STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION MEDICAL EXAMINING BOARD For DISABILITY RETIREMENT		55 ELM STREET HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT 06106-1775 Telephone (860) 702-3480 Facsimile (860) 702-3489
	STATE OF CONNECTICUT
	RETIREMENT SERVICES DIVISION OFFICE OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER

RETIREMENT SERVICES DIVISION MEMORANDUM 2013-05

November 27, 2013

TO THE HEADS OF ALL STATE AGENCIES

I. INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this memorandum is to notify agencies of the opportunity for Tier II and Tier IIA hazardous duty members of the State Employees Retirement System to choose to retain a grandfathered normal retirement date. This decision will need to be made and submitted by the member on or prior to March 3, 2014.

II. GENERAL INFORMATION

Prior to the SEBAC 2011 agreement, Normal Retirement Age for the non-hazardous duty provision was 60 with 25 years of service or 62 with 10 years of service for Tier II and Tier IIA members. Pursuant to the SEBAC 2011 Agreement and Item 1707-E for employees exempt from collective bargaining, this will change for all employees not retired by July 1, 2022 who have not already attained their Normal Retirement Age. For affected employees, the new retirement age will be age 63 with 25 years of service or age 65 with 10 years of service.

The Agreement and, by extension Item 1707-E included a provision for a one time irrevocable option to enable affected members to grandfather their normal retirement date as long as they pay the full actuarial cost for this benefit.

III. SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPLETION OF CO-1094H

Hazardous duty members are now eligible to make this election which will protect them in the event that they retire under the non-hazardous duty provisions of SERS in the future. These employees have until March 3, 2014 to make this election and return the form to your office. Only those hazardous duty members that will not reach their normal retirement age by July 1, 2022 and believe they may not retire under the hazardous duty provisions should fill this form out. Should they opt out of this provision and then subsequently transfer to a non-hazardous duty position, they may change their election within 30 days of that new position if they wish to opt in. All applications are subject to retroactive mandatory contributions back to the pay period commencing on July 12, 2013.

There are FAQ's online to help with most questions and can be found on the Comptrollers website at http://osc.ct.gov/2013memos/retirement/index.html. 

All Agencies will be mailed a list under separate cover of all Tier II or Tier IIA hazardous duty members and a copy of an Important Notice to provide to each of the identified members as well as any additional employees they identify as eligible.

IV. CONCLUSION

Please ensure that all Tier II and Tier IIA hazardous duty members of the State Employees Retirement System receive the Important Notice and CO-1094H Form. Agencies should forward the forms to the Retirement Division Database Unit as they are completed. Forms must be received by the agency by March 3, 2014 and immediately forwarded to Retirement Division Database Unit. Forms must be received by March 10, 2014 in order for the additional contribution to be deducted from the April 4, 2014 pay check. Any questions concerning the information provided herein may be sent to the Retirement Services Division by email to osc.rsd@ct.gov.  Please remember that this is for agency Human Resource and Payroll employees only. All participant questions are to be directed to the agency only. We are here to help you if you are unable to answer them.

Very truly yours,

STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT COMMISSION
KEVIN LEMBO, SECRETARY EX OFFICIO
BY:
Brenda K. Halpin, Director
Retirement Services Division

BKH/JR

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