Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

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Rescuing Pennsylvania’s Public Pension System Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Transcript of Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Page 1: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Rescuing Pennsylvania’s Public Pension System

Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks)

Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Page 2: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

An Overview of the ProblemPennsylvania faces a nearly $50 billion

pension debt that will take decades to overcome.

This massive debt was caused by:Underfunding.Declines in the markets. Increases in benefits.

Page 3: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Why Continuing with the Status Quo is UnacceptableProactively working to protect current employee

benefits and to eliminate the possibility they will be in jeopardy in the future.

60,000 jobs could be at risk.

Increase in employer contributions from $3.4 billion to $6.6 billion.

The state’s bond rating is in jeopardy of being lowered again.

Page 4: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Best Solution Adopt a pension reform plan that seeks to

reduce the costs and shift the risk for both the SERS and PSERS pension systems from taxpayers.

Rep. Tobash is sponsoring an amendment to Rep. Kampf’s House Bill 1353 to achieve this.

Page 5: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

How Would Savings Be Achieved?New employees entering the state systems would

be enrolled in a combination of 401(k) type and traditional pension (hybrid) plan.

Page 6: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Hybrid Pension Plan HighlightsAddresses STEP ONE of meaningful pension

reform by STOPPING THE BLEEDING from within the current system.

Over a 30-year projection period, this plan is estimated to save between $11 billion and $15 billion.

Page 7: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Plan DetailsDefined Benefit (DB)

Defined Contribution (DC)

2 percent accrual rate. Employee contribution of 6 percent. Lifetime final average salary, not to

exceed $50,000 (indexed 1 percent annually).

DB is fully earned after 25 years of service.

Participants are vested after 10 years of service.

DB payments cannot be collected prior to age 65 without penalty.

DB payments cannot be collected prior to age 60 without penalty for those not covered by Social Security.

No different classes of service. The only distinction between members and levels of benefits is if the position is covered by Social Security.

Employee contribution of 1 percent and employer contribution of 0.5 percent on all compensation up to $50,000.

Employee contribution of 7 percent and employer contribution of 4 percent on all compensation more than $50,001.

Employee contributions vest immediately and three-year vesting of employer contributions.

No loans or in-service distributions from the DC plan.

Portability, withdrawal penalties, etc., per IRS rules.

Additional DC employer contribution of 6 percent for those employees not covered by Social Security.

Page 8: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Points of Clarification• This plan is proactively designed to protect the

benefits current employees have earned.

• Those who take a leave of absence will not lose their benefits.

• All new employees would be treated the same under the new plan.

• No one person is responsible for creating this plan.

Page 9: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Protecting Current Employee BenefitsSimply put, benefits of current employees will

NOT change as a result of this plan.

Page 10: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Leave of AbsenceRules regarding maternity or sick leave,

vacation, authorized leave of absence without pay, disability, changing positions or districts will NOT cause a break in service or require employees to start a new plan.

The ONLY way a current employee’s plan would not continue as is, would be if he or she quits, or the employment is terminated.

Page 11: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Equal TreatmentUnder the new plan, all new employees

entering the system would be treated the same.

Teachers, legislators, judges, clerks, etc., will all be in the same plan, receiving the same benefits.

Page 12: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Collaborative Plan

This plan has been developed through testimony held by many stakeholders after hearings with the Public Employees Retirement Commission in 2012.

This is not the work of any one person, agency, or entity.

Page 13: Plan by State Representatives Mike Tobash (R-Schuylkill/Berks) Warren Kampf (Chester/Montgomery)

Contact Information Rep. Tobash Rep. Kampf Email: [email protected] Capitol Office

4B East WingPO Box 202125Harrisburg, PA 17120-2125Phone: 717-260-6148

District Office988 East Main StreetSuite ASchuylkill Haven, PA 17972Phone: 570-385-8235

Email: [email protected] Capitol Office

422 Irvis BuildingPO Box 202157Harrisburg, PA 17120-2125Phone: 717-260-6166

District Office42 East Lancaster Avenue, Unit APaoli, PA 19301Phone: 610-251-2876