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PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS COMMITTEE


MINUTES

October 26-27, 1995
First and second of three meetings

MEMBERS PRESENT

MEETING IN BRIEF

Minutes prepared by Kregg Halstead, Legal Counsel,
Organizational staffing by Ed Cook, Legal Counsel

  1. Procedural Business.
  2. Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS).
  3. Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF).
  4. Judicial Retirement System.
  5. Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System (MFPRSI).
  6. Peace Officers' Retirement System (PORS).
  7. Committee Discussion and Future Business.
  8. Written Materials Filed With the Legislative Service Bureau.

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

1. Procedural Business.

Call to Order. Temporary Co-Chairpersons Senator John Kibbie and Representative Mona Martin called the interim meeting of the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System Committee to order at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 26, 1995, in Committee Room 22 of the Statehouse in Des Moines, Iowa.

Preliminary Business. Senator Kibbie and Representative Martin were unanimously elected the permanent Co-Chairpersons of the Committee. The rules were also adopted by the Committee.

Adjournment. The meeting recessed after the first day's business on Thursday, October 26, 1995, at 4:20 p.m. The second day of the meeting began on Friday, October 27, 1995, at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned after the second day's business at 1:45 p.m.

Next Meeting. The Committee tentatively set the date for the third meeting of the Committee, subject to Legislative Council approval of the Committee's request for a third meeting date, on December 14, 1995. (The Legislative Coucnil approved the request on November 29, 1995.)

2. Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS)

a. Buck Consultants' Report.
Presentation by Mr. Joseph Metz, government consultant, and Mr. Ralph Jensen, actuary consultant.
(1) Overview. Buck Consultants was hired by IPERS to conduct an independent study concerning IPERS benefits. Mr. Metz indicated that although the study focused on benefits and not funding or actuarial concerns, the cost of benefits was considered in making recommendations. In conducting the study, Buck compared key features of IPERS to other state and national employee retirement plans. Mr. Metz began by providing the Committee with a working definition of what is a "good pension". He defined a "good pension" as one that should enable a career employee to retire at a normal retirement age with pension and social security benefits that will permit the retiree to maintain his or her preretirement standard of living. In addition, a "good pension" should allow retirees to receive increases in their pensions as inflation increases. In considering pension policy, Mr. Metz indicated that pensions are for retirement and should not be used to promote a particular social policy. Mr. Metz stated that IPERS is basically on target in achieving the goal of providing a "good pension". He noted that IPERS is an "A1" system that is well funded, properly administered, and generally provides good benefits. However, Buck Consultants did recommend to the Committee numerous revisions to IPERS.
(2) Recommendations:
(3) Discussion. Senator Gronstal expressed his opinion that the timetables for the removal of the covered wage ceiling and the service credit cap need to be studied. In response to a question from Senator Connolly, Mr. Metz and Mr. Jensen stated that based on their estimates, IPERS could adequately fund all of the Buck recommendations.
b. IPERS Report.
Presentation by Mr. Greg Cusack, Chief Benefits Officer; Elizabeth Sanders, Chief Investment Officer; and Patrice Beckham, Consulting Actuary, Milliman & Robertson
(1) Introduction. The key issues for pension benefit policy are what can be paid pay for and what ought to be paid for. In formulating pension policy, Mr. Cusack indicated that one must realize that it is impossible to have a "neutral" or "no social policy" retirement system since any decision made is predicated on some societal choice. In establishing pension policy, Mr. Cusack cautioned the Committee to consider the younger state workers. He indicated that choices made today, if they result in providing too many benefits for current or soon-to-be retirees, could result in Iowa adopting a defined contribution plan for younger workers which would penalize career and lower-pay employees.
(2) Orienting principles for a sound pension system. Mr. Cusack relayed the following principles for the Committee to consider, in addition to the statutory principles found in Iowa Code chapter 97D, for designing a balanced and fiscally sound pension system:
(3) Consensus recommendation of constituent advisory group and IPERS.

The constituent advisory group includes representatives of various interest groups concerned with IPERS and was formed by IPERS to provide input on retirement issues.

The following were agreed to by all parties:

(4) Further study items.

The constituent group believes further study is needed on the following:

(5) No consensus items.

No consensus was reached by the constituent group on the following proposals:

(6) Actuarial report - covered wage ceiling.

Ms. Patrice Beckham noted that the current covered wage ceiling masks IPERS' liabilites in the future. She noted that current actuarial projections are based on the covered wage ceiling and this practice fails to account for higher wages likely to be paid 20 to 40 years from now and the likely increase in the covered wage ceiling. As a result, the system undervalues the benefits for younger employees and therefore does not accurately reflect the likely future liabilities of the system. She estimated that removing the covered wage ceiling would result in additional liabilities of $9.9 to $12.2 billion. Senator Gronstal wondered whether an increase in the IPERS interest rate assumption from the current 6.75 percent to 7.75 percent would completely fund any liabilities resulting from removing the covered wage ceiling. Ms. Beckham indicated that a more detailed analysis would need to be done. Ms. Sanders noted that the average interest rate assumption for public employee retirement systems in the country is about 8 percent but she indicated that IPERS would tend to err toward a more conservative assumption.

(7) Organizational structure.

Mr. Cusack indicated that the Department of Personnel is working on a response to the consultants' recommendation of establishing some form of a benefits board. He agreed that inclusion of constituent groups in the planning process is good but he indicated some concern with empowering these groups with benefits authority through a formal board. Ms. Linda Hanson, Director, Department of Personnel, indicated that IPERS recommendations are not controlled by an individual person in the department but are formulated by the department using a team approach. She noted that ultimate authority in setting IPERS policy rests with the legislature, and she indicated that forming a benefits board may usurp some of the legislature's control of benefits policy. Senator Connolly expressed his support for some form of a benefits board.

c. Presentations from IPERS constituent groups.
(1)Iowa State Sheriff's and Deputies Association.

Presentation by Mr. Bill Hutchins; Mr. Bill Sage, Chairperson of the Legislative Committee; and Mr. Marv Van Huffman, Marion County Sheriff and incoming President of the Association.

(2)Iowa Corrections Association.

Presentation by Mr. Gary Hinzman, 6th Judicial District Department of Corrections and Ms. Jean Kuehl.

(3)Airport Firefighters Association.

Presentation by Mr. Dale Pradovich.

(4) Iowa Retired School Personnel Association. Presentation by Mr. Walt Galvin, Legislative Director.
(5) School Administrators of Iowa.

Presentation by Mr. Gaylord Tryon, Executive Director.

(6) Iowa State Education Association.

Presentation by Mr. Lowell Duenbaugh.

(7) IPERS Improvement Association.

Presentation by Mr. Dick Rattray, President.

(8) Iowa Association of Community College Trustees.

Presentation by Dr. Gene Gardner, Legislative Chair.

(9) Iowa Association of School Boards.

Presentation by Mr. Jason Bridie.

(10) American Federation of State and County Municipal Employees.

Presentation by Mr. Ted Anderson.

3. Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF).

Presentation by Ms. Mary Jo Small, Associate Vice President, University of Iowa; and Mr. Ted Williams, State Board of Regents.

Overview. Ms. Small described the retirement fund for Regents' institutions. She noted that unlike the other state retirement plans in Iowa which are defined benefit plans, TIAA-CREF is a defined contribution plan wherein the state makes a certain payment into the plan along with the member, and the member's retirement is based on how his or her investments do over time. Ms. Small then provided the Committee with a brief historical overview of these pension plans. She noted that the considerations in establishing this system were to provide immediate vesting, portability, and no continuing liability for the employer. The advantages of the system from an educational institution viewpoint is that the risk is shifted to the employee, there are no administrative costs for the institution, and, since the system is the national standard for college employee retirement, it aids in teacher recruitment.

Discussion. Senator Drake expressed concern about the security of the contributions and investments made in this fund. Mr. Richard Saunders from the University of Iowa stated that the fund is very professionally invested and that the investments are carefully monitored even though the University does not investigate or audit the funds controlled by the plan on its own.

4. Judicial Retirement System.

a. Judicial Department.
Presentation by Ms. Peggy Sullivan, Director of Finance and Personnel.
Ms. Sullivan summarized the recent results from a recent actuarial report and indicated that, depending on the valuation method used, the system's unfunded liabilities had either stayed the same or had been reduced by gthe end of the last fiscal year. She indicated that with the legislative changes to the Senior Judge Program, it should take about 15 years for the system to become actuarially sound.
b. Iowa Judges Association.
Presentation by the Honorable Louis A. Lavorato, Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court and Co-Chairperson of the Iowa Judges Association.
The Association expressed its support for the Legislature's actions in placing the system on track to becoming actuarially sound. The Association made no requests for any changes in the system but urged the Committee to maintain the state's commitment to make a 23.7 percent contribution to the system, to make up the shortfall created last year when the full 23.7 percent was not appropriated, and to continue the additional $5,000 compensation for senior judges.

5. Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System of Iowa (MFPRSI).

a. Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System.
Presentation by Mr. Dennis L. Jacobs, Executive Director and Mr. Dean Johnson, Treasurer of the City of Des Moines.
(1)Recommendations.
(2)Issues facing the system:
b. Iowa State Police Association.
Presentation by Mr. Richard Ahlstrom.
(1) Recommendations:
c. Iowa Association of Professional Firefighters.
Presentation by Mr. Jack Reed, President and Mr. Charles Gribble, Legal Counsel.
(1)Recommendations:

6. Peace Officers Retirement System (PORS).

Peace Officers Retirement System.
Presentation by Mr. Carroll Bidler, Director of Administrative Services.
(1) Recommendations:
(2) Discussion:
b. Iowa State Troopers Association and Iowa State Patrol Supervisors Association.
Presentation by Ms. Diane Reid and Mr. Gail Schwab.
(1)Recommendations:

7. Committee Discussion and Future Business.

Numerous Committee members expressed a desire for the cost figures of pursuing the various recommended changes to the respective retirement systems. Representative Gries noted that the Committee should study the costs of providing health coverage to early retirees who do not have Medicare. Co-chairperson Kibbie suggested that if legislative changes are ultimately made, they should be made together in one comprehensive bill and not done piecemeal in a multitude of bills.

Written Materials Filed with the Legislative Service Bureau.

Pre Meeting Distributions:
Meeting Distributions:
IPERS Organizations Distributions:
TIAA-CREF Distributions:
MFPRSI Distributions:
PORS Distributions:
Judicial Retirement Distribution:

OTHER INFORMATION FOR THIS COMMITTEE:

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