Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 495 - IOWA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
Chapter 4 - EMPLOYERS
Rule 495-4.6 - Contribution rates

a. The following contribution rates were established by the Iowa legislature for all regular class members for the indicated periods:

b. Effective July 1, 2012, and every year thereafter, the contribution rates for regular members shall be publicly declared by IPERS staff no later than the preceding December as determined by the annual valuation of the preceding fiscal year. The public declaration of contribution rates will be followed by rule making that will include a notice and comment period and that will become effective July 1 of the next fiscal year. Contribution rates for regular members are as follows.

a. Conservation peace officers. Effective July 1, 2002, all conservation peace officers, state and county, as described in Iowa Code sections 350.5 and 456A.13.

b. Effective July 1, 1994, a marshal in a city not covered under Iowa Code chapter 400 or a firefighter or police officer of a city not participating under Iowa Code chapter 410 or 411. (See employee classifications in rule 495-5.1 (97B).) Effective January 1, 1995, part-time police officers shall be included.

c. Correctional officers as provided for in Iowa Code section 97B.49B. Employees who, prior to December 22, 1989, were in a "correctional officer" position but whose position is found to no longer meet this definition on or after that date shall retain coverage, but only for as long as the employee is in that position or another "correctional officer" position that meets this definition. Movement to a position that does not meet this definition shall cancel "protection occupation" coverage.

d. Airport firefighters employed by the military division of the department of public defense (airport firefighters). Effective July 1, 2004, airport firefighters become part of and shall make the same contributions as the other members covered under Iowa Code section 97B.49B. From July 1, 1994, through June 30, 2004, airport firefighters were grouped with and made the same contributions as sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. From July 1, 1988, through June 30, 1994, airport firefighters were grouped with and made the same contributions as the other members covered under Iowa Code section 97B.49B. From July 1, 1986, through June 30, 1988, airport firefighters were a separate protection occupation group and made contributions at a rate calculated for members of that group. Prior to July 1, 1986, airport firefighters were grouped with regular members and made the same contributions as regular members.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, all airport firefighter service prior to July 1, 2004, shall be coded by IPERS as sheriff/deputy sheriff/airport firefighter service, and all airport firefighter service after June 30, 2004, shall be coded by IPERS as protection occupation service. This coding, however, shall not supersede provisions of this title that require members to make contributions at higher rates in order to receive certain benefits, such as in the hybrid formula pursuant to 495-12.4 (97B).

e. Airport safety officers employed under Iowa Code chapter 400 by an airport commission in a city with a population of 100,000 or more, and employees covered by the Iowa Code chapter 8A merit system whose primary duties are providing airport security and who carry or are licensed to carry firearms while performing those duties.

f. Effective July 1, 1990, an employee of the state department of transportation who is designated as a "peace officer" by resolution under Iowa Code section 321.477.

g. Effective July 1, 1992, a fire prevention inspector peace officer employed by the department of public safety. Effective July 1, 1994, a fire prevention inspector peace officer employed before that date who does not elect coverage under Iowa Code chapter 97A in lieu of IPERS.

h. Effective July 1, 1994, through June 30, 1998, a parole officer III with a judicial district department of correctional services.

i. Effective July 1, 1994, through June 30, 1998, a probation officer III with a judicial district department of correctional services.

j. Effective July 1, 2008, county jailers and detention officers working as jailers.

k. Effective July 1, 2008, National Guard installation security officers.

l. Effective July 1, 2008, emergency medical care providers.

m. Effective July 1, 2008, special investigators who are employed by county attorneys.

n. Effective July 1, 2014, an employee of the insurance division of the department of commerce who as a condition of employment is required to be certified by the Iowa law enforcement academy and who is required to perform the duties of a peace officer as provided in Iowa Code section 507E.8.

o. Effective July 1, 2014, an employee of a judicial district department of correctional services whose condition of employment requires the employee to be certified by the Iowa law enforcement academy and who is required to perform the duties of a parole officer as provided in Iowa Code section 906.2.

p. Effective July 1, 2016, a peace officer employed by an institution under the control of the state board of regents whose position requires law enforcement certification pursuant to Iowa Code section 262.13.

q. Effective July 1, 2016, a person employed by the department of human services as a psychiatric security specialist at a civil commitment unit for sexually violent offenders facility.

a. Prior to July 1, 2006, except as otherwise indicated in the implementing legislation or these rules, for a member whose prior regular service position is reclassified by the legislature as a special service position, all prior service by the member in such regular service position shall be coded by IPERS staff as special service if certified by the employer as constituting special service under current law. No additional contributions shall be required by regular service reclassified as special service under this paragraph.

b. Effective July 1, 2006, for a member whose prior regular service position is reclassified by the legislature as a special service position, all prior service by the member in such regular service position shall continue to be coded by IPERS staff as regular service unless the legislature specifically provides in its legislation for payment of the related actuarial costs of such reclassified service as required under Iowa Code section 97B.65.

a. Effective January 1, 1995, employers must pay member contributions on a pretax basis for federal income tax purposes only. Such contributions are considered employer contributions for federal income tax purposes and employee contributions for all other purposes. Employers must reduce the member's salary reportable for federal income tax purposes by the amount of the member's contribution.

b. Salaries reportable for purposes other than federal income tax will not be reduced, including for IPERS, FICA, and, through December 31, 1998, state income tax purposes.

c. Effective January 1, 1999, employers must pay member contributions on a pretax basis for both federal and state income tax purposes.