1997 Minnesota Statutes

CHAPTER 352F. University hospital employee retirement

     352F.01 Purpose. 

    The purpose of this chapter is to assure, to the extent 
 possible, that persons employed at the University of Minnesota 
 hospital and clinics will be entitled to receive future 
 retirement benefits under the general state employees retirement 
 plan of the Minnesota state retirement system commensurate with 
 the prior contributions made by them or on their behalf upon the 
 integration of the University of Minnesota hospital and clinics 
 and Fairview hospital and healthcare services. 

    HIST: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 1 

     352F.02 Definitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Definitions.  As used in this chapter, 
 unless the context or subject matter indicates otherwise, the 
 following terms have the meanings given in this section. 

    Subd. 2.    Allowable service.  "Allowable service" has 
 the meaning provided in Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 352.01, 
 subdivision 11. 

    Subd. 3.    Effective date.  "Effective date" is the 
 date terminated hospital employees transfer employment to 
 Fairview under a definitive integration agreement between the 
 University of Minnesota and Fairview or the date terminated 
 academic health center employees are transferred to the 
 University of Minnesota Physicians or University Affiliated 
 Family Physicians, whichever is applicable. 

    Subd. 4.    Fairview.  "Fairview" means Fairview 
 hospital and healthcare services, a Minnesota nonprofit 
 corporation, and its successors. 

    Subd. 5.    Section.  "Section" means the designated 
 section of Minnesota Statutes. 

    Subd. 6.    Terminated hospital employee.  "Terminated 
 hospital employee" means a person who: 

    (1) was employed on the day before the effective date by 
 the University of Minnesota at the University of Minnesota 
 hospital and clinics or the academic health center and was paid 
 on a biweekly payroll; 

    (2) terminated employment with the University of Minnesota 
 on the day before the effective date or in the case of employees 
 of the academic health center, terminated employment with the 
 University of Minnesota after the effective date but immediately 
 transferred employment to the University of Minnesota Physicians 
 or University Affiliated Family Physicians; and 

    (3) was a participant in the general state employees 
 retirement plan of the Minnesota state retirement system at the 
 time of termination of employment with the University of 
 Minnesota. 

    Subd. 7.    University of Minnesota.  "University of 
 Minnesota" means University of Minnesota hospital and clinics, 
 the hospitals and clinics operated by the regents of the 
 University of Minnesota. 

    Subd. 8.    Years of allowable service.  "Years of 
 allowable service" has the meaning provided in Minnesota 
 Statutes 1994, section 352.01, subdivision 16. 

    Subd. 9.    Academic health center.  "Academic health 
 center" means the seven professional schools in health care 
 related disciplines at the University of Minnesota. 

    Subd. 10.    University of Minnesota Physicians.  
 "University of Minnesota Physicians" means the multispecialty 
 single group medical practice group in which medical school 
 faculty will practice medicine beginning in 1997. 

    Subd. 11.    University Affiliated Family Physicians.  
 "University Affiliated Family Physicians" means the private 
 practice group of the department of family practice in the 
 university's medical school. 

    HIST: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 2; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 1-5 

     352F.03 Vesting rule for certain employees. 

    Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 352 to the 
 contrary, a terminated hospital employee or academic health 
 center employee is eligible to receive a retirement annuity 
 under Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 352.115, without regard 
 to the requirement for three years of allowable service. 

    HIST: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 3; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 6 

     352F.04 Augmentation interest rate for terminated 
  university hospital employees. 

    The deferred annuity of a terminated hospital employee is 
 subject to augmentation in accordance with Minnesota Statutes 
 1994, section 352.72, subdivision 2, except that the rate of 
 interest for this purpose is 5.5 percent compounded annually 
 until January 1 following the year in which such person attains 
 age 55.  From that date to the effective date of retirement, the 
 rate is 7.5 percent.  These increased augmentation rates are no 
 longer applicable for any time after the terminated hospital 
 employee or academic health center employee becomes covered 
 again by a retirement fund enumerated in section 356.30, 
 subdivision 3.  These increased deferred annuity augmentation 
 rates do not apply to a terminated transferred hospital employee 
 or academic health center employee who begins receipt of a 
 retirement annuity while employed by Fairview. 

    HIST: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 4; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 7 

     352F.05 Authorization for additional allowable service 
  for certain early retirement purposes. 

    For purpose of determining eligibility for early retirement 
 benefits provided under Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 
 352.116, subdivision 1, paragraphs (a) and (b), and 
 notwithstanding any provision of chapter 352 to the contrary, 
 the years of allowable service for a terminated hospital 
 employee who transfers to employment at Fairview, University of 
 Minnesota Physicians, or University Affiliated Family Physicians 
 on the effective date and does not apply for a refund of 
 contributions under Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 352.22, 
 subdivision 2, or any similar provision in future Minnesota 
 Statutes, includes service with Fairview, University of 
 Minnesota Physicians, or University Affiliated Family Physicians 
 following the effective date.  Fairview, University of Minnesota 
 Physicians, or University Affiliated Family Physicians shall 
 provide any reports that the executive director of the Minnesota 
 state retirement system may reasonably request to permit 
 calculation of benefits. 

    To be eligible for early retirement benefits under this 
 section, the individual must separate from service with 
 Fairview, University of Minnesota Physicians, or University 
 Affiliated Family Physicians.  The terminated eligible 
 individual, or an individual authorized to act on behalf of that 
 individual, may apply for an annuity following application 
 procedures under section 352.115, subdivision 7. 

    HIST: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 5; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 8 

     352F.06 Application of reemployed annuitant earnings 
  limitations. 

    The reemployed annuitant earnings limitations of section 
 352.115, subdivision 10, apply to any service by a terminated 
 hospital employee as an employee of Fairview, University of 
 Minnesota Physicians, or University Affiliated Family Physicians.

    HIST: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 6; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 9 

     352F.07 Effect on refund. 

    Notwithstanding any provision of chapter 352 to the 
 contrary, terminated hospital employees may receive a refund of 
 employee accumulated contributions plus interest at the rate of 
 six percent per year compounded annually in accordance with 
 Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 352.22, subdivision 2, at any 
 time after the transfer of employment to Fairview, University of 
 Minnesota Physicians, or University Affiliated Family 
 Physicians.  If a terminated hospital employee has received a 
 refund from a pension plan enumerated in section 356.30, 
 subdivision 3, the person may not repay that refund unless the 
 person again becomes a member of one of those enumerated plans 
 and complies with section 356.30, subdivision 2.  

    HIST: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 7; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 10 

     352F.08 Counseling services. 

    The University of Minnesota hospital and clinics or the 
 academic health center, whichever is applicable and the 
 Minnesota state retirement system shall provide terminated 
 hospital employees with counseling on their benefits available 
 under the general state employees retirement plan of the 
 Minnesota state retirement system. 

    HIST: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 8; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 11