Actuarial Fiscal Note


Retirement Systems Impacted by Legislation:

Teachers Retirement System

FUND(S):

TRS 2601

Sources of Revenue:

General Fund,Other Fund local governments

Legislation creates:

Neither Program nor Fund



Actuarial Note Summary

Impact this measure will have on the liabilities and contributions associated with the retirement system(s).


    This Bill as drafted violates WV Statutes under 2005 Pension Reform Legislation.
    
    For active members, the bill provides benefits to active members prohibited under Section 18-7A-28e(c).
    
    For current retirees, Section 18-7A-28e ( a ) prohibits increases to retired members in excess of 1% of the TRS Actuarial Accrued Liabilities as determined in the last actuarial valuation for TRS. The estimated increase in Actuarial Accrued Liabilities under the bill exceeds the limitation as of July 1, 2007 of $71,427,000.
    
    Actual costs have not been run for this bill due to the statutory restrictions.
    
    See the Pension Committee chairman for details.



Fiscal Detail of Actuarial Impact

Impact on current benefit costs, prior service benefit costs and ongoing contribution requirements following full implementation.


Impact On Following Full Implementation
Increase in Unfunded Actuarial Accrued Liability Initial Impact on Annual Contribution Requirement of System(s) Contribution Increase as a Percentage of Annual Payroll
Total Annual Costs $99,999,999.00 $99,999,999.00 99.00 %
Normal Cost of System N/A $99,999,999.00 99.00 %
Past Service Liabilities $99,999,999.00 $99,999,999.00 99.00 %
Fiscal Year Past Service
Amortization Period Ends
N/A N/A


Explanation of above Actuarial estimates:


    The bill provides for up to 5 years of “forced pregnancy leave” service (1 year per pregnancy up to 5 pregnancies) to be available for purchase to any currently active TRS member and all currently retired TRS members. Such service is granted for both benefits and eligibility for retirement.
    
    The purchase cost to the member is the contributions the member would have paid during the time being purchased. No provision has been made for interest to payment date nor for employer contributions plus interest to payment date. This results in a substantial cost to TRS of the benefit in excess of the contribution being paid by the member. In addition, for retired members, the requirement of back payments from original retirement will result in lump sum payments generally in excess of the member contributions plus the costs for the future increase in benefits.
    
    This benefit is significant given the number of potentially eligible female members and the large amount of the benefit subsidy.

Analysis of Impact on Public Pension Policy:


    This Bill as drafted violates WV Statutes under 2005 Pension Reform Legislation.
    The bill provides heavily subsidized retirement benefits to a select subgroup of female active and retired members. Such subsidized benefit are required to be granted based upon the certification of the member without any requirement to substantiate the service being claimed.



Fiscal Note Summary


Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.


    This Bill as drafted violates WV Statutes under 2005 Pension Reform Legislation.
    
    For active members, the bill provides benefits to active members prohibited under Section 18-7A-28e(c).
    
    For current retirees, Section 18-7A-28e ( a ) prohibits increases to retired members in excess of 1% of the TRS Actuarial Accrued Liabilities as determined in the last actuarial valuation for TRS. The estimated increase in Actuarial Accrued Liabilities under the bill exceeds the limitation as of July 1, 2007 of $71,427,000.
    
    Actual costs have not been run for this bill due to the statutory restrictions.
    
    See the Pension Committee chairman for details.



Fiscal Note Detail


Effect of Proposal Fiscal Year
2008
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
2009
Increase/Decrease
(use"-")
Fiscal Year
(Upon Full
Implementation)
1. Estmated Total Cost 99,999,999 99,999,999 99,999,999
Personal Services 0 0 0
Current Expenses 0 0 0
Repairs and Alterations 0 0 0
Assets 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0
2. Estimated Total Revenues 0 0 0


Explanation of above Fiscal Note estimates (include possible long-range effect):


    The bill provides for up to 5 years of “forced pregnancy leave” service (1 year per pregnancy up to 5 pregnancies) to be available for purchase to any currently active TRS member and all currently retired TRS members. Such service is granted for both benefits and eligibility for retirement.
    
    The purchase cost to the member is the contributions the member would have paid during the time being purchased. No provision has been made for interest to payment date nor for employer contributions plus interest to payment date. This results in a substantial cost to TRS of the benefit in excess of the contribution being paid by the member. In addition, for retired members, the requirement of back payments from original retirement will result in lump sum payments generally in excess of the member contributions plus the costs for the future increase in benefits.
    
    This benefit is significant given the number of potentially eligible female members and the large amount of the benefit subsidy.



Memorandum


    This Bill as drafted violates WV Statutes under 2005 Pension Reform Legislation.
    The bill provides heavily subsidized retirement benefits to a select subgroup of female active and retired members. Such subsidized benefit are required to be granted based upon the certification of the member without any requirement to substantiate the service being claimed.



    Person submitting Fiscal Note: Harry W. Mandel, MAAA, MSPA, EA, Board Actuary
    Email Address: Harry.W.Mandel@wv.gov