Legislation
The 2019 Regular Session will end no later than June 18, 2019.
Summary
Updated March 22, 2019
After concluding the Special Session last week, the Legislature reconvened for the 2019 Regular Session on Tuesday, March 19. The Governor introduced her budgets that same day. The Governor’s budgets fully fund ERS and TRS at the actuarially-calculated employer rates and PEEHIP at the requested $800 per member per month employer rate.
No new bills were filed that would impact RSA. Companion bills to the previously filed HB1, reinstituting DROP, and HB61, allowing local units to provide Tier I benefits to their Tier II members, were filed in the Senate – SB149 by Sen. Shelnutt as the companion bill to HB1 and SB147 by Sen. Waggoner as the companion bill to HB61.
Bill Chart
House Bills | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill/Sponsor | Companion | Summary | Status |
Reinstitutes DROP with modifications to the original DROP. Only 80% of a member’s benefit will be deposited in his or her DROP account, no interest will accrue, and employee contributions made during the participation period will be non-refundable. Changes name from DROP to EIRP (Employees’ Investment Retirement Plan). | Read First Time in House of Origin. | ||
n/a | Provides an option at retirement for a member to take up to 2 years of his or her benefit as a partial lump sum in exchange for a reduced lifetime monthly benefit. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | |
Allows local employers participating in ERS to provide Tier I benefits to Tier II members. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | ||
n/a | Creates Tier III for TRS which would modify Tier II by increasing the benefit multiplier, allowing 30-year retirement, allowing sick leave conversion, and increasing the employee contribution to 7.5%. Would be effective October 1, 2020, for new members and Tier II members could opt-in. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | |
n/a | Increases return to work compensation caps from $31,000 to $42,000 and suspends CPI increases until 2025. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | |
n/a | Education Trust Fund Budget; fully funds TRS and PEEHIP. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | |
General Fund Budget; fully funds ERS. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | ||
Senate Bills | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bill/Sponsor | Companion | Summary | Status |
n/a | Allows payments for a member’s beneficiary to be paid to a special needs trust. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | |
General Fund Budget; fully funds ERS. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | ||
Allows local employers participating in ERS to provide Tier I benefits to Tier II members. | Read First Time in House of Origin. | ||
Reinstitutes DROP with modifications to the original DROP. Only 80% of a member’s benefit will be deposited in his or her DROP account, no interest will accrue, and employee contributions made during the participation period will be non-refundable. Changes name from DROP to EIRP (Employees’ Investment Retirement Plan). | Read First Time in House of Origin. | ||
2018 Regular Session (archive)
Presentations
TRS Update for W&ME - 2/13/2019
PEEHIP Update for W&ME - 2/12/2019
News
Contacts
Neah Mitchell Scott,
Legislative Counsel
neah.scott@rsa-al.gov
Twitter: @neahmitchell
Neah Mitchell Scott has served as Legislative Counsel for the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) since September 2013. Prior to joining the RSA, Neah practiced in the areas of civil litigation and healthcare law as an associate with Balch & Bingham LLP. Neah obtained a juris doctorate from the University of Alabama in 2008 and a B.A. in History from Auburn University in 2004.
Also check our Frequently Asked Questions
Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Ask Us!