Montana Code Annotated 2003

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     19-3-2121. Determination and adjustment of plan choice rate and contribution allocations. (1) The board shall periodically review the sufficiency of the plan choice rate and shall adjust the allocation of contributions under 19-3-2117 as specified in this section. The board shall collect and maintain the data necessary to comply with this section.
     (2) The plan choice rate set in 19-3-2117(2)(b) must be adjusted as provided in this section, taking into account:
     (a) as determined under subsection (3), the change in the normal cost contribution rate in the defined benefit plan that is the result of member selection of the defined contribution plan; and
     (b) as determined under subsection (4), the sufficiency of the plan choice rate to actuarially fund the defined contribution plan member's appropriate share of the defined benefit plan's unfunded liabilities.
     (3) The change in the normal cost contribution rate must be an amount equal to the difference between the normal cost contribution rate in the defined benefit plan that would have resulted if all system members remained in the defined benefit plan and the normal cost contribution rate in the defined benefit plan for the actual members of the defined benefit plan, multiplied by the covered payroll of members in the defined benefit plan, divided by the covered payroll of members in the defined contribution plan. The measurements under this subsection must be based on the defined benefit plan in effect on the effective date of the defined contribution plan until the board determines that the defined benefit plan has been amended in a manner that significantly affects plan choices available to system members. After a board determination that the defined benefit plan has been significantly changed, the measurements in this subsection with respect to members entering the system after the significant change must be made on the basis of the defined benefit plan, as amended.
     (4) The sufficiency of the plan choice rate to actuarially fund the appropriate share of the defined benefit plan's unfunded liabilities must be determined as follows:
     (a) The board shall determine the number of years required to actuarially fund the defined benefit plan's unfunded liabilities as of the June 30, 1998, actuarial valuation, which must be the initial schedule for the defined contribution plan to actuarially fund the plan's share of the unfunded liabilities. The board shall reduce the schedule by 1 year each biennium.
     (b) During each subsequent actuarial valuation of the defined benefit plan conducted pursuant to 19-2-405, the board shall determine whether the plan choice rate minus the amount provided in subsection (2)(a) of this section is sufficient to pay the unfunded liability obligations within the schedule determined under subsection (4)(a) of this section. If the amount is insufficient to fund the liability over a period of 10 years longer than the scheduled period or is more than sufficient to fund the liability over a period of 10 years earlier than the scheduled period, the board shall determine to the nearest 0.1% the amount of the increase or decrease in the plan choice rate that is required to actuarially fund the liabilities according to the established schedule.
     (5) If the board determines that the plan choice rate should be increased or decreased, the plan choice rate under 19-3-2117(2)(b) must be increased or decreased accordingly. If the plan choice rate is increased, the allocation of employer contributions to member accounts under 19-3-2117(2)(a) must be decreased by that amount. If the plan choice rate is decreased, the allocation of employer contributions to member accounts under 19-3-2117(2)(a) must be increased by that amount.
     (6) If the board determines that the contribution rate to the disability plan under 19-3-2117(3) should be increased, the employer contribution to each member's account under 19-3-2117(2)(a) must be decreased by that amount. If the board determines that the contribution rate to the disability plan under 19-3-2117(3) should be decreased, the employer contribution to each member's account under 19-3-2117(2)(a) must be increased by that amount.
     (7) By November 1 of the year of a determination pursuant to this section that the allocation of employer contributions under 19-3-2117(2) must be changed, the board shall notify system members, participating employers, employee and employer organizations, the governor, and the legislature of its determination and of the changes required.
     (8) Effective January 1 of the year after the regular legislative session that immediately follows a determination under this section, the plan choice rate and the allocation of contributions under 19-3-2117(2) must be adjusted according to the board's determination.

     History: En. Sec. 54, Ch. 471, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 423, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 24, Ch. 490, L. 2001.

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