Parochial Employees’ Retirement System

2014 Administrative Training

Who Is Eligible to Participate?

Mandatory participation for all full-time permanent employees who work 28 hours or more per week

Optional participation for 55 and older with 40 quarters in Social Security

Age 55 Opt Out

Employees age 55 at date of hire who also have 40 quarters of Social Security coverage have an option to participate in PERS

Employee must make an election within 90 days of date of hire

This is a one time irrevocable electionDoes not apply to rehired retirees

Eligibility of Elected Officials

Parish elected officials who are currently enrolled are allowed to remain in the plan

Parish presidents, justices of the peace and coroners are the only newly elected officials able to enroll in PERS

Contact our office with any questions concerning elected officials

Earnable Compensation

Regular wages and overtime are includable for purposes of retirement contributions

R.S. 11:1902 (11) provides the definition of earnable compensation

This definition specifically excludes fees and commissions

Earnable Compensation – Cont’d

R.S. 11:233 B provides additional exclusions from the definition of earnable compensation

Car allowances, lump sum payments for annual and/or sick leave, bonuses, and terminal leave pay are some of the exclusions listed in this statute

Normal Retirement Provisions

Members hired prior to 1/1/07Plan A

7 years and age 6510 years and age 6025 years and age 5530 years and any age

Plan B7 years and age 6510 years and age 6030 years and age 55

Normal Retirement Provisions

For members hired 1/1/07 and laterPlan A and B

7 years and age 6710 years and age 6230 years and age 55

Benefit Estimates

An employer or the member can request a written benefit estimate when the member is within 3 years of retirement eligibility

All estimate requests must be submitted in writing

Only one estimate allowed in a 12 month period

Submission of Proper Applications

Normal RetirementRetirement ApplicationEmployer Request FormCopy of Member’s Birth CertificateCopy of Spouse’s Birth Certificate if

member chooses Opt. 2 or Opt. 3Maximum Affidavit if member chooses

Maximum benefits

Submission of Proper Applications

DROPDROP ApplicationEmployer Request FormCopy of member’s birth certificateCopy of spouse’s birth certificate if member

chooses Opt. 2 or Opt. 3Maximum affidavit if member chooses

maximum

Submission of Proper Applications

Disability RetirementRetirement ApplicationEmployer Request FormCopy of Member’s Birth CertificateCopy of Spouse’s Birth Certificate if

member chooses Opt. 2 or Opt. 3Maximum affidavit if member chooses

maximum benefits

Disability Applications – Cont’d

Disability Claim FormDisability Report by Supervisor and

Personnel OfficerCopies of all medical records which

reference the disability

New Form Required

All applications for any form of monthly benefit must utilize our new form which requires both the retiree and spouse to have their signatures witnessed by a notary.

Leave Conversion

Members can convert unused & unpaid sick and annual leave at normal retirement or upon entry into DROP

Leave cannot be used to acquire eligibility

Amount of service granted is calculated by dividing the number of unused and unpaid days by 260

Leave Conversion – Cont’d

Cost of leave conversion is currently part of the employer contribution rate for active members hired prior to 1/1/07. For members hired 1/1/07 and later the actuarial cost of leave conversion will be paid by the employer at the time of the member’s retirement

Overtime & LWOP

6 years of overtime earnings are required when a member receives overtime pay. Employers are responsible for maintaining these records.

Send written notification of the exact dates of leave without pay. This will affect service credit and eligibility.

Retiree Return to Work

If a retiree returns to work on a full time basis, his benefit will cease and he will begin contributing to the retirement system

If a retiree returns to work in a part-time capacity, the number or hours is limited

480 hours per calendar year or 1,040 hours per calendar year if retired 3 or more years and age 65

Actuarial Transfer of Service

If a member has service credit in another state or statewide retirement system in Louisiana, he can apply to transfer that service once he has 6 months of service credit in PERS. The same is true if a former member of PERS wishes to transfer our service to another state or statewide retirement system.

Actuarial Transfer of Service

An Application for Actuarial Transfer of Service must be filed with the system that the member is actively contributing to.

This form can be found on our website.Application fee of $100 must accompany

the form

Employer Rates 2015

Employer rates have been set as follows effective 1/1/2015:Plan A = 14.50%Plan B = 9.00%PRSAC has met and has approved this

valuation.

What Can We Do to Control Costs?

Actuarial EquationContributions + Investment Earnings =

Benefits + ExpensesThe 3 major components in this equation

are contributions, investment earnings and benefits.

Expenses are a small part of the equation. The cost of administering the system was $46 per member during 2013

Cost Sharing Provisions Implemented in 2010

SB 85 0f 2010 permits the Board to set the employee contribution rate higher in both Plan A and Plan B.

This will allow for cost sharing if the employer rate is scheduled to increase from current levels.

Employee rates will remain at 9.5% in Plan A and 3% in Plan B for 2015

Cost Saving Measures Already In Place

A new plan of benefits was put in place for new employees hired 1/1/07 and later

Provisions include:Five year FACEligibility requirements changed:

7 years and age 6710 years and age 6230 years and age 55

Cost Savings - Continued

7 years of service required for disability retirement. In addition, the definition of disability was changed. A member must be unable to perform any type of gainful employment

Actuarial cost of leave conversion will be paid by each individual employer at the time of the member’s retirement

Pension Changes Still Sweeping the Country

Although changes are still being made to plans across the country, the rate of change has slowed

States continue to make changes to employee contribution rates and COLA provisions

Cash balance plans or defined contribution plans are still being considered as substitutions for defined benefit plans

GASB 68

GASB 68 provides new accounting and reporting rules for employers

The new standard will require the employer to report its proportionate share of the liability of the pension plan on its financial statements.

Our actuary will calculate the proportionate share for each participating employer in PERS

GASB 68

This new standard also requires changes to the note disclosures in the employer’s financial statements. These will be prepared by your auditors.

This new standard takes effect for fiscal years beginning in 2015.

GASB 67

GASB 67 revises financial reporting for pension plans.

Effective for fiscal years ending June 30, 2014 and calendar years ending December 31, 2014

This statement will require the retirement system to conduct a sampling of payroll audits of participating employers to determine that only eligible members are enrolled and that salaries are being properly reported

Mandatory Social Security

In Louisiana, 72% of state and local government employees are not covered by Social Security

Mandatory coverage is considered as a revenue raiser for the Federal Government

Mandatory Social Security

Mandatory coverage could surface as part of an overall package designed to make State and local governments “reform” their pensions

Contact Your Congressman

Let your congressman know the number of active members covered by our retirement system

Our plans share costs between employee and employer

Investment and longevity risks are pooled Mandatory coverage will increase Social

Security’s liabilites The Social Security Act of 1935 specifically

excluded state and local governments from Social Security

Divided Referendum

Act 280 of 2004 allows a divided vote for Medicare coverage for those employees hired prior to 4/1/86 who currently do not pay Medicare

In order to receive Medicare Part A at no cost, you must have 40 quarters of Medicare coverage

With at least 30 quarters, Medicare Part A would cost $244 per month

Divided Referendum

With less than 30 quarters of Medicare coverage, Medicare Part A would cost $443 per month

To conduct a divided referendum contact Angie Dowdy at the State Treasurer’s office: 225-342-0026

Distribution of Summary of Principal Features

Our updated Summaries through the 2014 Legislative Session will be mailed this month

Sufficient copies for all active membersPlease distribute only to those covered

by PERSCopy of the current Summary located on

our website

Reporting Due Dates

Salary and contribution reports are due on a quarterly basis. The due dates are January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15

Your report along with your check must be received in our office on the due date.

Reporting Due Dates

If your report is not received in our office by the deadline, the late penalty assessed is 1.5% of the total remitted

If you will be remitting close to the deadline it may be cost effective to use an overnight delivery service in order to avoid the penalty:

$12.95 is less than 1.5% of $200,000 ($3,000)

Contact Info

Mailing address: P.O. Box 14619, Baton Rouge, LA 70898

Phone: 225-928-1361Fax: 225-923-0933Website: www.persla.org