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2019 Session

Budget Amendments - SB1100 (Floor Approved)

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VRS ORPHE Surcharge Adjustment (language only)

Item 474 #1s

Item 474 #1s

Central Appropriations
Central Appropriations

Language

Page 494, strike lines 1 through 12, and insert:


"O.1.a. In order to address the potential for stranded liability in the Virginia Retirement System, notwithstanding any other contrary provisions of the Appropriation Act or of § 51.1-145, institutions of higher education that have established their own optional retirement plan under § 51.1-126(B) shall pay, effective July 1, 2019, contributions to the employer's retirement allowance account in an amount equal to that portion of the state employer contribution rate designated to pay down the total unfunded accrued liability, for any positions existing as of December 31, 2013 that are subsequently converted from non-Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education (ORPHE) eligible positions to ORPHE-eligible positions on or after January 1, 2014 and that are filled by an employee who elects to participate in the ORPHE. In meeting this obligation, each institution shall provide to the Virginia Retirement System by April 1 of each year a list of all positions converted from non-ORPHE eligible positions to ORPHE-eligible positions since January 1, 2014, and whether current employees in such positions have elected ORPHE participation.    


b. Such contributions shall not be required for any new position established by the institution after January 1, 2014, that may be eligible for participation in the Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education.".



Explanation

(This amendment requires a surcharge, which is currently 8.04 percent, beginning in FY 2020 for institutions of higher education, based on converting positions that were previously enrolled in a defined benefit or hybrid retirement program to a defined contribution program, to avoid stranding the existing unfunded liability for the Commonwealth's Virginia Retirement System.)