HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2016.05.05 - 22341MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION ;#16117 May 5, 2016
BY: Human Resources Committee, Robert Hoffman, Chairperson
IN RE: HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT - AMENDMENT OF SECTION 34 OF THE DEFINED
BENEFIT PLAN CONCERNING REDETERMINED AMOUNT FOR 2016
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, by MR 96101 this Board of Commissioners established the Oakland County Employees
Retirement System Restated Resolution in 1996 as Amended in October of 2002 by MR 02236
(hereinafter "Defined Benefit Plan" or "The Plan.")
WHEREAS Section 34 of The Plan provides for certain Post Retirement Benefit Increases. This Section
is attached to this resolution.
WHEREAS, unless the provisions in Section 34 are modified as to the application of the "redetermined
amount" certain retirees who retired in 2013 and 2014, as of May 1, 2016, will have their Defined Benefit
Plan benefit reduced below what they received in 2015.
WHEREAS on April 21, 2016, to address this situation, the Oakland County Retirement and Deferred
Compensation Board will take up a resolution which proposes that Section 34 of the Plan be modified as
follows:
2016 One Time Suspension of Application of Redetermination Amount
Section 34.6
Effective May 1, 2016, the first sentence of the last full paragraph of Section 34 shall be amended
to read as follows:
The redetermined amount calculated for 2016 shall not be less than the redetermined amount
calculated for 2015.
This amendment shall be void and shall have no further force and effect as of April 30, 2017.
WHEREAS the resolution to be taken up by the Oakland County Retirement and Deferred Compensation
Board, if passed, will result in the pension benefits for certain retirees in 2016 staying the same as they
were in 2015.
WHEREAS the amendment proposed would only be effective for defined benefit retirement payments for
the period from May 1,2016 through and including April 30, 2017.
WHEREAS THE Human Resources Retirement Unit has calculated the cost of maintaining the benefits at
this level for 2016 to be approximately $7,822 and such costs will be paid from the Defined Benefit Plan
assets.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners adopts the
amendment to Section 34 of the Plan as set forth above.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Human Resources Committee, I move the adoption of the foregoing
resolution.
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Kochenderfer absent.
Post-Retirement Benefit Increases
Section 34. Each monthly pension which becomes effective on
or after January 1, 1969 shall be redetermined each May 1 that
is at least 12 full months after the effective date of the
pension. The redetermined amount shall be the amount of the
pension otherwise payable increased by 1.5 percent for each
full year between the effective date of the pension and the
date of redetermination. The redetermined amount shall not
exceed the amount resulting from multiplying (a) times (b) and
dividing the product by (c), where
- (a) is the amount of the pension otherwise payable,
- (b) is the average of the C. P. I.- W for the calendar year
immediately preceding the date of the redetermination, and
- (c) is the average of the C. P. I. W for the calendar year
immediately preceding the effective date of the pension.
The redetermined amount shall not be less than the amount of
the pension otherwise payable. "The amount of the pension
otherwise payable" means the monthly amount of pension which
would be payable disregarding these provisions redetermining
benefit amounts after retirement. "C. P. I. - W" means the
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers - United States City Average as determined by the
United States Department of Labor and in effect for January
1988. If the C. P. I. - W is restructured after 1988 in a
manner materially changing its character, the Retirement
Commission, after receiving the advice of the Actuary, shall
change the application of the C. P. I. - W so that, as far as
is practicable, the general effect of using the restructured
C. P. I. W shall be similar to the general effect of using
the C. P. I. - W before restructuring.
1994 Special Payment
Section 34.2, One-Time Single Sum Payment To Vested Former
Members of the DB Part
The Retirement Commission shall undertake the following with
respect to vested former Members of the DB Part:
a. As of October 1, 1994, determine who the vested
former Members of the DB Part are;
b. Determine each such vested former Member's
Pension as defined in Section 18;
c. Determine the present value, as of October 1,
1994, of the lump-sum actuarially equivalent
benefit of each such vested former Member's
Pension using all of the Retirement
Commission's actuarial assumptions as in effect
for funding purposes for the December 31, 1993
annual actuarial valuation;
d. Make the same determination in (c), except
without the use of a Disability factor; and
e. Notify each such vested former Member in
writing that they have an irrevocable, one-time
election continuing for no less than thirty
(30) days nor more than ninety (90) days in
which to decide as to whether they want to
receive a single sum payment of the value
determined in (d) on or about October 1, 1994
in lieu of any further Pension from this System
and specifically waiving any rights to benefits
from the Oakland County Retirees Health Care
Trust.
1997 Special Window
Section 34.3, special window period for employees transferring
from the Oakland county employees retirement system DE part to
the DC part
The retirement commission shall undertake the following for
members of the DB part:
a. Determine who the members of the DE part are as of
December 31, 1996;
b. Determine each such members accrued benefit as of
December 31, 1996, as defined in section 18 of the DB part;
c. Determine the actuarial present value as of December
31, 1996 of each members accrued benefit using the assumptions
from the December 31, 1996 annual actuarial valuation, as
approved by the retirement commission, with regard to
interest, post-retirement mortality and annual post-retirement
increases. Post-retirement mortality rates will be a blend of
50% male and 50% female mortality, so that gender will not be
a factor. The assumed retirement date shall be as stipulated
in paragraph e(3) below;
d. Notify each such member in writing that they have an
irrevocable election continuing for sixty(60) days after such
notice in which to decide whether to participate in the dc
part and thereby have the value determined in 8 transferred to
the dc part of the system hereafter identified in subparagraph
(h) but with benefit accruals under the DB part ceasing as of
December 31, 1996;
e. In determining the actuarial present value, the
following shall control:
(1) final average compensation, fac shall be
calculated as though the member were leaving the
county's employ on December 31, 1996;
(2) in determining the members normal retirement
date, it shall be assumed that the member will
retire on the first day the member would otherwise
satisfy the normal retirement age and service
requirements of section 17 of the DE part if he were
to continue as a full-time employee of the county;
(3) no redetermination shall be made to give credit
for any future raises or interest rate changes in
the definition of actuarial equivalence used in the
DE part;
(4) the retirement commission shall include in final
average compensation such additional items of earned
or accrued employment related compensation as it
determines to be reasonable and non-discriminatory;
(5) each members accrued benefit shall be based on
actual years of credited service at December 31,
1996.
f. In making the transfer from the DB part to the dc
part, interest from December 31, 1996 to the date hereafter
identified in subparagraph (h) shall be added to the present
value as of December 31, 1996 at the rate of 7.5% per annum;
g. A member who elected to participate in the DC part
as provided herein shall enter same on the first day of the
month following the end of the 60 day election period and
shall cease participation in the DB part on the last day of
the month immediately preceding entry into the dc part;
h. Establishment of account balances. Those members of
the DB part who elect to participate in the dc part under this
special election shall have separate accounts established for
the transfer of assets to the dc part (transferred account) at
the end of the month following the end of the 60 day election
period of subparagraph (d) and be fully vested in the
transferred account but subject to the vesting schedule of
section 7 of the dc part for the county's contributions after
entry into the DC part;
I. Effect on 415. Amounts transferred pursuant to this
section shall not be taken into account in determining the
component of the annual additional attributable to employee
contributions;
j. 1) amounts in a members transferred account may not
be withdrawn by, or distributed to the member, in whole or in
part, except as provided in subparagraph (2);
(2) at the members normal retirement date, or such
other date when the member shall be entitled to
receive a distribution from the dc part, the fair
market value of the members transferred account
shall be added to the amounts otherwise available.
(3) the members transferred account shall share in
income earned, investment gains and losses attributable
thereto, less any expenses in the same manner as any
other account.
Defined Contribution transfer option for ABenefit Group General
Option A
Section 34.4
The retirement commission shall undertake the following with
respect to members of Benefit Group General - Option A who are
not represented employees and represented employees whose
collective bargaining agreement provides for these benefit
modifications:
a. As of December 31, 1999 determined who the members are
that are eligible to make a current election;
b. Determine each such members pension as defined in
Section 18 of the defined benefit part of the
retirement system;
c. Determine the present value, as of December 31, 1999 of
the lump-sum actuarial equivalent accrued benefit of
each such vested members pension using all of the
retirement commission's actuarial assumptions as in
effect for funding purposes for the September 30, 1999
annual actuarial valuation;
d. Make the same determination in (c), except without the
use of a disability factor using for funding purposes;
and
e. Notify each vested member in writing that they have an
irrevocable one-time election continuing for no less
than seven (7) days nor more than ninety (90) days in
which to decide as to whether they want to have the
single sum payment of the value determined in (d) on or
about April 1, 2000 in lieu of any further pension from
this system.
Incentive Retirement Program.
Section 34.5
The Retirement Commission shall undertake the following for all
members of the Oakland County Retirement System, regardless of
whether they are a member of the DB part or DC part if they
satisfy the following conditions:
a. This program shall be open to non-represented members
and all represented members excluding employees
represented by the Oakland County deputy sheriff's
association, the Oakland County command officer's
association and elected officials of the county
('covered class');
b. The covered class shall be further limited to those
members who are eligible to retire by December 31, 2002
or whose age and service, including military service
credits and Michigan reciprocal retirement act service
time totals 75 by that date, with a minimum of twenty
(20) years and a minimum age of fifty (50);
c. Those members of the covered class who so qualify must
file written application with the Retirement Commission
not less than thirty (30) days in advance of their
requested retirement date, on the appropriate form, but
in no event later than January 31, 2003, with the
proposed retirement date being no sooner than November
15, 2002 and no later than March 31, 2003;
d. Those members who file such application for payment of
the incentive retirement from the Retirement System
shall receive lump sum retirement incentive pay of 26
weeks salary determined as of September 30, 2002 (i.e.
base salary + longevity but not including overtime or
shift premium pay);
e. This lump sum retirement incentive pay shall not be
included in either the final average compensation (FAC)
for employees in the DB part of the Retirement System or
in the amount of either employee or county contribution
to the DC part of the retirement system.
2016 One Time Suspension of Application of Redetermination Amount
Section 34.6
Effective May 1, 2016, the first sentence of the last full
paragraph of Section 34 shall be amended to read as follows:
The redetermined amount calculated for 2016 shall not be less
than the redetermined amount calculated for 2015.
This amendment shall be void and shall have no further force and
effect as of April 30, 2017.
OAKLAND COUNTY EMPLOYEES
RETIREMENT SYSTEM
RESTATED RESOLUTION
1996
AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 2002
(Defined Benefit)
Index to the Oakland County Employees
Retirement System Restated Resolution
Section
Subject
Accounting
Assets in DB part not segregated 57
Employer contributions 54
Interest credits 58
Investment income 55
Member contributions 52
Expense reserve 56
Reserve for pension payments 53
Actuarial
Funding of DB part 50
Administration
Annual report 45
Appeal of denied claim for benefits 39
Application for benefits 36
Correction of errors 61
Enforcement 76
Execution of Instrument 70
Indemnification by County 71
Internal Revenue Code qualification 62
Investments 46
Investment Manager 75
Liability Insurance 72
Limitation on fiduciary liability 74
Retirement Commission
Administrative authority 40
Composition 41
Compensation 48
Employment of services 44
Investment authority 46
Meetings 43
Officers 44
Prohibited actions 47
Quorum 43
Records 43
Tables 49
Term of office 42
Vacancy 42
Voting 43
Pensions: commencement & termination 38
Pensions: payment 37
Service in multiple capacities 73
Setoff 60
Subrogation 60
Credited Service
Earning 8
Forfeiture of 9
Intervening military service 11
Non-Intervening military service 12
Reciprocal Retirement System 13
Reinstatement 10
Disability Benefits
Amount of pension 24
Duty incurred 25
Eligibility 23
Limitations on amount of pension 26
Re-examination 27
Suspension of pension 27
Termination of pension 27
Member Contributions
Interest credited 58
Refund on termination of employment 51
Membership in Retirement System
Eligibility 4
Excluded positions 5
Termination of membership 6
Termination of Employment 68
Vested termination 7
Miscellaneous Provisions
1994 Special Payment 34.2
1997 Special Window 34.3
Benefits not assignable 59
Compensation: definition of 3
Defined Contribution transfer option
For "Benefit Group General-Option A" 34.4
Duration; Termination; Assumption; Merger 69
Final average compensation: definition of 3
Fraud 63
Payment options available 22
Post retirement increases 34
Repeal 65
Retirement Incentive Program 34.5
Severability 64
Normal Retirement Benefits
Age and service requirements 17
Amount of pension 18
Conditions 16
Effect of re-employment 21
Eligible Rollover Distributions 66
Maximum 19
Vested former Members 20
Survivor Benefits
Automatic - amount 29
Automatic - composition 28
Duty incurred 32
Elective - amount 31
Elective - composition 30
Non-duplication 33
Retired Member 22
Refund of contributions - active Member 51
Table of Contents
Section Page No
1 Retirement System Effective Date; Continuation; Purpose 1
2 Short Title; Application; Effective Date of Restatement 1
3 Definitions 2
4 Membership in Retirement System 6
5 Excluded Positions V
6 Termination of Membership 7
7 Vested Termination of Membership 7
8 Credited Service; Earning of 7
9 Credited Service; Forfeiture of 8
10 Credited Service; Reinstatement of 8
11 Intervening Military Service; Conditions for 9
Credited Service
12 Non-intervening Military Service; Conditions for 9
Credited Service
13 Reciprocal Retirement System 10
14 Benefit Croups; Effect on Retirement Eligibility 10
15 Benefit groups; Effect on Pension Amount 10
16 Normal Retirement; Conditions for 11
17 Normal Retirement; Age and Service Requirements 11
18 Normal Retirement; Pension Amount 12
19 Normal Retirement; Pension Maximum 13
20 Retirement; Vested Former Member 13
21 Re-employment by County; Effect on Pension Payments 13
22 Form of payment of a pension 15
23 Disability Retirement; Conditions for 16
24 Disability Retirement; Pension or Benefits Amount; 17
Form of Payment
25 Disability Retirement; Special Provisions if 17
Duty Incurred
26 Disability Retirement; Limitation on Pension Amount 18
27 Disability Retirement; Continuation Subject to 18
Re-examination; Suspension/Termination of Pension
28 Survivor Pension; Conditions for Automatic Pension 19
to Spouse
29 Survivor Pension; Amount of Automatic Pension to Spouse 19
30 Survivor Pension; Designated Beneficiary; Conditions 20
for Coverage
31 Survivor Pension; Designated Beneficiary; Amount 20
of Pension
32 Survivor Pension; Special Provisions if Duty Incurred 20
33 Survivor Pension; Only One Pension Payable 21
34 Post-Retirement Benefit Increases 21
34.2 1994 Special Payment; One-Time Single Sum Payment To
Vested Former Members of the DB Part 22
34.3 1997 Special Window Period for Employees Transferring from
The Oakland County Employees Retirement System DB Part
To the DC Part 23
34.4 Defined Contribution Transfer Option for ABenefit
25
25
26
26
27
27
27
Group General - Option Am
34 5 Retirement Incentive Program
35 Guaranteed Minimum Aggregate Payout
36 Pensions; Application for
37 Pensions; Payment of
38 Pensions; Commencement, Duration and Change
39 Denial of Claim for Benefits; Appeal to
Retirement
40 Retirement
41 Retirement
42 Retirement
Vacancies
Commission
Commission; Authority and Responsibility
Commission; Composition of
Commission; Term of Office; Oath of Office;
28
28
29
43 Retirement Commission Meetings; Quorum; Voting;
Record of Proceedings
44 Retirement Commission; Officers; Services
45 Retirement Commission; Reports
46 Retirement Commission; Investment Authority and
Restrictions
47 Retirement Commission; Use of Monies and Assets;
Prohibited Actions
48 Retirement Commission; Compensation
49 Retirement Commission; Experience Tables and
Regular Interest
50 Financial Objective of the Retirement System; County
Contributions
51 Member Contributions; Refunds
52 Reserve for Accumulated Member Contributions
53 Reserve for Pension Payments
54 Reserve for Employer Contributions
55 Reserve for Undistributed Investment Income
56 Reserve for Administrative Expenses
57 Assets of DB Part not Segregated
58 Interest Credited to Reserve Accounts
59 Assignments Prohibited
60 Subrogation; Right of Setoff
61 Correction of Errors; Power to Amend
62 Internal Revenue Code Qualification
63 Fraud Penalty
64 Severability
65 Repeal
66 Eligible Rollover Distributions
67 Adjustment of Account - Other Adjustment
68 Termination of Employment
69 Duration; Termination; Assumption
70 Execution of Instruments
71 Indemnification by County
72 Liability Insurance
73 Service in Multiple Capacities
74 Limitations on Fiduciary Liability
75 Investment Manager
76 Enforcement
29
30
30
31
32
32
32
33
36
37
38
38
39
39
39
39
40
40
42
43
44
44
44
44
45
46
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A RESOLUTION AMENDING AND RESTATING THE OAKLAND COUNTY
EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM RESOLUTION TO INCORPORATE
ACCUMULATED CHANGES, REMOVE OBSOLETE MATERIAL, TO CONFORM TO
APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF STATE AND FEDERAL LAW AND TO
SEPARATE THE DEFINED CONTRIBUTION COMPONENT FROM THE DEFINED
BENEFIT COMPONENT.
THE COUNTY OF OAKLAND RESOLVES:
That the Oakland County Employees Retirement System
resolution is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to
read as follows:
Retirement System Effective Date; Continuation; Purpose.
Section 1. The Oakland County Employees Retirement System
established effective January 1, 1946 under authority of
Section 12a of Act No. 156, Public Acts of 1851, as amended,
is continued for the purpose of providing retirement income
to qualifying employees and former employees, and survivor
income to their qualifying beneficiaries. The Retirement
System does not provide health insurance. The Retirement
System as it existed before January 1, 1994 consisted solely
of a defined benefit plan (sometimes called "CS part").
Effective as hereafter identified, the Retirement System was
amended for all employees hired after the appropriate
effective date to consist of a defined contribution part
(sometimes called "DC part"). Effective as hereinafter
identified, Members of the Retirement System who were hired
before the appropriate effective date had an election to
become a Member of the DC part of this Retirement System.
This document relates only to the DB part.
Short Title; Application; Effective Date of Restatement.
Section 2. (a) This resolution may be cited as the 1996
Oakland County Employees Retirement System Defined Benefit
Resolution.
(b) This Restatement will apply to individuals in the
employ of the County before the appropriate Effective Date
who did not make the election to participate in the DC part
of this Retirement System. The retirement rights of an
individual whose County employment terminated before the
appropriate Effective Date of this Restatement shall be
governed by the provisions of the Retirement System
Resolution in effect on the date the individual last
1
terminated County employment. The retirement rights of an
individual whose County employment began before the
appropriate Effective Date shall be governed by the
provisions of the Retirement System resolution as in effect
on June 30, 1994, unless the individual elects to participate
in the DC part of the Retirement System.
(c) This resolution shall not apply to employees hired
on or after the appropriate Effective Date upon final passage
by the Board of Commissioners of the County of Oakland and
approval by the County Pension Plan Committee.
Definitions.
Section 3. As used in this resolution these terms shall have
the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates
or requires otherwise:
(a) Accrued Benefit for the DB part means the normal
retirement benefit determined in Section 18 at any point in
time.
(b) Accumulated Member contributions means the balance
in a Member's individual account in the DB part of this
Retirement System and held in reserve for Member
contributions to the DB part, if any.
(c) Age means for the purpose of determining normal
retirement age, the chronological age of a person.
Otherwise, age means age at nearest birthday.
(d) Anniversary Date means December 31.
(e) Beneficiary means an individual who is being paid
or is entitled to the future payment of benefits for reason
other than the individual's Membership in the Retirement
System.
(f) Benefit Groups. The following benefit groups are
designated for the purpose of determining benefit eligibility
conditions and benefit amounts:
(1) Benefit Group General - option A. All Members
not included in Benefit Group Sheriff's Department whose
employment agreements with the County indicate that they are
Option A Employees.
(2) Benefit Group General - option B. All Members
not included in Benefit Group Sheriff's Department whose
employment agreements with the County indicate that they are
option B employees.
2
(3) Benefit Group Sheriff's Department - Command
Association - option D. All Members employed by the Sheriff's
Department who are covered by a bargaining agreement between
the County and the Command Officers Association.
(4) Benefit Group Sheriff's Department - Deputy
Sheriff's Association - option C. All Members employed by the
Sheriff's Department who are covered by a bargaining agreement
between the County and the Oakland County Deputy Sheriffs
Association.
(5) Benefit Group General - Option E. All members
not included in Benefit Group Sheriff=s Department whose
employment agreements with the county indicate that they are
Option E employees.
(6) Benefit Group General - Option F. All members
not included in Benefit Group - Sheriff=s Department whose
employment agreements with the county indicate that they are
Option F employees.
(g) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now
or hereafter amended, or as superseded by laws of similar
effect.
(h) Compensation means the salary or wages paid in money
to an employee for personal services rendered the County as
reflected on his/her W-2 while a Member of the Retirement
System or deferred from current taxation under Code Section
457. Salary and wages shall include overtime pay; longevity
pay; payments in consideration of unused vacation and sick
leave only to the extent permitted under the Member's
collective bargaining agreement or the merit system rules. By
way of clarification, and not intended to expand what is
included in Compensation:
(1) Lump-sum payments for sick leave or annual
leave for Employees hired after December 31, 1977 shall not be
included in Compensation;
(2) The following Represented Employees shall not
have overtime included in Compensation for purposes of
determining their Final Average Compensation as determined by
their collective bargaining agreement:
(a) Command officers, Bargaining Unit 15 (hired on or
after June 1, 1994);
(b) Deputies, Bargaining Unit 10 (hired on or after
January 1, 1993); and
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(c) Public Health Nurses, Bargaining Unit 48 (regardless
of date of hire).
Compensation shall not include any remuneration or
reimbursement not specifically stated to be included.
Notwithstanding the above, Compensation shall include any
amount which is contributed by the County pursuant to a salary
reduction agreement and which is not includible in the gross
income of the employee under Code Sections 125, 402(e)(3),
402(h), 403(b) or 457. The annual Compensation of each Member
taken into account for any Plan Year beginning on or after
January 1, 1996 shall not exceed the OBRA '93 annual
compensation limit. The OBRA '93 annual compensation limit is
$150,000, as adjusted by the Commissioner for increases in the
cost of living in accordance with Code Section 401(a)(17) (B).
The cost of living adjustment in effect for a calendar year
applies to any period, not exceeding 12 months, over which
compensation is determined (determination period) beginning in
such calendar year. If a determination period consists of
fewer than 12 months, the OBRA '93 annual compensation limit
shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the number of months in the determination period, and the
denominator of which is 12.
For Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 1996, any
reference in this Retirement System to the limitation under
Code Section 401(a)(17) shall mean the OBRA '93 annual
compensation limit set forth in this provision.
If Compensation for any prior determination period is
taken into account in determining an employee's benefits
accruing in the current Plan Year, the Compensation for that
prior determination period is subject to the OBRA '93 annual
compensation limit in effect for that prior determination
period.
In determining a Member's compensation for purposes of
this limitation, the rules of Code Section 414(g)(6) shall
apply, except the term "family" shall include only the spouse
of the Member and any lineal descendants of the Member who
have not attained age 19 before the close of the Plan Year.
If, as a result of the application of such rules the adjusted
limitation is exceeded, then the limitation shall be allocated
to the affected individuals' Compensation (as determined under
this Section but before application of this limitation) in the
following manner. The limitation shall be prorated among the
affected individuals in proportion to each such individual's
Compensation as determined under this section prior to the
application of this limitation. If the Retirement System
determines compensation on a period of time that contains
fewer than 12 calendar months, then the annual compensation
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limit is an amount equal to the annual compensation limit for
the calendar year in which the compensation period begins
multiplied by the ratio obtained by dividing the number of
full months in the period by 12.
(I) County or Employer means Oakland County, State of
Michigan, and its various offices, boards and departments, and
shall include the Board of County Road Commissioners.
(j) Employee means any person employed by the County.
(1) "Highly Compensated Employees" include highly
compensated active employees and highly compensated former
employees. A highly compensated active employee includes any
employee who performs service for the employer during the
"determination year" and who, during the "look-back year:"
(I) received compensation greater than seventy-five thousand
and 00/100 dollars ($75,000.00) (As adjusted by Code Section
415(d); (ii) received compensation greater than fifty thousand
and 00/100 dollars ($50,000.00) (As adjusted by Code Section
415(d)) and was a Member of the "top-paid group" for such
year; or (iii) was an officer of the employer and received
compensation during such year that is greater than fifty
percent (50%) of the dollar limitation in effect under Code
Section 415(b)(1)(A).
(2) The term highly compensated employee includes:
(1) employees who are both described in the preceding
sentence if the term "determination year" is substituted for
"look-back year" and the employee is one of the one hundred
(100) employees who received the most compensation during the
determination year; and (ii) employees who are five percent
(5%) owners at any time during the look-back year or
determination year. If no officer has satisfied the
compensation requirement of (iii) during either a
determination year or look-back year, the highest paid officer
for such year shall be treated as the only highly compensated
employee.
The "Determination Year" shall be the Plan Year. The
"look-back year" shall be the twelve (12) month period
immediately preceding the "determination year."
A "highly compensated former employee" includes any
employee who separated from service (or was deemed to have
separated) before the determination year, performs no service
for the employer during the determination year, and was a
highly compensated active employee for either the separation
year or any determination year ending on or after the
employee's fifty-fifth (55th) birthday.
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If an employee is, during a Determination Year or look-
back year, a family member of either a "5 percent owner" who
is an active or former employee or a Highly Compensated
Employee who is one of the ten (10) most highly compensated
employees ranked on the basis of compensation paid by the
employer during such year, then the family member and the 5-
percent owner or top-ten highly compensated employee shall be
aggregated. In such case, the family member and 5-percent
owner or top-ten highly compensated employee shall be treated
as a single employee receiving compensation and plan
contributions or benefits equal to the sum of such
compensation and contributions or benefits of the family
member and 5-percent owner or top-ten highly compensated
employee. For purposes of this section, "family member"
includes the spouse, lineal ascendants and descendants of the
employee or former employee and the spouses of such lineal
ascendants and descendants. The determination of who is a
highly compensated employee, including the determinations of
the number and identity of employees in the top-paid group,
the top one hundred (100) employees, the number of employees
treated as officers and the compensation that is considered,
will be pursuant to Code Section 414(q) and its regulations.
(k) Final Average Compensation means the average of the
annual Compensations paid a Member during any 5 consecutive
years of credited service producing the highest average,
contained within the 10 years of credited service immediately
preceding the Member's last termination of employment with the
County, if the Member has at least 5 years of credited
service. Final average Compensation means the aggregate
amount of compensation paid a Member divided by the Member's
years and fraction of a year of credited service if the Member
has less than 5 years of credited service.
(1) Fiscal Year, Limitation Year or Plan Year means the
calendar year. If the Limitation Year is amended to a
different twelve (12) Consecutive month period, the new
Limitation Year must begin on a date within the Limitation
Year that the amendment is made.
(m) Participant or Member means a person who is
eligible, and participates herein.
A Non-vested Participant or Member means a Member who
does not have any nonforfeitable right to an accrued benefit.
A Vested Participant or Member means a Member who has a
nonforfeitable right to an accrued benefit.
(n) Pension means a series of equal monthly payments by
the DB part of the Retirement System. Payment may be for a
temporary period or throughout the future life of a retired
Member or beneficiary.
6
(o) Retired Member means an individual who is or was
being paid a benefit because of the individual's Membership in
the Retirement System.
(p) Service means personal service rendered the County
while a Member of the Retirement System and qualifying
military service pursuant to Sections 11 and 12.
(q) Represented Employee means an Employee who is
represented by a group or entity certified as a collective
bargaining representative by the Michigan Employment Relations
Commission.
Membership in Retirement System.
Section 4. An individual who is employed by the County, its
offices or departments in a permanent position normally
requiring 1000 or more hours of work per year shall be a
Member of the Retirement System unless employed in an excluded
position .enumerated in Section 5. In case of doubt the
Retirement Commission shall have the discretion to decide who
is a Member.
Excluded Positions.
Section 5. Excluded positions are:
(a) Positions as employees of the Board of County Road
Commissioners.
(b) Positions which are compensated on a basis not
subject to the withholding of Federal income taxes or FICA
taxes by the County or to existing fringe benefits provided by
the County.
(c) Positions filled by temporary employees.
(d) Any position held by a retired Member.
(e) Any position held by a person who is included by law
in any other pension or Retirement System by reason of the
compensation paid by the County, except the Federal Old Age,
Survivors and Disability Insurance program.
(f) Positions for which the County pays less than 30
percent of all compensation received by the employee from all
governmental units.
Termination of Membership.
Section 6. An individual shall cease to be a Member upon
termination of employment by the County, or upon ceasing to be
employed in a position normally requiring 1,000 or more hours
of work per year, or upon becoming employed in an excluded
position. Upon re-employment by the County, or transfer into a
position that is not excluded, the individual shall again
become a Member of the DC part of the Retirement System for
future benefit accruals.
Vested Termination of Membership.
Section 7. A Member of the DB part of the Retirement System
who ceases to be a Member for a reason other than retirement
or death, and who has 8 or more years of credited service and
leaves on deposit in the Retirement System the Member's
accumulated Member contributions shall be a vested former
Member.
Credited Service; Earning of.
Section 8. Service rendered by a Member shall be credited to
the Member's individual credited service account in accordance
with rules the Retirement Commission shall prescribe. A
Member of the DB Part of the Retirement System in a position
designated by the County as a part-time position shall receive
credit for a fraction of a year. The fraction shall be equal
to the number of regular hours worked during the year divided
by the number of full-time hours for the year. In no case
shall
- more than one year of credited service be credited
on account of all service rendered by a Member in any one
calendar year.
- less than ten days of service in a calendar month
be credited as a month of service.
- less than ten months of service in a calendar year
be credited as a year of service.
Credited Service; Forfeiture of.
Section 9. Credited service shall be forfeited if an
individual ceases to be a Member and does not qualify as a
Vested former Member. Credited service shall be forfeited if
an individual receives a refund of accumulated Member
contributions.
Credited Service; Reinstatement of.
Section 10. A Member may have forfeited credited service
restored upon satisfaction of the following conditions:
8
(a) The Retirement System is paid the total amount of
accumulated Member contributions previously withdrawn plus
compound interest from the date of withdrawal to the dates of
repayment at rates stipulated by the Retirement Commission;
(b) The repayment is initiated and completed within the
time period established by the Retirement Commission, which
period shall not end before the first anniversary of the
Member's re-employment;
(c) If a Vested Member was re-employed in a County
position involving Membership in the Retirement System within
3 years of the Member's last termination of Membership and
repays the amount identified in (a), his Forfeited Accrued
Benefit shall be restored.
(d) A Member who is re-employed in a County position
involving Membership in the Retirement System more than 3
years after the Member's last termination of employment shall
not reenter the DB part of the Retirement System but shall
become a Member of the DC part as if he was a new hire.
(e) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Vested former
Member who did not receive a refund of accumulated Member
contributions shall resume coverage in the DB part of the
Retirement System on rehire and maintain his Credited Service.
Intervening Military Service; Conditions for Credited Service.
Section 11. A Member who leaves the employ of the County to
enter any armed service of the United States during any period
of compulsory military service shall be entitled to credited
service for periods of active duty lasting 30 or more days, if
each of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The individual is re-employed by the County within 1
year from and after the •date of termination of active duty;
(b) The individual becomes a Member and pays the
Retirement System the total amount of accumulated Member
contributions previously withdrawn, plus compound interest
from the dates of withdrawal to the dates of repayment;
(c) No more than 5 years of credited service shall be
granted on account of all military service of the Member;
(d) Credited service shall not be granted for periods of
military service which are or could be used for obtaining or
increasing a benefit from another Retirement System.
9
Non-intervening Military Service; Conditions for Credited
Service.
Section 12. A Member who has served in any armed service of
the United States shall be entitled to credited service for
periods of active duty lasting 30 or more days, if each of the
following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The Member has at least 8 years of credited service
with Oakland County, not including any credited service
acquired for intervening military service under the provisions
of Section 11;
(h) If, in the DE part of the Retirement System Only,
the Member pays the Retirement System 5% of the Member's
annual, full time rate of Compensation at time of payment
multiplied by the period of service being claimed;
(c) Armed service credited a Member under this paragraph
shall not exceed the smaller of two (2) years and the
difference between five (5) years and the intervening armed
service credited the Member under Section 11;
(d) Credited service shall not be granted for periods of
military service which are or could be used for obtaining or
increasing a benefit from another Retirement System;
(e) The Member entered the armed service before June 1,
1980 or entered during a time of war or emergency condition on
or after June 1, 1980;
(f) The Member elects to purchase the service and
contributes the required amount to the DB part of the
Retirement System within one (1) year of the Member's
Eligibility Date. The Eligibility Date for County employees
whose employment is not subject to collective bargaining is
January 1, 1989. The purchase of non-intervening military
service will apply to a County employee whose employment is
subject to collective bargaining only if included in the
applicable bargaining agreement. If included, the Eligibility
Date will be as specified in the relevant collective
bargaining agreement.
Reciprocal Retirement System.
Section 13. The Retirement System is a reciprocal Retirement
System under the provisions of Act 88, Public Acts of 1961, as
amended.
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Benefit Groups; Effect on Retirement Eligibility
Section 14. Benefit eligibility conditions shall be those
applicable to the Member's benefit group at time of
termination of Membership. If the Member has less than 2
years of Credited Service under the Member's last Benefit
Group, benefit eligibility conditions shall be those
applicable to the benefit group under which the Member last
earned at least 2 years of Credited Service.
Benefit groups; Effect on Pension Amount.
Section 15. Pension amounts in the DB part of the Retirement
System shall be separately determined for each benefit group
that the Member has credited service with, using the
Retirement System provisions in effect at time of termination
of Membership. The amount of a pension under optional form of
payment SL (Section 18) is equal to the sum of separate
amounts determined in accordance with the benefit formula
applicable to each benefit group under which the retiring
Member has credited service. The amount of pension
attributable to credited service under a particular benefit
group is equal to a fraction of the amount of pension
determined as if the Member's total credited service in force
was under the benefit group. The numerator of the fraction is
the Member's credited service under the benefit group. The
denominator of the fraction is the Member's total credited
service.
Normal Retirement; Conditions for.
Section 16. An individual may retire with a normal retirement
pension from the DB part upon satisfaction of each of the
following requirements:
(a) A written application for retirement, in the form
prescribed by the Retirement Commission, has been filed with
the Retirement System;
(b) Membership is terminated before the date of
retirement;
(c) The individual meets the applicable age and/or
service requirements for normal retirement.
Normal Retirement; Age and Service Requirements.
Section 17. The age and/or service requirements for normal
retirement are:
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(a) Benefit group general - option A. The individual
has attained Age 55 years and has 25 or more years of credited
service, or the individual has attained Age 60 years and has 8
or more years of Credited Service.
(b) Benefit group general - option B. The individual
has attained Age 55 years and has 25 or more years of credited
service, or the individual has attained Age 60 years and has 8
or more years of credited service.
(c) Benefit group Sheriff's Department - Command -
option D. The individual has 25 or more years of credited
service with the Sheriff's Department, regardless of age, or
the individual has attained Age 60 and has 8 or more years of
Credited Service.
(d) Benefit Group Sheriff's Department - Deputies -
option C. The individual has 25 or more years of credited
service with the Sheriff's Department, regardless of age or
has attained Age 60 and has 8 or more years of credited
service.
(e) Benefit Group General - Option E. The individual
has attained age 55 and has 25 or more years of credited
service, or the individual has attained age 60 years and has 8
or more years of credited service and member makes a 1%
compensation Apickup contribution in accordance with section
52(d).
(f) Benefit Group General - Option F. The individual
has attained age 55 and has 25 or more years of credited
service, or the individual has attained age 60 years and has 8
or more years of credited service and member makes a 1%
compensation >Pickup= contribution in accordance with
Section 52(d).
Upon normal retirement as provided in this section an
individual shall be paid a pension computed according to
Sections 18 and 19.
Normal Retirement; Pension Amount.
Section 18. The applicable benefit amount under form of
payment SL (Straight Life) for the DB part is computed as
follows:
(a) Benefit Group General - Option A. 2 percent (.02)
of the Member's Final Average Compensation multiplied by years
of credited service.
(b) Benefit Group general - Option B. 1.8 percent
(.018) of the Member's Final Average Compensation multiplied
by years of credited service.
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(c) Benefit Group Sheriff's Department (Command). 2
percent (.02) of the Member's Final Average Compensation
multiplied by years of credited service.
(d) Benefit Group Sheriff's Department (Deputies). For
Plan Years beginning on or after January 1, 1994, 2.2 Percent
(.022) of the Member's Final Average Compensation multiplied
by years of credited service.
(e) Benefit Group General - Option E. For members
(previously Option A members) who make a 1% of compensation
Apickupa contribution after December 18, 1999, or when the
employee completes 14 years of service and makes a 1% of
compensation Apickupa contribution, 2.0% (.02) of the
member=s final average compensation multiplied by up to 14
years of credited service and years 15 and beyond shall be
multiplied by 2.2% (.022) of the member=s final average
compensation.
(f) Benefit Group General - Option F. For members
(previously Option B members) who make a 1% of compensation
>pickup= contribution after December 18, 1999, or when the
employee completes 14 years of credited service and makes a 1%
of compensation >pickup= contribution, 1.8% (.018) of the
member=s final average compensation multiplied by up to 14
years of credited service and credited services years of 15
and beyond shall be multiplied by 1.98% (.0198) of the
member=s final average compensation. For those members
eligible to have sick leave and annual leave included in their
final average compensation, annual leave days in excess of
seventy-two (72) and sick leave days in excess of one hundred
(100) will be multiplied by 1.8% (.018) when computing
retirement allowance. Annual leave days up to seventy-two
(72) and sick leave days up to one hundred (100) will be
multiplied by 1.98% (.0198) when computing the retirement
allowance.
If the Member or vested terminated Member has credited service
with more than one benefit group, the pension amount shall be
computed under Section 15.
Normal Retirement; Pension Maximum.
Section 19. The maximum amount of a pension from the DB part
and financed by County contributions is 75 percent (.75) of an
individual's Final Average Compensation.
Retirement; Vested Former Member.
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Section 20. (a) A vested former Member of the DB part may
retire
- upon attainment of Age 55 with 25 or more years of
credited service.
- upon attainment of Age 60 and 8 years of credited
service.
(b) Withdrawal of accumulated Member contributions from
the DB part and forfeiture of credited service attributable to
a period during which contributions to the Retirement System
were required by or on behalf of the vested former Member
shall constitute forfeiture of all rights in and to the
portion of the pension attributable to the forfeited credited
service.
(c) Upon retirement as provided in this section a vested
former Member shall be paid a pension computed according to
the provisions of Sections 18 and 19 as in effect on the date
the employee ceased to be a Member.
Re-employment by the County; Effect on Pension Payments.
Section 21. One of the following conditions shall apply to a
retired Member who is receiving a pension or retirement
benefit from the DB part of the Retirement System if the
retired Member becomes re-employed by the County:
(a) Payment of benefits from this Retirement System to
the retired Member shall be suspended if the retired Member is
re-employed by the County from which the retired Member
retired and the retired Member does not meet the requirements
of subsection (b). Suspension of the payment of benefits
shall become effective the first day of the calendar month
that follows the sixtieth day after the retired Member is re-
employed by the County. Payment of benefits shall resume on
the first day of the calendar month that follows termination
of employment with the County. Payment of benefits shall be
resumed without change in amount or conditions by reason of
re-employment. The retired Member shall not be a Member of
this System during the period of re-employment.
(b) Payment of benefits to the retired Member shall
continue without change in amount or conditions by reason of
re-employment by the County from which the retired Member
retired if all of the following requirements are met:
(1) the retired Member meets one of the following
requirements:
14
(a) for any retired Member, is employed by the
County for not more than 1,000 hours in any 12-month period as
determined by the County's Merit System.
(b) for a retired Member who was not an
elected or appointed County official at retirement, is elected
or appointed as a County official for a term of office that
begins after the retired Member's retirement allowance
effective date.
(c) for a retired Member who was an elected or
appointed County official at retirement, is elected or
appointed as a County official to a different office from
which the retired Member retired for a term of office that
begins after the retired Member's retirement allowance
effective date.
(d) for a retired Member who was an elected or
appointed County official at retirement, is elected or
appointed as a County official to the same office from which
the retired Member retired for a term of office that begins
not less than 2 years after the retired Member's retirement
allowance effective date.
(2) The retired Member is not eligible for any
benefits from the County other than those required by law or
otherwise provided to the retired Member by virtue of his or
her being a retired Member.
(3) The retired Member is not a Member of this
System during the period of reemployment, does not receive
additional retirement credits during the period of
reemployment, and does not receive any increase in benefits
because of the employment under this subsection.
(c) Payment of benefits to the retired Member shall
continue without change in amount or conditions by reason of
the employment if the retired Member becomes employed by a
county other than the county from which the retired Member
retired. For the purposes of Membership and potential benefit
entitlement under the system of the other county, the retired
Member shall be considered in the same manner as an individual
with no previous record of employment by that county.
Form of payment of a pension.
Section 22. A Member may elect to have pension payments from
the DB part made under any one, and only one, of the
following forms of payment and name a survivor Beneficiary.
The election and naming of survivor Beneficiary shall be made
on a form furnished by and filed with the Retirement System
prior to the date the first pension payment is made. An
15
election of form of payment may not be changed on or after the
date the first pension payment is made. A named survivor
Beneficiary may not be changed on or after the date the first
pension payment is made if form of payment A, B or D is
elected. A named survivor Beneficiary may be changed or may
be more than one person if form of payment SL or C is elected.
A named survivor Beneficiary must have an insurable interest
in the life of the Member or vested former Member when named.
Payment shall be made under form of payment SL if there is not
a timely election of another form of payment.
The amount of pension under forms of payment A, B, C, D or E
shall have the same actuarial present value, computed as of
the effective date of the pension, as the amount of pension
under form of payment SL. (Actuarial assumptions used to
determine the amount or level of any optional benefit forms
shall be actuarially equivalent to the SL Pension). No
payments shall be made to a survivor Beneficiary under form
of payments A, B, C or D if duty death benefits under Section
32 become payable on account of the death of the retired
Member.
Form of Payment SL - Straight Life Pension. The retired
Member is paid a pension for life under form of payment SL.
All payments stop upon the death of the retired Member.
Form of Payment A - Life Payments with Full Continuation to
Survivor Beneficiary. The retired Member is paid a reduced
pension for life under form of payment A. Upon the death of
the retired Member during the lifetime of the named survivor
Beneficiary, the named survivor Beneficiary is paid the full
amount of reduced pension until death.
Form of Payment B - Life Payments with One-Half Continuation
to Survivor Beneficiary. The retired Member is paid a reduced
pension for life under form of payment B. Upon the death of
the retired Member during the lifetime of the named survivor
Beneficiary, the named survivor Beneficiary is paid one-half
the amount of reduced pension until death.
Form of Payment C - Life Payments with Ten Years Certain. The
retired Member is paid a reduced pension for life under form
of payment C. Upon the death of the retired Member, if the
retired Member received fewer than 120 monthly pension
payments, the named survivor Beneficiary is paid the full
amount of reduced pension for the remainder of 120 months. If
the named survivor Beneficiary has died before the retired
Member, or dies before the 120 months have elapsed, the
remaining monthly payments shall be paid to the estate of the
last alive of the retired Member and the named survivor
Beneficiary.
16
Form of Payment D - Life Payments with Continuation to
Survivor Beneficiary with Pop-up.
(1) Full Continuation - The retired Member is paid
a reduced pension for life under form of payment D-1. Upon
the death of the retired Member during the lifetime of the
named survivor Beneficiary, the named survivor Beneficiary is
paid the full amount of reduced pension until death. Should
the named survivor Beneficiary die before the retired Member,
the retired Member's pension shall be recomputed (pop-up) to a
straight life pension (form of payment SL).
(2) One-Half Continuation - The retired Member is
paid a reduced pension for life under form of payment D-2.
Upon the death of the retired Member during the lifetime of
the named survivor Beneficiary, the named survivor Beneficiary
is paid one-half the amount of reduced pension until death.
Should the named survivor Beneficiary die before the retired
Member, the retired Member's pension shall be recomputed
(pop-up) to a straight life pension (form of payment SL).
Form of Payment E - Life Payments with Social Security
Equating. The retired Member is paid an increased pension
until Age 65 and a reduced pension for life thereafter under
form of payment E. The increased pension payable until Age 65
shall approximate the sum of the reduced pension payable after
Age 65 and the retiring Member's estimated Age 65 Social
Security primary insurance amount. Form of payment E is
available only to Members who retire after attaining Age 60
and before attaining Age 65. All payments stop upon the death
of the retired Member.
Disability Retirement; Conditions for.
Section 23. The Retirement Commission may retire a Member of
the DB Part who is incapacitated from continued employment by
the County if each of the following conditions are met:
(a) Application for disability retirement is filed with
the Retirement Commission by either the Member or the Member's
Department Head;
(b) The Member has 10 or more years of credited service;
(c) The Member undergoes all medical examinations and
tests ordered by the Retirement Commission, and releases to
the Retirement Commission all medical reports and records
requested by the Retirement Commission;
(d) The medical director certifies to the Retirement
Commission in that (1) the Member is mentally or physically
17
totally incapacitated for continued employment by the County,
(ii) the incapacity is likely to be permanent and (iii) the
Member should be retired. The effective date of a disability
retirement shall not predate (I) the date of disability, or
(ii) the date the Member ceases to be paid by the County for
actual services;
(e) If the Member does not concur in the opinion of the
medical director, a medical committee shall be appointed. The
medical committee shall be composed of the medical director,
one physician named by the Member and one physician named by
the other 2 physicians. If the medical committee certifies to
the Retirement Commission in writing, by majority opinion,
that (I) the Member is mentally or physically totally
incapacitated for continued employment by the County and (ii)
the incapacity is likely to be permanent, the majority opinion
of the medical committee shall supersede the certification of
the medical director.
Disability Retirement; Pension or Benefits Amount; Form of
Payment.
Section 24. The amount of a disability pension from the DB
part shall be computed in the same manner as a normal
retirement pension, based upon the Member's credited service
and Compensation earned until the termination of County
employment. The maximums under Section 19 shall apply. The
disability retired Member who is in the DB part shall have the
right to elect form of payment SL, A, B, C or D provided in
Section 22.
Disability Retirement; Special Provisions if Duty Incurred.
Section 25. The following exceptions to the provisions of
Sections 23 and 24 shall apply if the Retirement Commission
finds that the Member's disability is the direct and proximate
result of the Member's performance of duty as an employee of
the County:
the requirement of 10 years of credited service shall be
waived;
credited service shall include years and fraction of a
year, if any, between the effective date of the
disability pension and the date the Member would attain
age 60 years;
The Member shall be 100% vested in his accrued benefit in
the DB part.
18
Disability Retirement; Limitation on Pension Amount.
Section 26. (a) The amount of a disability pension from the
DB part shall not exceed the difference between one hundred
percent of the disability retired Member's gross annual rate
of compensation at date of retirement and the amount of the
disability retired Member's considered income.
(b) A disability retired Member's considered income is
the annualized sum of the following amounts:
(1) Remuneration for personal services rendered in
any gainful employment;
(2) Worker's compensation weekly benefits,
redemptions and settlements on account of the same disability
for which the Member retired. If there is a redemption or
settlement of the Worker's compensation benefits, the
Actuarial Equivalent of the settlement or redemption shall be
applied to reduce the amount of pension under form of payment
SL. Worker's compensation benefits for bona fide medical
expenses, as determined by the Retirement Commission, shall
not be considered income;
(3) Unemployment insurance or similar payments by
reason of the Member's County employment.
If a disability retired Member's considered income for a year
exceeds the Member's gross annual rate of compensation at date
of retirement, such excess shall be carried forward as
considered income for the following year.
(c) Application of the limitation shall be to the amount
of pension under form of payment SL. The effect of an
election of any other form of payment shall be taken into
account after application of the provisions of this section.
(d) The Retirement Commission shall periodically request
substantiated income information from the retired Member.
Failure to provide the requested information within ninety
(90) days of the request shall cause suspension of payment of
the pension until the information is received by the
Retirement Commission.
Disability Retirement; Continuation Subject to Re-examination;
Suspension/Termination of Pension.
19
Section 27. (a) At least once each calendar year during the
first 5 calendar years following a Member's retirement for
disability and at least once in every 3 calendar year period
thereafter, the Retirement Commission may require a disability
retired Member to undergo a medical or other re-evaluation by
the medical director if the individual has
not attained Age 60 years. If the disability retired Member
refuses to submit to re-evaluation, payment of the pension may
be suspended by the Retirement Commission. If the refusal
continues for 12 continuous months, the Retirement Commission
may revoke the disability retired Member's rights in and to
the disability pension. A disability pension shall be
terminated if the medical director reports that the disability
retired Member is no longer mentally or physically totally
incapacitated for continued employment by the County and the
Retirement Commission concurs with the report.
(b) The Membership status of a terminated disability
retired Member who is returned to County employment shall be
governed by the provisions of Sections 4 and 5 except that
they shall become a Member of the DC part for future benefits.
Actual credited service at time of disability retirement
shall be restored when the Member again acquires Membership.
Credited service shall not be granted for the period of
disability retirement unless the Member was in receipt of a
disability pension on account of a disability arising out of
and in the course of County employment.
(c) A disability retired Member whose benefit has been
terminated who does not reacquire Membership and restoration
of credited service shall have actual credited service at time
of disability retirement restored if such restoration enables
the individual to become a vested former Member.
Survivor Pension; Conditions for Automatic Pension to Spouse.
Section 28. A pension shall be paid for life to the surviving
spouse of a deceased Member of the DB part if the following
conditions are met:
(a) The Member was married to the surviving spouse at
time of death; and either
(b) The Member had 10 or more years of credited service
and died while an Employee of the County; or
(c) The Member was a vested former Member who had 20 or
more years of credited service.
Survivor Pension; Amount of Automatic Pension to Spouse.
20
Section 29. The amount of the automatic survivor pension from
the DR part shall be computed as if the deceased Member had
retired the day preceding death with a normal retirement
benefit (Sections 16-19) and nominated the spouse as the
survivor Beneficiary. If the deceased Member had 15 or more
years of credited service or attained Age 60, the survivor
pension will be calculated as if form of payment A (Section
22) had been elected. If the deceased Member had more than 10
years of credited service but less than 15 years of credited
service, the survivor pension will be calculated as if form of
payment S (Section 22) had been elected. The spouse pension
shall commence at the time stipulated in Section 38. Upon the
death of the spouse, the pension shall terminate.
Survivor Pension; Designated Beneficiary; Conditions for
Coverage.
Section 30. (a) A Member may designate a beneficiary for the
exclusive purpose of being paid a pension under the provisions
of this section. The naming of a beneficiary shall be made on
a form provided by and filed with the Retirement System. The
named beneficiary may be changed or the election revoked at
any time.
(b) A pension shall be paid to the named beneficiary,
for life, if the deceased Member was in the DR part of the
Retirement System and if each of the following conditions are
met:
(1) The Member dies while an employee of the
County.
(2) The Member had 25 or more years of credited
service; or, was Age 60 years or older and had 10 or more
years of credited service.
(3) The designated beneficiary is found by the
Retirement Commission to have been dependent upon the deceased
Member for at least 50 percent of the individual's financial
support.
Survivor Pension; Designated Beneficiary; Amount of Pension.
Section 31. The amount of pension paid to the designated
beneficiary from the DB part shall be computed as if the
deceased Member had retired under the applicable normal
retirement provisions (Sections 16 - 19) the day preceding
death, elected form of payment A, and named the designated
beneficiary as survivor beneficiary. The pension shall
terminate upon the death of the designated beneficiary.
21
Survivor Pension; Special Provisions if Duty Incurred.
Section 32. In the event a Member of the DE part dies, or
disability retired Member dies within 3 years of the date of
retirement, and the Retirement Commission finds that the death
is the direct and proximate result of the Member's or
disability retired Member's performance of duty as an employee
of the County and if worker's compensation is granted on
account of the death arising out of and in the course of
County employment, the following provisions shall apply in
lieu of Sections 28 through 31:
(a) If the Member had not retired, the accumulated
Member contributions shall be refunded in accordance with
Section 51;
(b) The surviving spouse of the deceased Member or
retired Member shall receive a pension equal to the spouse's
weekly worker's compensation converted to an annual basis.
The spouse's pension shall begin upon termination of the
statutory period for payment of the worker's compensation and
shall continue until the earlier of the spouse's remarriage or
death. As used in this section, the term spouse means the
person to whom the Member or retired Member was married at the
time the Member's or retired Member's last employment with the
County was terminated;
(c) If the deceased Member or retired Member leaves an
unmarried child or children under age 18 years, each such
child shall receive a pension equal to the child's weekly
worker's compensation converted to an annual basis. The
child's pension shall begin upon termination of the statutory
period for payment of the worker's compensation and shall
continue until the earliest of the child's adoption, marriage,
attainment of age 18 years or death. If there is no spouse to
receive a spouse's pension or the spouse's pension is
terminated, each such child's pension shall be increased by an
equal share of the spouse's pension;
(d) The deceased Member's or retired Member's parents
shall each receive a pension equal to such parent's weekly
worker's compensation converted to an annual basis. The
parent's pension shall begin upon termination of the statutory
period for payment of the parent's worker's compensation and
shall continue until death;
(e) In no case shall the sum of the annual benefits
provided in paragraphs (b), 8 and (d) of this section exceed
the greater of (I) $4,800 and (ii) 2 percent of the deceased
22
Member's or retired Member's final average compensation
multiplied by the Member's or retired Member's credited
service not to exceed 37.5 years.
Survivor Pension; Only One Pension Payable.
Section 33. No pension payments shall be made under the
provisions of Sections 28 and 29 if any pension is or will be
paid under the provisions of Sections 30 and 31. No pension
payments shall be made under the provisions of Sections 28,
29, 30 and 31 if any pension is or will be paid under the
provisions of Section 32.
Post -Retirement Benefit Increases
Section 34. Each monthly pension which becomes effective on
or after January 1, 1969 shall be redetermined each May 1 that
is at least 12 full months after the effective date of the
pension. The redetermined amount shall be the amount of the
pension otherwise payable increased by 1.5 percent for each
full year between the effective date of the pension and the
date of redetermination. The redetermined amount shall not
exceed the amount resulting from multiplying (a) times (b) and
dividing the product by (c), where
- (a) is the amount of the pension otherwise payable,
- (b) is the average of the C. P. T.- W for the calendar year
immediately preceding the date of the redetermination, and
- (c) is the average of the C. P. I. W for the calendar year
immediately preceding the effective date of the pension.
The redetermined amount shall not be less than the amount of
the pension otherwise payable. "The amount of the pension
otherwise payable" means the monthly amount of pension which
would be payable disregarding these provisions redetermining
benefit amounts after retirement. "C. P. I. - W" means the
Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers - United States City Average as determined by the
United States Department of Labor and in effect for January
1988. If the C. P. T. - W is restructured after 1988 in a
manner materially changing its character, the Retirement
Commission, after receiving the advice of the Actuary, shall
change the application of the C. P. T. - W so that, as far as
is practicable, the general effect of using the restructured
C. P. I. W shall be similar to the general effect of using
the C. P. I. - W before restructuring.
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1994 Special Payment
Section 34.2, One-Time Single Sum Payment To Vested Former
Members of the DB Part
The Retirement Commission shall undertake the following with
respect to vested former Members of the DB Part:
a. As of October 1, 1994, determine who the vested
former Members of the DB Part are;
b. Determine each such vested former Member's
Pension as defined in Section 18;
c. Determine the present value, as of October 1,
1994, of the lump-sum actuarially equivalent
benefit of each such vested former Member's
Pension using all of the Retirement
Commission's actuarial assumptions as in effect
for funding purposes for the December 31, 1993
annual actuarial valuation;
d. Make the same determination in (c), except
without the use of a Disability factor; and
e. Notify each such vested former Member in
writing that they have an irrevocable, one-time
election continuing for no less than thirty
(30) days nor more than ninety (90) days in
which to decide as to whether they want to
receive a single sum payment of the value
determined in (d) on or about October 1, 1994
in lieu of any further Pension from this System
and specifically waiving any rights to benefits
from the Oakland County Retirees' Health Care
Trust.
1997 Special Window
Section 34.3, special window period for employees transferring
from the Oakland county employees retirement system DB part to
the DC part
The retirement commission shall undertake the following for
members of the DB part:
a. Determine who the members of the DB part are as of
December 31, 1996;
b. Determine each such members accrued benefit as of
December 31, 1996, as defined in section 18 of the DB part;
c. Determine the actuarial present value as of December
31, 1996 of each members accrued benefit using the assumptions
24
from the December 31, 1996 annual actuarial valuation, as
approved by the retirement commission, with regard to
interest, post-retirement mortality and annual post-retirement
increases. Post-retirement mortality rates will be a blend of
50% male and 50% female mortality, so that gender will not be
a factor. The assumed retirement date shall be as stipulated
in paragraph e(3) below;
d. Notify each such member in writing that they have an
irrevocable election continuing for sixty(60) days after such
notice in which to decide whether to participate in the dc
part and thereby have the value determined in 8 transferred to
the dc part of the system hereafter identified in subparagraph
(h) but with benefit accruals under the DB part ceasing as of
December 31, 1996;
e. In determining the actuarial present value, the
following shall control:
(1) final average compensation, fac shall be
calculated as though the member were leaving the
county's employ on December 31, 1996;
(2) in determining the members normal retirement
date, it shall be assumed that the member will
retire on the first day the member would otherwise
satisfy the normal retirement age and service
requirements of section 17 of the DB part if he were
to continue as a full-time employee of the county;
(3) no redetermination shall be made to give credit
for any future raises or interest rate changes in
the definition of actuarial equivalence used in the
DB part;
(4) the retirement commission shall include in final
average compensation such additional items of earned
or accrued employment related compensation as it
determines to be reasonable and non-discriminatory;
(5) each members accrued benefit shall be based on
actual years of credited service at December 31,
1996.
f. In making the transfer from the DB part to the dc
part, interest from December 31, 1996 to the date hereafter
identified in subparagraph (h) shall be added to the present
value as of December 31, 1996 at the rate of 7.5% per annum;
g. A member who elected to participate in the DC part
as provided herein shall enter same on the first day of the
month following the end of the 60 day election period and
25
shall cease participation in the DB part on the last day of
the month immediately preceding entry into the dc part;
h. Establishment of account balances. Those members of
the DB part who elect to participate in the dc part under this
special election shall have separate accounts established for
the transfer of assets to the dc part (transferred account) at
the end of the month following the end of the 60 day election
period of subparagraph (d) and be fully vested in the
transferred account but subject to the vesting schedule of
section 7 of the dc part for the county's contributions after
entry into the DC part;
I. Effect on 415. Amounts transferred pursuant to this
section shall not be taken into account in determining the
component of the annual additional attributable to employee
contributions;
j. 1) amounts in a members transferred account may not
be withdrawn by, or distributed to the member, in whole or in
part, except as provided in subparagraph (2);
(2) at the members normal retirement date, or such
other date when the member shall be entitled to
receive a distribution from the dc part, the fair
market value of the members transferred account
shall be added to the amounts otherwise available.
(3) the members transferred account shall share in
income earned, investment gains and losses
attributable thereto, less any expenses in the same
manner as any other account.
Defined Contribution transfer option for ABenefit Group
General Option A
Section 34.4
The retirement commission shall undertake the following with
respect to members of Benefit Group General - Option A who are
not represented employees and represented employees whose
collective bargaining agreement provides for these benefit
modifications:
a. As of December 31, 1999 determined who the members
are that are eligible to make a current election;
b. Determine each such members pension as defined in
Section 18 of the defined benefit part of the
retirement system;
c. Determine the present value, as of December 31, 1999
of the lump-sum actuarial equivalent accrued benefit
of each such vested members pension using all of the
retirement commission's actuarial assumptions as in
26
effect for funding purposes for the September 30,
1999 annual actuarial valuation;
d. Make the same determination in (c), except without
the use of a disability factor using for funding
purposes; and
e. Notify each vested member in writing that they have
an irrevocable one-time election continuing for no
less than seven (7) days nor more than ninety (90)
days in which to decide as to whether they want to
have the single sum payment of the value determined
in (d) on or about April 1, 2000 in lieu of any
further pension from this system.
Incentive Retirement Program.
Section 34.5
The Retirement Commission shall undertake the following for
all members of the Oakland County Retirement System,
regardless of whether they are a member of the DB part or DC
part if they satisfy the following conditions:
a. This program shall be open to non-represented members
and all represented members excluding employees
represented by the Oakland County deputy sheriff's
association, the Oakland County command officer's
association and elected officials of the county
('covered class');
b. The covered class shall be further limited to those
members who are eligible to retire by December 31,
2002 or whose age and service, including military
service credits and Michigan reciprocal retirement
act service time totals 75 by that date, with a
minimum of twenty (20) years and a minimum age of
fifty (50);
a. Those members of the covered class who so qualify must
file written application with the Retirement
Commission not less than thirty (30) days in advance
of their requested retirement date, on the
appropriate form, but in no event later than January
31, 2003, with the proposed retirement date being no
sooner than November 15, 2002 and no later than March
31, 2003;
d. Those members who file such application for payment of
the incentive retirement from the Retirement System
shall receive lump sum retirement incentive pay of 26
weeks salary determined as of September 30, 2002
27
(i.e. base salary + longevity but not including
overtime or shift premium pay);
e. This lump sum retirement incentive pay shall not be
included in either the final average compensation
(FAC) for employees in the DB part of the Retirement
System or in the amount of either employee or county
contribution to the DC part of the retirement system.
2016 One Time Suspension of Application of Redetermination
Amount
Section 34.6
Effective May 1, 2016, the first sentence of the last full
paragraph of Section 34 shall be amended to read as follows:
The redetermined amount calculated for 2016 shall not be less
than the redetermined amount calculated for 2015.
This amendment shall be void and shall have no further force
and effect as of April 30, 2017.
Guaranteed Minimum Aggregate Payout.
Section 35. If all pension payments permanently terminate
before there has been paid an aggregate amount equal to the
retired Member's, deceased Member's, or deceased vested former
Member's accumulated Member contributions at time of
retirement, the difference between the amount of accumulated
Member contributions and the aggregate amount of pension
payments made shall be paid to such individual or individuals
as the former Member may have named on a form provided by and
filed with the Retirement System. If no such named individual
survives, the difference shall be paid to the legal
representative of the last to survive of the individual who
was being paid a pension or the named individuals.
Pensions; Application for.
Section 36. The date of a Member's retirement from the DB
part shall be not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days
after the Member files with the Retirement Commission, on
forms provided by the Board, a written application for
retirement.
Pensions; Payment of.
Section 37. All payments from the Retirement System shall be
made according to the provisions of law, this resolution and
procedures approved by the Retirement Commission.
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Pensions; Commencement, Duration and Change.
Section 38. (a) A normal or disability pension shall
commence on the date of the Member's or vested former Member's
retirement. A survivor pension for a Member who died while
employed by the County shall commence as of the day following
the Member's death. A survivor pension for a vested former
Member shall commence on the date the vested former Member
would have been eligible to retire (Section 20) based upon the
credited service and retirement provisions in effect on the
date of the Member's death. A post-retirement survivor
pension shall commence the day following the retired Member's
death.
(b) Pensions from the DR part are paid in 12 equal
installments on the last day of each month. If the
commencement date of a pension is not the first day of a
calendar month, the amount of the first pension payment shall
be pro-rated in proportion to the number of days between the
commencement date and the last day of the calendar month
containing the commencement date.
(c) A pension from the DB part shall terminate at the
end of the calendar month in which the event causing the
termination occurred.
(d) A change in the amount of a pension shall occur, if
not specified elsewhere, on the first day of the calendar
month next following the date of the event causing the change.
Denial of Claim for Benefits; Appeal to Retirement Commission.
Section 39. (a) A benefit claimant shall be notified in
writing, within 30 days, of a denial of a claim for benefits.
The notification shall contain the basis for denial. The
benefit claimant may appeal the denial and request a hearing
before the Retirement Commission. The appeal shall be in
writing and filed with the Retirement Commission within 90
days of the date of the notification of denial. The request
for appeal shall contain a statement of the claimant's reasons
for believing the denial to be improper. The Retirement
Commission shall schedule a hearing of the appeal within 60
days of receipt of the request for appeal.
(b) Protection from Reprisal. No person may be
discharged, fined, suspended, expelled, disciplined, or
otherwise discriminated against for exercising any right that
he is entitled to or for cooperation with any inquiry or
investigation under the provisions of this Retirement System
or any governing law or regulations.
29
No person shall, directly or indirectly, through the use
or threatened use of fraud, force or violence, restrain,
coerce or intimidate any Member or Beneficiary for the purpose
of interfering with or preventing the exercise of or
enforcement of any right, remedy or claim that he is entitled
to under the Retirement System or any governing law or
regulations.
Retirement Commission; Authority and Responsibility.
Section 40. The administration, management and responsibility
for the proper operation of the Retirement System, and for
interpreting and making effective the provisions of the
retirement resolution are vested in a Retirement Commission.
The Retirement Commission shall have power to construe this
resolution, any such construction made in good faith shall be
final and conclusive. The Retirement Commission shall have
the power to correct any defect, supply any omission, or
reconcile any inconsistencies in such manner and to such
extent as it shall deem proper to carry out the objectives of
this resolution. The Retirement Commission shall be the sole,
final and conclusive judge of such propriety and shall act in
a uniform and non-discriminatory manner.
Retirement Commission; Composition of.
Section 41. The Retirement Commission shall consist of the
following nine individuals:
(a) The chairperson of the Board of County Commissioners
or designee by virtue of that office;
(b) The County Executive or designee by virtue of that
office;
(c) The chairperson of the County Finance Committee or
designee by virtue of that office;
(d) The County Treasurer or designee by virtue of that
office;
(e) A citizen, who is an elector in Oakland County who
is not eligible for Membership in the Retirement System or
benefits under the Retirement System and who does not hold any
other office or appointment with the County, to be selected by
the Board of County Commissioners.
(f) Three Members of the Retirement System who are not
elected officials, to be elected by the Members of the
Retirement System. The three Commissioners shall be from
different County departments.
30
(g) A retired Member of the Retirement System who
resides in Oakland County, to be elected by the retired
Members of the Retirement System.
The Retirement Commission shall establish rules and
regulations for elections required by paragraph (f) and (g).
Retirement Commission; Term of Office; Oath of Office;
Vacancies.
Section 42. (a) The term of office of the Member elected
Commissioners shall be 4 years. The term of office of the
citizen Commissioner shall be 4 years, one term expiring each
year. The term of office of the retired Member Commissioner
shall be 2 years.
(b) Each Commissioner shall, prior to taking office,
take an oath of office administered by the County Clerk.
(c) A vacancy shall occur on the Retirement Commission
if a Member elected Commissioner ceases to be a Member. A
vacancy shall occur on the Retirement Commission if a
Commissioner resigns. If a Member elected Commissioner
becomes employed in the same County department as another
Member elected Commissioner, the transferring Commissioner
shall be considered to have resigned. A vacancy shall occur
if at any time the Retirement Commission determines that a
Commissioner does not meet the requirements specified in
Section 41 for his or her position on the Retirement
Commission. A vacancy shall be filled within 90 days, for the
unexpired term, in the same manner as the position was
previously filled.
Retirement Commission Meetings; Quorum; Voting; Record of
Proceedings.
Section 43. (a) The Retirement Commission shall hold meetings
regularly, at least one in each calendar month and shall
designate the time and place thereof. All meetings of the
Retirement Commission shall be public. Notice of the meetings
will be posted in the County building prior to the meeting
date.
(b) Five attending commissioners shall constitute a
quorum at any meeting of the Retirement Commission.
(c) Each attending commissioner shall be entitled to 1
vote on each question before the Retirement Commission. At
least 4 concurring votes shall be required for a valid action
by the Retirement Commission.
31
(d) The Retirement Commission shall adopt its own rules
of procedure and shall keep a written record of its
proceedings.
Retirement Commission; Officers; Services.
Section 44. (a) The Retirement Commission shall elect from
its Membership a chairperson and a vice chairperson.
(b) The Retirement Commission shall appoint an
individual who shall be the secretary to the Retirement
Commission and the administrative officer of the Retirement
System.
(c) The County Treasurer shall be the treasurer of the
Retirement System. The treasurer shall be custodian of the
assets of the Retirement System except as to such assets as
the Retirement Commission may from time to time place in the
custody of a nationally chartered bank or trust company.
(d) The Corporation Counsel shall be legal advisor to
the Retirement Commission.
(e) The Retirement Commission shall designate as the
medical director a physician who is not eligible to
participate in the Retirement System as a Member, retired
Member or Beneficiary. The medical director shall hold office
at the pleasure of the Commission.
(f) The Retirement Commission shall designate an actuary
who shall advise the Board on the actuarial operation of the
Retirement System. Actuary shall mean a Member of the
American Academy of Actuaries. A partnership or corporation
may be designated as actuary if the duties of actuary are
performed by or under the direct supervision of an individual
who meets the preceding requirement.
(g) The Retirement Commission is authorized and
empowered to employ such professional and other services as it
requires for the proper discharge of its responsibilities.
Such services shall be engaged and compensated in the same
manner that similar services are engaged and compensated by
other departments of the County. The Retirement Commission
may utilize the services of County employees if made
available.
Retirement Commission; Reports.
Section 45. The Retirement Commission shall prepare an annual
report for each fiscal year. The annual report shall contain
information about the financial, actuarial and other
activities of the Retirement System during the fiscal year. A
32
copy of the annual report shall be furnished to the Board of
County Commissioners. The Retirement Commission shall furnish
the Board of County Commissioners such other information about
the Retirement System as the Board of County Commissioners may
from time to time request.
Retirement Commission; Investment Authority and Restrictions.
Section 46. (a) The Retirement Commission is the trustee of
the monies and assets of the Retirement System. The
Retirement Commission has the authority and power to invest
and re-invest the monies and assets of the Retirement System
subject to all terms, conditions, limitations and restrictions
imposed by the State of Michigan on the investments of public
employee Retirement Systems. The Retirement Commission shall
have full power to hold, sell, assign, transfer and dispose of
any securities of the Retirement System. The Retirement
Commission may employ investment counsel to advise the Board
in the making and disposition of investments.
In exercising its discretionary authority with respect to the
management of the monies and assets of the Retirement System,
the Retirement Commission shall exercise the care, skill,
prudence and diligence, under the circumstances then
prevailing, that an individual of prudence acting in a like
capacity and familiar with such matters would use in the
conduct of an enterprise of like character and similar
objectives. This shall include diversifying the Retirement
System's investments so as to minimize the risk of large
losses, unless under the circumstances it appears not prudent
to do so. This standard shall not be applied to investments
in isolation but rather in the context of the Retirement
System's portfolio and as a part of the overall investment
strategy, which shall incorporate risk and return objectives
reasonably suited to the Retirement System.
(b) Except for fraud, gross neglect or malfeasance,
judicially determined, no officer, director, or employee of
the County, fiduciary or Retirement Commission shall be
personally liable for acts done hereunder, or for the making,
retention or sale of any investment or reinvestment made as
provided herein, or for the failure to invest or reinvest any
funds of the trust, or for any loss to or diminution of the
trust nor shall the Retirement Commission or any fiduciary be
personally liable for or answerable to any Member or any other
person in connection with the exercise of any discretion under
this Retirement System. No trustee or other fiduciary shall
be liable or responsible for the acts or omissions of any
other trustee or fiduciary.
(c) Notwithstanding Paragraph (h), no fiduciary with
respect to the Retirement System shall be excused from
liability for a breach of fiduciary responsibility of another
33
trustee or other fiduciary of the Retirement System in the
following circumstances:
(1) If he participates knowingly in, or knowingly
undertakes to conceal, an act or omission of a trustee or
fiduciary, knowing such act is a breach of fiduciary
responsibility;
(2) If, by his failure to comply with subparagraph
(1) in the administration of his specific responsibilities as
a fiduciary of the Retirement System, he has enabled the other
fiduciary to commit a breach of fiduciary responsibility; or
(3) If he has knowledge of a breach by another
fiduciary unless he makes reasonable efforts under the
circumstances to remedy the breach.
Retirement Commission; Use of Monies and Assets; Prohibited
Actions.
Section 47. (a) All monies and assets of the Retirement
System shall be held and invested for the sole purpose of
meeting the legitimate obligations of the Retirement System
and shall be used for no other purpose.
(b) Members of the Retirement Commission and its
employees are prohibited from:
(1) Having a beneficial interest, direct or
indirect, in an investment of the Retirement System.
(2) Borrowing money or assets of the Retirement
System.
(3) Receiving any pay or emolument from any
individual or organization providing services to the
Retirement System other than compensation for personal
services or reimbursement of authorized expenses paid by the
Retirement System.
Retirement Commission; Compensation.
Section 48. The Commissioners, except for the employee Member
Commissioners and the retired Member Commissioner, shall be
paid a per diem for attending meetings of the Commission. All
Commissioners shall be reimbursed for the actual and necessary
expenses they incur in performing their duties as
Commissioners.
Retirement Commission; Experience Tables and Regular Interest.
34
Section 49. The Retirement Commission shall from time to time
adopt such mortality and other tables of experience, and a
rate or rates of regular interest, as are necessary in the
proper operation of the DB part of the Retirement System on an
actuarial basis. "Actuarial Basis" means a form of benefit
differing in time, period, or manner of payment from a
specific benefit provided by the Retirement System but having
the same value.
In the event this section is amended, the actuarial
equivalent of a Member's Accrued Benefit on or after the date
of change shall be determined as the greater of (1) the
actuarial equivalent of the accrued benefit as of the date of
change computed on the old basis, or (2) the actuarial
equivalent of the total Accrued Benefit computed on the new
basis.
Financial Objective of the Retirement System; County
Contributions.
Section 50. (a) The financial objective of the DB part of
the Retirement System is to receive contributions each fiscal
year that are sufficient to (1) fund the actuarial cost of
benefits likely to be paid on account of credited service
earned by Members during the fiscal year, and (ii) fund the
unfunded actuarial cost of benefits likely to be paid on
account of credited service earned by Members prior to the
fiscal year over a period of not more than 40 years.
Contribution requirements shall be determined by annual
actuarial valuation using a generally recognized level percent
of payroll actuarial cost method.
(b) The Retirement Commission shall certify to the Board
of County Commissioners the amount of annual contribution
needed to meet the financial objective and the Board of County
Commissioners shall appropriate and cause the contribution to
be paid to the Retirement System.
(c) Limitation.
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to
the contrary, and pursuant to Tax Reform Act of 1986 section
1106(h), this Retirement System hereby incorporates the
limitations of Code Section 415 by this reference. Pursuant
to this incorporation by reference,
(I) Any Member who participates or participated in
both defined benefit plan(s) las defined in ERISA section
3(35)] and/or defined contribution plan(s) shall have
35
their Annual Addition further limited. In no event shall
the sum of the defined benefit fraction and the defined
contribution fraction exceed 1.0 ("Combined Plan
Fraction").
(ii) (1) the defined benefit fraction is a
fraction-- (a) the numerator of which is the
Member's accrued benefit in all defined benefit
plans maintained by the County (whether or not
terminated) (determined as of the close of the Plan
Year), and (b) the denominator of which is the
lesser of -
(1) the product of 1.25 Multiplied by the
Code Subsection 415(b)(1)(A) dollar limitation
for such Plan Year, or
(II) the product of -
(A) 1.4, Multiplied by
(B) the amount which may be taken
into account under Code Subsection
415(b)(1)(3) for such individual for the
Plan Year.
(2) Notwithstanding the above, if the Member
participated in a plan in existence on July 1, 1982,
the denominator of this fraction shall not be less
than 125% of the sum of the annual benefits under
such plan which the Member had accrued as of the
later of September 30, 1983 or the end of the last
limitation year beginning before January 1, 1983.
The preceding sentence applies only if the defined
benefit plans individually and in the aggregate
satisfied the requirements of Code Section 415 as in
effect at the end of the 1982 limitation year.
(3) Notwithstanding the limitations in
(ii)(1), if the Member was a participant as of the
first day of the first limitation year beginning
after December 31, 1986, in one or more defined
benefit plans maintained by the County which were in
existence on May 6, 1986, the denominator of this
fraction will not be less than 125 percent of the
sum of the annual benefits under such plan which the
Member had accrued as of the close of the last
limitation year beginning before January 1, 1987,
disregarding any changes in the terms and conditions
of the plan after May 5, 1986. The preceding
sentence applies only if the defined benefit plans
individually and in the aggregate satisfied the
36
requirements of section 415 for all limitation years
beginning before January 1, 1987.
(iii) the defined contribution fraction is a
fraction -- (a) the numerator of which is the sum of the
annual additions as of the close of the Plan Year for all
defined contribution plans (whether or not terminated)
maintained by the County for the current and all prior
limitation years (including the annual additions
attributable to the Member's nondeductible employee
contributions to all defined benefit plans, whether or
not terminated, maintained by the County), and the annual
additions attributable to all welfare benefit funds, as
defined in Code Section 419(e), and individual medical
accounts, as defined in Code Section 415(1)(2),
maintained by the County) and (h) the denominator of
which is the sum of the lesser of the following amounts
determined separately for such Plan Year and for each
prior year of service with the County (regardless of
whether a defined contribution plan was maintained by the
County):
(1) The product of 1.25, multiplied by the
applicable dollar limitation for such Plan Year
[determined without regard to Code Subsection
415(c) (6)], or
(2) the product of -
(I) 1.4, Multiplied by -
(II) the amount which may be taken into
account under Code Subsection 415(c)(1)(2) for
the Member for that Plan Year.
(2) If the combined plan fraction exceeds 1.0, the
annual additions to the employer's defined contribution plans
shall be limited notwithstanding any formula or provision, to
such amount as will reduce such sum to 1.0. Steps to reduce
such fraction shall first be by limiting or eliminating any
voluntary contributions; second by reallocating any
forfeitures to other Members; and lastly by reducing the
contribution formula. If, due to a reasonable error in
estimating a Member's compensation, or due to the allocation
of forfeitures, an excess annual addition exists, such excess
shall be disposed of as follows:
(I) non-deductible voluntary employee contributions
shall be returned to the Member as necessary;
(ii) if an excess still exists, the excess amount
shall be used to reduce employer contributions for such
Member in the next, and succeeding, limitation years. If
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the Member was not covered by the plan at the end of the
limitation year, such excess shall be applied to reduce
the County's contributions for all remaining Members in
the next, and succeeding, limitation years.
(3) If the employer contribution that would
otherwise be allocated to the Member's Account would cause the
annual additions for the limitation year to exceed the maximum
permissible amount, the amount allocated shall be reduced so
that the annual additions for the limitation year equal the
maximum permissible amount.
(4) "Section 415 Compensation." For purposes of
the limitation contained in this section, the following shall
apply. "Section 415 Compensation" is a Member's earned
income, wages, salaries, and fees for professional services
and other amounts received for personal services actually
rendered in the course of employment with the County
(including, but not limited to, commissions paid salesmen,
compensation for services on the basis of a percentage of
profits, commissions on insurance premiums, tips and bonuses),
and excluding the following:
(I) Employer contributions to a plan of deferred
compensation which are not includible in the employee's
gross income for the taxable year in which contributed,
or employer contributions under a simplified employee
pension plan to the extent such contributions are
deductible by the employee, or any distributions from a
plan of deferred compensation;
(ii) Amounts realized from the exercise of a non-
qualified stock option, or when restricted stock (or
property) held by the employee either becomes freely
transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial
risk of forfeiture;
(iii) Amounts realized from the sale, exchange or
other disposition of stock acquired under a qualified
stock option; and
(iv) Other amounts which received special tax
benefits, or contributions made by the employer (whether
or not under a salary reduction agreement) towards the
purchase of an annuity described in Code Section 403(b)
(whether or not the amounts are actually excludible from
the gross income of the employee).
Member Contributions; Refunds.
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Section 51. (a) An individual who is in the DB part of the
Retirement System can have his accumulated Member
contributions refunded if the following conditions are met:
(1) Membership in the Retirement System has been
terminated for at least 30 days, or the individual has been
laid off for at least 30 days;
(2) The individual has not met the applicable age
and service condition for normal retirement (Section 17);
(3) A disability pension (Sections 23 - 25) is not
payable or being paid to the individual;
(4) A non-duty survivor pension (Sections 28 - 31)
is not payable or being paid on the individual's behalf; and
(5) The individual makes application for the refund
on a form provided by and filed with the Retirement System.
(b) If an individual dies and no pension becomes or will
become payable on account of the death, the individual's
accumulated Member contributions shall be refunded in
accordance with the deceased individual's instructions made on
a form provided by and filed with the Retirement System.
Absent such instructions or if the individuals who are to be
paid the refund are no longer alive, the accumulated Member
contributions shall be refunded to the legal representative of
the deceased individual Member.
(c) Payments of refunds of accumulated contributions, as
provided for in this resolution, may be made in monthly
installments according to such rules and regulations as the
Retirement Commission shall from time to time adopt.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in this resolution,
after 3 years from the date an employee ceases to be a Member,
any balance of accumulated contributions standing to the
Member's credit, in the reserve for accumulated Member con-
tributions unclaimed by the Member or the Member's legal
representative, shall be transferred to the reserve for
undistributed investment income.
Reserve for Accumulated Member Contributions.
Section 52. (a) The reserve for accumulated Member
contributions is the account in the DB part where there is
accumulated the Member contributions deducted from the
compensation of Members and which shall be charged with
refunds of accumulated Member contributions and transfers of
accumulated Member contributions as provided in this
resolution. Continuation of employment by the Member shall
constitute consent and agreement to the deduction of the
39
applicable Member contribution, if any. Payment of
compensation less the deduction shall be full and complete
discharge of all claims and demands for compensation for
personal service rendered the County except as to benefits
provided in this resolution. Compensation before deduction of
any Member contributions shall be considered the Member's
compensation for purposes of satisfying minimum compensation
requirements.
(b) The officer or officers responsible for preparing
the payroll shall certify to the Retirement Commission on each
payroll the amount of contribution to be deducted from the
compensation of each Member. Each of these amounts shall be
deducted, and when deducted shall be paid to the Retirement
System. Each such amount shall be credited to the account of
the individual Member from whose compensation the deduction
was made.
(c) A Member's accumulated contributions shall be
transferred from the reserve for accumulated Member
contributions to the reserve for pension payments if a pension
becomes payable on account of the Member's retirement or
death.
(d) Each member in Benefit Group General-Option A shall
be offered the opportunity to make an irrevocable election to
participate in the Apickup part .L= of the DB part of the
retirement system effective January 1, 2000. Such irrevocable
election for each non-represented Member and represented
members whose collective bargaining agreement provides for
these benefit modifications shall require a member
contribution of 1% of compensation after completing 14 years
of service. Such contributions shall only be effective for
compensation paid after December 31, 1999 and will only affect
benefits paid to members who have credited service after
December 31, 1999.
(e) Each member in Benefit Group General - Option B
shall be offered the opportunity to make an irrevocable
election to participate in the >pickup part= of the DB part of
the retirement system effective January 1, 2000. Such
irrevocable election for each nonrepresented member and
represented members whose collective bargaining agreements
provide for these benefit modifications shall require a member
contribution of 1% of compensation after completing 14 years
of service. Such contributions shall only be effective for
compensation paid after December 31, 1999, and will only
affect benefits paid to members who have credited service
after December 31, 1999.
Reserve for Pension Payments.
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Section 53. (a) The reserve for pension payments is the
account in the DB part that is credited with transfers from
the reserve for accumulated Member contributions and the
reserve for employer contributions and which is charged with
all pension payments and refunds of accumulated Member
contributions which have been transferred to this account.
(b) If a disability pension is terminated and the
individual again becomes a Member or becomes a vested former
Member, any excess of the accumulated Member contributions
transferred to this account as a result of the disability
retirement over the aggregate amount of pension paid shall be
transferred to the reserve for Member contributions.
(c) Each year following receipt of the report of the
annual actuarial valuation for the DB part, if the balance in
the reserve for pension payments is less than the actuarial
present value of Pensions being paid retired Members and
beneficiaries, a transfer of the difference between the
present value and the reserve balance shall be authorized from
the reserve for employer contributions. The pending transfer
shall be taken into account by the actuary when making the
actuarial valuation. If the balance in the reserve for
pension payments is greater than the actuarial present value
of pensions being paid, the Retirement Commission may, in its
discretion, authorize a transfer of not more than the
difference between the reserve balance and the present value
to the reserve for employer contributions.
Reserve for Employer Contributions.
Section 54. The reserve for employer contributions in the DB
part is the account to which is credited County contributions
and from which shall be made transfers to the reserve for
pension payments.
Reserve for Undistributed Investment Income.
Section 55. The reserve for undistributed investment income
in the DB part is the account to which is credited all
interest, dividends, and other income from Retirement System
assets, all gifts and bequests, and, all other monies received
by the Retirement System the disposition of which is not
specifically provided. There shall be transferred from this
reserve account all amounts required to credit interest to the
other reserve accounts. Any balance remaining after
interest has been credited to the other reserve accounts shall
be transferred to the reserve for employer contributions.
Reserve for Administrative Expenses.
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Section 56. (a) The reserve for administrative expenses is
the account to which shall be credited all money provided by
the County to pay the administrative expenses of the
Retirement System and to which shall be charged all budgeted
and authorized administrative expenses.
(b) Whenever the Retirement Commission determines the
balance in the account is more than sufficient to cover
current charges, the excess of any part thereof may be used to
fund contingency reserves or meet special requirements of the
other reserve accounts. Whenever the balance in the account
is insufficient to cover current charges, the amount of the
insufficiency shall be transferred to the account from the
reserve for employer contributions.
Assets of DB part not Segregated.
Section 57. The descriptions of the reserve accounts in the
DB part shall be interpreted to refer to the account records
of the Retirement System and not to the segregation of monies
or assets by reserve account.
Interest Credited to Reserve Accounts.
Section 58. (a) The Retirement Commission shall annually
credit interest on the individual beginning of year balances
in the reserve for accumulated Member contributions, and on
the mean balance in each of the other reserves of the DB part
of the Retirement System for the preceding fiscal year. No
interest shall be credited to the balances in the reserve for
accumulated Member contributions for Members whose County
employment has terminated by the end of the year unless the
Member is a vested former Member. The amounts of interest so
credited shall be charged to the reserve for undistributed
investment income.
(b) The Retirement Commission shall determine the rate
or rates of interest to be used for crediting of interest.
Assignments Prohibited.
Section 59. (a) The right of an individual to a pension, to
a refund of accumulated Member contributions, the pension
itself, or any other right accrued or accruing to any
individual, and the monies and assets of the Retirement
System, shall not be subject to execution, garnishment,
attachment, the operation of bankruptcy or insolvency law, or
42
other process of law, except as provided in Section 60(b) or
as specifically required by State of Michigan or Federal law
and shall be unassignable except as provided in Section 59 (b)
or (c) or as required by State of Michigan or Federal law.
(b) If an individual is covered under a group insurance
or prepayment plan participated in by the County, and makes a
permitted election to continue such coverage as a retired ,
Member or as a Beneficiary, the individual may authorize the
Retirement Commission to deduct from the individual's payments
such amount as required to continue coverage under such group
insurance or prepayment plan.
(c) The prohibition of subparagraph (a) shall not apply
to the creation, assignment, or recognition of a right to any
benefit payable to a Member pursuant to a domestic relations
order, if such order is determined by the Retirement
Commission to be in accordance with the eligible domestic
relations order act, MCL 38.1701, June 27, 1991 ("EDRO Act").
(d) No Rights Against County. Nothing contained herein
shall be construed as giving an employee or any other person,
any legal or equitable rights against the County or the
Retirement Commission, except as expressly granted herein, or
as giving any person the right to be retained in the service
of the County, and an employee shall remain subject to control
and to discharge to the same extent as heretofore.
Subrogation; Right of Setoff.
Section 60. (a) If an individual or an individual's estate
or beneficiary becomes entitled to a pension, or any other
benefit payable upon retirement, by the County or the Oakland
County Employees Retirement System (the "System") as the
result of an accident or injury caused by the act or omission
of any third party(s), the County and the System shall be
subrogated to the rights of said individual against such third
party(s) to the extent of the benefits the County and the
System pays or becomes liable to pay, either to or on behalf
of an employee, retired Member, and/or beneficiary. For the
purposes of this section, the subrogation rights of the County
and the System extend to and include the actuarially
determined, present day value of all payments and benefits
which the County or the System either pays, provides for in a
reserve account, or becomes liable to pay, either to, or on
behalf of, an employee, retired Member, and/or beneficiary.
The County and the System shall be subrogated to any and all
rights to, or recovery of, damages (including actual,
consequential, or punitive damages, and costs or fees) by an
employee, retired Member, and/or beneficiary from any third
party(s) even where the damages recoverable from a third
party(s) were not for the same items of injury as those for
which the County of Oakland and the System benefits were paid,
43
provided for in reserve, or payable. Upon request, the
employee, retired Member, and/or beneficiary will execute and
deliver to the County and the System an assignment and/or such
other instruments that may be required and do whatever else is
necessary to secure such rights for the County and the System.
If an individual (or his or her beneficiary) becomes entitled
to a pension or any other benefit payable upon retirement, by
the County or the System, as the result of an accident or
injury caused by the act or omission of any third party(s),
such individual (or his or her beneficiary or estate) shall
not commence or institute any claim or action against the
third party(s) without (1) prior written notice to the County
and the System, (2) permitting the County and/or the System,
within their discretion, to join such claim or action (as its
interest appears by reason of this section), and (3) assigning
all or a portion of any recovery from such claim or action to
the County and/or the System, as provided above, in order to
effectuate the purposes of this section. The claimant(s) in
such claim or action shall at all times advise the County and
System of the nature of the claim and action, the defenses
asserted, the ongoing status of the claim and action, and all
settlement discussions and negotiations. The claimant(s)
shall promptly furnish the County and System with copies of
all relevant court papers, pleadings, medical reports, and
other such documents. The claimants shall not release,
settle, waive, or modify any such claim without the prior
written consent of the County and System. Failure to comply
with the requirements set forth in this Section 60(a) shall
(1) constitute a waiver of all rights and a release of all
claims, up to the amount of the claim, by an employee, retired
Member, or beneficiary to a pension or other benefits from the
County and the System (which waiver shall be effective
notwithstanding the prior commencement of benefit payments),
and (2) give to the County and System, in addition to all
other rights available to them in law or equity, the right of
recovery against the employee, retired Member, his estate, or
beneficiary, as to any monies previously paid. In no event,
will the subrogation (or waiver and release) provided for
herein reduce any benefit to which the employee, retired
Member, beneficiary, or estate, but for a disability may be
eligible.
(b) The System shall have the right of setoff to recover
overpayments made by the System and the County shall have the
right of setoff to satisfy any claim arising from embezzlement
or fraud committed by a Member, retired Member, vested former
Member, beneficiary, or other individual having a claim to
benefits.
Correction of Errors; Power to Amend
Section 61. (a) The Retirement Commission shall correct
errors in the records of the Retirement System. The
44
Retirement Commission shall seek to recover overpayments and
shall make up underpayments. Recovery of overpayments may be
accomplished by reducing the amount of future payments so that
the actuarial present value of actual payments to the
recipient is equal to the actuarial present value of the
payments to which the recipient was correctly entitled.
(h) The County reserves the right to amend this
resolution. The County specifically reserves the right to
amend the Retirement System retroactively in order to comply
with Code Section 401(a). No reason is necessary for the
amendment, regardless of whether: (1) for reasons of business
necessity; or (2) for the purpose of causing the Retirement
System and trust to qualify, and continue to qualify, under
the code as set forth in the recitals. No such amendment,
except upon written consent, shall increase the duties or
liabilities of the Retirement Commission or diminish its
compensation, or deprive any Member or Beneficiary of any then
vested equitable interest in the Retirement System. A
decision of the Retirement Commission shall, except in the
absence of good faith, be binding upon the Members,
beneficiaries, and all other persons interested, as to whether
or not any amendment does deprive a Member or any other person
of any vested interest already existing or does adversely
affect such interest. In no event shall any amendment have
the effect of vesting in the County any right, title or
interest to any assets held as part of the trust. Any
amendment shall be effective when signed by the duly
authorized officer or officers of the Board of Commissioners,
approved by the County Pension Plan Committee under M.C.L.
46.12a, and filed with the Retirement Commission. If the
County amends or has amended the vesting schedule, the
percentage then nonforfeitable or vested shall not be reduced
as a result of such amendment. Any Member with three (3)
years of credited service determined at the end of the
election period shall have an irrevocable election to have the
nonforfeitable percentage of his accrued benefit derived from
County contributions determined under the vesting schedule as
amended or a prior vesting schedule. Such election shall
commence on the date the amendment was adopted and shall
terminate no later than sixty (60) days after the later of:
(I) the effective date of the amendment; (ii) the date of
adoption of the amendment to the vesting schedule; or (iii)
the date each Member who is eligible to make such election
receives written notice of the amended vesting schedule
becoming operational.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, a Member's
Accrued Benefit may be reduced to the extent permitted under
Code Section 412(c)(8). For purposes of this paragraph, a
plan amendment which has the effect of decreasing a Member's
provisional account or eliminating an optional form of
benefit, with respect to benefits attributable to service
45
before the amendment shall be treated as reducing an accrued
benefit. Further, no amendment to the Retirement System shall
have the effect of decreasing a Member's vested
interest determined without regard to such amendment as of the
later of the date such amendment is adopted or the date it
becomes effective.
Internal Revenue Code Qualification.
Section 62. (a) The County intends the Retirement System to
be a qualified pension plan under Code Section 401, and that
the trust be an exempt organization under Code Section 501.
The Retirement Commission may adopt, or recommend to the Board
of County Commissioners for adoption, such additional
provisions to the Retirement System as are necessary to
fulfill this intent.
The County shall not be entitled to receive or recover
any part of its contributions to the trust or the earnings
thereof.
(b) Retirement benefits provided under this Resolution
shall not exceed the governmental plan limits set forth in
Internal Revenue Code Section 415 and the regulations
thereunder.
(c) The corpus of income of the trust may not be
diverted to or used for other than the exclusive benefit of
the Members or their beneficiaries.
(d) (1) All plan distributions shall be determined and
made in accordance with the proposed regulations under Code
Section 401(a)(9), including the minimum distribution
incidental benefit requirement of section 1.401(a)(9)-2 of the
proposed regulations.
(2) The required beginning date of distributions to
a Member shall be the later of April 1 of the calendar year
following the calendar year in which the Member (A) attains
Age 70 2; or (B) retires from employment with the County,
State of Michigan or any of its political subdivisions.
(e) In the event of termination or partial termination
of this Retirement System, the rights of all affected
employees to benefits accrued to the date of such termination
or partial termination (to the extent funded as of such date)
shall be nonforfeitable.
Fraud Penalty.
46
Section 63. Whoever with intent to deceive shall make any
statement or report under this resolution which is untrue, or
shall falsify or permit to be falsified any record or records
of the Retirement System, or who shall otherwise violate the
provisions of this resolution as it may from time to time be
amended, with intent to deceive, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not in excess
of $500, or shall be imprisoned for not more than 90 days, or
both, in the discretion of the court, together with payment of
costs of prosecution.
Severability.
Section 64. This resolution shall be governed by the laws of
the State of Michigan. Wherever necessary, pronouns of any
gender shall be deemed synonymous, as shall singular and
plural pronouns. The table of contents and the headings of
sections and paragraphs are included solely for convenience
and shall not affect, or be used in connection with, the
interpretation of this resolution. If any section or part of
a section of this resolution is for any reason held to be
invalid or unconstitutional, such holding shall not be
construed as affecting the validity of the remaining sections
of the resolution or the resolution in its entirety.
Repeal.
Section 65. All resolutions or other provisions of law
inconsistent with the provisions of this resolution are hereby
repealed to the extent of such inconsistency as far as
authority is vested in the Board of Commissioners to repeal
same.
Eligible Rollover Distributions
Section 66. This section applies to distributions made on or
after January 1, 1993. Notwithstanding any provision of the
Retirement System to the contrary that would otherwise limit a
distributee's election under this section, a distributee may
elect, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the
Retirement Commission, to have any portion of an eligible
rollover distribution paid directly to an eligible retirement
plan specified by the distributee in a direct rollover. As of
January 1, 1993 the only Lump Sum payments permitted by the DR
part of the Retirement System are for non-vested Members who
terminate service.
47
Definitions
(1) Eligible Rollover Distribution: An Eligible
Rollover Distribution is any distribution of all or any
portion of the balance to the credit of the distributes,
except that an eligible rollover distribution does not
include: any distribution that is one of a series of
substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently
than annually) made for the life (or life expectancy) of the
distributee or the joint lives (or joint life expectancies) of
the distributee and the distributee's designated beneficiary,
or for a specified period of ten years or more; any
distribution to the extent such distribution is required under
Code Section 401(a)(9), and the portion of any distribution
that is not includable in gross income (determined without
regard to the exclusion for net unrealized appreciation with
respect to employer securities).
(2) Eligible Retirement Plan: An Eligible Retirement
Plan is an individual retirement account described in Code
Section 408(a), an individual retirement annuity described in
Code Section 408(b), an annuity plan described in Code Section
403(a), or a qualified trust described in Code Section 401(a),
that accepts the Distributee's Eligible Rollover Distribution.
However, in the case of an Eligible Rollover Distribution to
the surviving spouse, an Eligible Retirement Plan is an
individual retirement account or individual retirement annuity
only.
(3) Distributee: A Distributee includes an employee or
former employee. In addition, the employee's or former
employee's surviving spouse and the employee's or former
employee's spouse or former spouse who is the alternate payee
under an Eligible Qualified Domestic Relations Order, as
defined in MCL 38.1701, are Distributees with regard to the
interest of the spouse or former spouse.
(4) Direct Rollover: A Direct Rollover is a payment by
the Plan to the Eligible Retirement Plan specified by the
Distributee.
Adjustment of Account - Other Adjustment.
Section 67. Expenses. The expenses of the DB part of the
Retirement System (including but not limited to legal fees,
administrative costs and Retirement Commission's compensation)
shall (unless paid by the County) be paid and accounted for as
part of the earnings and losses of the DB part of the
Retirement System.
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Termination of Employment.
Section 68. (a) The Retirement Commission shall determine the
Nonforfeitable interest of a Member who terminates his employ-
ment for reasons other than Death, Disability, or attainment
of Normal Retirement Age. Nothing contained herein shall be
interpreted as allowing the forfeiture of a Member's otherwise
Nonforfeitable benefits for cause.
Duration; Termination; Assumption
Section 69. (a) Duration. This Retirement System shall
continue until the assets have been paid out and distributed.
(b) Termination; Assumption. It is the County's present
intention to permanently maintain the Retirement System and
continue to make contributions provided, however, that:
(1) The Retirement System shall automatically
terminate upon the County's legal dissolution, or upon its
adjudication as a bankrupt or insolvent, or upon its making a
general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or upon a
receiver being appointed for its assets.
(2) In the event of any termination or partial
termination, the County and the Retirement Commission shall
give prompt notice thereof to the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue; and, subject to Subparagraph 8 below each Member's
Accrued Benefit shall become fully vested and Nonforfeitable.
In the case of a partial termination, this Paragraph shall
apply only to that portion of the Retirement System
terminated.
(c) Liquidation of Trust. In the event of the DB part
of this Retirement System's termination, the Retirement
Commission shall liquidate all investments and determine the
value of each Member's Accrued Benefit as of the date of
termination as follows:
(1) Before making any payments, distributions or
assignments, however, the Retirement Commission and its legal
counsel, shall first be paid their expenses and charges
incident to the operation of the Trust and the termination
thereof, by the County. If the County does not pay such
expenses and charges, the Retirement Commission shall have a
lien on the cash and other property remaining in its hands,
the assets distributable to the Members being liable for a pro
rata share thereof until the Retirement Commission and their
counsel have been paid.
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(2) In any event, the Retirement Commission shall
not be required to make any distributions until written
evidence of approval by the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
of such termination and distribution has been submitted to the
Retirement Commission.
(3) Each Member's Accrued Benefit shall be
determined and benefits provided, to the extent funded.
(d) Termination of Trust. Notwithstanding termination
of the Retirement System, the Retirement System shall
terminate when and if, but not until, the assets have been
entirely paid out and distributed in accordance with this
Resolution.
Execution of Instruments.
Section 70. (a) Any instrument or document to be provided by
the County shall be properly executed if executed in the name
of the County by any officer or officers thereof; or where
provided by the Retirement Commission, if executed as follows:
(1) If executed in the Retirement Commission's name
by either the Treasurer or Secretary of the Retirement
Commission, and
(2) In the case of any corporate trustee (whether
or not the sole trustee), if executed as trustee in the name
of the corporation under its corporate name by any officer or
officers thereof; provided, further that any interested
parties shall be fully protected in relying upon any
instrument or document so executed, and, such execution shall
be conclusive proof that any signature is duly authorized and
that any such information is true and correct.
(b) County Actions. Whenever the County is permitted or
required to do or perform any act or execute any document, it
shall be done, performed or executed by or at the direction of
its Board of Commissioners or by officers or authorized agents
of the County, and may be evidenced by resolutions certified
by the County Clerk.
Indemnification by County.
Section 71. The County hereby agrees to indemnify and save
harmless any Member of the Retirement Commission or other
fiduciary against any liabilities incurred by any of them in
the exercise and performance of their powers and duties,
except where attributable to their fraud, gross neglect or
malfeasance, as judicially determined; if same can be done
without affecting the Code Section 401(a) qualification of the
Retirement System, any amounts paid by the County shall be
50
reimbursed to the County out of the Trust, if sufficient funds
are available, and shall be an expense for purposes of Section
67 (Expenses).
Liability Insurance.
Section 72. The Retirement Commission may purchase, as an
authorized expense of the Retirement System, liability
insurance for the Retirement System and/or for its fiduciaries
to cover liability or losses occurring by reason of an act or
omission of a fiduciary. Such insurance contract may permit
recourse by an insurer against the fiduciary for breach of a
fiduciary obligation.
Any fiduciary may purchase insurance to protect himself in
the event of a breach of fiduciary duty and the County may also
purchase insurance to cover the potential liability of one or
more persons who serve in a fiduciary capacity.
Service in Multiple Capacities.
Section 73. Any person or group of persons may serve in more
than one fiduciary capacity as to this Retirement System,
specifically including service both as a trustee and as plan
administrator.
Limitations on Fiduciary Liability.
Section 74. Nothing in this Retirement System shall prevent a
fiduciary from receiving any benefit that he is otherwise
entitled to as a Member or Beneficiary. However, the benefit
must be computed and paid consistent with the terms of this
Retirement System as applied to all other Members and
Beneficiaries. This Retirement System shall not be interpreted
to prevent any fiduciary from receiving reasonable compensation
for services rendered, or for the reimbursement of expenses
properly and actually incurred in the performance of his duties
with the Retirement System; except that no person so serving who
already receives full-time pay from the County shall receive
compensation from this Retirement System, except for
reimbursement of expenses properly and actually incurred. A
fiduciary is also entitled to serve in this capacity in addition
to being an officer, employee, agent, or other representative of
any party-in-interest.
Investment Manager.
Section 75. When an Investment Manager has been appointed, he
is required to acknowledge in writing that he has undertaken a
fiduciary responsibility with respect to the Retirement System.
51
In order to serve as an Investment Manager a person must
qualify as:
(a) A registered investment adviser under the Investment
Adviser Act of 1940; or
(b) A bank, as defined in that Act; or
(c) An insurance company duly authorized to perform such
services under the laws of more than one state; or
(d) Be an individual or business entity, whether a
corporation, partnership or limited liability company
whose primary profession is acting as an investment
counselor and advisor.
Enforcement.
Section 76. The Retirement Commission shall consult with any
Investment Manager, when acting, with respect to any and all
investment decisions, other than ministerial decisions and shall
cooperate with the Investment Manager to carry out such
investment plans, programs, strategies and acts as may be
conceived by the Investment Manager; provided, however, and
notwithstanding the foregoing, upon receipt of written
recommendations from the duly appointed Investment Manager, the
Retirement Commission shall be accorded a reasonable time to
examine and review the overall investment plan and strategy,
initially and from time to time, before implementing the same,
and may refuse to implement the same, in whole or in part, if
the Retirement Commission shall determine, in the exercise of
its fiduciary responsibility, that implementation of all or any
part of said investment plan and strategy would not be
reasonably prudent in the circumstances. Written notice of such
determination shall be given by a trustee, the investment
advisor and the other trustees. Notwithstanding anything else
herein or as provided by statute or regulation to the contrary,
no trustee shall be liable for any loss or detriment arising
directly or indirectly from any act or omission to act as
directed by an Investment Manager or from any sale, failure to
sell, retention of assets or investment activity or failure of
activity based upon a result, directly or indirectly from the
directions from Investment Management or from the failure or
refusal of any trustee, acting in discharge of its fiduciary
responsibility hereunder, to implement all or any part of the
investment plan and strategy of any Investment Manager. If
necessary to protect the interests of the Retirement System or
any Member or Beneficiary, a fiduciary shall seek the assistance
of such civil or criminal courts of competent jurisdiction or
52
such regulatory or administrative agencies as may be appropriate
under the circumstances.
53
Resolution #16117 May 5, 2016
Moved by Fleming supported by Quarles the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the Consent
Agenda be adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted),
AYES: Dwyer, Fleming, Gershenson, Gingell, Gosselin, Hoffman, Jackson, KowaII, Long,
McGillivray, Middleton, Quarles, Scott, Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Woodward, Zack, Crawford. (19)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolutions (with fiscal notes attached) on the Consent
Agenda were adopted (with accompanying reports being accepted).
(j '11,7/k.
I HEREBY APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
ACTING PURSUANT TO MCL 45.559A (7)
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on May 5, 2016,
with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 5th day of May, 2016.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County