as introduced - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
1.1 A bill for an act 1.2 relating to retirement; modifying the computation of 1.3 the retirement annuity formula for the teachers 1.4 retirement association, Minneapolis teachers 1.5 retirement fund association, St. Paul teachers 1.6 retirement fund association and Duluth teachers 1.7 retirement fund association coordinated members and 1.8 permitting bylaw amendments to provide certain early 1.9 retirement discounts to basic members of the 1.10 Minneapolis teachers retirement fund association and 1.11 St. Paul teachers retirement fund association, 1.12 amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, sections 354.05, 1.13 subdivision 38; 354.44, subdivision 6; 354A.011, 1.14 subdivision 15a; 354A.31, subdivisions 4 and 6; 1.15 354A.35, subdivision 2; repealing Minnesota Statutes 1.16 1998, section 354A.31, subdivisions 4a and 7. 1.17 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 1.18 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 354.05, 1.19 subdivision 38, is amended to read: 1.20 Subd. 38. [NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE.] "Normal retirement age" 1.21 means age 65 for a person whofirst becameis a member of the 1.22 association or who has service credit as a member of the 1.23 association and who is a member of a pension fund listed in 1.24 section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989. For a1.25person who first becomes a member of the association after June1.2630, 1989, normal retirement age means the higher of age 65 or1.27"retirement age," as defined in United States Code, title 42,1.28section 416(l), as amended, but not to exceed age 66. 1.29 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 354.44, 1.30 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 1.31 Subd. 6. [COMPUTATION OF FORMULA PROGRAM RETIREMENT 2.1 ANNUITY.](1) The formula retirement annuity must be computed in2.2accordance with the applicable provisions of the formulas stated2.3in clause (2) or (4) on the basis of each member's average2.4salary for the period of the member's formula service credit.2.5 (a) For all years of formula service credit, "average salary," 2.6 for the purpose of determining the member's retirement annuity, 2.7 means the average salary upon which contributions were made and 2.8 upon which payments were made to increase the salary limitation 2.9 provided in Minnesota Statutes 1971, section 354.511, for the 2.10 highest five successive years of formula service credit 2.11 provided, however, that such "average salary" shall not include 2.12 any more than the equivalent of 60 monthly salary payments. 2.13 Average salary must be based upon all years of formula service 2.14 credit if this service credit is less than five years. 2.15(2) This clause, in conjunction with clause (3), applies to2.16a person who first became a member of the association or a2.17member of a pension fund listed in section 356.30, subdivision2.183, before July 1, 1989, unless clause (4), in conjunction with2.19clause (5), produces a higher annuity amount, in which case2.20clause (4) applies.(b) The average salary as defined inclause2.21(1)paragraph (a), multiplied by thefollowing percentages2.22 percentage specified in section 356.19, subdivision 2, per year 2.23 of formula service credit shall determine the amount of the 2.24 annuity to which the coordinated memberqualifying thereforis 2.25 entitled:2.26Coordinated MemberBasic Member2.27Each year of servicethe percentthe percent2.28during first tenspecified inspecified in2.29section 356.19,section 356.19,2.30subdivision 1,subdivision 3,2.31per yearper year2.32Each year of servicethe percentthe percent2.33thereafterspecified inspecified in2.34section 356.19,section 356.19,2.35subdivision 2,subdivision 4,2.36per yearper year3.1(3)(i) This clause applies only to a person who first3.2became a member of the association or a member of a pension fund3.3listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989,3.4and whose annuity is higher when calculated under clause (2), in3.5conjunction with this clause than when calculated under clause3.6(4), in conjunction with clause (5).unless further restricted 3.7 in this subdivision. If the member is a basic plan member, the 3.8 average salary, as defined in paragraph (a), multiplied by the 3.9 percentage specified in section 356.19, subdivision 4, per year 3.10 of formula service credit shall determine the amount of the 3.11 annuity to which the basic member is entitled, unless further 3.12 restricted in this subdivision. 3.13(ii) Where any(c) If a member retires prior to normal 3.14 retirement age under a formula annuity, the member shall be paid 3.15 a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal annuity 3.16 provided inclause (2)paragraph (b) reduced by one-quarter of 3.17 one percent for each month that the member is under normal 3.18 retirement age at the time of retirement except that for any 3.19 member who has 30 or more years of allowable service credit, the 3.20 reduction shall be applied only for each month that the member 3.21 is under age 62. 3.22(iii)(d) Any member whose attained age plus credited 3.23 allowable service totals 90 years is entitled, upon application, 3.24 to a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal annuity 3.25provided in clause (2)under paragraph (b), without any 3.26 reductionby reason ofdue to early retirement. 3.27(4) This clause applies to a member who has become at least3.2855 years old and first became a member of the association after3.29June 30, 1989, and to any other member who has become at least3.3055 years old and whose annuity amount when calculated under this3.31clause and in conjunction with clause (5), is higher than it is3.32when calculated under clause (2), in conjunction with clause (3).3.33The average salary, as defined in clause (1) multiplied by the3.34percent specified by section 356.19, subdivision 4, for each3.35year of service for a basic member and by the percent specified3.36in section 356.19, subdivision 2, for each year of service for a4.1coordinated member shall determine the amount of the retirement4.2annuity to which the member is entitled.4.3(5) This clause applies to a person who has become at least4.455 years old and first becomes a member of the association after4.5June 30, 1989, and to any other member who has become at least4.655 years old and whose annuity is higher when calculated under4.7clause (4) in conjunction with this clause than when calculated4.8under clause (2), in conjunction with clause (3). An employee4.9who retires under the formula annuity before the normal4.10retirement age shall be paid the normal annuity provided in4.11clause (4) reduced so that the reduced annuity is the actuarial4.12equivalent of the annuity that would be payable to the employee4.13if the employee deferred receipt of the annuity and the annuity4.14amount were augmented at an annual rate of three percent4.15compounded annually from the day the annuity begins to accrue4.16until the normal retirement age.4.17 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 354A.011, 4.18 subdivision 15a, is amended to read: 4.19 Subd. 15a. [NORMAL RETIREMENT AGE.] "Normal retirement 4.20 age" means age 65 for a person whofirst becameis a member of 4.21 the coordinated program of the Minneapolis or St. Paul teachers 4.22 retirement fund association or the new law coordinated program 4.23 of the Duluth teachers retirement fund association or who has 4.24 service credit as a coordinated member of one of these 4.25 associations and who is a member of a pension fund listed in 4.26 section 356.30, subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989. For a4.27person who first became a member of the coordinated program of4.28the Minneapolis or St. Paul teachers retirement fund association4.29or the new law coordinated program of the Duluth teachers4.30retirement fund association after June 30, 1989, normal4.31retirement age means the higher of age 65 or retirement age, as4.32defined in United States Code, title 42, section 416(l), as4.33amended, but not to exceed age 66. For a person who is a member 4.34 of the basic program of the Minneapolis or St. Paul teachers 4.35 retirement fund association or the old law coordinated program 4.36 of the Duluth teachers retirement fund association, normal 5.1 retirement age means the age at which a teacher becomes eligible 5.2 for a normal retirement annuity computed upon meeting the age 5.3 and service requirements specified in the applicable provisions 5.4 of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the respective 5.5 teachers retirement fund association. 5.6 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 354A.31, 5.7 subdivision 4, is amended to read: 5.8 Subd. 4. [COMPUTATION OF THE NORMAL COORDINATED RETIREMENT 5.9 ANNUITY; MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL FUNDS.] (a) This subdivision 5.10 applies to the coordinated programs of the Minneapolis teachers 5.11 retirement fund association and the St. Paul teachers retirement 5.12 fund association and to the new law coordinated program of the 5.13 Duluth teachers retirement fund association. 5.14 (b) The normal coordinated retirement annuity shall be an 5.15 amount equal to a retiring coordinated member's average salary 5.16 multiplied by the retirement annuity formula 5.17 percentage multiplied by the years of credited coordinated 5.18 service, unless further restricted or reduced in this section. 5.19 Average salary for purposes of this section shall mean an amount 5.20 equal to the average salary upon which contributions were made 5.21 for the highest five successive years of service credit, but 5.22 which shall not in any event include any more than the 5.23 equivalent of 60 monthly salary payments. Average salary must 5.24 be based upon all years of service credit if this service credit 5.25 is less than five years. 5.26 (c)This paragraph, in conjunction with subdivision 6,5.27applies to a person who first became a member or a member in a5.28pension fund listed in section 356.30, subdivision 3, before5.29July 1, 1989, unless paragraph (d), in conjunction with5.30subdivision 7, produces a higher annuity amount, in which case5.31paragraph (d) will apply.The retirement annuity formula 5.32 percentage for purposes of thisparagraphsubdivision is the 5.33 percent specified in section 356.19, subdivision 21, per year5.34for each year of coordinated service for the first ten years and5.35the percent specified in section 356.19, subdivision 2, for each5.36year of coordinated service thereafter. 6.1(d) This paragraph applies to a person who has become at6.2least 55 years old and who first becomes a member after June 30,6.31989, and to any other member who has become at least 55 years6.4old and whose annuity amount, when calculated under this6.5paragraph and in conjunction with subdivision 7 is higher than6.6it is when calculated under paragraph (c), in conjunction with6.7the provisions of subdivision 6. The retirement annuity formula6.8percentage for purposes of this paragraph is the percent6.9specified in section 356.19, subdivision 2, for each year of6.10coordinated service.6.11 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 354A.31, 6.12 subdivision 6, is amended to read: 6.13 Subd. 6. [REDUCED RETIREMENT ANNUITY.]This subdivision6.14applies only to a person who first became a coordinated member6.15or a member of a pension fund listed in section 356.30,6.16subdivision 3, before July 1, 1989, and whose annuity is higher6.17when calculated using the retirement annuity formula percentage6.18in subdivision 4, paragraph (b), in conjunction with this6.19subdivision than when calculated under subdivision 4, paragraph6.20(c), in conjunction with subdivision 7.(a) Upon retirement at 6.21 an age before normal retirement age with three or more years of 6.22 service credit or prior to age 62 with at least 30 years of 6.23 service credit, a coordinated member shall be entitled to a 6.24 retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal retirement 6.25 annuity calculatedusing the retirement annuity formula6.26percentagein subdivision 4, paragraph (b),reduced by 6.27 one-quarter of one percent for each month that the coordinated 6.28 member is under normal retirement age if the coordinated member 6.29 has less than 30 years of service credit or is under the age of 6.30 62 if the coordinated member has at least 30 years of service 6.31 credit. 6.32 (b) Any coordinated member whose attained age plus credited 6.33 allowable service totals 90 years is entitled, upon application, 6.34 to a retirement annuity in an amount equal to the normal 6.35 retirement annuity calculated using the retirement annuity 6.36 formula percentage in subdivision 4, paragraph (b),without any 7.1 reductionby reason ofdue to early retirement. 7.2 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 354A.35, 7.3 subdivision 2, is amended to read: 7.4 Subd. 2. [DEATH WHILE ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE; SURVIVING SPOUSE 7.5 OPTIONAL ANNUITY.] (a) The surviving spouse of a coordinated 7.6 member who has credit for at least three years of service and 7.7 dies prior to retirement may elect to receive, instead of a 7.8 refund with interest under subdivision 1, an annuity equal to 7.9 the 100 percent joint and survivor annuity the member could have 7.10 qualified for had the member terminated service on the date of 7.11 death. The surviving spouse eligible for a surviving spouse 7.12 benefit under this paragraph may apply for the annuity at any 7.13 time after the date on which the deceased employee would have 7.14 attained the required age for retirement based on the employee's 7.15 allowable service. A surviving spouse eligible for surviving 7.16 spouse benefits under paragraph (b) or (c) may apply for an 7.17 annuity at any time after the member's death. The member's 7.18 surviving spouse shall be paid a joint and survivor annuity 7.19 under section 354A.32 and computed under section 354A.31. 7.20 (b) If the member was under age 55 and has credit for at 7.21 least 30 years of allowable service on the date of death, the 7.22 surviving spouse may elect to receive a 100 percent joint and 7.23 survivor annuity based on the age of the member and surviving 7.24 spouse on the date of death. The annuity is payable using the 7.25 full early retirement reduction under section 354A.31, 7.26 subdivision 6, paragraph (a), to age 55 and one-half of the 7.27 early retirement reduction from age 55 to the age payment begins. 7.28 (c) If the member was under age 55 and has credit for at 7.29 least three years of allowable service on the date of death but 7.30 did not yet qualify for retirement, the surviving spouse may 7.31 elect to receive the 100 percent joint and survivor annuity 7.32 based on the age of the member and the survivor at the time of 7.33 death. The annuity is payable using the full early retirement 7.34 reduction under section 354A.31, subdivision 6or 7, to age 55 7.35 and one-half of the early retirement reduction from age 55 to 7.36 the date payment begins. 8.1 (d) Sections 354A.37, subdivision 2, and 354A.39 apply to a 8.2 deferred annuity or surviving spouse benefit payable under this 8.3 section. The benefits are payable for the life of the surviving 8.4 spouse, or upon expiration of the term certain benefit payment 8.5 under subdivision 2b. 8.6 Sec. 7. [PERMISSION TO AMEND BYLAWS.] 8.7 The Minneapolis teachers retirement fund association and 8.8 St. Paul teachers retirement fund association are authorized to 8.9 amend their bylaws or articles of incorporation, as applicable, 8.10 to revise provisions applicable to the basic members of the 8.11 applicable plan to provide an annuity reduction due to early 8.12 retirement of one-quarter of one percent per month in any 8.13 situation where an actuarial reduction for early retirement 8.14 currently applies. 8.15 Sec. 8. [REPEALER.] 8.16 Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 354A.31, subdivisions 4a 8.17 and 7, are repealed. 8.18 Sec. 9. [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 8.19 Sections 1 to 8 are effective May 16, 1999.