Legislative update (Employees' Retirement System of Georgia), 26 March 2010

For the Week of: March 22 - 26, 2010 Legislative Days: 28 - 30
Legislative Update
Employees' Retirement System of Georgia

March 26, 2010

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Inside This Update
1 Adjournment Schedule 1 Legislative Log
For More Information on Legislation, please visit: www.ers.ga.gov
Contact Us
Pamela L. Pharris Director, ERSGA 404-603-5602 pamela.pharris@ers.ga.gov
Jim Potvin Deputy Director, ERSGA 404-603-5605 jim.potvin@ers.ga.gov
Kelly L. Moody Legislative Liaison and Assistant Director, ERSGA 404-603-5646 kelly.moody@ers.ga.gov
Danise Thaxton Executive Assistant to the Director, ERSGA 404-603-5602 danise.thaxton@ers.ga.gov

Legislative Adjournment Schedule Announced through April 12th

March 23 March 24 March 25 March 26 March 27 - 29 March 30 March 31 April 1 April 2 - 11 April 12
* Recess is when the General Assembly is not in Session.

Recess* Legislative Day 29
Recess* Legislative Day 30
Recess* Legislative Day 31 Legislative Day 32 Legislative Day 33
Recess* Legislative Day 34

LEGISLATIVE LOG
Monday, March 22, 2010
No Retirement Bills were considered today.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
SB 436 - Retirement; repeal certain obsolete and inoperative provisions
Updates Title 47 by removing obsolete and dated language from the statute. Any rights that members had under such provisions will remain intact.

SB 436 received a DO PASS from the Senate Rules Committee and was placed on the Senate Debate Calendar for 3/24/10.

March 26, 2010
LEGISLATIVE LOG - Continued

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010
SB 436 - Retirement; repeal certain obsolete and inoperative provisions
Updates Title 47 by removing obsolete and dated language from the statute. Any rights that members had under such provisions will remain intact.
SB 436 received a DO PASS from the full Senate by a vote of 45 - 1.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
HB 817 - Georgia Judicial Retirement System; juvenile judges; provide
Allows any Juvenile Court Judge that was previously a member of the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) to transfer ERS employee and employer contributions to JRS by December 31, 2010 or within 90 days of first becoming a member of JRS.
Currently, any new JRS member that is a Superior Court Judge, State Court Judge, Solicitor General, or District Attorney who was previously an active member of ERS may elect to have all of their ERS contributions transferred to JRS within 90 days of first becoming a member of JRS by notifying the Board of Trustees.
If the member has not withdrawn his/her employee contributions from ERS, the Board of Trustees must transfer all employee and employer contributions from ERS to JRS and the member must pay regular interest thereon.
If the member has withdrawn his/her employee contributions from ERS, member must provide notice to the Board of Trustees requesting a transfer to JRS. At that time, the member must pay the Board the total of such contributions, with regular interest thereon, and employee and employer contributions from ERS will be transferred to JRS.
HB 817 received a DO PASS from the House Rules Committee and was placed on House Debate Calendar for 3/26/10.
Friday, March 26, 2010
HB 817 - Georgia Judicial Retirement System; juvenile judges; provide
Allows any Juvenile Court Judge that was previously a member of the Employees' Retirement System (ERS) to transfer ERS employee and employer contributions to JRS by December 31, 2010 or within 90 days of first becoming a member of JRS.
Currently, any new JRS member that is a Superior Court Judge, State Court Judge, Solicitor General, or District Attorney who was previously an active member of ERS may elect to have all of their ERS contributions transferred to JRS within 90 days of first becoming a member of JRS by notifying the Board of Trustees.

March 26, 2010
LEGISLATIVE LOG - Continued

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If the member has not withdrawn his/her employee contributions from ERS, the Board of Trustees must transfer all employee and employer contributions from ERS to JRS and the member must pay regular interest thereon.
If the member has withdrawn his/her employee contributions from ERS, member must provide notice to the Board of Trustees requesting a transfer to JRS. At that time, the member must pay the Board the total of such contributions, with regular interest thereon, and employee and employer contributions from ERS will be transferred to JRS.
HB 817 was not called for Debate by the full House and was not voted on by the full House.

HB 969 - Retirement and pensions; comply with federal law; amend certain provisions
This legislation is sponsored by the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) and mainly relates to that system; however, there are changes in Chapter 1 of Title 47, as well as changes in the PSERS statute. Changes to PSERS include:
PSERS members who have not reached normal retirement age that return to service in any public school position which requires membership in PSERS must cease their retirement benefit and the retired member shall re-establish active membership in PSERS. At the end of such service, or upon normal retirement age and cessation of contributions, the retired member will receive a retirement benefit based on the member's total accrued service and;
PSERS members who have reached normal retirement age and return to service as a public school employee in any position that would normally require membership in PSERS have the option to: Cease their retirement benefit and the retired member shall re-establish active membership in PSERS. At the end of such service, the retired member will receive a retirement benefit based on the member's total accrued service or; Not contribute to the system, in which event the member's retirement benefit shall not cease, and no additional benefits will accrue.
Requires employers that employ retired PSERS members to certify in writing: The name of the member and if the retired member is age 65 or older, The retired member's election to either discontinue benefits and resume contributions or to continue receiving retirement benefits and accrue no additional credits under the retirement system.
Any employer that fails to give such notification shall reimburse the retirement system any benefits wrongfully paid. The retired member must notify the employer of their retirement status prior to employment.
HB 969 received a DO PASS from the Senate Rules Committee and was placed on the Senate Debate Calendar for 3/30/10.