Jurris.COM
Article 8.6. Post-employment Benefits of California Government Code >> Division 4. >> Title 3. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 8.6.
(a) The board of supervisors of a county or the governing
body of a district or other public entity may, by ordinance or
resolution and with the agreement of the board of retirement, provide
for the contribution of funds by the county, a district, or other
public entity into a Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account. The
retirement system may establish the Post-Employment Benefits Trust
Account as a part of the retirement fund. The Post-Employment
Benefits Trust Account shall be established for the sole purpose of
funding the benefits provided under a post-employment group health,
life, welfare, or other supplemental benefits plan or plans
established and maintained by the county or district, which plan or
plans may provide for self-insured coverage or the payment of all or
a portion of the premiums on one or more insurance contracts or
health care service plan contracts for retired employees of the
participating county, district, or other public entity, and their
qualified spouses, dependents and beneficiaries.
(b) Contributions to the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account may include the proceeds of debt issued by the county, a district, or other public entity solely for the purpose of funding post-employment health, life, welfare, or other supplemental benefits.
(c) The post-employment benefits provided with the funds contributed to the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account are in addition to any other benefits provided under this chapter.
(d) (1) Except as described in subdivision (b) of Section 31694.1, the assets of the retirement fund may not be used, directly or indirectly, to pay the cost of any benefits provided through the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account or, except to the extent allowed by federal tax law, to pay any direct or indirect cost of administering the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund.
(2) Except as described in subdivision (c) of Section 31694.1, funds in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account may not be used, directly or indirectly, to pay the cost of any other benefits provided under this chapter.
(b) Contributions to the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account may include the proceeds of debt issued by the county, a district, or other public entity solely for the purpose of funding post-employment health, life, welfare, or other supplemental benefits.
(c) The post-employment benefits provided with the funds contributed to the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account are in addition to any other benefits provided under this chapter.
(d) (1) Except as described in subdivision (b) of Section 31694.1, the assets of the retirement fund may not be used, directly or indirectly, to pay the cost of any benefits provided through the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account or, except to the extent allowed by federal tax law, to pay any direct or indirect cost of administering the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Fund.
(2) Except as described in subdivision (c) of Section 31694.1, funds in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account may not be used, directly or indirectly, to pay the cost of any other benefits provided under this chapter.
(a) The retirement system shall separately account for the
funds contributed to the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account by
each participating employer and the earnings and expenses related to
the investment and administration of those funds.
(b) The board of retirement, or a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, shall have sole, exclusive, and plenary authority and fiduciary responsibility over the investment of the funds in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, consistent with Sections 31594 and 31595, and as provided for in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. The board of retirement or board of investments may invest funds in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account with those of the retirement system, to the extent allowed by federal tax laws. The investment earnings and investment expenses attributable to the investment activity of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account shall be accounted for separately from the investment earnings and expenses of the retirement fund.
(c) The funds in and investment earnings of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account shall be used to pay the reasonable costs related to investment expenses and administration of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account to the extent allowed by federal tax law. Those expenses shall not be deemed to be an investment or administrative expense of a retirement system under this chapter.
(d) The board of retirement, or a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, may establish rules and procedures governing the investments and administration of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account. The board of retirement or the board of investments shall determine the rate of interest to credit the funds in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account.
(e) The board of retirement, or a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, is authorized to take any and all actions necessary to establish and administer the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account in compliance with applicable federal tax laws or other legal requirements.
(f) The board of retirement, or the board of retirement acting jointly with a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, and a participating employer in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account shall establish, by written agreement, the respective roles and responsibilities of the retirement system and the participating employer with respect to the administration and investment of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, consistent with Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. That agreement shall include, but is not limited to, funding, distribution, expenditure, actuarial, accounting, and reporting considerations, and any applicable investment parameters. The board may, in its discretion, authorize an employer to transfer assets into or out of the Post-Employment Retirement Account, however, any transfer of assets shall comply with the terms of the contract between the employer and the board, satisfy requirements under applicable rules of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, and satisfy the requirements of federal tax law. Once the investment parameters are established, the board of retirement, or a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, shall have sole control over the investment activity of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account as described in subdivision (b). Upon agreement and authorization of the board of retirement and the governing body of a participating employer, the retirement system may administer a post-employment health, life, welfare, or other supplemental benefit plan sponsored by the participating employer and funded through the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account.
(g) In accordance with procedures established in the written agreement described in subdivision (f), the participating employer may elect to terminate participation in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust and instruct the retirement system to either (1) transfer the funds held in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account to a successor trustee named by the employer, or (2) disburse the trust assets in accordance with subdivision (i). In addition, the board of retirement may terminate the participation of a participating employer in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account if either:
(1) The board of retirement finds that the participating employer is unable to satisfy the terms and conditions required by this article, the rules and procedures established by the board, or the participation agreement between the participating employer and the board of retirement.
(2) The board of retirement elects to terminate the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account.
(h) If the board of retirement terminates the participation of an employer in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (g), the funds attributable to that employer shall remain in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, for the continued payment of post-employment benefits for current and future participants and the costs of administration and investment.
(i) If the board of retirement elects to terminate the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, the retirement system shall disburse the funds in Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account in the following order and manner:
(1) The retirement system shall retain an amount sufficient to pay for the post-employment benefits for participants in the post-employment benefits plan or plans provided by the former participating employer.
(2) The retirement system shall retain an amount sufficient to pay reasonable administrative and investment costs described in this section.
(3) After the amounts in paragraphs (1) and (2) have been retained or disbursed, the retirement system shall pay any remaining funds to the former participating employer or employers.
(b) The board of retirement, or a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, shall have sole, exclusive, and plenary authority and fiduciary responsibility over the investment of the funds in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, consistent with Sections 31594 and 31595, and as provided for in Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. The board of retirement or board of investments may invest funds in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account with those of the retirement system, to the extent allowed by federal tax laws. The investment earnings and investment expenses attributable to the investment activity of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account shall be accounted for separately from the investment earnings and expenses of the retirement fund.
(c) The funds in and investment earnings of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account shall be used to pay the reasonable costs related to investment expenses and administration of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account to the extent allowed by federal tax law. Those expenses shall not be deemed to be an investment or administrative expense of a retirement system under this chapter.
(d) The board of retirement, or a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, may establish rules and procedures governing the investments and administration of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account. The board of retirement or the board of investments shall determine the rate of interest to credit the funds in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account.
(e) The board of retirement, or a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, is authorized to take any and all actions necessary to establish and administer the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account in compliance with applicable federal tax laws or other legal requirements.
(f) The board of retirement, or the board of retirement acting jointly with a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, and a participating employer in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account shall establish, by written agreement, the respective roles and responsibilities of the retirement system and the participating employer with respect to the administration and investment of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, consistent with Section 17 of Article XVI of the California Constitution. That agreement shall include, but is not limited to, funding, distribution, expenditure, actuarial, accounting, and reporting considerations, and any applicable investment parameters. The board may, in its discretion, authorize an employer to transfer assets into or out of the Post-Employment Retirement Account, however, any transfer of assets shall comply with the terms of the contract between the employer and the board, satisfy requirements under applicable rules of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, and satisfy the requirements of federal tax law. Once the investment parameters are established, the board of retirement, or a board of investments in a county in which a board of investments has been established pursuant to Section 31520.2, shall have sole control over the investment activity of the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account as described in subdivision (b). Upon agreement and authorization of the board of retirement and the governing body of a participating employer, the retirement system may administer a post-employment health, life, welfare, or other supplemental benefit plan sponsored by the participating employer and funded through the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account.
(g) In accordance with procedures established in the written agreement described in subdivision (f), the participating employer may elect to terminate participation in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust and instruct the retirement system to either (1) transfer the funds held in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account to a successor trustee named by the employer, or (2) disburse the trust assets in accordance with subdivision (i). In addition, the board of retirement may terminate the participation of a participating employer in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account if either:
(1) The board of retirement finds that the participating employer is unable to satisfy the terms and conditions required by this article, the rules and procedures established by the board, or the participation agreement between the participating employer and the board of retirement.
(2) The board of retirement elects to terminate the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account.
(h) If the board of retirement terminates the participation of an employer in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, as described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (g), the funds attributable to that employer shall remain in the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, for the continued payment of post-employment benefits for current and future participants and the costs of administration and investment.
(i) If the board of retirement elects to terminate the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, the retirement system shall disburse the funds in Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account in the following order and manner:
(1) The retirement system shall retain an amount sufficient to pay for the post-employment benefits for participants in the post-employment benefits plan or plans provided by the former participating employer.
(2) The retirement system shall retain an amount sufficient to pay reasonable administrative and investment costs described in this section.
(3) After the amounts in paragraphs (1) and (2) have been retained or disbursed, the retirement system shall pay any remaining funds to the former participating employer or employers.
An employer who elects to participate in the
Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account shall be required to
establish, fund, and apply distributions from the Post-Employment
Benefits Trust Account, and administer a post-employment health,
life, welfare, or other supplemental benefit plan or plans funded
through the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account, pursuant to
applicable federal tax requirements or other legal provisions. An
employer may expressly delegate its responsibilities under this
section to the retirement system as described in subdivision (f) of
Section 31694.1, to the extent allowed by federal tax laws.
(a) The board of supervisors of a county, or the governing
body of a district, may establish, by resolution or ordinance, its
own trust for the sole purpose of funding any post-employment
benefits provided under a group health, life, or other welfare
benefits plan or plans established and maintained by that county or
district.
(b) The board of retirement and, if applicable, the board of investments, may, with the agreement of the county or district, act as one or more of the following for that employer-established trust: trustee, third-party administrator, or investment manager. The board of retirement and, if applicable, the board of investments, may enter a trust agreement, third-party administrative services agreement, investment manager agreement, or other appropriate agreement with the county or district, which shall establish the respective roles and responsibilities of the parties with respect to the administration and investment of the employer-established trust. That agreement shall provide for the manner and method of payment for the reasonable costs related to investment expenses for, and administration of, the employer-established trust. Those expenses shall not be deemed to be an investment or administrative expense of a retirement system under this chapter.
(c) The county or district may contract with an entity other than the board of retirement or board of investments to act as trustee, third-party administrator, or investment manager for the trust.
(d) Contributions to the employer-established trust may include the proceeds of debt issued by the county or district solely for the purpose of funding post-employment health, life, or other welfare benefits.
(b) The board of retirement and, if applicable, the board of investments, may, with the agreement of the county or district, act as one or more of the following for that employer-established trust: trustee, third-party administrator, or investment manager. The board of retirement and, if applicable, the board of investments, may enter a trust agreement, third-party administrative services agreement, investment manager agreement, or other appropriate agreement with the county or district, which shall establish the respective roles and responsibilities of the parties with respect to the administration and investment of the employer-established trust. That agreement shall provide for the manner and method of payment for the reasonable costs related to investment expenses for, and administration of, the employer-established trust. Those expenses shall not be deemed to be an investment or administrative expense of a retirement system under this chapter.
(c) The county or district may contract with an entity other than the board of retirement or board of investments to act as trustee, third-party administrator, or investment manager for the trust.
(d) Contributions to the employer-established trust may include the proceeds of debt issued by the county or district solely for the purpose of funding post-employment health, life, or other welfare benefits.
This article shall not apply to a county, district, or
other public entity in a county of the first class as defined by
Section 28020 until the provisions of this article are funded
pursuant to the provisions of a ratified collective bargaining
agreement by that county, district, or other public entity.
A contract entered into between a public employer and a
board of retirement or board of investments as described in Section
31694.1 shall not change the obligations of a public employer, board
of retirement, or board of investments that are created under other
contracts, laws, ordinances, regulations, or similar actions to
provide benefits for employees or retired employees of a
participating county, district, or other public entity, or their
qualified spouses, dependents, and beneficiaries.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this
article, if the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account established
under Section 31694 is established as a part of the retirement fund,
then that account shall be established for the sole purpose of
providing health benefits for retired members, their spouses, and
dependents, and shall comply with all requirements, including the
limitations on contributions, of Section 401(h) of Title 26 of the
United States Code, as applicable.
(b) The board of supervisors or the board of retirement shall take any actions necessary or appropriate to ensure that the program provided by this section complies with all applicable federal and state income tax laws, including, but not limited to, establishing rules and procedures for establishing and maintaining an account under Section 401(h) of Title 26 of the United States Code.
(c) If the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account is established under Section 31694, assets shall not be transferred or otherwise paid from the funds held by the retirement system for retirement benefits to a medical benefits account. Assets shall not be transferred or otherwise paid from a medical benefits account to the funds held by the retirement system for retirement benefits.
(b) The board of supervisors or the board of retirement shall take any actions necessary or appropriate to ensure that the program provided by this section complies with all applicable federal and state income tax laws, including, but not limited to, establishing rules and procedures for establishing and maintaining an account under Section 401(h) of Title 26 of the United States Code.
(c) If the Post-Employment Benefits Trust Account is established under Section 31694, assets shall not be transferred or otherwise paid from the funds held by the retirement system for retirement benefits to a medical benefits account. Assets shall not be transferred or otherwise paid from a medical benefits account to the funds held by the retirement system for retirement benefits.
