Employee Benefits Programs Committee

Duties

Consider and report on the legislative proposals over which the committee takes jurisdiction and which fiscally impact the retirement programs of state employees or employees of any political subdivision, and health and retiree health plans of state employees or employees of any political subdivision. A majority of the members of the committee has sole authority to determine whether a legislative proposal affects a program. The committee shall make a thorough review of each proposal the committee takes under its jurisdiction, including an actuarial report. The committee shall take jurisdiction over a proposal that authorizes an automatic increase or other change in benefits beyond the ensuing biennium which would not require legislative approval. The committee shall include in the report of the committee a statement that the proposal would allow future changes without legislative involvement. The Chairman and Vice Chairman of the committee shall request an actuarial report from the program affected by a legislative measure if a measure is introduced in either house without an actuarial report, or if an amendment is made to the measure, and provide the report to the standing committee to which the measure is referred. (2023 House Bill No.1539 § 1) (NDCC § 54-35-02.4)

Approve terminology adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Fund for Retirement to comply with applicable federal statutes or rules. (NDCC § 15-39.1-35)

Approve terminology adopted by the Public Employees Retirement System Board to comply with federal requirements. (NDCC §§ 39-03.1-29, 54-52-23, 54-52.1-08.2, 54-52.6-23)

Adopt a procedure for identifying measures and proposed measures mandating health insurance coverage of services or payments for specified providers of services. (NDCC § 54-03-28(4))

Review legislative measures and proposals affecting public employees retirement programs and health and retiree health plans. (NDCC § 54-35-02.4)

Reports

Receive an annual report from the Retirement Board regarding the contributions necessary, as determined by the actuarial study, to maintain the retirement fund's actuarial soundness. (2023 House Bill No. 1040 § 9) (NDCC § 54-52-06)

Receive an annual report from the Retirement Board regarding the status of the defined contribution retirement plan under Chapter 54-52.6. (2023 House Bill No. 1040 § 29) (NDCC § 54‑52.6‑22)

Receive notice from the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Fund for Retirement of necessary or desirable changes in statutes relating to the administration of the Teachers' Fund for Retirement fund. (NDCC § 15-39.1-05.2)

Receive an annual report from the Board of Trustees of the Teachers' Fund for Retirement regarding annual test of actuarial adequacy of statutory contribution rate. (NDCC § 15-39.1-10.11)

Receive notice from firefighters relief associations of the association's intent to provide a substitution monthly service pension. (NDCC § 18-11-15)

Receive periodic reports from Human Resource Management Services on the implementation, progress, and bonuses provided by state agency programs to provide bonuses to recruit or retain employees in hard-to-fill positions. (NDCC § 54-06-31)

Receive a biennial report from the Office of Management and Budget summarizing reports of state agencies providing service awards to employees in the classified service. (NDCC § 54-06-32)

Receive a biennial report from the Office of Management and Budget summarizing reports of state agencies providing employer‑paid costs of training or educational courses to employees in the classified service. (NDCC § 54-06-33)

Receive a biennial report from the Office of Management and Budget summarizing reports of executive branch state agencies paying employee membership dues for professional organizations and membership dues for service clubs when required to do business or if the membership is primarily for the benefit of the state. (NDCC § 54-06-34)