Oklahoma 2022 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma House Bill HB2293 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 05/14/2021

                    RBH No. 8274 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021) 
 
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE 
SUBSTITUTE 
FOR ENGROSSED 
HOUSE BILL NO. 2293 	By: Roberts (Dustin) of the 
House 
 
   and 
 
  Paxton of the Senate 
 
 
 
 
 
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE 
 
An Act relating to the Teachers' Retirement System of 
Oklahoma; amending 70 O.S. 2011, Section 17 -108, 
which relates to matching contribution amounts; 
providing for differential rates; defining terms; 
modifying requirements with respect to summer school 
programs; imposing requirements related to contracts; 
providing exceptions; and providing methodology for 
certain contribution rate. 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2011, Section 17 -108, is 
amended to read as follows: 
Section 17-108.  A.  Each local school district, or state 
college or university, or State Board of Education , or State Board 
of Career and Technology Education, or other state agencies whose 
employees are members of the Teachers' Retirement System 
("participating employers"), shall match, on a pro rata basis, in  RBH No. 8274 
 
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accordance with subsection B of this section the contributions of 
members whose salaries are paid by federal funds or externally 
sponsored agreements such as gran ts, contracts and cooperative 
agreements.  These funds shall be remitted at the same time as the 
regular contributions of members are remitted to the Teachers' 
Retirement System of Oklahoma and deposited in the Retirement 
Benefit Fund. 
B.  On an annual bas is, the Board of Trustees shall set the two 
contribution rate rates to be paid by contributing employers as 
provided in subsection A of this section.  The Both contribution 
rate rates shall be determined using cost principles established by 
federal regulations and shall be consistent with policies, 
regulations and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally 
assisted and other activities, and be accorded consistent treatment 
through application of generally accepted accounting principles.  
The Board shall approve the contribution rate rates for each fiscal 
year ending June 30, no later than April 1 of the previous fiscal 
year.  The first rate shall be applied to service performed during 
the regular school year of the participating employer.  The second 
rate shall be applied to service performed by members during a 
summer school program of the participating employer.  For the 
purposes of this subsection, "summer school program" is defined as a 
program offering academic enrichment for students from Pre -K through 
12th grades during the summer term after the close of the school  RBH No. 8274 
 
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year.  Members shall only be considered as providing service to a 
summer school program if such service is provided pursuant to a 
separate summer school contract between the member and the 
participating employer.  The term "summer school program" does not 
include services performed at a participating employer offering an 
extended school year pursuant to Section 1 -109.1 of this title, or 
services performed by staff pursuant to a twelve -month contract with 
the employer.  The method applied to setting the second contribution 
rate may take into consideration whether, or to what extent, such 
service is likely to add to members' service credit or final average 
salary; provided, however, the se cond rate shall not exceed one -half 
(1/2) of the first rate established in this subsection.  The actuary 
retained by the Board may recommend such rates using assumptions 
that apply to the group of those members whose service is subject to 
the second contribution rate. 
C.  All the assets of the retirement system shall be credited 
according to the purpose for which they are held to one of eight 
funds, namely:  The Teachers' Savings Fund, the Retirement Benefit 
Fund, the Interest Fund, the Permanent Retirement Fund, the Expense 
Fund, the Suspense Fund, the Teachers' Deposit Fund, and the Retiree 
Medical Benefit Fund. 
1.  The Teachers' Savings Fund shall be a fund in which shall be 
accumulated the regular contributions from the compensation of 
members, including interest earnings prior to July 1, 1968.   RBH No. 8274 
 
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Contributions to and payments from the Teachers' Savings Fund shall 
be made as specifically provided in each plan available within the 
retirement system. 
2.  The deductions provided for in the plans within the 
retirement system shall be made notwithstanding that the minimum 
compensation provided for any member shall be reduced thereby.  
Every member shall be deemed to consent and agree to the deductions 
made and provided for herein and payment of salary or compensa tion, 
less the deduction, shall be a full and complete discharge and 
acquittance of all claims and demands whatsoever for the services 
rendered by such person during the period covered by such payment, 
except as to the benefits provided under this act.  Th e employer 
shall certify to the Board of Trustees on each and every payroll, or 
in such other manner as the Board may prescribe, the amounts to be 
deducted, and each of the amounts shall be deducted, and when 
deducted shall be paid into the Teachers' Savin gs Fund, and shall be 
credited to the individual account of the member from whose 
compensation the deduction was made. 
3.  Following the termination of membership in the retirement 
system for any member who has been absent from service for five (5) 
years in any period of six (6) consecutive years, the Teachers' 
Savings Fund Account of such member shall be closed and the amount 
due the member as provided in Section 17 -105 of this title shall be 
paid upon the filing of formal application.  At the time such  RBH No. 8274 
 
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membership is terminated the amount due the member as provided in 
Section 17-105 of this title shall be transferred to the Suspense 
Fund. 
4.  Upon the retirement of a member, the balance of money he or 
she had in the Teachers' Savings Fund shall be transferr ed to the 
Retirement Benefit Fund. 
5.  Retirement Benefit Fund. 
a. After August 2, 1969, there shall be transferred from 
the Teachers' Savings Fund for those members drawing 
retirement benefits from the Teachers' Retirement 
System of Oklahoma an amount nec essary to provide the 
monthly annuity payments and pension payments as 
required in Section 17 -107 of this title.  In addition 
the fund shall consist of monies received from any 
state dedicated revenue, monies received from state 
appropriations, monies rece ived from federal matching 
funds, and the residue of the interest on investments 
after the requirements of Section 17 -107 of this title 
have been fully met.  The Retirement Benefit Fund 
shall consist of an amount of money necessary for the 
making of retirement payments to retirees. 
b. Should a member have deposits in the Teachers' Deposit 
Fund or the Tax-Sheltered Annuity Fund and wish to 
receive monthly retirement benefits on such deposits,  RBH No. 8274 
 
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the actuarial equivalent of a two -year period and each 
succeeding fiscal year thereafter shall be transferred 
to the Retirement Benefit Fund.  The member may choose 
any of the plans available in the Teachers' Retirement 
Act as a method of receiving monthly retirement 
benefits on the money he has on deposit in the 
Teachers' Deposit Fund or the Tax -Sheltered Annuity 
Fund.  The monthly retirement benefits paid from the 
Teachers' Deposit Fund or the Tax -Sheltered Annuity 
Fund shall be in addition to the regular retirement 
benefits and the money transferred from the Teachers' 
Deposit Fund or Tax-Sheltered Annuity Fund shall not 
be matched by the State of Oklahoma. 
c. From the Retirement Benefit Fund shall be paid all 
monthly retirement benefits. 
d. At the death of a retired member who has retired under 
the Maximum Plan of Retir ement, Option 1 or Option 4, 
the balance of money the member has in the Teachers' 
Savings Fund shall be transferred to the Retirement 
Benefit Fund and the amount due the beneficiary or his 
or her estate under Option 1 or Option 4 shall be paid 
from the Retirement Benefit Fund. 
e. At the death of both a retired member and the retired 
member's spouse, who had retired under Option 2 or 3,  RBH No. 8274 
 
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any balance in the Teachers' Savings Fund shall be 
transferred from the Teachers' Savings Fund to the 
Retirement Benefit Fu nd. 
f. At the death of a retired member who had retired under 
Option 5, the balance of any monies the member had in 
the Teachers' Savings Fund shall be transferred to the 
Retirement Benefit Fund for the purpose of making a 
lump-sum settlement to the benefi ciary or his estate.  
Providing that if the surviving spouse elects to 
receive the balance under the Maximum Plan of 
Retirement or Option 1 the member's money, if any, on 
a monthly basis, constituting actuarial equivalent of 
two (2) years' payments, and ea ch year thereafter the 
annual actuarial equivalent, shall be transferred from 
the Teachers' Savings Fund for the purpose of paying 
monthly retirement benefits to the spouse under this 
option. 
6.  The Interest Fund is hereby created to facilitate the 
crediting of interest to the various other funds to which interest 
is to be credited.  All income, interest and dividends derived from 
the deposits and investments authorized by this act shall be paid 
into the Interest Fund.  On June 30, each year, interest shal l be 
transferred to the other funds as herein provided.  RBH No. 8274 
 
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7.  The Permanent Retirement Fund shall consist of the 
accumulated gifts, awards, and bequests made to the retirement 
system, and transfers from the Suspense Fund, the principal of which 
is hereby held and dedicated as a perpetual endowment of the 
retirement system and shall not be diverted or appropriated to any 
other cause or purpose unless specifically provided for in such 
gifts, awards or bequests. 
8.  The Expense Fund shall be the fund from which the expense of 
administration and maintenance of the retirement system shall be 
paid.  The Board of Trustees shall cause to be prepared and adopt 
annually an itemized budget showing the amount required to defray 
the expenses for the ensuing fiscal year. 
Transfers to and payments from this fund shall be made as 
follows:  first, from the Interest Fund; second, from any dedicated 
revenue; and, third, from appropriation by the Oklahoma Legislature. 
All monies for the operation of the Teachers' Retirement System 
of Oklahoma shall be paid from the Expense Fund upon the approval by 
the Board of Trustees and the checks signed by two people designated 
to sign such checks by the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' 
Retirement System of Oklahoma. 
9.  The Suspense Fund sh all be comprised of amounts transferred 
to the fund as provided in this section and Section 17 -105 of this 
title and obligations of the retirement system to any member or 
person which cannot be legally discharged.  RBH No. 8274 
 
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10.  Teachers' Deposit Fund. 
Any member may request, prior to a pay period, that his or her 
employer make additional deposits for him or her, for tax -sheltered 
annuity purposes.  However, the amount deposited shall not exceed 
the limits as defined in Section 402(g) and Section 415 of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and applicable federal 
regulations.  All such deposits shall be credited to the member's 
account in the Teachers' Deposit Fund for the purchase of a tax -
sheltered annuity.  The amount thus accumulated, with earnings, 
shall be used upon the member's retirement, separation from service, 
death or disability to purchase an annuity in addition to his or her 
regular service retirement allowance.  The amount a member 
accumulates in the Teachers' Deposit Fund, not including interes t, 
may be used to pay distributions in the case of hardship as provided 
in Section 403(b)(11) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as 
amended, and applicable federal regulations. 
11.  Collection of Contributions. 
 The collection of members' contributions shall be as 
follows: 
(1) Each employer shall cause to be deducted on each 
and every payroll or claim of a member for each 
and every payroll claim period subsequent to the 
date of establishment of the retirement system 
the contribution payable by such membe r as  RBH No. 8274 
 
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provided in this act.  With each and every 
payroll or claim the employer shall deliver to 
the treasurer of the employer warrants issued to 
the employees as shown to be due by the payroll 
or claim, together with a warrant or warrants in 
favor of the Teachers' Retirement System as shown 
by the payroll or claim. 
(2) The treasurer or disbursing officer upon delivery 
of the warrants and a true copy of the payroll or 
claims as provided above shall register the 
warrants as provided for the registration of 
other school warrants, and shall deliver to the 
employer warrants issued in favor of the 
employees, and shall deliver warrants issued in 
favor of the Teachers' Retirement System and the 
copy of the payroll or claims to the school 
district superintendent as de signated by the 
Board of Trustees.  For the purpose of collecting 
contributions of teachers in the public schools, 
the superintendent of a school district is hereby 
designated to receive the Teachers' Retirement 
warrants from the treasurer or proper disbur sing 
officer of the several school districts for the 
purpose of transmitting such warrants and payroll  RBH No. 8274 
 
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or claims to the Executive Director of the 
Teachers' Retirement System of the State of 
Oklahoma.  Any college or university or other 
educational institut ion or agency operated in 
whole or in part by the state shall have the 
amount retained or deducted from the funds 
regularly appropriated by the state for the 
current maintenance for such educational 
departments and institutions. 
(3) For the purpose of enab ling the collection of the 
contributions of the members of the retirement 
system to be made as simple as possible, the 
Board of Trustees shall require the secretary or 
other officer of each employer -board or agency, 
within thirty (30) days after the beginn ing of 
each school year, to make a list of all teachers 
in its employ who are members of the retirement 
system, certify to the correctness of this list, 
and file the same with the Executive Director of 
the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Retirement 
System.  If additions to or deductions from this 
list should be made during the year such 
additions or deductions shall likewise be  RBH No. 8274 
 
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certified to the Board of Trustees of the 
Teachers' Retirement System. 
(4) The State Treasurer shall furnish annually to the 
Board of Trustees a sworn statement of the amount 
of the funds in his or her custody belonging to 
the retirement system.  The records of the Board 
of Trustees shall be open to public inspection 
and any member of the retirement system shall be 
furnished with a statement of the amount of the 
credit to his or her individual account upon 
written request by such member, provided the 
Board of Trustees shall not be required to answer 
more than one such request of a member in any one 
(1) year. 
(5) Failure of any super intendent, officer, or other 
person to discharge the duties imposed upon him 
or her by this act shall render him or her or his 
or her bondsman liable for any loss occasioned 
thereby to the Teachers' Retirement System or the 
employees of the school district , or both. 
(6) On a showing by the Teachers' Retirement System 
that a warrant, voucher or check issued to it 
has, for any reason, been lost or never received, 
after ninety (90) days from the date of issue or  RBH No. 8274 
 
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from transmittal for payment, it shall be the 
duty of the issuing authority forthwith, without 
any indemnifying bond or other requirements, to 
issue a duplicate thereof in lieu of that which 
was lost, to the Teachers' Retirement System; and 
the Teachers' Retirement System shall save 
harmless any school district or agency of state 
government making payment under the provisions 
hereof to the State Teachers' Retirement System 
if the original warrant, voucher or check is 
later presented for payment and same is paid 
after a duplicate warrant, voucher or check has 
been issued and paid to the Teachers' Retirement 
System, and any loss sustained therefrom shall be 
charged to the Interest Fund. 
12.  Rollover Contributions and Direct Trustee -to-Trustee 
Transfers from Other Plans. 
Any member may purchase credit for s ervice, to the extent 
specified in this title, with rollovers from an eligible retirement 
plan as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended 
from time to time.  A member may also purchase permissive service 
credit, as defined by Code Section 415(n)(3)(A), with a direct 
trustee-to-trustee transfer from a governmental Code Section 403(b) 
plan or governmental Code Section 457(b) plan.  All rollovers and  RBH No. 8274 
 
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direct trustee-to-trustee transfers shall be allowed to the extent 
permitted by federal law.  Rollovers or direct transfers in excess 
of the amount necessary to purchase such service credit shall not be 
allowed. 
13.  Retiree Medical Benefit Fund. 
The Retiree Medical Benefit Fund shall be maintained as a 
subaccount under the Retirement Benefit Fund.  The Retiree Medical 
Benefit Fund is composed of all assets contributed to this 
subaccount to pay the retirement system's portion of the monthly 
retiree health insurance benefits described in Section 1316.3 of 
Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  All alloc ated assets and the 
earnings thereon in the Retiree Medical Benefit Fund shall be held 
for the exclusive purpose of providing retiree medical benefits 
pursuant to Section 1316.3 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.  
The Retiree Medical Benefit Fund shall be administered in accordance 
with the requirements under Section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.  An amount necessary to 
pay the health insurance premiums for retired members as provided by 
Section 1316.3 of Titl e 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall be 
deposited each month into the Retiree Medical Benefit Fund. 
 
58-1-8274 MAH 05/12/21