LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD Austin, Texas FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session March 24, 2001 TO: Honorable Dale B. Tillery, Chair, House Committee on Pensions & Investments FROM: John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board IN RE: HB2031 by Isett (Relating to an optional defined contribution retirement plan for persons eligible to participate in the Employees Retirement System of Texas.), As Introduced ************************************************************************** * Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for * * HB2031, As Introduced: negative impact of $(800,000) through the * * biennium ending August 31, 2003. * * * * The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal * * basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of * * the bill. * ************************************************************************** General Revenue-Related Funds, Five-Year Impact: **************************************************** * Fiscal Year Probable Net Positive/(Negative) * * Impact to General Revenue Related * * Funds * * 2002 $(500,000) * * 2003 (300,000) * * 2004 (450,000) * * 2005 (600,000) * * 2006 (750,000) * **************************************************** All Funds, Five-Year Impact: *************************************************************************** *Fiscal Probable Savings/(Cost) from Change in Number of State * * Year General Revenue Fund Employees from FY 2001 * * 0001 * * 2002 $(500,000) 8.0 * * 2003 (300,000) 8.0 * * 2004 (450,000) 9.0 * * 2005 (600,000) 10.0 * * 2006 (750,000) 11.0 * *************************************************************************** Fiscal Analysis The bill would create an optional defined contribution retirement plan as an alternative to the defined benefit pension plan administered by the Employees Retirement System (ERS) for state employees. A newly hired employee would have 90 days after the date of hire to make an irrevocable election to join the defined contribution plan. The bill does not appear to allow current state employees to switch from the pension plan to the proposed defined contribution plan. The state's 6.0% retirement contribution, along with the member's 6.0% contribution would be deposited to whichever plan the employee chose. Members that terminate employment with fewer than 5 years of service would forfeit a portion of their defined contribution account derived from state contributions. ERS estimates that the first year start-up costs will total $500,000 and require 8 additional full-time-equivalent employees. The ongoing annual cost for operation is estimated at $300,000 in fiscal year, increasing to $750,000 in fiscal year 2006 as the number of participants increases. ERS would be responsible for selecting and maintaining the list of approved vendors, distributing plan materials, collecting the employee and state contributions and remitting those contributions to the investment vendors chosen by the participants. Methodology The bill does not provide any mechanism for ERS to fund the administrative costs of operating the defined contribution plan. Therefore, it is assumed that General Revenue will be necessary to pay for the administrative costs. The estimated costs of administration are based on the current costs incurred by ERS for administering the state's deferred compensation program and adjusted for estimated participation levels. ERS also projects that the defined contribution plan will be an attractive option to younger employees, who have a lower normal cost than older employees. As a portion of these younger employees choose the defined contribution plan over the pension plan, the overall normal cost of the pension plan will increase. The combined state and employee contribution will not be sufficient to cover the normal cost; as a result, the fund's actuarial surplus will decrease. At some point in the future, an increase in state and/or member contributions could be required. Local Government Impact No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Source Agencies: 327 Employees Retirement System LBB Staff: JK, RB, SC