SB326: Bill Text

SB326,9,6 40.08 (4) Reimbursements of moneys paid as a result of misrepresentation, fraud or error. (a) If the department has paid any money to a person or estate as a result of misrepresentation, fraud or error, the department shall determine the amount of such payment and shall require that the person or estate reimburse the department for this amount, plus interest at the effective rate of the fixed annuity division.

SB326,9,15 (b) If the department determines that any money has been paid to a person or estate as a result of misrepresentation, fraud or error, the department shall notify the person or the personal representative or special administrator of the person's estate by certified mail of this determination. The department shall send the notice to the last-known address of the person or the personal representative or special administrator of the person's estate. The notice shall inform the person of his or her right to a timely appeal. The notice must be sent within 7 years from the date that the department first acquires actual notice of the alleged misrepresentation, fraud or error.

SB326,9,23 (c) The sending of the notice by the department under par. (b) shall constitute a lien against the person's separate account under s. 40.04 (4) (a) and any annuity, benefit or obligation of the employe trust fund that is payable or will become payable to the person or the person's beneficiaries. This lien takes precedence over all other withholdings, liens or encumbrances, whenever perfected, against the person's separate account under s. 40.04 (4) (a) and any annuity, benefit or obligation of the employe trust fund that is payable or will become payable to the person or the person's beneficiaries.

SB326,9,25 (d) Subject to sub. (10), the department may do any of the following to provide for reimbursement of the amount or any portion of the amount due under par. (a):

SB326,10,2 1. Obtain voluntary repayment from the person or estate within a reasonable period, as determined by the department.

SB326,10,12 2. Foreclose on the lien against the person's separate account under s. 40.04 (4) (a) or any annuity, benefit or obligation of the employe trust fund that is payable or will become payable to the person or the person's beneficiaries. In foreclosing on this lien, the department may retain the amount or portion of the amount out of any annuity, benefit or obligation of the employe trust fund that is payable or will become payable to the person or the person's beneficiaries or may permanently reduce the person's annuity by the actuarial present value of the amount or portion of the amount that is due under par. (a). If the department forecloses on the lien, the department shall notify, by regular mail, the person or personal representative or special administrator of the person's estate of the foreclosure as soon as practical.

SB326,10,16 3. Request that an employer withhold the amount or any portion of the amount from any sum payable by the employer to any person or estate. If an employer receives such a request, the employer shall withhold and remit the amount to the department.

SB326,10,18 4. Bring a civil action against the person or estate for the amount or any portion of the amount that is not otherwise recovered by the department.

SB326,10,20 (e) Any amount that is reimbursed to the department under par. (d) shall be credited to the appropriate benefit plan accounts.

Note: This provision repeals and recreates a provision that allows the department of employe trust funds to collect any amount owed for benefits paid through misrepresentation or fraud or error. The current provisions does not provide that the amounts owed become a statutory lien. Therefore, any debts to the trust fund are unsecured and can be discharged in bankruptcy. The amended provision will provide the department with a mechanism to secure obligations to the trust fund with a lien against other benefits also administered by the department, if the department has paid the money to a person or an estate as a result of misrepresentation, fraud or error. A notice of the fact that money has been paid to a person or an estate as a result of misrepresentation, fraud or error, constitutes a lien against the person's account and any annuity, benefit or obligation that the trust fund pays or will pay to the person or the person's beneficiary.

SB326, s. 15 Section 15. 40.08 (7) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,11,11 40.08 (7) (a) Any overpayment or underpayment of a lump-sum payment under s. 40.25 or a death benefit which is less than 60% of the amount specified in s. 40.25 (1) (a) rounded to the next highest dollar amount, and any annuity payment error which is less than $2 per month may not be corrected but shall be credited or debited to the employer accumulation reserve or the appropriate insurance account. However, if the amount of unapplied additional contributions or tax-deferred additional contributions would increase an annuity payment by less than $2 but is more than 60% of the amount specified in s. 40.25 (1) (a) rounded to the next highest dollar amount, the unapplied additional contributions or tax-deferred additional contributions shall be paid to the annuitant as a lump sum.

Note: This provision, relating to overpayments and underpayments, is amended to recognize that the provisions apply to both categories of additional contributions.

SB326, s. 16 Section 16. 40.23 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,12,2 40.23 (1) (b) Except as provided in par. (bm), all retirement annuities shall be effective on the day following, or on the first day of a month following, the date of separation from the last participating employer by which the participant was employed, as specified by the participant in the written application for the annuity. However, the date shall not be more than 90 days prior to the date of receipt of the application by the department. The participant may specify that additional and tax-deferred additional contribution accumulations shall not be applied to provide an annuity until a subsequent application is filed for an annuity to be paid from the additional and tax-deferred additional contribution accumulations. The subsequent application shall be made as specified under sub. (4) or the department shall automatically distribute the accumulated additional and tax-deferred additional contribution accumulations as a lump sum.

Note: This provision is amended to clarify that the treatment of retirement annuities applies to both categories of additional contributions.

SB326, s. 17 Section 17 . 40.24 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,12,19 40.24 (1) (f) From accumulated additional contributions made under s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5. and tax-deferred additional contribution accumulations made under s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5m. only, an annuity certain payable for and terminating after the number of months specified by the applicant, regardless of whether the applicant dies before or after the number of months specified, provided that the monthly amount of the annuity certain is at least equal to the minimum amount established under s. 40.25 (1) (a). Subject to the period of distribution required under s. 40.23 (4) (b) 2., the number of months specified shall not exceed 180 and shall not be less than 24. At any time before the expiration of the certain period, the annuitant may elect to receive a lump-sum payment equal to the present value of the remaining monthly payments. If the death of the annuitant occurs prior to the expiration of the certain period, the remaining payments shall be made in accordance with s. 40.73 (2) without regard to any other annuity payments payable to the beneficiary. An annuity under this paragraph may be initiated prior to any other annuity amount provided under this subchapter and prior to age 55 if all other qualifications for receiving an annuity payment are met.

SB326, s. 18 Section 18. 40.24 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,12,23 40.24 (3) Any participant specified under sub. (1) (intro.) may elect to receive the amount provided by accumulated additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions in a different optional form than the balance of the annuity.

SB326, s. 19 Section 19 . 40.24 (7) (a) 4. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,13,3 40.24 (7) (a) 4. Benefits paid from accumulated additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions.

Note: The changes made by Sections 17 to 19 to provisions relating to annuity options, clarify that these provisions apply to both categories of additional contributions.

SB326, s. 20 Section 20 . 40.25 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,13,16 40.25 (1) (a) If all other requirements for payment of a retirement annuity are met and if the retirement annuity in the normal form which could be provided under s. 40.23 is equal to or less than $100 monthly for a benefit with an effective date that is on or after April 23, 1994, but before the end of the calendar year of 1993 or, for a benefit with an effective date in a subsequent calendar year, the monthly amount applied under this paragraph for the previous calendar year increased by the salary index and ignoring fractions of the dollar, the then present value, including additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions, of the annuity shall be paid in a single sum instead of as an annuity. The additional contribution accumulations and tax-deferred additional contribution accumulations shall not be included in determining whether a single sum should be paid if the optional form provided by s. 40.24 (1) (f) or a lump sum under sub. (4) is selected.

SB326, s. 21 Section 21. 40.25 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,14,5 40.25 (1) (b) If all other requirements for payment of a retirement annuity are met and if the retirement annuity in the normal form which could be provided under s. 40.23 from all available accumulations and credits, other than accumulations from additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions, is more than $100 and less than $200 monthly for a benefit with an effective date that is on or after April 23, 1994, but before the end of the calendar year of 1993 or, for a benefit with an effective date in a subsequent calendar year, the monthly amounts applied under this paragraph for the previous calendar year increased by the salary index and ignoring fractions of the dollar, then any participant may elect to receive, in lieu of the annuity, the then present value, including additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions, of the annuity in a single sum.

SB326, s. 22 Section 22 . 40.25 (3m) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,14,14 40.25 (3m) A participant's application for a lump sum payment under sub. (1) (b) or (2), filed after May 7, 1994, shall be signed by both the participant and the participant's spouse, if the participant has been married to that spouse for at least one year immediately preceding the date the application is filed. The department may promulgate rules that allow for the waiver of the requirements of this subsection for a situation in which, by reason of absence or incompetency, the spouse's signature may not be obtained. This subsection does not apply to any benefits paid from accumulated additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions.

SB326, s. 23 Section 23 . 40.25 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,14,21 40.25 (4) If all the requirements for payment of a retirement annuity or a separation benefit are met, except filing of an application, a participant may elect that the accumulation from the participant's additional contributions made under s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5. and tax-deferred additional contributions made under s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5m. be paid as a lump sum in lieu of an annuity from those additional contributions.

Note: Sections 20 to 23 amend provisions relating to lump-sum payments to clarify that the provisions apply to both categories of additional contributions.

SB326, s. 24 Section 24 . 40.25 (6) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,15,3 40.25 (6) (a) 1. The participating employe must have at least 3 continuous years of creditable current service under the fund at the time of application for reestablishment of creditable service under this subsection.

Note: This provision is amended to clarify that a participating employe must have at least three continuous years of creditable current service at the time of application for purchasing forfeited service.

SB326, s. 25 Section 25. 40.25 (6) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,15,11 40.25 (6) (a) 2. Applications for reestablishment of creditable service must include all creditable service that has been forfeited except that the number of years which may be reestablished under this subsection may not be greater than the creditable service of the participating employe at the date of application, or 10 years, whichever is smaller. Creditable service previously purchased under this chapter may not be used to determine the maximum amount of service that may be purchased under this subsection.

Note: This provision is amended to clarify that the total number of years of forfeited service that the person can purchase is the lesser of ten years, or a number of years equal to the current creditable service of the employe at the date of application.

SB326, s. 26 Section 26. 40.25 (7) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,15,14 40.25 (7) (a) 2. The participant has at least 3 continuous years of creditable current service under the fund at the time of application under subd. 1.

Note: This provision is amended to clarify that the participant must have had at least three continuous years of creditable current service at the time of applying to purchase creditable service for service as an employe of the federal government or for service with an employer that was not covered by the Wisconsin Retirement System during the period in which the service was performed but subsequently became a participating employer.

SB326, s. 27 Section 27. 40.25 (7) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,16,2 40.25 (7) (a) 3. The number of years of creditable service applied for under this paragraph does not exceed the number of years of creditable service that the participant has at the date of application or 10 years, whichever is less. Creditable service previously purchased under this chapter may not be used to determine the maximum amount of service that may be purchased under this subsection.

Note: This clarifies that the number of years of creditable service for service with the federal government or an employer that previously did not participate in the Wisconsin Retirement System, that the person can purchase may not exceed the lesser of ten years or a number of years equal to the current creditable service that the participant has, of the date of application.

SB326, s. 28 Section 28 . 40.26 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,16,7 40.26 (2) (a) The then present value of any portion of the terminated annuity which was originally provided by employe or employer additional contributions or tax-deferred additional contributions shall be credited to the corresponding additional contribution account or tax-deferred additional contribution account.

SB326, s. 29 Section 29 . 40.26 (2) (b) of the statutes, as affected by 1999 Wisconsin Act 11, is amended to read:

SB326,16,18 40.26 (2) (b) The amount of the annuity payments, excluding any portion originally provided by additional contributions or tax-deferred additional contributions, which would have been paid under the terminated annuity, if the annuity had been a straight life annuity, prior to the participant's normal retirement date or prior to the annuity termination date, whichever would first occur, shall be credited to a memorandum account which is subject to s. 40.04 (4) (a) 2., 2g. and 2m. and (c). If the annuity was recomputed under s. 40.08 (1m) because of a qualified domestic relations order, the memorandum account established under this paragraph shall be adjusted as provided under s. 40.08 (1m) (f) 2.

Note: The changes made by Section 28 and 29 in provisions on reentry into covered service, clarify that the provisions apply to both categories of additional contributions.

SB326, s. 30 Section 30. 40.28 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,17,3 40.28 (1) (a) 1. The amount of the additional contribution accumulations and tax-deferred additional contribution accumulations reserved for a variable annuity as of the date the annuity begins;

Note: This change clarifies that the provision, relating to variable benefits, applies to both categories of additional contributions.

SB326, s. 31 Section 31. 40.63 (9) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,17,22 40.63 (9) (b) If a disability annuitant, prior to attaining the normal retirement date for the annuitant's former participant classification, receives earnings or other earned income from any source whatsoever for personal services, including services performed on a contractual basis, the annuity shall be suspended, except for any amount provided by additional contributions or tax-deferred additional contributions, and no payment shall be payable after the first of the month in which the earnings or earned income received during any calendar year exceed the amount established under sub. (11), except that if payment was being made under sub. (4) the annuity may only be suspended if the annuitant is employed in a law enforcement or fire fighting capacity and then the suspension shall be effective immediately. The suspended amount shall be reinstated on January 1 following the date of suspension, or, if earlier, on the first day of the 2nd month following the termination of personal services. An amount, which is reinstated in any calendar year, other than on January 1 of the calendar year, shall again be suspended for any subsequent month in the calendar year following a month in which the disability annuitant receives any amount of earnings or earned income for personal services. The department may request any earnings or compensation information as it deems necessary to implement the provisions of this paragraph and par. (c).

Note: The change clarifies that provisions relating to suspension of disability annuities of persons who receive earnings from personal services do not apply to either category of additions contributions.

SB326, s. 32 Section 32. 40.63 (10) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,18,11 40.63 (10) Upon termination of an annuity in accordance with sub. (9), each participant whose annuity is so terminated shall, as of the beginning of the calendar month following termination, be credited with additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions equal to the then present value of the portion of the terminated annuity which was originally provided by the corresponding type of additional contributions. Except for additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions, the retirement account of the participant shall be reestablished as if the terminated annuity had never been effective, including crediting of interest and of any contributions and creditable service earned during the period the annuity was in force.

Note: The change to this provision, relating to disability annuities, clarifies that it applies to both categories of additional contributions.

SB326, s. 33 Section 33. 40.73 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB326,18,18 40.73 (1) (b) Upon the death of an annuitant, in addition to any amounts payable by virtue of the annuity option elected by an annuitant, the amount determined under par. (a) for contributions made under s. 40.05 (1) subsequent to the effective date of the annuity, or additional contributions and tax-deferred additional contributions not applied to provide an annuity, provided the amounts have not been previously paid out as a lump sum under s. 40.25.

Note: This provision, relating to death benefits, is amended to provide that it applies to both categories of additional contributions.

SB326, s. 34 Section 34. 40.80 (2) (g) of the statutes is created to read:

SB326,18,22 40.80 (2) (g) Serve as trustee of any deferred compensation plan established under this section and hold the assets and income of the plan in trust for the exclusive benefit of the employes who participate in the plan and their beneficiaries.

Note: This provision clarifies that the Wisconsin deferred compensation program is a trust and deferred compensation board members are its trustees.

SB326, s. 35 Section 35. Initial applicability.

SB326,19,5 (1) The treatment of section 40.25 (6) (a) 1. and 2. and (7) (a) 2. and 3. of the statutes first applies to applications for the purchase of creditable service under section 40.25 (6) and (7) of the statutes submitted to the department of employe trust funds on the effective date of this subsection.

SB326,19,6 (End)