENDENT CHILD
PROVISION.

Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, subdivisions within section
353.32 of the edition of Minnesota Statutes published in the year before the year in which
a privatization occurred, applicable to the surviving spouse or dependent children of a
former member as defined in section 353.01, subdivision 7a, apply to the survivors of a
deleted text begin terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 11.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.06, is amended to read:


353F.06 APPLICATION OF REEMPLOYED ANNUITANT EARNINGS
LIMITATIONS.

new text begin Upon termination of service from the privatized former public employer or any
successor entity after the effective date of privatization, a privatized former public
employee must separate from any employment relationship with the privatized former
public employer or any successor entity for at least 30 days to qualify to receive a
retirement annuity under this chapter. If the privatized former public employee thereafter
resumes employment with the privatized former public employer or any successor entity
or a governmental subdivision under section 353.01, subdivision 6,
new text end the reemployed
annuitant earnings limitations of section 353.37 apply deleted text begin to any service by a terminated
medical facility or other public employing unit employee as an employee of the successor
employer to the medical facility
deleted text end .

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 12.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.07, is amended to read:


353F.07 EFFECT ON REFUND.

Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 353 to the contrary, deleted text begin terminated medical
facility or other
deleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employees may receive a refund
of employee accumulated contributions plus interest as provided in section 353.34,
subdivision 2
, at any time after the transfer of employment to the successor employer of
the deleted text begin terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end new text begin employernew text end .
If a deleted text begin terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employee
has received a refund from a pension plan listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, the
person may not repay that refund unless the person again becomes a member of one of
those listed plans and complies with section 356.30, subdivision 2.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 13.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 353F.08, is amended to read:


353F.08 COUNSELING SERVICES.

The deleted text begin medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end new text begin employer new text end and
the executive director of the Public Employees Retirement Association shall provide
deleted text begin terminated medical facility or otherdeleted text end new text begin privatized former new text end public deleted text begin employing unitdeleted text end employees
with counseling on their benefits available under the general employees retirement plan
of the Public Employees Retirement Association during deleted text begin the 90 days followingdeleted text end new text begin a period
mutually agreed upon before or after the effective date of
new text end privatization.

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 14. new text begin REPEALER.
new text end

new text begin Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 353F.02, subdivisions 4 and 5; and 353F.025,
subdivision 3,
new text end new text begin are repealed.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end