Legislature(2005 - 2006)CAPITOL 106
03/07/2006 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Personnel Board | |
| HB448 | |
| HB475 | |
| HB383 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 475 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 448 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | HB 383 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 475-PUB EMPLOYEE & TEACHER RETIREMENT & SBS [Contains discussion of SB 141 and SB 293.] 8:24:49 AM CHAIR SEATON announced that the next order of business was HOUSE BILL NO. 475, "An Act describing contributions to the health reimbursement arrangement plan for certain teachers and public employees; clarifying eligibility for membership in that health reimbursement arrangement plan; relating to the 'administrator' of the Public Employees' Retirement System of Alaska; and providing for an effective date." 8:25:12 AM KATIE SHOWS, Staff to Representative Paul Seaton, Alaska State Legislature, on behalf of Representative Seaton, sponsor of HB 475, suggested that since the answers to questions submitted to the Division of Retirement & Benefits by the committee at the last hearing were still forthcoming, the committee may best be served by proceeding to discussion of amendments. [CHAIR SEATON handed the gavel over to Vice Chair Gatto.] 8:26:45 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Amendment 1, which read as follows [original punctuation provided, but with some formatting changed]: Page 5, following line 8: Insert new bill sections to read: * Sec. 10. AS 14.25. is amended by adding new sections to read: Sec. AS 14.25.486. Disability benefit adjustment. (a) Once each year, the administrator shall increase disability benefits. The amount of the increase is a percentage of the current disability benefit equal to the lesser of 75 percent of the increase of the cost of living in the preceding calendar year or nine percent. (b) If a disabled member was not receiving a benefit during the entire preceding calendar year, the increase in the benefit under this section shall be adjusted by multiplying it by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months for which the benefit was received in the preceding calendar year and the denominator of which is 12. (c) An increase in benefit payments under this section is effective July 1 of each year and is based on the percentage increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for Anchorage, Alaska during the previous calendar year as determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (d) Benefit adjustments under this section shall terminate the last day of the month following the date in which a disabled member is no longer receiving a disability benefit under AS 14.25.485. Sec. AS 14.25.488. Survivor's pension adjustment. (a) Once each year, the administrator shall increase payments to persons age 60 or older receiving a survivor's pension under AS 14.25.485(i) or AS 14.25.487(c) and to persons who have received a survivor's pension under AS 14.25.485(i) or AS 14.25.487(c) for at least 8 years who are not otherwise eligible for an increase under this section. (b) The amount of the increase is a percentage of the current survivor's pension equal to the lesser of 50 percent of the increase in the cost of living in the preceding calendar year or six percent. (c) If a survivor was not receiving a pension during the entire preceding calendar year, the increase in the survivor's pension under this section shall be adjusted by multiplying it by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months for which the pension was received in the preceding calendar year and the denominator of which is 12. (d) The administrator shall increase the initial survivor's pension paid to a survivor of a member who died while receiving disability benefits by a percentage equal to the total cumulative percentage that has been applied to the member's disability benefit under AS 14.25.486. (e) An increase in benefit payments under this section is effective July 1 of each year and is based on the percentage increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for Anchorage, Alaska during the previous calendar year as determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (f) Pension adjustments under this section shall terminate the last day of the month following the date in which a survivor is no longer receiving a survivor's pension under AS 14.25.485(i) or AS 14.25.487(e). Sec. AS 14.25.489. Premiums for retiree major medical insurance coverage upon termination of disability benefits or survivor's pension. The premium for retiree major medical insurance coverage payable by a member whose disability benefit is terminated under AS 14.25.485(g) or by an eligible survivor whose survivor pension is terminated under AS 14.25.485(i) or AS 14.25.487(e) when the member would have been eligible for normal retirement if the member had survived shall be determined under AS 14.25.480(g)(2) as if the member or survivor were eligible for Medicare. Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. 8:27:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER objected for discussion purposes. 8:27:35 AM MS. SHOWS spoke to Amendment 1. She directed attention to the last paragraph on the second page of the amendment and said the intent of the language is to clarify that if an employee reaches normal retirement age before the age of Medicare eligibility, he/she would receive benefits "as if they were Medicare age eligible." She explained that that would mean the plan would pay a percentage of the person's premium for health care. In response to questions from Vice Chair Gatto, she offered examples. 8:33:12 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON added that the plan would pay the premium for the person who reaches retirement eligibility until that person reaches Medicare eligibility. 8:34:45 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER offered a scenario as follows: I have ... three people with disabilities [who] qualify under this, and they've reached the normal retirement age, and now I'm also responsible for their 90 percent health premium, but you don't have any in your system. So, are my costs higher than yours, or is this averaged across the entire pool. 8:35:40 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said that issue is clarified within an upcoming amendment. He said the payments from all the employers will go into a system-wide trust account. 8:37:37 AM MS. SHOWS, in response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto, said once a person has reached normal retirement age, he/she has access to the defined contribution retirement count. There is an increase of 75 percent of the Anchorage consumer price index (CPI), which occurs the year after the member becomes disabled; therefore, once the member becomes disabled, his/her disability benefit would increase annually by 75 percent of the Anchorage CPI. VICE CHAIR GATTO asked, "Instead of what?" MS. SHOWS replied, "Instead of not increasing at all and being 40 percent of the salary that they made ... the last year of employment." VICE CHAIR GATTO asked for confirmation that "that salary would be 20 years old now, and so we're trying to fix that calculation." MS. SHOWS indicated that Vice Chair Gatto is correct. She added, "And we're marrying current language ... for defined benefit employees." 8:38:39 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON noted that another amendment in the committee packet addresses the death and disability benefit, so that under the defined contribution plan a person cannot be taking out defined contribution payments out while simultaneously receiving disability benefits. In response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto he offered his understanding that a person can choose at normal retirement age to "take your DC plan out" and then "not continue on with disability benefits" 8:39:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER removed her objection to Amendment 1. There being no further objection, Amendment 1 was adopted. 8:40:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Amendment 2, which read as follows [original punctuation provided, but with some formatting changed]: Page 14, following line 10: Insert new bill sections to read: * Sec. 37. AS 39.35 is amended by adding new sections to read: Sec. AS 39.35.891. Disability benefit and disabled peace officer or fire fighter retirement benefit adjustment. (a) Once each year, the administrator shall increase disability benefits and retirement benefits elected by disabled peace officers or firefighters under AS 39.35.890(h)(2). The amount of the increase is a percentage of the current disability benefit or retirement benefit equal to the lesser of 75 percent of the increase of the cost of living in the preceding calendar year or nine percent. (b) If a disabled member was not receiving a benefit during the entire preceding calendar year, the increase in the benefit under this section shall be adjusted by multiplying it by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months for which the benefit was received in the preceding calendar year and the denominator of which is 12. (c) If a disabled peace officer or fire fighter elects to receive a retirement benefit in the amount calculated under AS 39.35.890(h)(2), the administrator shall, at the time the disabled peace officer or firefighter is appointed to retirement, increase the retirement benefit by a percentage equal to the total cumulative percentage that has been applied to the disabled peace officer's or fire fighter's disability benefit under this section. (d) An increase in benefit payments under this section is effective July 1 of each year and is based on the percentage increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for Anchorage, Alaska during the previous calendar year as determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (e) Benefit adjustments under this section shall terminate the last day of the month following the date in which a disabled member is no longer receiving a disability benefit under AS 39.35.890 unless the member is a disabled peace officer or fire fighter and has chosen a retirement benefit under AS 39.35.890(h)(2). Sec. AS 39.35.893. Survivor's pension adjustment. (a) Once each year, the administrator shall increase payments to persons age 60 or older receiving a survivor's pension under AS 39.35.890(k) or AS 39.35.892(c) and to persons who have received a survivor's pension under AS 39.35.890(k) or AS 39.35.892(c) for at least 5 years who are not otherwise eligible for an increase under this section. (b) The amount of the increase is a percentage of the current survivor's pension equal to the lesser of 50 percent of the increase in the cost of living in the preceding calendar year or six percent. (c) If a survivor was not receiving a pension during the entire preceding calendar year, the increase in the survivor's pension under this section shall be adjusted by multiplying it by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months for which the pension was received in the preceding calendar year and the denominator of which is 12. (d) The administrator shall increase the initial survivor's pension paid to a survivor of a member who died while receiving disability benefits by a percentage equal to the total cumulative percentage that has been applied to the member's disability benefit under AS 39.35.891. (e) An increase in benefit payments under this section is effective July 1 of each year and is based on the percentage increase in the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers for Anchorage, Alaska during the previous calendar year as determined by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. (f) Pension adjustments under this section shall terminate the last day of the month following the date in which a survivor is no longer receiving a survivor's pension under AS 39.35.890(k) or AS 39.35.892(e). Sec. AS 39.35.894. Premiums for retiree major medical insurance coverage upon termination of disability benefits or survivor's pension. The premium for retiree major medical insurance coverage payable by an employee whose disability benefit is terminated under AS 39.35.890(g) or by an eligible survivor whose survivor pension is terminated under AS 39.35.890(k) or AS 39.35.892(e) when the employee would have been eligible for normal retirement if the employee had survived shall be determined under AS 39.35.880(g)(2) as if the employee or survivor were eligible for Medicare. Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. 8:40:26 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER objected for discussion purposes. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON explained that Amendment 2 mirrors [Amendment 1], but addresses police and fire. REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER removed her objection. 8:41:06 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO objected for discussion purposes. 8:41:20 AM MS. SHOWS noted that the language of the amendment that is specific to police/fire is [subsection] (c). In response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto, she said Amendment 2 would apply to a police/fire defined contribution member hired after July 1, 2006. She continued: They become disabled; they receive a disability benefit - the same disability benefit as their Tier III [defined benefit] colleague. And when they hit normal retirement age, at that point they make a decision: Do I want to collect a lump sum - my defined contribution account - or do I want to continue receiving a monthly benefit ... calculated in the same manner as my Tier III colleague when he or she retires? 8:42:36 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON clarified as follows: The only way this applies to any employee is, first of all, if they're hired after July 1, 2006, or if their employer elects to allow nonvested employees to convert from their defined benefit to a defined contribution plan and if that individual employee also elects to change. So, it's not forced on any employee; but it's not available to every employee either. CHAIR SEATON offered further details. VICE CHAIR GATTO delivered a caveat to his fellow police/fire workers to consider carefully before making elections that are irrevocable. 8:44:23 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON proffered that before anyone will be making those elections, the Division of Retirement & Benefits will provide a personal spread sheet showing the outcome comparisons between a DC and DB plan. 8:45:09 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO removed his objection to Amendment 2. There being no further objection, Amendment 2 was adopted. 8:45:37 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Amendment 3, which read as follows [original punctuation provided, but with some formatting changed]: Page 10, following line 2: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 25. AS 39.35.250(a) is amended to read: (a) An employer shall make contributions to the plan in amounts determined in accordance with this section. For the purposes of this section, the past service date for each employer is the entry date of the employer or December 31, 1972, whichever is later. After December 31, 1972, if amendments to AS 39.35.095 - 39.35.680 are enacted that substantially affect benefits accrued before the effective date of the amendment, the past service date will be changed to December 31 of the year immediately preceding that in which the amendment is enacted. The contribution rate is the sum of the consolidated employer normal cost rate and the past service rate as certified by the board. * Sec. 26. AS 39.35.250(b) is amended to read: (b) In (a) of this section, "consolidated employer normal cost rate" means the percentage of compensation of all active employees in the plan which, if paid over the period of [THEIR] credited service of active employees in the plan after the [THEIR] past service date and when combined with all employee contributions to the plan, is sufficient to provide the benefits earned after such past service dates. This percentage is [UNIFORMLY] determined at the plan levelfor all employers and is applicable to each employer. * Sec. 27. AS 39.35.250(c) is amended to read: (c) In (a) of this section, "past service rate" means the percentage of compensation of all active employees in the system [PLAN] necessary to provide the annual amount required to amortize the unfunded obligations of the employer for benefits earned by the employer's members in the plan before the [EMPLOYER'S PAST SERVICE DATE] date of the last actuarial valuation over a period not to exceed [40 YEARS] the maximum allowed by the governmental accounting standards board. [THE PERIOD OF AMORTIZATION BEGINS AT THE PAST SERVICE DATE OF EACH EMPLOYER.] The percentage is separately determined for each employer. * Sec. 28. AS 39.35.270 (a) is amended to read: (a) The amount of each employer's contributions shall be determined by applying the [EMPLOYER'S CONTRIBUTION] consolidated employer normal cost rate [,AS CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD,] to the total compensation paid to the employer's active employees of the [EMPLOYER] plan and by applying the employer's past service rate to the total compensation paid to the employer's active employees in the system for each payroll period [AND BY], including any adjustments to contributions required by AS 39.35.520 (a). This amount shall be remitted by the employer to the administrator in accordance with AS 39.35.610." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Reason: The current statutes defining contributions by employers calculate the contribution rates as a percentage of the "compensation of all active employees in the plan." The "plan" is defined as the retirement plan established under AS 39.35.095- 39.35.680, or the DB plan. This amendment allows for the normal cost rate to be applied to the payroll base of the employer's DB plan members and the past service rate to be applied to the payroll base of all the employer's members in the system, thus keeping employer contribution rates for the DB plan lower than would otherwise be calculated. Consequence: Employer rates for past service costs under the DB plan will continue to rise as the amortized liability is applied to a shrinking payroll paid to members of the DB plan. However, this will neither increase the employers [sic] liability nor will it relieve the employers of the liability, it merely restates the liability as a higher percentage of applicable payroll. 8:45:49 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER objected [for discussion purposes]. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON spoke to Amendment 3. 8:46:42 AM MS. SHOWS confirmed that Amendment 3 defines the consolidated normal cost. 8:47:10 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, regarding changes to Section 27 as shown in Amendment 3, said the language is being changed to ensure that the legislation meets with "what's currently approved and will be approved in the future government accounting issues." 8:47:54 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER asked "if this is a reference to the possibility of having a ... later retirement date, later Medicare eligibility date - that kind of thing." 8:48:12 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON answered no. He explained that there had been a word switch that had an unintentional consequence of not defining the entire wage base as being what will be used as the calculation of the cost rates. 8:50:57 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER removed her objection. 8:51:05 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO objected for discussion purposes. He observed that many changes are being proposed and said it is difficult to collect all the data and review it. 8:51:56 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON referred to the footnotes in Amendment 3 [showing the reason and consequence for the amendment]. VICE CHAIR GATTO removed his objection to Amendment 3. There being no further objection, Amendment 3 was adopted. 8:53:11 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Amendment 4, which read as follows [original punctuation provided, but with some formatting changed]: Page 2, following line 11: Insert new bill sections to read: "* Sec. 2. AS 14.25.070(a) is amended to read: (a) An employer shall make contributions to the plan in accordance with this section and as certified by the board in an amount sufficient, after subtracting member contributions, to provide the benefits of AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220. The amount shall be calculated by applying the normal cost rate to the sum total of the base salaries paid to members in the plan and by applying the past service rate to the sum total of the base salaries paid to members in the system[AN EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTION RATE, CERTIFIED BY THE BOARD, AGAINST THE SUM TOTAL OF THE BASE SALARIES PAID TO MEMBERS], including any adjustments to contributions required by as 14.25.173(a). This amount shall be remitted by the employer to the administrator in accordance with AS 14.25.065. * Sec 3. AS 14.25.070 is amended by adding a new section to read: (c) In (a) of this section, "normal cost rate" means the percentage of compensation of all active members in the plan which, when combined with the member contribution rate of active members in the plan, is sufficient to provide the benefits which are expected to be credited with respect to service during the year beginning after the last valuation date. This percentage is uniformly determined for all employers and is applicable to each employer. * Sec 4. AS 14.25.070 is amended by adding a new section to read: (d) In (a) of this section, "past service rate" means the percentage of compensation of all active members in the system necessary to provide the annual amount required to amortize the unfunded obligations of the employers for benefits earned by members in the plan before the date of the last actuarial valuation over a period not to exceed the maximum period allowed by the governmental accounting standards board. This percentage is uniformly determined for all employers and is applicable to each employer." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. Reason: The statutes defining contributions by employers reference contributions to the "plan," and specify that the employer contribution rate will be applied to the salaries paid to "members." The "plan" is defined as the retirement plan established under AS 14.25.009-14.25.220, or the DB plan. A member in the DB plan is defined as "a person eligible to participate in the plan and who is covered by the plan….". This amendment allows for the normal cost rate to be applied to the payroll base of the employer's DB plan members and the past service rate to be applied to the payroll base of all the employer's members in the system, thus keeping employer contribution rates for the DB plan lower than would otherwise be calculated. Consequence: Employer rates for past service costs under the DB plan will continue to rise as the amortized liability is applied to a shrinking payroll paid to members of the DB plan. However, this will neither increase the employers [sic] liability nor will it relieve the employers of the liability, it merely restates the liability as a higher percentage of applicable payroll. 8:53:38 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO objected for discussion purposes. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON explained that Amendment 4 is the same as the previous amendment, but relates to TRS. VICE CHAIR GATTO removed his objection to Amendment 4. There being no further objection, Amendment 4 was adopted. 8:53:57 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON moved to adopt Amendment 5, which read as follows [original punctuation provided, but with some formatting changed]: Page 2, line 27, following "plan": Insert: ", applied as a percentage of compensation paid to members in the plan from July 1 to the following June 30," Page 11, line 11, following "plan": Insert: ", applied as a percentage of compensation paid to employees in the plan from July 1 to the following June 30," Page 18, following line 21: Insert new bill section to read: "Sec. 51. Sec. 134 of ch.9, FSSLA 2005, is amended to read: Sec. 134. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to read: EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS FOR OCCUPATIONAL DISABILITY AND DEATH BENEFITS IN THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' DEFINED CONTRIBUTION RETIREMENT PLAN FOR THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR THE PLAN IS IN EFFECT. Notwithstanding AS 39.35.750(e), added by sec. 122 of this Act, for the first fiscal year in which the public employees' defined contribution retirement plan is in effect, the employer contribution to fully fund the cost of providing occupational disability and occupational death benefits under AS 39.35.890 and 39.35.892 shall be equal to (1) 0.4 percent of the compensation for peace officers and fire fighters who are members in the plan; and (2) 0.3 percent of the compensation for all other employees who are members in the plan." Renumber the following bill sections accordingly. 8:54:08 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER objected for discussion purposes. 8:54:17 AM MS. SHOWS stated that Amendment 5 clarifies how the first year of death and disability benefits for PERS and TRS members will be paid. She noted that [paragraphs] (1) and (2) in Section 51, as shown in Amendment 5, set out the percentage that will be paid in that first year. After that point, she explained, the percentage will be actuarially calculated. She said, "So, this is so we make sure we can start off with something in the pot." 8:55:07 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, in response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto, confirmed that village public safety officers (VPSOs) are not included in police/fire. 8:55:14 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO remarked that medics are often included with police/fire, but historically that has not always been the case. He said he wants the definitions of terms to be clear in this regard. 8:56:00 AM MS. SHOWS responded that the Division of Retirement & Benefits has prepared comments on the definition of peace officer. 8:56:17 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO removed his objection to Amendment 5. There being no further objection, Amendment 5 was adopted. 8:57:40 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO asked if there are other groups beside VPSOs that could approach the legislature and say they are qualified under these statutes. 8:58:49 AM TRACI CARPENTER, Project Manager, Health Benefits Section, Division of Retirement & Benefits, Department of Administration, said the director of the Division of Retirement & Benefits is probably better qualified to answer that question. Notwithstanding that, she offered her belief that Section 45 of HB 475 is a duplication of a definition in statute and specifies the definition of a police officer and fire fighter. She said AS 39.35.680 lists the types of job classes considered to be part of the police officer and fire fighter group. She said there certainly could be groups that could approach the division requesting to be included under that classification. She offered her understanding that juvenile probation officers have attempted that in the past. VICE CHAIR GATTO asked if an animal control officer is considered a peace officer. 9:00:05 AM MELANIE MILLHORN, Director, Division of Retirement & Benefits, Department of Administration, answered no. She stated, "The statute provides those classifications that are specifically identified as police and fire fighter, and the legislature has the purview to determine who will be included for police and fire fighters under that definition." She said the division looks at both the definition of police and fire fighters and the regulation that encompasses the body of work that is performed, in order to make a determination if an individual qualifies under that job category. She continued: While VPSOs were asked to be included as part of police and fire fighters, the division sought a private-letter ruling to determine if they would be includable, or not, and the private-letter ruling in 2003 determined that they were not includable, because ... they're hired by village corporations. And because of that, the village corporation has control over village public safety officers, with regard to hiring and firing, and that is not under the control under [a] political subdivision or municipality, which would then allow them to be included in [the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)]. 9:02:14 AM MS. MILLHORN, in response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto regarding full-time, part-time, and volunteer work, said in order for an individual to receive PERS credit and service, he/she would have to meet all of the criteria in statutory definitions. In response to a follow-up question from Vice Chair Gatto, she confirmed that there is language in statute that refers to compensation. 9:03:03 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO asked, "Based on that statement, who would be excluded in those categories?" MS. MILLHORN asked for clarification. VICE CHAIR GATTO responded as follows: The paid people [are] not a problem. Then we have on- call people who are not paid unless they respond. They [get a] call at two in the morning; they go out for a traffic accident; they come back [and] they [get] $25 or $10 an hour - some number. Then there are people who get the same call, and respond, and come back, and receive zero [payment]. They do the same job. Are they both qualified under the statute to get the benefits? 9:03:30 AM MS. MILLHORN replied, "I do not know that specific question given the scenario that you provided, but I would be happy to research it and get back to you." VICE CHAIR GATTO added: I think Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department has, certainly, paid personnel full-time - the fire chief, et cetera. ... They may have some on-call people who are paid all the time, but they have some ... people that will be there paid all the time, but not all. Similarly in [Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su)] where they're paid. Now those are all big communities. The concern I have is what happens in Homer, ... Wrangell, ... [and] Nondalton; what happens in other places where ... departments, ... fire trucks, ... [and] training exists. They're volunteers, they show up, they do the job, they go home. Are they somehow excluded? And if so, there must be strong justification and it's probably already in the statute, but I'm not aware of having seen it yet. 9:05:00 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO, regarding a previous question relating to surviving spousal benefits, said he wants to know if it is possible to "pay someone less than the amount they have earned because they received an occupational disability ... past their normal retirement." In response to a question from Chair Seaton he said he is asking the question in relation to the defined benefit retirement plan. 9:06:42 AM MS. CARPENTER offered the following: Once a disabled member ... first qualifies for a normal retirement, that normal retirement - and I'll start with under the defined benefits plan right now - would then be calculated based on that member's highest years' salary, according to the formula, and the number of years of service. While that person is disabled, receiving ... disability benefits, those years ... of disability payments are counting towards service. So, once the person reaches a normal retirement age, based on their age and/or years of service, then it's a normal retirement calculation. If that person had been working for five years prior to the disability, then the division would take the highest three years, if that is the formula, for their tier, and use that salary to calculate the benefit. So, the disability benefit goes away and the normal retirement benefit is calculated. 9:07:58 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO said that he had been considering a person who reached normal retirement, continued to work, and became disabled during the time working past normal retirement. He asked how that person's benefit is calculated. 9:08:29 AM MS. CARPENTER answered that because that person has continued to work all those years, he/she is eligible for a normal retirement; therefore, the division would "use the highest salaries within the entire work history." In response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto, she said current statute defines disability as being permanent and total. In response to a follow-up question from Vice Chair Gatto, she said it seems reasonable that if a person is no longer able to work, a normal retirement - if that person was eligible for one - would be a better benefit than accepting a disability benefit. 9:09:09 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO asked, "And so, is it the higher of the normal benefit or the disability benefit, or is it defined as the disability benefit?" MS. CARPENTER answered, "I don't believe it is defined, but we can check with our retirement manager ...." VICE CHAIR GATTO said, "That's the center of the question .... Given the circumstances where we're beyond the time of normal retirement and continue to work, what happens ... to them?" 9:10:29 AM MS. CARPENTER, in response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto, stated that the surviving spouse does not receive the same retirement benefit as the deceased spouse. The benefit of the survivor depends on which joint survivor selection was made by the member, if any. 9:11:02 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO said: Let's just say, "No children [and] 100 percent [selection]." Could that 100 percent benefit recipient - the spouse who survives - actually get a lower pension under the circumstance of saying, "Well, they didn't work 20 years or 30; they actually worked 32," and there's a penalty for that that says, "Well, you worked 32 years, you got a certain pension, but your spouse, who at that moment is looking forward to your pension actually will get a reduction." That's the question. If so, I'd like to know that. MS. CARPENTER stated her belief that the answer to that question is yes. VICE CHAIR GATTO added, "But if they worked exactly the number of years required, then the spouse receives no reduction in pension. Is that true?" MS. CARPENTER offered her understanding that the surviving spouse always receives a lower benefit than the member under the normal retirement scenario. 9:12:08 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO responded that he doesn't think that's true. He offered his understanding that if a person reaches normal retirement, retires, and then dies, that person's spouse would receive that person's pension. 9:12:26 AM MS. MILLHORN [shook her head no]. She explained that if a member chooses a joint survivor benefit at retirement, then dies, the benefits are then "actuarially reduced from what it would be normally" and the spouse would receive a lifetime monthly benefit equal to 75 percent [of the deceased member's benefit]. MS. MILLHORN, in response to questions from Vice Chair Gatto, reviewed that the election for joint survivor benefit is irrevocable, and there are three percentages from which to choose: 75 percent, 50 percent, and 66.66 percent. She explained that there is a section within the division that - at the time that a member is contemplating retirement - will calculate the member's benefits under normal retirement, calculate joint and survivor options for all three percentage options, and present those options to the member. The member will then consider those options, look at the benefits that correspond to each one of the elections, and "make a financial decision based on the information and the projections about what those benefits will be for themselves and their spouse." 9:15:57 AM MS. MILLHORN, in response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto, explained that when a member who had selected the 66.66 percent joint survivor option amount dies, his/her spouse would "receive a reduced benefit from the 66.66 amount." 9:16:26 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO asked, "So, why would a person pick anything less than the highest 75 [percent amount]?" 9:16:39 AM MS. MILLHORN indicated that it is the "financial dollar amount" that helps a member make his/her election. She offered to provide some example projections to Vice Chair Gatto for clarification purposes. 9:17:03 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON reiterated Vice Chair Gatto's question and asked for further clarification. 9:17:37 AM MS. MILLHORN clarified as follows: If you chose a 50 percent joint and survivor option, the benefit is actuarially reduced from what it would be normally. So, you're looking at the age of the member, you're looking at the age of the spouse, and it is actuarially reduced, because you are selecting a joint survivor option. Based on that, should that member perish, then that calculation reduces for the survivor benefit amount. So, first of all, they're looking at the member's age, they're looking at the spouse's age, and they are making a projection that is the 50 percent amount. But that's actuarially reduced from your normal retirement and benefit amount, because it contemplates that should the member perish, it has a lifetime benefit for the spouse, as well. 9:18:47 AM MS. MILLHORN, in response to a question from Representative Seaton, she said the percentage chosen for the spouse to receive is for the lifetime of the spouse and is received as a lifetime annuity payment. REPRESENTATIVE SEATON said he thinks the committee needs the scenarios brought to them. 9:20:39 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON, in response to an interchange between Vice Chair Gatto and Ms. Millhorn, using an example amount of $3,500, said: I think I'm understanding now. So, what you're saying is you get to normal retirement age and you say, "I want the $3,500, and that's going to be for my lifetime, and when I die - we've been getting $3,500 a month, and that's it. When I die there's nothing else there." Or, I can say, "Instead of having $3,500 a month, I want to have half of that now, but that will continue for the lifetime of my spouse - that same benefit." Or, if we wanted 75 percent, we'd say, "Okay, we're going to have 75 percent, but when I die, for the lifetime of my spouse, ... because we're taking 75 percent of the money now, there'll be a much reduced rate that my spouse will take." And that those options are the same as two-thirds, so that those options are selected by me at the point of retirement and that will determine the amount of cash I get now based on what I think will happen in the future. 9:21:43 AM MS. MILLHORN responded: I think you've summed that up correctly. Each one of those survivor options has a reduced benefit to the survivor, but in order to select that option, it's a reduced amount from the normal retirement amount. Because you're taking care of your spouse for her lifetime, as well, and she may live longer - or he. 9:22:24 AM MS. MILLHORN, in response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto, said if a member who is married retires and selects a joint survivor benefit, that benefit will remain with the original spouse in the event that the member divorces and remarries. In response to a follow-up question from Vice Chair Gatto, she said those criteria are found in a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO - pronounced "quadro"). 9:23:23 AM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER stated her understanding that HB 475 is intended to correct scenarios overlooked by SB 141. She told Ms. Millhorn that if that is an accurate assessment, then she would like to know if there are any other areas that need to be addressed. 9:24:02 AM MS. MILLHORN concurred that the intent of HB 475 is to clarify provisions in SB 141. Furthermore, the amendments that the committee addressed today would add additional benefits. She said the bill is pretty broad. She said there could be some issues that still need to be addressed that may surface through conference with the Department of Law and a legal tax advisor; although there may be none. She said there are many questions currently up in the air. 9:25:39 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON told Representative Gardner that the only other issue that he is aware of that needs to be addressed is related to termination of the plan. He explained that currently employers under the defined benefit (DB) plan can terminate their participation in the plan, and that would still remain in effect [in SB 141]; however, he said, "We don't have a corresponding election to terminate under the [defined contribution (DC)] portion." 9:27:06 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO, bringing the discussion back to spousal benefits, told the committee about a firefighter who had not been much more than a year on the job and was newly married when he was killed in the line of duty. He offered his understanding that because the man died in the line of duty, an amount of 66.66 percent would go to his surviving spouse. He asked Ms. Millhorn to confirm if that is true. 9:28:06 AM MS. MILLHORN reiterated her offer to have information put together for Vice Chair Gatto that would answer heretofore- unanswered questions. 9:28:34 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO listed some of the various possibilities related to retirement benefits. He stated his concern is what will happen to his spouse upon his death. He said he did not know until recently that her benefits would be a reduced amount. He said he would like everything to be as clear as possible for members making one-time elections. 9:30:31 AM REPRESENTATIVE SEATON reminded Vice Chair Gatto that the elections he has been discussing with Ms. Millhorn "are under [the] DB plan ..., if you're not talking about the death and disability function." He said under the DC plan there will be "a known amount that will flow 100 percent to your spouse." He added, "And so, there won't be that same kind of election unless you select to have an annuity plan, which was an option as well." 9:31:49 AM MS. CARPENTER, in response to a question from Vice Chair Gatto, stated her understanding that at the last committee hearing on HB 475 there was some concern expressed that "what we might be doing is somehow precluding persons with teachers' certificates from participating in ... TRS." She said that is not the case. Ms. Carpenter explained that "this section" is intended to clarify that under PERS statute, the terms "member" and "employee" are interchangeable and mean a person who is eligible to participate in PERS. 9:32:29 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO recollected that his issue had been that a teacher is a certified employee, but there are certified employees that are not teachers. He asked, "Is that our intent to include certified employees even though they're not a classroom teacher?" 9:33:05 AM MS. CARPENTER responded, "This section does not deal with that issue. The term 'teacher' is defined under ... TRS statutes and ... includes persons who hold a teacher's certificate and includes such persons as school nurses and others under the list who are required to hold a certificate." She said that the intent of "this particular provision under PERS" is to clarify that those employed with the Department of Labor and with the Department of Education, who are required to hold teachers' certificates for those positions, are by definition included in TRS. 9:34:36 AM VICE CHAIR GATTO hand the gavel back to Chair Seaton. 9:34:54 AM DORIS ROBBINS, testifying on behalf of herself, noted that she is a the legislative chair for the Retired Public Employees of Alaska. She noted for the record that the average retirement salary is more like $1,500 than the $3,500 used in the previous example. CHAIR SEATON explained that had just been a number pulled out of a hat for example purposes. MS. ROBERTS stated her great concern about the need for such legislation as HB 475. She questioned why due care was not taken before passing SB 141. CHAIR SEATON said the committee does not have SB 141 before it, but is looking at some technical amendments for HB 475. He said he would like feedback from the public regarding the amendments that are being proposed. MS. ROBBINS explained that she is concerned that [the legislature], with its attention on current oil legislation, is "still not going to get it right." She noted that she and another RPEA member met with Senator Gary Wilken regarding a statement he had made that benefits are bulletproof and "we would be inflation-proofed with SB 141 in place." Ms. Robbins continued: But there's a statement in the bill that says the financial condition of the fund would only permit an increase in benefits [if] the ratio of the total fund assets of the accrued liability meets or exceeds 105 percent. And we just wondered if ... HB 475 would be trying to correct that. Now, we did get a clarification back through ... Senator Wilken's inquiry that, yes, we would be affected by that and may not receive inflation proofing, and I would like to have more information about that from you today. MS. ROBBINS recommended passing SB 293, which would postpone implementation [of SB 141]. She said she is concerned about possible legal problems that may arise with the federal government in regard to SB 141. She asked, "How can you know that contribution rates are accurate if you don't have the latest actuarial report." She said she is speaking of corrections such as HB 475, but she is concerned that "you may not get them all done." 9:39:38 AM CHAIR SEATON noted that the actuarial calculations are handled by the Alaska Retirement Management (ARM) Board, which he said supersedes the Alaska State Pension Investment Board (ASPIB) and the Teachers' Retirement System Board. Those calculations are not done by the legislature, he clarified. 9:40:03 AM MS. ROBBINS stated her understanding that the ARM Board does not yet have regulatory authority, and she asked, "Are you going to be able to help them with that?" 9:40:25 AM CHAIR SEATON said he would look into that issue, as well as the issue regarding inflation proofing to which Ms. Robbins previously referred. Chair Seaton surmised that, regarding the latter issue, Ms. Robbins must have been talking about the post retirement pension adjustment (PRPA). MS. ROBBINS said yes. 9:40:35 AM CHARLES GALLAGHER, testifying on behalf of himself, noted that he is the Northern Region's chair of the Retired Public Employees of Alaska. He indicated that SB 141 and the amendments of HB 475 are confusing. He said the amendments were presented to the RPEA two weeks ago during its biannual convention in Juneau. He stated that it appears that many people do not understand "this." He referred to a handout in the committee packet that he had provided to the committee [regarding PRPA], and in particular he referred to the third page of the handout, which he said details the subject of inflation proofing. He continued: The 105 percent provision precludes inflation proofing at 100 percent. The dollars that will affect you, Representative Gatto, are substantial, and ... I have never seen them come out like this: Between 1997 and 2002, when that PRPA was paid, it inflation-proofed with the figures I was able to get at 15 percent. ... I think the average retirement pay per year is about $20,000 in our 30,000 members [who are] retirees. If you were receiving that, you would lose, in that period of time of loss, $3,000 per year in inflation proofing. That's a substantial amount. 9:43:21 AM CHAIR SEATON noted that PRPAs have not been paid in the last three years because of the underfunded status of the plan, not because of SB 141. He said SB 141 gave legislative direction regarding when [the PRPAs] could be paid and the committee will consider that issue. He concluded, "That's not a technical amendment to the bill; that's a policy call. And we're trying to ... make this a technical bill for corrections and conflicts within the different sections of the bill to make sure everything comes out." 9:44:29 AM CHAIR SEATON closed public testimony. He noted that the amendments would be made available online on his web site. CHAIR SEATON announced that HB 475 was heard and held.
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