Arkansas Administrative Code
Agency 088 - Arkansas Teacher Retirement System
Rule 088.00.08-002 - Rules No. 7-3: Reporting Member Contributions; No. 7-4: Employer Contributions; No. 8-2: Refunds of Member Contributions; No. 8-18: Purchase of Domestic Federal Service; No. 8-19: Purchase of Federal Retirement Service; No. 10-2: Retirant's Return to Covered Service

1. Salary means any remuneration paid an employee in a position or positions covered by the System and on which the employer withholds federal income tax. It includes remuneration received from all covered employers during a school fiscal year; however, compensation in excess of the limitations set forth in Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be disregarded. The limitations on compensation for "eligible employees" shall not be less than the amount allowed under the System in effect on July 1, 1993. For this purpose, an "eligible employee" is an individual who was a member of the System before the first plan year beginning after December 31, 1995.

2. Covered salary means, effective July 1, 2003, employees' regular and federal salaries for the current fiscal year plus supplemental salary payments received for the previous fiscal year, plus adjustments agreed upon by both the employer and the Teacher Retirement System. For each member who first became a member before July 1, 1971, the covered salary for each year after June 30, 1969, is the first $7,800.00 of the member's total annual salary for all covered employment (Salary Option 2) unless he/she has elected to make contributions to the System on full salary. For each member who first became a member after June 30, 1971, or has elected to make contributions on full salary, the covered salary is his or her full salary for all covered employment (Salary Option 1). If, however, a member making contributions only on the first $7,800.00 of total annual salary (Salary Option 2) receives a refund of contributions and subsequently returns to covered service as a noncontributory member, he or she shall be considered on full salary for reporting purposes (Salary Option 1).

3. Covered Employer means each employer for whom a member renders service in a covered position.

1. After June 30, 1997, each employer will pay the member contributions for each salary earned by contributory members, and those contributions will then be treated as employer contributions in determining tax treatment under the provisions of the federal Internal Revenue Code and the Arkansas Income Tax Act. The contributions will not be included as gross income of the member until they are distributed or made available to the member. The employer will pay these member contributions from the same source of funds used in paying the salary to the member. The employer may pay these contributions by a reduction in the cash salary of the member, or by a setoff against future salary increases, or by a combination of a reduction in salary and a setoff against future salary increases. If member contributions are paid by the employer as provided under this subsection, they shall be treated for all purposes of the Teacher Retirement System in the same manner and to the same extent possible as member contributions made prior to the date the employer began payment of the member's contributions as described.

2. Each employer shall deduct the member contributions from the salary of each contributory member on each payroll from the date of entrance into the System until retirement, and the employer shall remit the contributions to the System; however, compensation in excess of the limitations set forth in Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be disregarded. The limitation on compensation for "eligible employees" shall not be less than the amount allowed by the System in effect on July 1, 1993. For this purpose, an "eligible employee" is an individual who was a member of the System before the first plan year beginning after December 31, 1995.

3. In order that each member of the Teacher Retirement System may receive credit for days of service, covered salary, and contributions on a timely basis, each employer shall report employee and employer contributions to the System on the following schedule:

Monthly Contribution Reports

Date Due: Fifteenth (15th) calendar day of each month. To avoid the late report penalties (see Nos. 6 and 7 on page 7-4-3), reports must be received by the 15th day of the month or must be postmarked by the 14th day of the month due. If the 14th falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, the postmarked date is extended to the next working day.

Quarterly Retirement Reports

Date Due: Fifteenth (15th) calendar day of each quarter. To avoid the late report penalties (see Nos. 6 and 7 page 7-4-3), reports must be received by the 15th day of the month or must be postmarked by the 14th day of the month due. If the 14th falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, the postmarked date is extended to the next working day.

4. Each of the above reports must be on forms or electronic media either furnished by the Teacher Retirement System or approved by the System.

5. Overpayments or underpayments of member contributions reported from the local level shall be handled in the following manner by the ATRS office:

6. Beginning July 1, 1998, should an employer fail at any time to report the salary of a member and remit the contributions to the System, the System shall have the right to collect from the employee and the employer the contributions due, if any, from each, together with interest beginning with the subsequent fiscal year; provided further that in no case shall a member be given credit for service rendered until any contributions and interest due from each are paid in full. Service credit will be granted upon completion of contribution and applicable interest payments for that fiscal year.

7. For persons who are retiring and who are employed in agencies or other institutions that use the state 26-week payroll, employers should report to Teacher Retirement the salary, contributions, and actual days worked through the current year payroll period. Contributions should not be withheld on any salary earned after the close of the current year's payroll, nor should any salary or days of service be reported for that period of time.

Amended: August 11, 1998

July 18, 2005

February 11, 2008

EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS

A.C.A. § 19-5-106, § 24-7-401, § 24-7-1303

(as amended by Act 1968 of 2005, and Acts 97 and 298 of 2007)

(SEE ALSO RULE NOS. 7-1 AND 7-3.)

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1. Salary means the remuneration paid to an employee in a position covered by the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and on which the employer withholds federal income tax.

2. Participating employers means local school districts, cooperative education services areas, vocational centers, the Department of Correction, open enrollment charter schools, all public postsecondary institutions, the educational components of certain state agencies and instrumentalities, or an educational nonprofit corporation approved by the Board of Trustees in accordance with rules and regulations established by the Board.

3. Adjustments include error corrections, payments for members who were omitted from the correct reporting period, and any adjustments agreed to by both the employer and the Teacher Retirement System.

1. Effective July 1, 2003, the employer contribution (matching) rate shall be the rate established by the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System prospectively for each year pursuant to A.C.A. § 24-2-701(c) and § 24-7-401(c).

2. The rate shall be set by the Board following consultation with its actuary. In determining such rate, the Board shall consider the financial objectives set forth in A.C.A. § 24-2-701 and § 24-7-401 and shall base the rates on the actuary's determination of the rate required to fund the plan in accordance with these financial objectives.

3. The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System shall annually notify the local school districts, the Department of Education, and other participating employers of the employer contribution rate established by the Board for the upcoming fiscal year.

4. Pursuant to A.C.A. § 24-7-103, participating employers shall pay the Teacher Retirement employer contributions for eligible employees in accordance with these rules and regulations.

5. The Department of Education shall pay from the Public School Fund the Teacher Retirement employer contributions for eligible employees of participating employers as required by the department's biennial appropriations act and in accordance with rules established by the Board. Beginning with the 1996-97 school year, special language in the Department of Education's biennial appropriations for grants and aids to local school districts requires that the appropriation for Teacher Retirement matching each fiscal year be used for employees of the Cooperative Education Services Areas, Vocational Centers, Arkansas Easter Seals, and the school operated by the Department of Correction.1

1. The annual employer contributions to be paid each fiscal year by participating employers shall be the current ATRS employer contribution rate multiplied by the active employees' total salaries

2. The employer contributions are to be remitted to ATRS in the manner, form, and frequency and shall be accompanied by supporting documentation as determined by the System. Timely payment of contributions shall be a condition of continued participation in the System.

3. In order to ensure that members of the Teacher Retirement System receive credited service in a timely manner, employers shall report employee and employer contributions to the System on the following schedule:

Monthly Contributions

Date Due: Fifteenth (15th) calendar day following the end of each month. To avoid late report penalties and interest penalties on late contributions (see Nos. 6 and 7 on page 7-4-3), reports must be received by the 15th day of the month or must be postmarked by the 14th day of the month due. If the 14th falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, the postmarked date is extended to the next working day.

Quarterly Retirement Reports

Date Due: Fifteenth (15th) calendar day following the end of each quarter. To avoid the late report penalties (see Nos. 6 and 7 on page 7-4-3), reports must be received by the 15th day of the month or must be postmarked by the 14th day of the month due. If the 14th falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, the postmarked date is extended to the next working day.

4. Each of the reports listed above must be on forms or electronic media either furnished by the Teacher Retirement System or approved by the System.

5. For Cooperative Education Services Areas, Vocational Centers. Arkansas Easter Seals, and the school operated by the Department of Correction (paid by the Department of Education from the Public School Fund), the Teacher Retirement System shall certify to the Department of Education at the close of each quarterly report the amount of employer contributions due. The amount will be based on the employers' reported salaries.

6. The monthly remittance of employer contributions shall be due in the ATRS office by the tenth (10th) calendar day following the end of each month. Under A.C.A. § 24-7-411, a $150.00 late report penalty and a 6% interest penalty on late contributions will be assessed on reports and contributions not received by the 15th day of the month or postmarked by the 14th day of the month due. If the 14th falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday, the postmarked date is extended to the next working date.

7. The System may certify to the state's Chief Fiscal Officer the names of participating employers who are delinquent in reporting and remitting contributions under this policy. Upon notification, the Chief Fiscal Officer may direct a transfer of funds on deposit in the State Treasurer's Office for any delinquent employer payments plus the six percent (6%) interest penalty to the System. (A.C.A. § 19-5-106)

8. Supplemental salary payment reports for previous years will be accompanied by the employer contributions due (based upon the rate in effect the year payment was due).

9. The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System shall return to participating employers overpaid matching amounts due to erroneous submission of payments or incorrect reporting of Salary Option 2 (first $7,800.00) member salaries. If an overpayment of employer matching amount is less than $25.00, the refund will not be issued to the employer unless requested in writing by the employer.

10. The Arkansas Teacher Retirement System shall not collect from participating employers an underpayment of employer contribution amount if less than $25.00.

11. For members retiring who are employed by agencies or other institutions that use the state's 26-week payroll schedule, employers should adhere to the state's fiscal year payroll schedule for reporting the last salary payment of the state's fiscal year and for the termination date of employment.

1. The annual T-DROP employer contributions to be paid each fiscal year beginning September 1, 2003, by participating employers shall be the contribution rate as defined below multiplied by the total T-DROP member salaries (A.C.A. § 24-7-1303).

2. Until and on August 31, 2003, employer contributions on behalf of the members participating in the T-DROP may be retained by the school district.

3. Except for employer contributions to the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System beginning September 1, 2003, the school district shall not make contributions to any tax-qualified retirement plan on behalf of any employee participating in the T-DROP.

Amended: June 17, 2003

April 6, 2004

Reaffirmed: June 15, 2004

Amended: July 18, 2005

April 26, 2007

February 11, 2008

REFUNDS OF MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS

A.C.A. § 24-7-711

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1. Accumulated Contributions - The total of all amounts contributed by a member and standing to his/her credit in the individual account in the member's deposit account, together with regular interest credited thereon.

2. Regular Interest means such rate or rates per annum, compounded annually, as the Board shall from time to time adopt that ATRS uses to compute interest on a member's contributions.

1. Should an overpayment of contributions of less than $5.00 be reported from the local level, no refund of this amount will be made to the member, except upon the written request from the member. The total amount reported by the employing authority shall be credited to contributions.

2. On refunded contributions, the rate for all interest credited before June 30, 1984, is 3%, compounded annually, after the first year of contributions. The rate of interest credited on and after June 30, 1984, is 6%, compounded annually, after the first year of contributions. Interest shall be computed on each member's individual account as of June 30 each year by multiplying the balance in the member's individual account as of July 1 (including all contributions and interest credit from previous years) plus one-half (1/2) his contributions for the year ending on June 30 by 3% percent.

3. Interest is not paid on contributions made in the year in which a refund is paid.

4. On and after June 30, 1984, the Board of Trustees shall set the rate of interest, based on the reports of the actuary and the investment counsel at periodic intervals as determined by the Board.

5. Any members receiving a refund who have previously received a refund and repaid the contributions shall be refunded the 6% purchased interest paid on such refund. This same policy shall be applicable to interest paid on purchase of in-state service, out-of-state service, and military service

6. Effective May 19, 1992, refunds of contributions will be made within six (6) months from the date of receipt of the written application in the Teacher Retirement System office.

7. Certification of the amount of contributions to be refunded may be made to a lending agency (bank, etc.) upon the written request of a member. Refunds must be made to the member as payee, but may be sent to the lending agency if authorized by the member. Employers are responsible for the accuracy of information on salaries and contributions that they certify to the System on refund applications. If information certified by an employer causes the System to overpay a refund, and if the System is unable to secure reimbursement of the overpayment from the member receiving the refund, the employer shall reimburse the System the amount of such overpayment.

8. A refund of contributions forfeits credited military service. Repayment of the refund plus interest reestablishes the forfeited military service. If military service was not credited to a member prior to refund of the contributions, repayment of the refund is not necessary to establish military service credit, provided the member meets the requirements listed above.

9. Beginning January 1, 1993, should a member, or spouse if the member is deceased, become eligible to receive a refund of contributions and elect to make a direct rollover of a distribution to an eligible retirement plan of all or part of the eligible rollover distribution, the amount shall be paid to the trustee of the eligible retirement plan.

Amended: July 18, 2005

February 11, 2008

PURCHASE OF DOMESTIC FEDERAL SERVICE

A.C.A. § 24-7-611, § 24-7-202

1. Board means the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS).

2. Domestic federal service means service rendered as a teacher or administrator in any school or similar institution located on a military base or installation that is administered by the Department of Defense.

3. System means the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.

RULES

1. An active member shall be eligible to purchase domestic federal service under the following conditions1:

2. The cost to purchase domestic federal service is the employee and employer contribution rates in effect at the time of purchase times the greater of:

3. Interest will be added to the cost statement as follows:

4. The domestic federal service will become credited service in the System when:

5. Should a member cease to be an active member before the federal domestic service has been established as System credited service, the member payments contributed shall be refundable, together with regular interest; however, due to IRS regulations, purchase account payments made through employer pick-up are subject to the restrictions as stated in Rule No. 8-6 (Rollover Eligibility).

6. To be eligible to establish one (1) year of domestic federal service, a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) days must have been worked. Fractional years of domestic federal service may be purchased in accordance with A.C.A. § 24-7-601 and § 24-1-611(c). A month of domestic federal service shall be considered as twenty (20) days.

7. Certification of domestic federal service must be submitted to ATRS on a form provided by the System.

8. All domestic federal service shall be counted as contributory service.

9. Purchased domestic federal service shall be credited to the fiscal year in which it was rendered.

10. Repayments of refunds or the purchase of service may be made by employer pick-up (tax-deferred deductions). See Rule No. 8-5 (Purchase Payments).

11. ATRS will accept participant rollover contributions and/or direct rollovers of distributions for the purchase of service credit under certain circumstances. See Rule No. 8-4 (Direct Rollover Eligibility).

Adopted: February 11, 2008

PURCHASE OF FEDERAL RETIREMENT

SERVICE

A.C.A. § 24-1-107, § 24-7-601

DEFINITIONS

1. Board means the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS).

2. Federal Retirement Service means service credited with a federal retirement system as a result of employment with federal government agencies.

3. System means the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.

RULES

1. Beginning August 12, 2005, an active member shall be eligible to purchase federal retirement service under the following conditions1(Act 2091 of 2005):

2. The cost to purchase federal retirement service is the employee and employer contribution rates in effect at the time of purchase times the greater of:

3. The federal retirement service will become credited service in the System when:

4. Should a member cease to be an active member before the federal retirement service has been established as System credited service, the member payments contributed shall be refundable, together with regular interest; however, due to IRS regulations, purchase account payments made through employer pick-up are subject to the restrictions as stated in Rule No. 8-6 (Rollover Eligibility).

5. To be eligible to establish one (1) year of federal retirement service, a minimum of one hundred twenty (120) days must have been worked. Fractional years of domestic federal service may be purchased in accordance with A.C.A. §§ 24-7-601 and 24-1-107). A month of domestic federal service shall be considered as twenty (20) days.

6. Certification of federal retirement service must be submitted to ATRS on a form provided by the System.

7. All federal retirement service shall be counted as contributory service.

8. Purchased federal credited service shall be credited to the fiscal year in which it was rendered.

9. Repayments of refunds or the purchase of service may be made by employer pick-up (tax-deferred deductions). See Rule No. 8-5 (Purchase Payments).

10. ATRS will accept participant rollover contributions and/or direct rollovers of distributions for the purchase of service credit under certain circumstances. See Rule No. 8-4 (Direct Rollover Eligibility).

Adopted: February 11, 2008

RETIRANT'S RETURN TO COVERED EMPLOYMENT

A.C.A. §§ 24-7-708 and 24-7-202

(as amended by Act 1293 of 1995, Act 384 of 1997, Act 30 of 1999, Act 1146 of 2001, Act 911 of 2005 and Acts 612 and 698 of 2007)

DEFINITIONS

1. Covered salary means remuneration paid from a covered employer to an ATRS Retirant on which waiver contributions are paid.

2. Earnings limitation means the limitation applicable to a member's retirement annuity when a retiree receives remuneration from a covered employer.

3. Normal retirement age means sixty-five (65) years of age.

4. Retirant means a member receiving an ATRS retirement annuity.

5. Retires means that a member ceases to be active and is eligible to receive an ATRS annuity.

AGE AND SERVICE RETIRANT

1. If a retirant returns to work service for a covered employer 1 without rescinding retirement under A.C.A. § 24-7-717, then for each twelve-month period ending June 30, the amount of the member's covered salary shall be subject to a limitation equivalent to twice the limitation imposed by the Social Security retirement test.2

2. Upon adoption of rules by the ATRS Board implementing Act 698 of 2007, when a retirant entering into a position of employment with the Department of Education is exempt from item 1 of this section and shall be employed with no limitations placed on his or her earnings.3

3. For any retired member returning to work for the Department of Education pursuant to item 2 in this section, the employee and employer contribution rate shall recommence on behalf of the retired member at the rate in effect at the time of the employment and shall be remitted by the employer in the manner prescribed by the System. Any contribution amounts paid under this section shall not be refundable and shall not constitute the addition of service credit.

4. Effective July 1, 1992, a retirant who is under normal retirement age may receive earnings from a covered employer up to twice the Social Security earnings limitation amount without affecting his/her ATRS annuity benefits. If his/her ATRS covered earnings exceed that amount, ATRS will reduce the member's retirement annuity $1 for each $2 earned in covered salary above the earnings limitation amount.

5.

6.

7. When a retirant returns to covered employment and does not rescind his/her retirement, the retirant shall not accrue additional service credit in the System, and no contributions shall be remitted on behalf of the retirant.6

8. For the return to work rules applicable to disability retirees receiving benefits under A.C.A. § 24-7-704, see Policy No. 9-3 (Disability Retirement).

WAIVER OF EARNINGS LIMITATION (Act 30 of 1999, Act 1146 of 2001, Act 911 of 2005, and Act 612 of 2007)

1.

2. Effective July 1, 2005, under Act 911 of 2005, the ATRS Executive Director is authorized to take appropriate action on waivers of the ATRS earnings limitations requested by the Department of Education:

3. Critical academic areas in which there is a shortage of certified teachers shall be determined annually by the State Department of Education.

4. Employers shall maintain audit files identifying personnel granted a waiver and documenting the reasons for the waiver and will be responsible for reporting to ATRS all retirees who have returned to employment under these provisions.

5. Beginning July 1, 2005, a covered employer who employs a retired member who is approved for a waiver under this policy shall remit to the System an amount equal to the combined employee and employer contribution rate in effect for the fiscal year worked. This waiver fee shall be paid on all covered salary earned in the fiscal year and shall not be charged to or collected from the retirant. These amounts shall be recorded by the System in the ADE Waiver Income Account. (Act 911 of 2005).

Amended: June 15, 2004

July 18, 2005

October 4, 2005

December 6, 2005

June 19, 2007

February 11, 2008