Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB1018

Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/26/24
• Refer: 1/26/24
• Failed: 4/15/24

Caption

Rehired annuitants in the Wisconsin Retirement System. (FE)

Impact

With the proposed changes, the bill would directly affect the statutes that regulate the Wisconsin Retirement System, easing restrictions on retiring employees who wish to return to work. Employers that hire these rehired annuitants will be obliged to make certain payments to the WRS as if each annuitant had suspended their benefits. This new structure is designed to support the retention of valuable workforce knowledge and to address potential shortages of experienced workers in various sectors.

Summary

Assembly Bill 1018 addresses the provisions concerning rehired annuitants under the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). Currently, individuals who receive a retirement or disability annuity from the WRS are required to suspend their annuity if they accept employment with a WRS-participating employer and work a certain number of hours. This bill proposes to allow those individuals to maintain their annuity for up to 60 months while continuing to work, provided they comply with specified conditions. This adjustment aims to encourage the rehiring of experienced retired individuals back into critical roles in state service.

Contention

Notably, the bill repeals outdated provisions related to rehired annuitants that were influenced by the public health emergency declarations from 2020. Stakeholders may have varied opinions about this measure; some may see it as gratifying to state employees wishing to remain engaged in the workforce while collecting their pensions, and others may point to concerns over the financial implications for the retirement system and the potential for misuse of the provisions regarding annuity suspension.