Louisiana 2019 2019 Regular Session

Louisiana Senate Bill SB107 Chaptered / Bill

                    2019 REGULAR SESSION 
ACTUARIAL NOTE SB 107
 
 
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Senate Bill 107 SLS 19RS-84
 
Reengrossed 
 
Author: Senator Gatti
 
Date: May 3, 2019 
LLA Note SB 107.03
 
 
Organizations Affected: 
Louisiana State Employees’ 
Retirement System (LASERS) 
   
RE INCREASE APV 
This Note has been prepared by the Actuarial Services Department of the 
Legislative Auditor with assistance from either the Fiscal Notes staff of the 
Legislative Auditor or staff of the Legislative Fiscal Office.  The attachment of this 
Note provides compliance with the requirements of R.S. 24:521 	as amended by 
Act 353 of the 2016 Regular Session.  
 
James J. Rizzo, ASA, MAAA 
Senior Consultant & Actuary 
Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company, Actuary for the Legislative Auditor 
 
Bill Header:  PUBLIC EMPLOYEES: Adds post traumatic stress disorder to the list of injuries which are compensable for injured 
public employees.  (2/3 – CA10s29(F)) (8/1/19) 
 
Cost Summary: 
 
The estimated net actuarial and fiscal impact of this proposed legislation on the retirement systems and their plan sponsors is 
summarized below.  Net actuarial costs pertain to estimated changes in the net actuarial present value of future benefit payments and 
administrative expenses incurred by the retirement system.  Net fiscal costs or savings pertain to changes to all cash flows over the 
next five year period including retirement system cash flows, OPEB cash flows, or cash flows related to other government entities.  
 
An increase in actuarial costs is denoted throughout the actuarial note by “Increase” or a positive number. Actuarial savings are 
denoted by “Decrease” or a negative number.  An increase in expenditures or revenues (fiscal impact) is denoted by “Increase” or a 
positive number.  A decrease in expenditures or revenues is denoted by “Decrease” or a negative number. 
 
Estimated Actuarial Impact: 
 The top part of the following chart shows the estimated change in the net actuarial present value of future benefit 	payments and 
expenses, if any, attributable to the proposed legislation.  The bottom part shows the effect on cash flows (i.e., contributions, benefit 
payments, and administrative expenses). 
 
Net Actuarial Costs (Liabilities) Pertaining to:  Net Actuarial Cost 
    The Retirement Systems  Increase 
    Other Post-employment Benefits (OPEB)  Increase 
    Total  Increase 
   
Five Year Net Fiscal Cost Pertaining to: 	Expenditures Revenues 
    The Retirement Systems 	Increase Increase 
    Other Post-employment Benefits 	Increase 	0 
    Other Government Entities 	Increase 	0 
    Total 	Increase Increase 
 This bill complies with the Louisiana Constitution which requires unfunded liabilities created by an improvement in retirement 
benefits to be amortized over a period not to exceed ten years. The actuaries for the retirement system(s) to which this Constitutional 
requirement applies are expected to calculate costs and liabilities in compliance with this requirement. 
 
Bill Information 
 
Relevant Current Law 
 
Current law states that the services provided by volunteer fire departments are vital for fire prevention and suppression to the 
safety of the citizens of the state.  The state fire marshal is required to obtain workers' compensation coverage for volunteer 
members who participate in the normal functions of the fire company. 
 Current law provides disability benefits to emergency medical services personnel, employees of a police department, or fire 
employees who are members in one of the retirement systems of Louisiana, and every employee of the division of state police, 
except the head thereof [R.S. 40:1374], and who apply for retirement due to a disability.  Under current law, retirement plans 
generally require the disability to have occurred (and possibly even the application made) during the period of covered 
employment.  
 
Under current law, LASERS (which covers employees of the division of state police) provides for disability benefits, which are 
payable if a member: (a) becomes disabled, (b) is not eligible for regular retirement, (c) files for disability benefits while in 
service, (d) is found to be totally disabled for any cause upon medical examination and certification, (e) has at least 10 years of 
creditable service and (f) the disability was incurred while the member was an active contributing member in state service.  	[R.S. 
11:212(A)]. 
 
Under current law, disability claims shall not be honored in the case of preexisting conditions (i.e., incurred prior to 
commencement of service in the relevant retirement system).  [R.S. 11:216]. If the application for disability benefits is not filed 
while the member is in state service, LASERS shall presume that the disability was not incurred while the member was an active  2019 REGULAR SESSION 
ACTUARIAL NOTE SB 107
 
 
Page 2 of 8 
contributing member in active service.  Such presumption may be overcome only by clear, competent, and convincing evidence 
that the disability was incurred while the member was an active contributing member in active service. [R.S. 11:212(C)].  
Therefore, if the application for disability benefits is not filed while the member is in state service, the presumption is that the 
disability was not incurred in active service and the burden of proof lies with the member to present clear, competent, and 
convincing evidence to the contrary. 
 
Under current law, certain job categories may be entitled greater disability benefits without a service requirement if the disability 
was service-connected.  [R.S. 212(B)(2)]. 
 
Proposed Law 
 
This Reengrossed Actuarial Note was prepared with respect to the Original bill and incorporating the following amendments 
(hereinafter referred to as the “proposed bill”, “proposed law” or simply “SB 107”): 
• Senate Committee Amendment #1050 L&IR Adopted, 
• Senate Floor Legislative Bureau Amendment #1111 Martiny Adopted and 
• Senate Floor Amendment #1278 Gatti Adopted. 
 
SB 107 augments current law by requiring that any workers’ compensation policy which provides coverage for a volunteer 
member of a fire company, or for an employee of the division of state police shall include coverage for post traumatic stress injury 
(PTSI) as presumptively an occupational disease. SB 107 includes this presumption for emergency medical services personnel, 
employees of a police department, or fire employees who are members in one of the retirement systems of Louisiana.  Therefore, 
SB 107 also affects disability benefits provided by state and statewide retirement systems covering these employees.  It requires 
these members to be “entitled to all rights and benefits as granted by state law to one suffering an occupational disease and is 
entitled as service connected in the line of duty”, and requires a presumption of having “developed during employment” and 
presumed “to have been caused by or resulted from the nature of the work performed.” If t
 changes made by the proposed bill 
co
nflict with present law, the present law shall control.  So there is no expected actuarial impact from this provision on these job 
categories. 
 
However, SB 107 also extends this presumption for employees of the division of state police to be “entitled to all rights and 
benefits as granted by state law to one suffering an occupational disease and is entitled as service connected in the line of duty.” 
Therefore, in addition to workers’ compensation law, SB 107 also affects disability benefits provided by LASERS to employees 
of the division of state police.  SB 107 requires a presumption of having “developed during employment” and presumed “to have 
been caused by or resulted from the nature of the work performed.”  This is expected to have a slight increase in the rate of 
disabilities granted by LASERS as compared to the current law. 
 
There are two types of presumptions required in the proposed law: 
 
1. Employment-related. A qualifying PTSI diagnosis is presumed to be “connected to his employment” and “an 
occupational disease and . . . service connected in the line of duty”. This presumption specifically affects employees of 
the division of state police that participate in LASERS with access to two levels of benefits: one for service-connected 
disabilities and one for non-service-connected disabilities for a given job category.  The proposed bill requires treatment 
as service-connected if otherwise qualifying. 
 
2. Timing.  A qualifying PTSI diagnosis is presumed as above, “regardless of whether the employee is employed at the 
time of diagnosis”, and “shall be presumed, prima facie, to have developed during employment and shall be presumed, 
prima facie, to have been caused by or have resulted from the nature of the work performed.”  This presumption affects 
employees of the division of state police that participate in LASERS even if only a general disability benefits is provided 
(without being specifically for service-connected disabilities), because it affects the retroactive presumption of disability 
as having developed during employment. 
 The following definitions will apply to the disability benefits payable or to the workers’ compensation policies affected by SB 
107: 
1. "Post traumatic stress injury" means those injuries which are defined as "posttraumatic stress disorder" (PTSD) by the 
most recently published edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the American Psychiatric Association. 
 
2. "Psychiatrist" shall have the same meaning as it is defined pursuant to current law (R.S. 23:1371.1). 
 
3. "Psychologist" shall have the same meaning as it is defined pursuant to current law (R.S. 23:1371.1). 
 
4. "Emergency medical services personnel" shall have the same meaning as it is defined pursuant to current law (R.S. 
40:1075.3). 
 
5. "Employee of a police department" shall have the same meaning as it is defined pursuant to current law (R.S. 33:2211). 
 
6. “Fire employee" means any person employed in the fire department of any municipality, parish, or fire protection district 
that maintains full-time regularly paid fire department employment, regardless of the specific duties of such person 
within the fire department.  "Fire employee" also includes employees of nonprofit corporations under contract with a fire 
protection district or other political subdivision to provide fire protection services, including operators of the fire-alarm 
system when such operators are members of the regularly constituted fire department." [as per proposed Amendment No. 
1 to SB 107].  In Original SB 107, “Fire employee” was defined to have the same meaning as it is defined pursuant to 
R.S. 33:2181. 
  2019 REGULAR SESSION 
ACTUARIAL NOTE SB 107
 
 
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7. “Volunteer member” shall have the same meaning as it is defined pursuant to current law (R.S. 23:1036). 
 
8. “Volunteer service” means that service performed by a volunteer member, for one or more fire companies, who is 
entitled to worker’ compensation benefits pursuant to R. S. 23:1036. 
 
Any employee of the division of state police who is diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist with post traumatic stress injury, 
either during employment or thereafter will be presumed to have a disease or infirmity connected with his employment. 
 
Once diagnosed with post traumatic stress injury, any employee of the division of state police affected or his survivors will be 
entitled to all rights and benefits as granted by the current law to one suffering an occupational disease and is entitled as service 
connected in the line of duty, regardless of whether the employee is employed at the time of the diagnosis. 
 
The presumptions that the post traumatic stress was attributable to employment as an employee of the division of state police may 
only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence.  In determining whether the evidence presented has successfully rebutted the 
presumptions in proposed law, the trier of facts may consider any of the following factors: 
 
1. The length of time between the beginning and the end of the period of employment and the date of the diagnosis. 
 
2. Whether there has been any trauma or traumatic events between the beginning and the end of the period of employment 
as an employee and the date of the diagnosis. 
 
3. Whether the individual diagnosed had been previously diagnosed with post traumatic stress injury prior to his 
employment. 
 
Implications of the Proposed Changes 
 
SB 107 adds post traumatic stress injury to the disabilities which are presumed to be service-connected and presumed to occur 
during employment.  Additional disability benefits under LASERS are expected to be provided since some retirees will receive 
disability benefits after being diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist with a post traumatic stress injury.   
 
Additionally, for a post traumatic stress injury, SB 107 removes the condition that an application for LASERS disability benefits 
has to be filed while the member is in active service for the member to receive a service connected disability benefit.  
  
 
I. ACTUARIAL ANALYSIS SECTION 
 
A. Analysis of Net Actuarial Costs 
(Prepared by LLA) 
 
This section of the actuarial note pertains to net actuarial costs or savings associated with the retirement systems and with OPEB. 
 
1. Retirement Systems 
 
The net actuarial cost or savings of the proposed legislation associated with the retirement systems is expected to increase.  
The actuary’s analysis is summarized below. 
 
Following are a few areas of actuarial risk to consider under this proposed law that may cause LASERS to be exposed to a 
certain level of risk or increased frequency of disability approvals as compared to current law. 
 
• Under the proposed law, the burden of proof and standards for proof shift from member to system. Under the 
proposed law, the member may select his own psychiatrist or psychologist, rather than LASERS selecting a 
physician as typically under the current law. LASERS’ board will be less likely to deny service-connectedness for 
disability claims for this condition under the proposed law as compared to the current law. 
 
• The presumption as to timing (the second type presumption) may increase the disability approvals because, under 
current law, LASERS’ board may be inclined to deny disability approvals for PTSI that are filed regardless of how 
long after the member left covered employment and may deny them for not have been proved to the satisfaction of 
the board as having arose or occurred during employment even if allowing applications to be file later. However, 
under the proposed law, there is a presumption even for conditions diagnosed and claims filed after employment has 
ceased.   
 
These actuarial risks tend to increase the likelihood of more disabilities being approved by LASERS. 
 
Other aspects of this proposed law to be considered as mitigation of these risks above may include the following. 
 
• The first type of presumption described above is not a presumption of “disability”, nor a presumption of “total” 
disability, nor a presumption of “permanent” disability.  Certain job categories in LASERS require the member to be 
totally and permanently disabled (for others, partially disabled is an option). Subject to legal opinions and 
interpretations, the proposed law may only affect the presumption of service-connectedness, not whether the 
disability is total or permanent disability. However, there may be an increased likelihood of granting a total 
disability or a permanent disability if the diagnosis qualifies under the proposed law and is presumed to be service-
connected. According to data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replications (NCS-R)
1
, the past year severity 
                                                 
1
 https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/post-traumatic-stress- disorder-ptsd.shtml#part_155471  2019 REGULAR SESSION 
ACTUARIAL NOTE SB 107
 
 
Page 4 of 8 
of PTSD among U.S. adults showed: 36.6% serious, 33.1% moderate and 30.2% mild.  Boards may still need to 
determine if the condition is total and if it is permanent. 
 
• The proposed bill’s presumption for any given case is subject to denial and rebuttal by LASERS’ board “by clear 
and convincing evidence”. 
 
The proposed bill has an effective date of August 1, 2019.  It does not say it is effective to disabilities that occur after August 
1, 2019.  Presumably, it may apply to any disability applications filed on or after August 1, 2019. 
 
The proposed bill will likely also increase the administrative expenses for LASERS, in addition to the increase expected in 
benefits payable.  Considering the physicians’ fee, legal fees and other administrative expenses, the total administrative 
expenses could be well over $10,000 for each such case including initial adjudication, appeals and continuing eligibility 
qualifications.     
 
SB 107 will provide disability benefits payable when certain members of LASERS become disabled after suffering a post 
traumatic stress injury sustained in the line of duty.  A slight increase in members expected to receive disability benefits 
would increase the net actuarial cost. 
 
2. Other Post-employment Benefits (OPEB) 
 
The net actuarial cost of the proposed legislation associated with OPEB, including retiree health insurance premiums, is 
estimated to increase.  The actuary’s analysis is summarized below. 
 
The liability for post-retirement medical insurance protection provided to retirees would increase to the extent that disability 
retirements are covered for retiree medical insurance beyond merely the COBRA period and price, because of the likely 
increase in frequency of disability approvals. 
 
B. Actuarial Data, Methods and Assumptions 
(Prepared by LLA) 
 
A detailed review of the actuarial data, methods or assumptions applicable to LASERS was not made or required for the 
preparation of this Actuarial Note. 
 
C. Actuarial Caveat 
(Prepared by LLA) 
 
There is nothing in the proposed legislation 	that will compromise the signing actuary’s ability to present an unbiased statement of 
actuarial opinion. 
 
 
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS SECTION 
 
This section of the actuarial note pertains to fiscal (annual) costs or savings associated with the retirement systems (Table A), with 
OPEB (Table B), and with other fiscal costs or savings incurred by other government entities (Table C). Fiscal costs or savings in 
Table A include benefit-related actuarial costs and administrative costs incurred by the retirement systems. The total effect of SB 107 
on fiscal costs, fiscal savings, or cash flows is presented in Table D. 
 
A. Estimated Fiscal Impact – 	Retirement Systems 
(Prepared by LLA) 
 
1. Narrative 
 
Table A shows the estimated fiscal impact of the proposed legislation on the retirement systems and the government entities 
that sponsor them.  A fiscal cost is denoted by “Increase” or a positive number.  Fiscal savings are denoted by “Decrease” or 
a negative number.  A revenue increase is denoted by “Increase” or a positive number. A revenue decrease is denoted by 
“Decrease” or a negative number. 
   2019 REGULAR SESSION 
ACTUARIAL NOTE SB 107
 
 
Page 5 of 8 
Retirement System Fiscal Cost: Table A EXPENDITURES	2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24	5 Year Total
  State General Fund $                       0  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
  Agy Self Generated Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
  Stat Deds/Other                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Federal Funds                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Local Funds                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0 
  Annual Total Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
REVENUES	2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24	5 Year Total
  State General Fund $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0 
  Agy Self Generated                         0  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
  Stat Deds/Other                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Federal Funds                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Local Funds                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0 
  Annual Total $                       0  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
  
The proposed legislation will have the following effects on retirement related fiscal costs and revenues during the five year 
measurement period. 
 
2. Expenditures: 
 
a. Expenditures from LASERS (Agy Self-Generated) will increase because additional disability benefits would likely be 
paid. 
 
b. Expenditures from the State General Fund would increase because employer contribution requirements 	to LASERS 
would increase to cover the expected and actual crease in benefit costs. 
 
3. Revenues: 
 
The revenues to LASERS (Agy Self-Generated) would increase since the employer contribution requirements would likely 
increase. 
 
B. Estimated Fiscal Impact – 	OPEB 
(Prepared by LLA) 
 
1. Narrative 
 
Table B shows the estimated fiscal impact of the proposed legislation on actuarial benefit and administrative costs or savings 
associated with OPEB and the government entities that sponsor these benefit programs. A fiscal cost is denoted by 
“Increase” or a positive number.  Fiscal savings are denoted by “Decrease” or a negative number. A revenue increase is 
denoted by “Increase” or a positive number.  A revenue decrease is denoted by “Decrease” or a negative number. 
 
OPEB Fiscal Cost: Table B 
EXPENDITURES	2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24	5 Year Total
  State General Fund Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
  Agy Self Generated                         0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Stat Deds/Other                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Federal Funds                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Local Funds                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0 
  Annual Total Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
REVENUES	2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24	5 Year Total
  State General Fund $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0 
  Agy Self Generated                         0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Stat Deds/Other                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Federal Funds                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Local Funds                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0 
  Annual Total $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0 
  
 	The proposed legislation will have the following effects on OPEB related fiscal costs and revenues during the five year 
measurement period. 
 
2. Expenditures: 
 
Expenditures by the State General Fund would likely increase somewhat due to an increase in disability retirements.  2019 REGULAR SESSION 
ACTUARIAL NOTE SB 107
 
 
Page 6 of 8 
 
3. Revenues: 
 
No measurable effects. 
 C. Estimated Fiscal Impact: Other Government Entities (other than the retirement systems or OPEB) 
(Prepared by Tanesha Morgan, Legislative Fiscal Office, and Bradley Cryer, Director of Local Government Services, LLA)  
 
1. Narrative 
 
Proposed law provides that any workers' compensation policy which provides coverage for an employee of the division of state police shall include coverage for post traumatic stress injury (PTSI). Proposed law also provides that an employee of the 
division of state police who is diagnosed with PTSI, either during employment or thereafter, shall be presumed to have a 
disease or infirmity connected with his employment. 
 
Fiscal Costs for Other Government Entities: Table C 
EXPENDITURES	2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24	5 Year Total
  State General Fund $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0 
  Agy Self Generated See Below  See Below  See Below  See Below  See Below  See Below 
  Stat Deds/Other                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Federal Funds                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Local Funds Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase 
  Annual Total Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
REVENUES	2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24	5 Year Total
  State General Fund $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0 
  Agy Self Generated                         0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Stat Deds/Other                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Federal Funds                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Local Funds                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0 
  Annual Total $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0 
 
 	The proposed bill will have the following effects on fiscal costs and revenues related to other government entities during the 
five year measurement period. 
 
2. Expenditures: 
 
a. This bill may increase the number of workers’ compensation claims paid by the Division of Administration – Office of 
Risk Management (ORM) related to PTSI.  To the extent that a state police officer files a workers’ compensation claim 
related to PTSI, this 	bill provides the presumption is that the PTSI is connected with his employment, which increases 
the likelihood that the claim will be paid.  The LFO is working with ORM to determine the number of claims that were 
denied due to the claimant’s inability to prove that PTSI is connected with his employment.  This note will be updated 
once the information is received from the agency.  
 
b. The effect on retirement systems and OPEB is addressed in Sections A and B above.  However, for local government 
entities there may be an impact with respect to workers’ compensation or other benefits programs. The bill’s 
presumption that a post-traumatic stress injury occurred in connection with employment will likely result in an increase 
in the frequency of claims.  In addition, the employer can only rebut these claims by “clear and convincing evidence.”  
Collectively, these factors may increase the frequency of claims and require an employer to dedicate more resources 
(e.g., increased staff time, professional service fees, legal fees) if the employer attempts to rebut an employee’s claim.  
The amount of increased expenditures cannot be accurately determined. 
 
3. Revenues: 
 
There is no anticipated direct material effect on governmental revenues as a result of this measure. 
 
D. Estimated Fiscal Impact − All Retirement Systems, OPEB, and All Government Entities 
(Prepared by LLA) 
 
1. Narrative 
 
Table D shows the estimated fiscal impact of the proposed legislation on all government entities within the state of Louisiana.  
Cell values in Table D are the sum of the respective cell values in Table A, table B, and Table C.  A fiscal cost is denoted by 
“Increase” or a positive number.  Fiscal savings are denoted by “Decrease” or a negative number.  A revenue increase is 
denoted by “Increase” 	or a positive number.  A revenue decrease is denoted by “Decrease” or a negative number. 
   2019 REGULAR SESSION 
ACTUARIAL NOTE SB 107
 
 
Page 7 of 8 
Total Fiscal Cost: Table D (Cumulative Costs from Tables A, B, & C) 
EXPENDITURES	2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24	5 Year Total
  State General Fund Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
  Agy Self Generated Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
  Stat Deds/Other                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Federal Funds                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Local Funds Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase 
  Annual Total Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
REVENUES	2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24	5 Year Total
  State General Fund $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0  $                       0 
  Agy Self Generated                         0  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
  Stat Deds/Other                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Federal Funds                          0                           0                           0                           0                           0                           0 
  Local Funds                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0                          0 
  Annual Total $                       0  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase  Increase 
 
 
Credentials of the Signatory Staff: 
 
James J. Rizzo is a Senior Consultant and Actuary with Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company, which is currently serving as the actuary 
for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor.  He is an Enrolled Actuary, a member of the American Academy of Actuaries, an Associate of 
the Society of Actuaries and has met the Qualification Standards of the American Academy of Actuaries necessary to render the 
actuarial opinion contained herein. 
 
Actuarial Disclosure: Risks Associated with Measuring Costs 
 
This Actuarial Note is an actuarial communication, and is required to include certain disclosures in compliance with Actuarial 
Standards of Practice (ASOP) No. 51. 
 
A full actuarial determination of the retirement system’s costs, actuarially determined contributions and accrued liability require the 
use of assumptions regarding future economic and demographic events. The assumptions used to determine the retirement system’s 
contribution requirement and accrued liability are summarized in the system’s most recent Actuarial Valuation Report accepted by the 
respective retirement board and by the Public Retirement Systems’ Actuarial Committee (PRSAC). 
 
The actual emerging future experience, such as a retirement fund’s future investment returns, may differ from the assumptions.  To the 
extent that emerging future experience differs from the assumptions, the resulting shortfalls (or gains) must be recognized in future 
years by future taxpayers. Future actuarial measurements may also differ significantly from the current measurements due to other 
factors: changes in economic or demographic assumptions; increases or decreases expected as part of the natural operation of the 
methodology used for these measurements (such as the end of an amortization period; 	or additional cost or contribution requirements 
based on the system’s funded status); and changes in plan provisions or applicable law. 
 
Examples of risk that may reasonably be anticipated to significantly affect the plan’s future financial condition include: 
 
1. Investment risk – actual investment returns may differ from the expected returns (assumptions); 
2. Contribution risk – actual contributions may differ from expected future contributions.  For example, actual contributions 
may not be made in accordance with the plan’s funding policy or  material changes may occur in the anticipated number of 
covered employees, covered payroll, or other relevant contribution base; 
3. Salary and Payroll risk – actual salaries and total payroll may differ from expected, resulting in actual future accrued liability 
and contributions differing from expected; 
4. Longevity and life expectancy risk – members may live longer or shorter than expected and receive pensions for a period of 
time other than assumed; 
5. Other demographic risks – members may terminate, retire or become disabled at times or with benefits other than assumed, 
resulting in actual future accrued liability and contributions differing from expected.  
 
The scope of an Actuarial Note prepared for the Louisiana Legislature does not include an analysis of the potential range of such 
future measurements or a quantitative measurement of the future risks of not achieving the assumptions.  In certain circumstances, 
detailed or quantitative assessments of one or more of these risks as well as various plan maturity measures and historical actuarial 
measurements may be requested from the actuary. Additional risk assessments are generally outside the scope of an Actuarial 
Note. Additional assessments 	may include stress tests, scenario tests, sensitivity tests, stochastic modeling, and a comparison of the 
present value of accrued benefits at low-risk discount rates with the actuarial accrued liability.
 
 
However, the general cost -effects of emerging experience deviating from assumptions can be known. For example, the investment 
return since the most recent actuarial valuation may be less (or more) than the assumed rate, 	or a cost-of-living adjustment may be 
more (or less) than the assumed rate, or life expectancy may be improving (or worsening) compared to what is assumed.  In each of 
these situations, the cost of the plan can be expected to increase (or decrease). 
 
The use of reasonable assumptions and the timely receipt of the actuarially determined contributions are critical to support the 
financial health of the plan. However, employer contributions made at the actuarially determined rate do not necessarily guarantee 
benefit security.  2019 REGULAR SESSION 
ACTUARIAL NOTE SB 107
 
 
Page 8 of 8 
 Information Pertaining to Article (10)(29(F) of the Louisiana Constitution 
 
  
X 
SB 107 contains a retirement system benefit provision having an actuarial cost. 
 
Some members of LASERS will receive a larger benefit with the enactment of SB 107 than what they would have received 
without SB 107.  
 
Dual Referral Relative to Total Fiscal Costs or Total Cash Flows: 
 
The information presented below is based on information contained in 	Table D for the first three years following the 2019 regular 
session. 
 
Senate 	House 
    
 13.5.1 Applies to Senate or House Instruments. 6.8F Applies to Senate or House Instruments. 
 
 
If an annual fiscal cost ≥ $100,000, then bill is 
dual referred to:   
If an annual General Fund fiscal cost  ≥ 
$100,000, then the bill is dual referred to: 
 Dual Referral: Senate Finance Dual Referral to Appropriations 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13.5.2 Applies to Senate or House Instruments. 6.8G Applies to Senate Instruments only. 
 
 
 
If an annual tax or fee change ≥ $500,000, 
then the bill is dual referred to: 
  
 
If a net fee decrease occurs or if an increase in 
annual fees and taxes ≥ $500,000, then the bill is 
dual referred to: 
 
 Dual Referral: Revenue and Fiscal Affairs 
 
 Dual Referral: Ways and Means