HF 1516

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 04/18/2011 09:31am

A bill for an act
relating to state government; authorizing retirement incentives for certain state
employees.

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

Section 1. new text begin RETIREMENT INCENTIVE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Eligibility. new text end

new text begin (a) An eligible appointing authority may provide the
retirement incentive in this section to an employee who:
new text end

new text begin (1) has at least 15 years of allowable service in one or more of the funds listed in
Minnesota Statutes, section 356.30, subdivision 3, or has at least 15 years of coverage by
the individual retirement account plan governed by Minnesota Statutes, chapter 354B,
and upon retirement is immediately eligible for a retirement annuity or benefit from one
or more of these funds;
new text end

new text begin (2) accepts the incentive no later than December 31, 2011, and retires no later than
June 30, 2012; and
new text end

new text begin (3) is not in receipt of a retirement plan, retirement annuity, retirement allowance, or
service pension from a fund listed in Minnesota Statutes, section 356.30, subdivision 3,
during the month preceding the termination of qualified employment.
new text end

new text begin (b) An eligible appointing authority is any appointing authority in the executive,
legislative, or judicial branch of state government, the Public Employees Retirement
Association, the Minnesota State Retirement System, the Teachers Retirement Association,
or the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
new text end

new text begin (c) An elected official is not eligible to receive an incentive under this section.
new text end

new text begin (d) An employee who, after termination of employment, receives an employer
contribution for health insurance may not receive a payment for health insurance under
this section from that appointing authority.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Incentive. new text end

new text begin For an employee eligible under subdivision 1, the appointing
authority will deposit into the employee's account in the health care savings plan
established in Minnesota Statutes, section 352.98, up to 24 months of the employer
contribution, as specified in the collective bargaining agreement or compensation plan
covering the position from which the employee terminates service, for health and dental
insurance for the employee, and, if the employee had dependent coverage immediately
before retirement, for the employee's dependents. The contributions provided under this
section are those the employee was receiving as of the date of termination, subject to any
changes in contributions specified in the collective bargaining agreement or compensation
plan covering the position from which the employee terminated service.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Employer discretion; implementation. new text end

new text begin Provision of an incentive under
this section is at the discretion of the appointing authority, except an appointing authority
must offer the incentive to all veterans, as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 197.447,
who meet other qualifications in subdivision 1. Other than for veterans, appointing
authorities in the executive branch must apply for approval from the commissioner of
management and budget before providing early retirement incentives under this section.
All appointing authorities and the commissioner's review must give consideration to issues
such as equity within the agency, budgetary constraints, and workforce planning concerns.
The appointing authority will determine the date of retirement upon consultation with the
employee. Unilateral implementation of this section by the appointing authority is not an
unfair labor practice under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 179A.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Acceptance. new text end

new text begin An employee who is eligible for an incentive under this
section, who is offered an incentive by the appointing authority, and who accepts the
incentive offer must do so in writing. A copy of the acceptance document must be
provided by the appointing authority to the applicable retirement plan within 15 days of
its execution.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Reemployment prohibition. new text end

new text begin An individual who receives an incentive
payment under this section may not be reemployed or hired as a consultant by any agency
or entity that participates in the State Employee Group Insurance Program for a period
of three years after termination of service.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end