2006 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.
History: 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.
History: 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.
History: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 3; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 6

352F.04 AUGMENTATION INTEREST RATES FOR TERMINATED PRIVATIZED
EMPLOYEES.
    Subdivision 1. Enhanced augmentation rates. (a) The deferred annuity of a terminated
hospital employee who attained that status before June 2, 2006, is subject to augmentation under
Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 352.72, subdivision 2, except that the rate of augmentation 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.
(b) If a terminated hospital employee attained that status on or after June 2, 2006, 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.
    Subd. 2. Exceptions. The increased augmentation rates specified in subdivision 1 do not
apply if the terminated employee:
(1) becomes covered again by a retirement plan enumerated in section 356.30, subdivision
3 ; or
(2) begins receipt of a retirement annuity while employed by the employer which assumed
operations of the medical facility or other public employing unit or purchased the medical facility
or other public employing unit.
History: 1996 c 460 art 1 s 4; 1997 c 241 art 7 s 7; 2006 c 271 art 5 s 1

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

352F.051 CONTINUATION OF DISABILITY COVERAGE.
    Subdivision 1. Eligibility. A terminated hospital employee who is totally and permanently
disabled under section 352.01, subdivision 17, and who had a medically documented preexisting
condition of the disability before January 1, 1997, may apply under Minnesota Statutes 1996,
section 352.113, subdivision 1, for a disability benefit.
    Subd. 2. Calculation of benefits. A person qualifying under subdivision 1 is entitled to
receive a disability benefit calculated under Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 352.113, subdivision
3 . The disability benefit must be augmented under section 352.72, subdivision 2, from January 1,
1997, to the date on which the disability benefit begins to accrue.
    Subd. 3. Applicability of general law. Except as otherwise provided, section 352.113
applies to a person who qualifies for disability under subdivision 1.
History: 1Sp2001 c 10 art 9 s 1

352F.052 APPLICATION OF SURVIVING SPOUSE, DEPENDENT CHILD PROVISION.
Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, subdivisions within section 352.12 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, apply to
the survivors of a terminated hospital employee of Fairview, University of Minnesota Physicians,
or University Affiliated Family Physicians.
History: 2004 c 267 art 9 s 15

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