Chapter ETF 70

Chapter ETF 70

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS

Subchapter I — General Provisions

ETF 70.01   Statement of purpose.

ETF 70.02   Definitions.

ETF 70.03   Board responsibilities.

ETF 70.04   Department responsibilities.

ETF 70.05   Primary plan administration.

ETF 70.06   Alternate plan administration.

ETF 70.07   Primary and alternate plan administration.

ETF 70.08   Investment providers.

ETF 70.09   Member responsibilities.

ETF 70.10   Emergency withdrawals.

Subchapter II — State Deferred Compensation Plan for Local Employees

ETF 70.11   Participation in the deferred compensation plan.

ETF 70.12   Effective date.

ETF 70.15   Terminating participation in the deferred compensation plan.

subch. I of ch. ETF 70 Subchapter I — General Provisions

ETF 70.01 ETF 70.01 Statement of purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a procedure for administration of a deferred compensation program as provided by s. 40.80, Stats. The procedure includes requirements and regulations for the primary deferred compensation plan and any alternate deferred compensation plan. All plans shall be monitored, evaluated and approved by the deferred compensation board. However, only the primary plan shall be supported by the board as the official state of Wisconsin deferred compensation plan.

ETF 70.01 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92.

ETF 70.02 ETF 70.02 Definitions. In this chapter, words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

ETF 70.02(1) (1) “Administrator” means any company with which the board contracts to provide administrative services for deferred compensation plans authorized under s. 40.80, Stats.

ETF 70.02(2) (2) “Alternate administrator” means any company with which the board contracts to provide administrative services for an alternate deferred compensation plan authorized under s. 40.80 (2m), Stats.

ETF 70.02(3) (3) “Alternate plan” means any deferred compensation plan authorized under s. 40.80 (2m), Stats., and offered by an alternate administrator.

ETF 70.02(4) (4) “Beneficiary” has the meaning given in s. 40.02 (8), Stats.

ETF 70.02(5) (5) The “board” means the deferred compensation board.

ETF 70.02(6) (6) The “department” means the department of employee trust funds.

ETF 70.02(7) (7) “Employee” means any person who receives earnings as payment for personal services rendered for the benefit of any employer including officers of the employer and is eligible to participate in the deferred compensation program.

ETF 70.02(8) (8) “Investment product” means any insurance or annuity contract, bank or credit union account, mutual or money market fund or other type of investment vehicle.

ETF 70.02(9) (9) “Investment provider” means any company that manages and offers investments products.

ETF 70.02(10) (10) “Member” means any employee electing to participate in the deferred compensation program.

ETF 70.02(11) (11) “Plan and trust document” means the document developed by the department and approved by the board to describe in detail the regulations of the program and ensure program compliance with section 457 of the internal revenue code which requires the availability of this document to members.

ETF 70.02(12) (12) “Primary administrator” means the company contracted to provide administrative services for the primary deferred compensation plan authorized under s. 40.80 (1), Stats.

ETF 70.02(13) (13) “Primary plan” means the deferred compensation plan authorized under s. 40.80 (1), Stats., and offered by the primary administrator.

ETF 70.02(14) (14) “Program” includes the primary plan and any alternate plan authorized under s. 40.80, Stats., and approved by the board for offering to eligible employees.

ETF 70.02 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; CR 08-016: cr. (4m) Register August 2008 No. 632, eff. 9-1-08; CR 11-040: renum. (1) to (4m) to be (intro.) to (4) Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12; CR 14-055: am. (11) Register May 2015 No. 713, eff. 6-1-15.

ETF 70.03 ETF 70.03 Board responsibilities. The board shall have the following responsibilities in regard to the program:

ETF 70.03(1) (1) Act, at all times, in a manner consistent with that of a trustee with a fiduciary duty to the program and members.

ETF 70.03(2) (2) Determine and implement the most efficient and cost effective method for administration of the program consistent with high quality services to members.

ETF 70.03(3) (3) Establish standards by which the primary administrator shall be evaluated for initial and continued participation in the primary plan.

ETF 70.03(4) (4) Evaluate the performance of the primary administrator, biennially, to determine contractual compliance and compliance with standards as established under sub. (3).

ETF 70.03(5) (5) Declare the board’s official support of the primary plan to participating employers and members in the publication prepared by the department as required in s. ETF 70.04 (5) (c).

ETF 70.03(6) (6) Determine the initial eligibility of any potential alternate administrator that petitions the board to offer an alternate plan based on criteria established in s. ETF 70.06.

ETF 70.03(7) (7) Evaluate alternate administrators, annually, based on criteria established in s. ETF 70.06 to determine their continued eligibility.

ETF 70.03(8) (8) Define general categories of investment products to be offered under the primary plan and any alternate plan.

ETF 70.03(9) (9) Establish criteria by which specific investment products shall be evaluated for initial and continued participation in the primary plan or any alternate plan.

ETF 70.03(10) (10) Evaluate investment products offered by the administrator, annually, based on criteria established in sub. (9) to determine if the investment product continues to be acceptable for offering by the primary plan or alternate plan.

ETF 70.03 History History: Cr. Register, June, 1992, No. 438, eff. 7-1-92; CR 11-040: renum. (1) to (11) to be (intro.) to (10), correction in (4), (5), (10), as renumbered, made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register July 2012 No. 679, eff. 8-1-12; CR 19-126: am. (4) Register May 2021 No. 785, eff. 6-1-21.

ETF 70.04 ETF 70.04 Department responsibilities. The department shall be responsible for the following:

ETF 70.04(1) (1) Negotiate and implement contracts with administrators and investment companies.

ETF 70.04(2) (2) Monitor plan administration and ensure contract compliance.

ETF 70.04(3) (3) Develop and maintain a plan document that defines rules and requirements of the program regarding member enrollment in the program, member deferral amounts, distribution of account balances, and administration of the program that will be distributed, by the administrator, to new and current members by request.

ETF 70.04(4) (4) Provide information and recommendations to the board and its committees that shall be necessary to complete the evaluation of the primary and alternate administrator as required in s. ETF 70.03 (4) and (7) and the investment products as required in s. ETF 70.03 (10).

ETF 70.04(5) (5) Prepare and distribute to members an annual publication that presents a balanced and impartial overview of the primary plan and any alternate plan that includes the following:

ETF 70.04(5)(a) (a) Description of investment products and corresponding investment risks.

ETF 70.04(5)(b) (b) Full disclosure of all direct and indirect costs to members.

ETF 70.04(5)(c) (c) Announcement of the board’s official support of the primary plan as required in s. ETF 70.03 (5).