Legislative update, 2020 February 28

Serving those who serve Georgia

E RSGA
Employees' Retirement System of Georgia

For the Week of: February 24 - 28, 2020 Legislative Days: 17 - 21

Employees' Retirement System of Georgia
Legislative Update

February 28, 2020
Inside This Update
1-3 Legislative Log
For More Information on Legislation, please visit: www.ers.ga.gov
Contact Us Jim Potvin Executive Director, ERSGA 404-603-5602 jim.potvin@ers.ga.gov

Page 1
Legislative Log
Monday, February 24, 2020
HB 664 Georgia Judicial Retirement System; membership for certain persons employed in certain full time positions requiring admission to the State Bar of Georgia as a condition of employment; require
This legislation requires new members of Legislative Counsel to elect membership in the Judicial Retirement System (JRS) and allows current members to opt into JRS or remain in Employees' Retirement System (ERS) beginning 7/1/2020.

Kelly L. Moody Director, Legislative Affairs Division, ERSGA 404-603-5646 kelly.moody@ers.ga.gov
Ashley Waller Legal and Policy Research Analyst, ERSGA 404-603-5694 ashley.waller@ers.ga.gov

HB 664 received a DO PASS from the House Rules Committee and was placed on the House debate calendar for 2/25/2020.
Tuesday, February 25, 2020 HB 664 Georgia Judicial Retirement System; membership for certain persons employed in certain full time positions requiring admission to the State Bar of Georgia as a condition of employment; require
This legislation requires new members of Legislative Counsel to elect membership in the Judicial Retirement System (JRS) and allows current members to opt into JRS or remain in Employees' Retirement System (ERS) beginning 7/1/2020.

HB 664 received a DO PASS from House of Representatives by a vote of 154-0.

February 28, 2020

Page 2

HB 721 Retirement and pensions; transfer of credible service from the Legislative Retirement System to the Employees' Retirement System for certain members of the Georgia State Employees' Pension and Savings Plan; provide
Beginning 7/1/2020, this bill allows GSEPS members with 2 years of membership service to transfer unwithdrawn LRS contributions to ERS.
HB 721 received a DO PASS from the House Retirement Committee.
SB 26 Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; prior service as a member of Georgia Defined Contribution Plan; creditable service; provide
Effective 7/1/2020, Employees' Retirement System (ERS) members with at least five years of service who were members of the Georgia Defined Contribution Plan (GDCP) immediately prior to becoming members of ERS may obtain credit for all such prior GDCP service. Members must pay full actuarial cost for the service and will have the ability to pay for such service with a payment plan option.
SB 26 received a DO PASS from the House Retirement Committee.
SB 47 Retirement Benefits; creditable service for certain military service; provide
Beginning 7/1/2020, the legislation allows an Employees' Retirement System (ERS) member with at least two years of service to purchase up to three years of creditable service for military service performed on or after 1/1/1990. Members must pay full actuarial cost for such service and will have the ability to pay for such with a payment plan.
SB 47 received a DO PASS from the House Retirement Committee.
SB 176 Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; certain public employers; make employer and employee contribution on behalf of retired members; require
Beginning 7/1/20, this legislation requires employers that employ an Employees' Retirement System (ERS) retiree to pay both the employer and employee contributions for the retiree to ERS. The retiree would continue to receive their retirement benefit; however, they would not earn any additional creditable service in the retirement system. This provision would not apply if the employing agency certifies employee is an independent contractor.
SB 176 received a DO PASS from the House Retirement Committee.

February 28, 2020

Page 3

SB 262 Employees' Retirement System of Georgia; eligibility of beneficiary to make new retirement election; provide
Effective for all retirement allowances due on or after January 1, 2021, this bill allows Employees' Retirement System (ERS) retirees who have selected Options 2, 3, or 4 and whose designated individual(s) set to receive a lifetime retirement allowance predeceases them to either reelect their original Option with a new individual(s) or begin receiving the maximum plan benefit. A few conditions must be met in order to be eligible:
If multiple beneficiaries are named for benefit, all must predecease the member in order to reelect Option or receive max plan benefit; Reelection of Option with new individual(s) must take place within one year of death of original beneficiary(ies); and (Only Option 4) If reelecting Option, must select the same variant of Option 4 originally chosen.
This bill also removes the ability for retirees to select Option 5 on or after January 1, 2021, as it is redundant and no longer necessary with the changes to the other Options.
SB 262 received a DO PASS from the House Retirement Committee.

Wednesday, February 26, 2020 SB 271 Law Assistants; rename as law clerks and staff attorneys Allows law clerks and staff attorneys previously employed by a judicial circuit to purchase up to four (4) years of creditable service within six months of first or again becoming an ERS member beginning 7/1/2020. SB 271 received a DO PASS from the Senate Retirement Committee.
Thursday, February 27, 2020 No retirement bills were considered.
Friday, February 28, 2020 SB 271 Law Assistants; rename as law clerks and staff attorneys Allows law clerks and staff attorneys previously employed by a judicial circuit to purchase up to four (4) years of creditable service within six months of first or again becoming an ERS member beginning 7/1/2020. SB 271 received a DO PASS from the Senate Rules Committee and was placed on the Senate debate calendar for 3/2/2020.