2021 REGULAR SESSION
ACTUARIAL NOTE HB 28
Page 1 of 7
House Bill 28 HLS 21RS-491
Engrossed
Author: Representative Adams
Date: May 10, 2021
LLA Note HB 28.02
Organizations Affected:
Firefighters’ Retirement System
EG INCREASE FC SG EX
This Note has been prepared by the Actuary for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor
(LLA) with assistance from either the Fiscal Notes staff of the Legislative Auditor
or staff of the Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO). 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, EA, MAAA
Senior Consultant & Actuary
Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company
Piotr Krekora, ASA, EA, MAAA, PhD
Senior Consultant & Actuary
Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company
Bill Header: RETIREMENT/FIREFIGHTERS: Provides relative to beneficiaries within the Firefighters' Retirement System.
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 Present Values pertain to estimated changes in the net actuarial present value of future benefit payments and
administrative expenses incurred by the retirement system
1
. 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 local and state 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 Present Values Pertaining to:
Net Actuarial
Present Values
The Retirement Systems Increase
Other Post-employment Benefits (OPEB) 0
Total Increase
Five Year Net Fiscal Cost Pertaining to: Expenditures Revenues
The Retirement Systems Increase Increase
Other Post-employment Benefits (OPEB) 0 0
Local Government Entities Increase 0
State Government Entities 0 0
Total Increase Increase
Bill Information
Current Law
The current laws for the Firefighters' Retirement System (FRS) provisions affected by HB 28 are:
1. Current law provides that a beneficiary is a person designated to receive a pension, an annuity, a retirement allowance, or
other benefit.
2. Current law provides members of FRS with various options to receive the actuarial equivalent of their retirement allowance
in a reduced retirement allowance payable throughout the life of a surviving beneficiary. A member may select an optional
form of benefit only upon application for retirement, and that selection is irrevocable, except in the case of divorce.
One of the options, Option 4, provides that benefits will be payable to any or all of the following persons: the member, the
member's spouse, the member's child or children with a permanent mental or physical disability, or the member's dependent
minor child or children that he nominates, provided such benefits, together with the reduced retirement allowance, will be
certified by the actuary to be of equivalent value to his retirement allowance and approved by the board of trustees.
3. Current law provides benefits payable to any surviving child of a deceased member or retiree of FRS if the child has a total
physical disability or an intellectual disability. The surviving child of a deceased active contributing member, a deceased
1
Note: This is a different assessment from the actuarial cost relating the 2/3 vote (refer to the section near the end of this Actuarial
Note “Information Pertaining to Article (10)(29)(F) of the Louisiana Constitution”). 2021 REGULAR SESSION
ACTUARIAL NOTE HB 28
Page 2 of 7
disability retiree, or a deceased regular retiree, whether under or over the age of 18, is entitled to the same benefits, payable
in the same manner as are provided for minor children, if the child has a total physical disability or an intellectual disability
and had such disability at the time of death of the member or retiree, and the child is dependent upon the surviving spouse
or other legal guardian for subsistence.
Proposed Law
The following provisions are contained in HB 28:
1. HB 28 expands the definition of beneficiary to include a juridical person or estate administrator designated to receive a
pension, an annuity, a retirement allowance, or other benefit.
2. HB 28 authorizes payment of benefits to an estate administrator on behalf of a spouse or child if the spouse or child is
named as a legatee and the testament contains a provision for informal acceptance. FRS will need to receive a certified
copy of the testament. Such benefit or designated portion that is paid to the estate administrator will not be treated as an
addition to the estate assets and will not be accessible to creditors for payment of any estate debt or the estate administrator's
fees. The estate administrator will notify the system in writing immediately upon the death of any legatee receiving a
benefit. If the payment of a benefit is contested by any party, FRS will withhold the disputed payment, institute a concursus
action, and deposit the disputed benefit into registry of the court until there is a final binding legal agreement or judgement
regarding the proper payment.
3. HB 28 provides that if a member names his child or children with a permanent mental or physical disability to receive a
benefit under Option 4, the medical determination of such disability shall be performed in immediate proximity and prior
to the effective date of the members date of retirement or DROP. If the member requests that FRS perform the medical
determination, then subsequently does not allocate at least half of his reduced benefit to the child or children pursuant to
Option 4, the member will pay the cost of the medical determination by having the cost deducted from his retirement
benefit.
4. HB 28 provides that for purposes of the benefits payable to any surviving child of a deceased member or retiree of FRS, a
medical determination of permanent mental or physical disability of a member's child or children that is approved by the
board of trustees pursuant to Option 4 is also a sufficient certification of such disability.
Implications of the Proposed Changes
HB 28 expands the definition of beneficiary to include a juridical person or estate administrator and provides opportunities to
provide ongoing support in special situations. This may not add to the cost of providing the benefit if appropriate actuarial
reductions can be determined and applied.
Furthermore, HB 28 requires a medical determination to be performed prior to a benefit effective date if a member nominates a
child (or children) with a permanent mental or physical disability as a beneficiary under Option 4. As a result, many such medical
determinations would be accelerated from the time the surviving child commences benefit receipt to the time of retirement or DROP
entry and in some situations where a child predeceases a retiree, a determination would be performed under HB 28, but not under
the current law. Although not frequent, these special situations will probably add to the ongoing administrative costs.
I. ACTUARIAL IMPACT ON RETIREMENT SYSTEMS AND OPEB [Completed by LLA]
A. Analysis of Net Actuarial Costs
(Prepared by LLA)
This section of the actuarial note pertains to net actuarial present value 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 estimated to be a small
increase in cost. The actuary’s analysis is summarized below.
The several changes made in HB 28 do not affect the benefits payable to the members. However, the change related to the
medical determinations pursuant to Option 4 is likely to increase the administrative costs slightly for the system. The dollar
amount of increases in administrative expenses would be negligible compared to all of the System’s expenditures.
2. Other Post-employment Benefits (OPEB)
The net actuarial cost or savings of the proposed legislation associated with OPEB, including retiree health insurance premiums,
is estimated to be $0. The actuary’s analysis is summarized below.
The liability for post-retirement medical insurance subsidies provided to retirees is not affected by any of the provisions
contained in HB 28. Retiree medical insurance subsidies are adopted by the local employers and are not affected by the
provisions of this proposed bill.
2021 REGULAR SESSION
ACTUARIAL NOTE HB 28
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B. Actuarial Data, Methods and Assumptions
(Prepared by LLA)
Unless indicated otherwise, the actuarial note for the proposed legislation was prepared using actuarial data, methods, and
assumptions as disclosed in the most recent actuarial valuation report adopted by the Public Retirement Systems’ Actuarial
Committee (PRSAC). The data, methods and assumptions are being used to provide consistency with the actuary for the retirement
system who may also be providing testimony to the Senate and House retirement committees. With certain exceptions, the actuary
for the LLA finds the assumptions used by the retirement systems and PRSAC to be reasonable.
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 IMPACT ON RETIREMENT SYSTEMS AND OPEB [Completed by LLA]
This section of the actuarial note pertains to fiscal (annual) costs or savings associated with the retirement systems (Table A) and with
OPEB (Table B). Fiscal costs or savings in Table A include benefit-related actuarial costs and administrative costs incurred by the
retirement systems.
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.
Retirement System Fiscal Cost: Table A EXPENDITURES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 5 Year Total
State General Fund $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0 $ 0
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 Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase
Annual Total Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase Increase
REVENUES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 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
All expenditures for employer contributions are reflected on a single line in the table above. The actual sources of funding
(e.g., Federal Funds, State General Fund) may vary by employer and are not differentiated in the table.
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 by FRS (Agy Self-Generated) are expected to increase slightly since there will be some additional
administrative costs related to the medical determinations pursuant to Option 4. Furthermore, some of medical
determinations would be accelerated from a time period beginning five years after the HB 28 effective date to occur within
the five year period following the HB 28 effective date.
b. Expenditures from the Local Funds are expected to increase since the contribution rates they pay is influenced by the
System’s increased administrative expenditures. As a percent of pay, the increase in the contribution rates is expected to
be negligible.
3. Revenues:
The retirement System passes on all administrative costs that it incurs in a given year to participating entities by including an
estimate of future administrative expenses in the stated contribution rate to be collected. Since the proposed bill has the effect
of a slight increase in the administrative expenses, as described above, the retirement System is expected to have a slight
increase in revenue. 2021 REGULAR SESSION
ACTUARIAL NOTE HB 28
Page 4 of 7
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 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 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
REVENUES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 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
All expenditures for employer contributions are reflected on a single line in the table above. The actual sources of funding
(e.g., Federal Funds, State General Fund) may vary by employer and are not differentiated on the table.
The proposed legislation will have the following effects on OPEB related fiscal costs and revenues during the five year
measurement period.
2. Expenditures:
No measurable effects.
3. Revenues:
No measurable effects.
III. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES [Completed by LLA]
This section of the actuarial note pertains to annual fiscal costs (savings) relating to administrative expenditures and revenue impacts
incurred by local government entities other than those included in Tables A and B. See Table C.
Estimated Fiscal Impact - Local Government Entities (other than the impact included in Tables A and B)
(Prepared by Local Government Services at Legislative Auditor’s Office)
1. Narrative
From time to time, legislation is proposed that has an indirect effect on administrative expenditures and revenues associated
with local government entities (other than the impact included in Tables A and B). Table C shows the estimated fiscal
administrative cost impact of the proposed legislation on such local government entities. 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.
2021 REGULAR SESSION
ACTUARIAL NOTE HB 28
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Fiscal Costs for Local Government Entities: Table C EXPENDITURES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 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
REVENUES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 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 fiscal administrative costs and revenues related to local government
entities during the five year measurement period.
2. Expenditures:
No measurable effects.
3. Revenues:
No measurable effects.
IV. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT ENTITIES [Completed by LFO]
This section of the actuarial note pertains to annual fiscal cost (savings) relating to administrative expenditures and revenue impacts
incurred by state government entities other than those included in Tables A and B. See Table D.
Estimated Fiscal Impact − State Government Entities (other than the impact included in Tables A and B)
(Prepared by Chris Keaton, Legislative Fiscal Officer)
1. Narrative
From time to time, legislation is proposed that has an indirect effect on administrative expenditures and revenues associated
with state government entities (other than the impact included in Tables A and B). Table D shows the estimated fiscal
administrative cost impact of the proposed legislation on such state government entities. 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.
Fiscal Costs for State Government Entities: Table D EXPENDITURES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 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
REVENUES 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 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 fiscal costs and revenues related to state government entities during
the five year measurement period.
2021 REGULAR SESSION
ACTUARIAL NOTE HB 28
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2. Expenditures:
a. N/A - This bill only impacts local government, and therefore, has no state impact. The LFO does not review local
government bills.
3. Revenues:
a. N/A - This bill only impacts local government, and therefore, has no state impact. The LFO does not review local
government bills.
Credentials of the Signatory Staff:
James J. Rizzo and Piotr Krekora, on behalf of Gabriel, Roeder, Smith & Company, serve as the Actuary for the Louisiana Legislative
Auditor. They are Enrolled Actuaries, members of the American Academy of Actuaries, Associates of the Society of Actuaries and
have 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.
2021 REGULAR SESSION
ACTUARIAL NOTE HB 28
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Information Pertaining to Article (10)(29)(F) of the Louisiana Constitution
HB 28 contains a retirement system benefit provision having an actuarial cost.
No members of the Firefighters’ Retirement System would receive a larger benefit with the enactment of HB 28 than what they
would have received without HB 28.
Dual Referral Relative to Total Fiscal Costs or Total Cash Flows:
The information presented below is based on information contained in Tables A, B, C, and D for the first three years following the 2021
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