Bill Text: NH HB555 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Appropriating state general fund surplus toward the retirement system unfunded accrued liability.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2023-05-11 - Pending Motion Committee Amendment # 2023-1433s; 05/11/2023; Senate Journal 14 [HB555 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2023-HB555-Introduced.html

HB 555-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2023 SESSION

23-0697

10/08

 

HOUSE BILL 555-FN-A

 

AN ACT appropriating state general fund surplus toward the retirement system unfunded accrued liability.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. T. Lekas, Hills. 38; Rep. Goley, Hills. 21; Rep. S. Pearson, Rock. 13; Rep. C. McGuire, Merr. 27; Rep. Leishman, Hills. 33; Rep. D. McGuire, Merr. 14; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33

 

COMMITTEE: Finance

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill requires the transfer of 75 percent of a state biennial surplus to the reduction in the retirement system's unfunded accrued liability.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0697

10/08

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

 

AN ACT appropriating state general fund surplus toward the retirement system unfunded accrued liability.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Revenue Stabilization Reserve Account; Transfer of Surplus Funds.  Amend RSA 9:13-e, II to read as follows:

II.  There is hereby established within the general fund general ledger a revenue stabilization reserve account.  At the close of the fiscal biennium ending June 30, 2001, and at the close of each fiscal biennium thereafter, except as otherwise provided in law, any surplus, as determined by the official audit performed pursuant to RSA 21-I:8, II(a) shall be transferred by the comptroller first, as provided in paragraph II-a, and then the remainder to a special nonlapsing revenue stabilization reserve account.  The comptroller is hereby directed to establish the revenue stabilization reserve account in which to deposit any money received from a general fund operating budget surplus.  The state treasurer shall invest funds in this account as authorized by RSA 6:8.  The interest so earned shall be deposited as unrestricted general fund revenue.

II-a.  Seventy-five percent of the biennial surplus, as determined in the official audit under paragraph II shall be paid to the board of trustees of the New Hampshire retirement system and dedicated to the reduction in the retirement system's unfunded accrued liability determined under RSA 100-A:16, II.  This paragraph shall only be effective when:

(a)  The balance in the revenue stabilization reserve account is equal to or in excess of an amount equal to 10 percent of the actual general fund unrestricted revenues for the most recently completed fiscal biennium; and

(b)  The retirement system reports continuing unfunded accrued liability.

2  Retirement System; Financing; Unfunded Accrued Liability; Reference to Surplus Payment.  Amend RSA 100-A:16, II(e)(1) to read as follows:

(e)(1)  Immediately following the actuarial valuation prepared as of June 30 of each fiscal year, the board shall have an actuary determine the amount of the unfunded accrued liability for each member classification, proportionally reduced using sums dedicated as provided in RSA 21-I:95, II and RSA 9:13-e, II-a, as the amount of the total liabilities of the state annuity accumulation fund on account of such classification which is not dischargeable by the total of the funds in hand to the credit of the state annuity accumulation fund on account of such classification, and the aforesaid normal contributions to be made on account of the members in such classification during the remainder of their active service.  The amount so determined with respect to each member classification shall be known as the "unfunded accrued liability" with respect to such classification.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.

 

LBA

23-0697

12/29/22

 

HB 555-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT appropriating state general fund surplus toward the retirement system unfunded accrued liability.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [ X ] County               [ X ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [ X ] Highway           [ X ] Other

 

 

 

 

 

COUNTY:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

 

 

 

 

 

LOCAL:

 

 

 

 

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

Indeterminable

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill transfers 75% of the biennial surplus to the Board of Trustees of the New Hampshire Retirement System to reduce the retirement system's unfunded accrued liability determined under RSA 100-A:16,II to the extent the surplus meets certain conditions.

 

The New Hampshire Retirement System (NHRS) states the impact is indeterminable as they cannot estimate the amounts, in any, that will be paid to NHRS.  If payments are made the result could indirectly lower employer rates in the future.

 

The Department of Administrative Services states they are unable to project the amount of future General fund biennial surplus and therefore are unable to calculate a fiscal impact.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

New Hampshire Retirement System and Department of Administrative Services

 

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