Happening Now: Open Election Period for a Final Membership Decision
Happening Now: Open Election Period for a Final Membership Decision
October 1-30: Open Election Period for a Final Membership Decision
The 2024 Pension and Retirement Policy and Supplemental Budget Bill was signed into law on May 15. The law includes a one-time open election period when public officials, city managers, and public ambulance personnel who started work for a public employer between February 1, 2024 and July 31, 2024 can make a final PERA membership decision between October 1, 2024 and October 30, 2024.
Employer Requirement – Inform Eligible Individuals
By law, it is the individual’s decision to participate in optional PERA membership when they hold an eligible position. Employers must inform eligible individuals that they can join PERA.
1. Use the Employer Notice: Open Election Period to determine who is eligible to participate in the open election period.
2. For each eligible individual, you must complete part A of the Open Election Period Selection form and inform the individual they must complete part B. Keep a copy of the form until you receive the signed original from the individual.
>>You may also give the Employee Notice of Eligibility: Open Election Period to eligible employees and public officials. Final eligibility is determined by PERA.
3. If a city manager opts out of the Coordinated Plan or a public official decides to participate in the Defined Contribution Plan, PERA requires a resolution.
>>Sample Resolutions include the City Manager Exclusion from Coordinated Plan during Open Election Period and Public Official Enrolling in DCP during Open Election Period.
4. Send the completed form and resolution to PERA using the secure document upload feature in ERIS. You will receive a Transmit ID code after successfully submitting the information. You can also fax the form and resolution to 651-296-2493.
PERA must receive the Open Election Period Selection form between October 1, 2024 and October 30, 2024. Election forms received on or after October 31, 2024 will not be accepted.
Questions? Call or email PERA’s Eligibility team.
Contact us by phone at 1-888-892-7372, then select option 3 for eligibility, or by email at eligibility@mnpera.org.