RETIREMENT SERVICE PURCHASE REWRITE PART II.-AB

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View NCGA Bill Details2021
House Bill 160 (Public) Filed Thursday, February 25, 2021
AN ACT MAKING TECHNICAL, CLARIFYING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO LAWS RELATING TO SERVICE PURCHASES UNDER THE TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND THE CONSOLIDATED JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM.
Intro. by McNeill, C. Smith.

Status: Ch. SL 2021-57 (Jun 28 2021)

SOG comments (3):

Identical bill

Identical to S 275, filed 3/11/21.

Identical bill

Identical to S 303, filed 3/15/21.

Long title change

House committee substitute to the 1st edition changed the long title. Original title was AN ACT MAKING TECHNICAL, CLARIFYING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO LAWS RELATING TO CREDITABLE SERVICE PURCHASES UNDER THE TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND THE CONSOLIDATED JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM.

Bill History:

H 160/S.L. 2021-57

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Jun 28 2021 - View Summary

    AN ACT MAKING TECHNICAL, CLARIFYING, AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO LAWS RELATING TO SERVICE PURCHASES UNDER THE TEACHERS' AND STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTAL EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM, AND THE CONSOLIDATED JUDICIAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM. SL 2021-57. Enacted June 28, 2021. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, except as otherwise provided.


  • Summary date: Apr 27 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 2nd edition.

    Part I.

    Revises the proposed changes to GS 135-4.5, concerning creditable service purchases by members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS). Modifies the proposed conforming changes to existing subsection (cc), which allows for purchase of creditable service by members for any employment as an employee of a charter school operated by a private nonprofit corporation or a charter school operated by a municipality whose board of directors did not elect to participate in TSERS upon completion of five years of service with variance in calculation and payment, limiting the provision to purchases made prior to January 1, 2023 (was, purchases made on or before January 1, 2023). 


  • Summary date: Apr 14 2021 - View Summary

    House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

    Part I.

    No longer recodifies specified subdivisions and subsections of GS 135-4 as subdivisions of GS 135-4.5(b). No longer modifies those subdivisions and adds to GS 135-4.5, concerning creditable service purchases by members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS). Instead, amends GS 135-4, concerning creditable service purchases by members under TSERS, as follows. 

    Amends subsection (p), which allows for members to purchase service credit on or before December 31, 2021, for temporary State employment upon completion of 10 years of membership service upon classification of a temporary employee for more than three years, to specify that any inchoate or accrued rights of a member to purchase creditable service that existed before December 31, 2021, cannot be diminished and can by purchased as creditable service with TSERS under the same conditions which would have otherwise applied. 

    Enacts new subsection (cc1) to allow any member in service with five or more years of membership service to purchase creditable service on and after January 1, 2023, for any employment as an employee of a charter school operated by a private nonprofit corporation or by a municipality whose board of directors did not elect to participate in TSERS, by paying a total lump sum payment. Limits the total amount of creditable service purchased at five years. Provides for calculation of the payment and for payment by the member to be credited to the member's annuity savings account. Allows for employers to pay all or part of the cost, and requires such payments made by employers to be credited to the pension accumulation fund. Makes conforming changes to existing subsection (cc), which allows for purchase of creditable service by members (does not specify members in service) for the same employment upon completion of five years of service with variance in calculation and payment, limiting the provision to purchases made on or before January 1, 2023. 

    Enacts new subsection (j2) to allow any member in service with five or more years of membership service to purchase creditable service for service as a member of the NCGA not otherwise creditable under the statute, so long as the service is not created in the Legislative Retirement Fund nor the Legislative Retirement System, by paying a total lump sum payment. Limits the total amount of creditable service purchased at five years. Provides for calculation of the payment and for payment by the member to be credited to the member's annuity savings account. Allows for employers to pay all or part of the cost, and requires such payments made by employers to be credited to the pension accumulation fund. Makes conforming changes to existing subsection (j1), which allows for purchase of creditable service by members (does not specify members in service nor require a member to have five or more years of membership service) for the same employment with variance in calculation and payment, limiting the provision to purchases made on or before January 1, 2023. 

    Maintains the proposed changes to GS 135-4(ff), regarding retroactive membership service.

    Adds to the subsections repealed of GS 135-4, subsection (w), which provides for credit at full cost for federal employment, and credit for employment with public community service entities on or before December 31, 2021.

    Changes the effective date of the provisions of Part I to July 1, 2022 (previously, the entire act was effective January 1, 2022).

    Part II.

    Further amends GS 128-26, concerning the purchase of creditable service by members of the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System (LGERS). Enacts new subsection (h2), providing identical service purchase provisions as those enacted in GS 135-4(j2) under TSERS, regarding service as a member of the NCGA on or after January 1, 2023. Maintains the previously proposed change to subsection (h1), limiting similar purchase provisions for NCGA service to purchases prior to January 1, 2023. 

    Adds to the subsections repealed of GS 128-26, subsection (o), which is identical to subsection (w) of GS 135-4, described above, also repealed by the act.

    Changes the effective date of the provisions of Part II to July 1, 2022 (previously, the entire act was effective January 1, 2022).

    Part III.

    Further amends GS 135-56, concerning the purchase of creditable service by members of the Consolidated Judicial Retirements System (CJRS), enacting new subsection (e1), providing identical service purchase provisions as those enacted in GS 135-4(j2) under TSERS and GS 128-26(h2) under LGERS, regarding service as a member of the NCGA on or after January 1, 2023. Maintains the previously proposed change to subsection (e), limiting similar purchase provisions for NCGA service to purchases prior to January 1, 2023. 

    Part IV.

    Makes conforming changes to the act's effective date provision. 

    Makes conforming changes to the act's long title. 


  • Summary date: Feb 25 2021 - View Summary

    Part I

    Recodifies specified subdivisions and subsections of GS 135-4 as subdivisions (1), (2), (4) through (13) and (15) of GS 135-4.5(b). Modifies those subdivisions and adds to GS 135-4.5, concerning creditable service purchases by members of the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS), as follows.

    Adds new subsection (a), stating a general authorization for members who meet the specified applicable eligibility requirements set forth in new subsection (b) to purchase creditable service by paying a lump sum amount to the annuity savings fund equal to the full liability increase due to additional service credits on the basis of the assumptions used for the purposes of the actuarial valuation of the liabilities of TSERS, except for two assumptions provided regarding the calculation of postretirement allowance. Requires the calculation of the amount payable to also include an administrative fee set by the Board of Trustees (TSERS Board). Authorizes employers to pay all or part of the cost of a service purchase of a member in service, subject to subsection (b), with employer paid costs credited to the pension accumulation fund and employee paid costs credited to the member's annuity savings account. Specifies that the provisions in subsection (b) supersede the provisions of subsection (a) in the event of conflict. 

    As recodified, modifies and adds to subsection (b), which sets forth criteria for 15 various purchases of creditable service authorized. Makes conforming changes throughout to eliminate repetitive guidelines regarding cost and payment for creditable service purchases, now covered in new subsection (a). Enacts new subdivision (3), authorizing members in service with five or more years of membership service on or after January 1, 2023, to purchase creditable service for service as an NCGA member not otherwise creditable, so long as service is not also credited in the Legislative Retirement Fund or the Legislative Retirement System (LRS); caps the amount purchased under new subdivision (3) at five years. Restricts authorized purchases for NCGA creditable service under subdivision (2), which does not require five or more years of membership service or place a five year cap on purchases, to purchases before January 1, 2023. Adds to subdivision (6), concerning the purchase of service credit for prior temporary State employment on or before December 31, 2021, to explicitly state that any inchoate or accrued rights of a member to purchase creditable service that existed prior to December 31, 2021, cannot be diminished and can be purchased as creditable service with TSERS under the same conditions that would have otherwise applied. Amends subdivision (9), concerning the purchase of credit at full cost for federal employment, to no longer provide for purchase of creditable service on or before December 1, 2021, for periods of employment with public community service entities within the State funded entirely with federal funds that are not otherwise covered. Enacts new subdivision (14) to authorize a member in service with five or more years of membership service to purchase creditable service on or after January 1, 2023, for any employment as an employee of a charter school operated by a nonprofit or municipality whose board of directors did not elect to participate in TSERS; caps the amount of service purchased at five years. Restricts authorized purchases for charter school creditable service under subdivision (13), which does not require five or more years of membership service prior to purchase, to purchases before January 1, 2023. Makes technical and organizational changes. Makes language gender neutral.

    Amends GS 135-4(ff) to enact identical provisions regarding the cost and payment of creditable service purchases as those enacted in GS 135-4.5(a), making the same general provisions applicable to retroactive membership service credit for reinstated members. Makes technical changes. Makes language gender neutral. 

    Repeals the following subsections of GS 135-4: subsection (j), which requires creditable service to include any service rendered by a member while on leave of absence to serve as a member or officer of the General Assembly which is not creditable toward retirement under the Legislative Retirement Fund; subsection (k), which allows repayment of withdrawn contributions from the Law Enforcement Officers' Retirement System on or before December 31, 2021, upon return to service after five years of creditable service; subsection (ll), which authorizes any member and any retired member described to purchase creditable service, on or before December 31, 2021, previously rendered to the federal government or to any state, territory, or other governmental subdivision of the United States other than this State; and (bb), which authorizes a member to purchase creditable service, prior to retirement and on or before December 31, 2021, for employment with any local government employer when considered to be in a probationary or employer-imposed waiting period status, between the date of employment and the date of membership service with the Local Government Employees' Retirement System (LGERS).

    Part II

    Amends GS 128-24(2), concerning the purchase of creditable service by members of LGERS, to enact identical provisions regarding the cost and payment of creditable service purchases as those enacted for TSERS under GS 134.5(a), for purchases made on or after January 1, 2023. Makes existing provisions regarding the purchase of creditable service restricted to purchases made prior to January 1, 2023. 

    Amends GS 128-26(h1), regarding the purchase of NCGA creditable service, to now restrict the provisions to purchases prior to January 1, 2023. 

    Amends GS 128-26 to enact identical provisions regarding the cost and payment of creditable service purchases as those enacted in GS 135-4.5(a) and GS 128-24(2), making the same general provisions applicable to retroactive membership service credit for reinstated members. Makes technical changes. Makes language gender neutral. 

    Repeals GS 128-26(h), which is identical to that repealed in GS 135-4(j), requiring creditable service to include any service rendered by a member while on leave of absence to serve as a member or officer of the General Assembly which is not creditable toward retirement under the Legislative Retirement Fund.

    Part III

    Enacts GS 135-56(d1), enacting substantively identical cost and payment provisions regarding creditable service purchases as those enacted in GS 135-4.5(a) and GS 126-24(2) for TSERS and LGERS members, for purchases made on or after January 1, 2023, applicable to member service as a judge, district attorney, or clerk of superior court, and excluding magistrates, justices of the peace, and mayor's court judges. Requires transfers of any accumulated contributions from TSERS and LGERS prior to purchase. Makes existing provisions regarding the purchase of creditable service, set out in subsection (d), restricted to purchases made prior to January 1, 2023. 

    Amends GS 135-56(e), regarding the purchase of NCGA creditable service, to now restrict the provisions to purchases prior to January 1, 2023. 

    Amends GS 135-56.2, to enact identical provisions regarding the cost and payment of creditable service purchases as those enacted in GS 135-56(d1), making the same general provisions applicable to retroactive membership service credit for reinstated members.

    Part IV

    Makes the act effective January 1, 2022, and applicable to purchases of creditable service occurring on or after that date.