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    Summaries of retirement legislation passed in the referenced year are below.

    2024 Legislative Session

    The 2024 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature convened March 11 and ended June 3.

    Author: Price
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Systems Impacted: State & Statewide

    Provides relative to transfers of service credit between systems by specifying that, for purposes of transfers between systems, “employer contributions” are defined as only those employer contributions that are actuarially required.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed [Y:92/N:0]
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 46

    Author: Miguez
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Systems Impacted: State & Statewide

    Requires fiduciaries for public retirement systems to make investment decisions based solely on financial factors.

    • Senate Retirement – Amended by Substitute, Remains in Committee

    Author: Hodges
    Position Taken: Oppose
    Systems Impacted: State & Statewide

    Permits the governor to elect to appoint the chairman, or any other officer, of each board and commission whose appointment is not otherwise provided for in the Constitution of Louisiana.

    • Senate & Governmental Affairs – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Amended and Passed [Y:28/N:10]
    • House & Governmental Affairs – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Passed [Y:62/N:30]
    • Senate Floor – Concurred in House Amendments [Y:26/N:10]
    • Enrolled

    Author: Bagley
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Systems Impacted: LASERS

    Provides relative to retirement eligibility. Permits any rank-and-file member, regardless of age or first date of employment, to retire with 27 years of service credit [as amended].

    • House Retirement – Vote to report favorably failed, Remains in Committee
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Amended; Vote Failed [Y:63/N:36]
    • House Floor – Vote Failed [Y:67/N:17]

    Author: Larvadain
    Position Taken: 
    Systems Impacted: LASERS

    Provides that the Chairman of the Gaming Control Board shall be a LASERS-eligible position.

    • House & Governmental Affairs – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Passed [Y:102/N:0]
    • Senate Judiciary B – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Passed [Y:38/N:0]
    • Pending House Concurrence

    Author: McFarland
    Position Taken: Support
    Systems Impacted: LASERS

    Makes supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 – allocates an additional $8.9 million [amended to $9.9 million] to LASERS to apply to the balance of the IUAL.

    • House Appropriations – Amended and Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed [Y:102/N:0]
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Concurred in Senate Amendments [Y:104/N:0]

    Author: Beaullieu
    Position Taken: 

    Calls a constitutional convention to convene on May 20, 2024, to be composed of 171 delegates, who are the 105 members of the House of Representatives, the 39 members of the Senate, and 27 delegates appointed by the governor. Requires the convention to complete a new constitution by July 15, 2024.

    • House & Governmental Affairs – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed [Y:75/N:27]
    • Pending in Senate and Governmental Affairs

    Author: Melerine
    Position Taken: Oppose
    Systems Impacted: State & Statewide

    Provides relative to the voting of shares held by retirement systems based on advice of proxy advisory firms.

    • House Retirement – Amended by Substitute, Remains in Committee
    • House Retirement – Reported by Substitute – became HB 981
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed [Y:70/N:26]
    • Senate Retirement – Deferred

    Author: Johnson
    Position Taken: Support

    Memorializes Congress to review and eliminate the WEP and GPO by supporting H.R. 82 and S. 597 of the 118th Congress.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:97/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed [Y:39/N:0]
    • Enrolled

    Author: Melerine
    Position Taken: 

    Requests state retirement systems to submit reports regarding procedures for proxy voting.

    • House Retirement – Discharged from Committee
    • Pending House Final Passage
    • House Floor – Passed [Y:82/N:16]
    • Enrolled

    Author: Riser
    Position Taken: 

    Requests the House Committee on Retirement to study the benefits available to beneficiaries of a member of a state retirement system killed in the line of duty by an intentional act of violence and to report its findings to the full House of Representatives prior to the convening of the 2025 Regular Session.

    • Approved by the House

    2023 Legislative Session

    The 2023 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature convened April 10 and ended June 8. The following retirement bills were passed.

    Author: Price & Cortez
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Enrolled

    (SB 18) Reforms the mechanism by which COLAs/PBIs are granted. For more detailed information, view the SB 18 information webpage here.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:37/N:1)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:99/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 184 – Effective 6/8/2023

    Author: Zeringue
    Position Taken:
    Status: Enrolled

    (HB 1) Provides for the ordinary operating expenses of state government for FY 23-24. It appropriates $185 million out of the state general fund by Statutory Dedications out of the 2024 LASERS IUAL Payment Fund.

    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:72/N:33)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:39/N:0)
    • House Floor – Amendments Rejected
    • Senate Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report
    • House Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report
    • Enrolled

    Author: Nelson
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Enrolled

    Constitutional Amendment

    (HB 47) Proposes a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters on Oct. 14, 2023, would require a minimum of 25% of all nonrecurring state revenues be applied to the UALs of LASERS, TRSL, LSERS and LSPRS beginning in FY 24-25.

    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably
    • Recommitted to House Civil Law – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Failed to Pass (Y:63/N:30)
    • House Floor – Failed on Reconsideration (Y:64/N:28)
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:103/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:37/N:2)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • ACT 107 – Effective upon passage of Constitutional Amendment

    Author: Zeringue
    Position Taken:
    Status: Enrolled

    (HB 550) Provides for the transfer, deposit, and use of monies among state funds. It creates the 2024 LASERS IUAL Payment Fund and provides for the transfer of money appropriated in HB 1 to the LASERS IUAL.

    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:71/N:32)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:39/N:0)
    • House Floor – Amendments Rejected
    • Senate Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report
    • House Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 410 – Transfers effective 7/1/2023

    Author: Zeringue
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Enrolled

    (HB 560) Makes supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 – allocates an additional $23.4 million (amended to $270 million) to LASERS to apply to the balance of the Unfunded Accrued Liability.

    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:74/N:30)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:38/N:0)
    • House Floor – Amendments Rejected
    • Senate Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report
    • House Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor with line-item vetoes
    • Act 397 – Effective 6/15/2023

    Author: Beaullieu
    Position Taken:
    Status: Enrolled

    (HCR 70) Requests the state treasurer and state and statewide retirement systems to report on investment advisors and companies used by the treasurer and the systems that discriminate against the fossil fuel industry through Environmental, Social, and Governance “ESG” policies by October 1, 2023.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:98/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:38/N:0)
    • Enrolled

    Author: Miguez
    Position Taken:
    Status: Enrolled

    (HCR 110) Requests the state public retirement systems to uphold their fiduciary duty when making financial decisions and to avoid ESG investing.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:89/N:5)
    • Senate Judiciary A – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:25/N:0)
    • Enrolled

    Author: Johnson
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Enrolled

    (HCR 67) Memorializes congress to review and eliminate the WEP and GPO by supporting H.R. 82 and S. 597 of the 118th Congress.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:99/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:38/N:0)
    • Enrolled

    2022 Legislative Session

    The 2022 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature convened March 14 and ended June 6. The following retirement bills were passed.

    Author: Price
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed
    LASERS Sponsored

    (SB 5) Provides a nonrecurring supplemental payment to eligible LASERS retirees and beneficiaries.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Referred to Senate Finance
    • Senate Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:96/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 656 – Effective June 18, 2022

    Author: DeVillier
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    (HB 19) Provides relative to membership in the LASERS Hazardous Duty Services Plan by adding employees of the Office of the State Fire Marshal who are Firefighter I certified and who provide emergency response, or who conduct fire and emergency training to the LASERS Hazardous Duty Services Plan.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:96/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Floor – Adopted in House Concurrence (Y:94/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 96 – Effective June 30, 2022

    Author: Zeringue
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    (HB 592) Makes supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 – allocates an additional $21.8 million to LASERS to apply to the balance of the Unfunded Accrued Liability.

    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:97/N:1)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:37/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 170 – Effective May 30, 2022

    Author: Johson
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    (HCR 11) Urges and requests the legislatures of each state of the United States to pass similar resolutions calling upon Congress to support actions as necessary to review and eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO).

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Adopted (Y:96/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Adopted (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Floor – Adopted in House Concurrence (Y:88/N:0)
    • Enrolled

    2021 Legislative Session

    The 2021 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature convened April 12 and ended June 10. The following retirement bills were passed.

    Author: Mack
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (HB 19) Provides relative to the selection of certain optional survivor benefits for members of the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:96/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:37/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 137 – Effective August 1, 2021

    Author: Zeringue
    Position:
    Status: Passed

    (HB 516) Makes supplemental appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020-2021 – allocates an additional $8.4 million to LASERS to apply to the balance of the Unfunded Accrued Liability.

    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:83/N:5)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:37/N:0)
    • House  Floor – Concurred in Senate Amendments (Y:102/N:1)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 120 – Effective June 10, 2021

    Author: Price
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    (SB 24) Systems Impacted: LASERS, TRSL, LSERS & STATE POLICE
    Provides relative to a minimum cost-of-living increase for certain retirees and beneficiaries.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Finance Committee – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:37/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:100/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Concurred in House Amendments (Y:35/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 37 – Effective June 1, 2021

    Author: Smith
    Position Taken:
    Status: Passed

    (SB 190) Transfers the operation and maintenance of stationary weight enforcement scale locations from the Department of Public Safety & Corrections to the Department of Transportation and Development.

    • Senate Transportation – Reported Favorably as Amended
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:37/N:0)
    • Referred to House Transportation
    • House Transportation – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Amended and Passed (Y:103/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Concurred in House Amendments (Y:36/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the  Governor
    • Act 384 –  Effective July 1, 2022

    2020 Second Special Legislative Session

    The 2020 Second Special Session of the Louisiana Legislature adjourned October 23. The following retirement bills were passed.

    Author: Peterson
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (SB 26) Removes employees of the Regional Transit Authority from LASERS and State Civil Service.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:89/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 8 – Effective October 22, 2020

    2020 Legislative Session

    The 2020 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature convened March 9 and ended June 1. The following retirement bills were passed.

    Author: Zeringue
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    (HB 307) Supplemental appropriations – appropriates $16,661,555 of surplus funds to LASERS to be applied to the Initial Unfunded Accrued Liability (IUAL), as is constitutionally required.

    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:99/N:0)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – 1 Floor Amendment Adopted
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Floor – House Concurred in Senate Amendments (Y:96/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 255 – Effective June 12, 2020

    Author: Johnson, Mike
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    Memorializes congress to support the Social Security Fairness Act, and to take such actions as are necessary to review and consider eliminating or reducing the WEP and GPO.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Adopted (Y:96/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Adopted (Y:33/N:0)

    Author: Allain
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (SB 3) Adds employees of the Morgan City and Berwick Housing Authorities to LASERS, upon the passage of a resolution by the Authority’s Board.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:93/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 29 – Effective June 30, 2020

    Author: Fields
    Position Taken: No Position
    Status: Passed

    (SB 111) Provides for the executive budget to include the contributions to the state retirement systems for the Initial Unfunded Accrued Liability (IUAL) and for the itemization of the cost of the payment of the IUAL to be included in an appendix to the General Appropriation Bill.

    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:97/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 213 – Effective July 1, 2020

    Author:Mizell
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    Memorializes congress to support the Social Security Fairness Act, and to take such actions as are necessary to review and consider eliminating or reducing the WEP and GPO.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Adopted (Y:33/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Adopted (Y:100/N:0)

    2019 Legislative Session

    The 2019 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature ended June 6. The following retirement bills were passed.

    Author: R. Johnson
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (HB 29) Removes the increase in insurance premiums for Hazardous Duty Services Plan (HAZ Plan) members who transfer service and retire with an unreduced benefit.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:94/N:0)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:38/N:0)
    • House Floor – House Concurred in Senate Amendments (Y:97/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 289 – Effective July 1, 2019

    Author: Henry
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    (HB 392) Supplemental appropriations – as amended, appropriates $9,478,184 to LASERS to be applied to the IUAL.

    • House Appropriations – Reported favorably with amendments
    • House Floor – 2 Floor Amendments Adopted
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:101/N:0)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – 1 Floor Amendment Adopted
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:38/N:0)
    • House Floor – House Refused to Concur in Senate Amendments (Y:98/N:0)
    • House Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report (Y:101/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report (Y:38/N:1)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 50 – Effective June 20, 2019

    Author: Peterson
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (SB 9) Management class employees of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) hired on or after July 1, 2019, shall not be members of LASERS. Employees currently enrolled in LASERS retain their membership. The LASERS actuary shall determine the portion of the LASERS unfunded accrued liability (UAL) attributable to the RTA as of June 30, 2019. That portion of the UAL shall be amortized over ten years and paid to LASERS by the RTA in equal monthly installments.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – 1 Floor Amendment Adopted
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:35/N:1)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – 1 Floor Amendment Adopted
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:86/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Senate Refused to Concur in House Amendments (Y:35/N:1)
    • Senate Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report (Y:32:N:1)
    • House Floor – Adopted Conference Committee Report (Y:91/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 264 – Effective June 30, 2019

    Author: Long
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (SB 15) Changes the qualifications for eligibility in the Hazardous Duty Services Plan (HAZ Plan) for firefighters employed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Firefighters must be trained as wildland firefighters, as provided in R.S. 3:4276(9), to qualify for membership in the HAZ Plan.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:37/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – 1 Hour Bureau Amendment Adopted
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:96/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Senate Concurred in House Amendments (Y:34/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 42 – Effective June 30, 2019

    2018 Legislative Session

    The 2018 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature ended May 18. Nine measures passed after the regular session closed more than two weeks earlier than originally scheduled.

    Author: Pearson
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (HB 34) Requires a state or statewide retirement system with investments in international markets to allocate a portion of their investments to a terror-free fund, rather than a terror-free index fund.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:86/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – 1 Floor Amendment Adopted (Bureau Note)
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:35/N:0)
    • House Floor – House Concurred in Senate Amendments (Y:84/N:2)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by Governor – Act 45
    • Effective May 10, 2018

    Author: Brown
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Failed

    (HB 37) Provides for a disability benefit equal to 100 percent of final average compensation for members of the Hazardous Duty, Corrections Primary, Corrections Secondary, Wildlife and Harbor Police plans who are totally and permanently disabled in the line of duty by an intentional act of violence.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:85/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:38/N:0)
    • House Floor – House Concurred in Senate Amendments (Y:92/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 595
    • Effective May 31, 2018

    Author: Hollis
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (HB 38) Provides for the formula for the distribution of COLAs in instances where the legislature or the system does not specify the terms of the COLA.  COLAs for LASERS members are provided for by law; therefore, this formula will not apply to LASERS system-generated COLAs.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:97/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:37/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by Governor – Act 113
    • Effective August 1, 2018

    Author: Henry
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    (HB 874) Supplemental appropriations – appropriates $3,676,833 to LASERS to be applied to the IUAL.

    • House Appropriations – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • House Floor – 3 Floor Amendments Adopted
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:97/N:0)
    • Senate Finance – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – 2 Floor Amendments Adopted
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:35/N:2)
    • House Floor – House Rejected Senate Amendments (Y:94/N:0)
    • House Floor – House Adopted Conference Committee Report (Y:92/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Senate Adopted Conference Committee Report (Y:35/N:1)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 59
    • Effective May 29, 2018

    Author: Peacock
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (SB 3) Provides for a 100 percent survivor benefit for Hazardous Duty Plan members killed by an intentional act of violence.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:28/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:97/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Senate Concurred in House amendments (Y:32/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 224
    • Effective May 15, 2018

    Author: Peacock
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (SB 4) Provides relative to the employment of actuaries and prohibits an actuary from performing duties that require the exercise of supervision or discretionary control over the administration or management of a retirement system.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:29/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:81/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 397
    • Effective June 30, 2018

    Author: Peacock
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (SB 10) Adds firefighters in the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to the Hazardous Duty Plan.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:36/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:94/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 215
    • Effective June 30, 2018

    Author: Peacock
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    (SB 13) Provides that the chair and vice chair of PRSAC shall rotate between the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee, and the President of the Senate, or his designee, biennially.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:31/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:85/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 399
    • Effective June 30, 2018

    Author: Peacock
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    (SB 17) Updates certain provisions related to the purchase of military service to comply with federal law, including the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Legislative Bureau Amendments Adopted
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:31/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:98/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Senate Concurred in House Amendments (Y:32/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 225
    • Effective May 15, 2018

    2017 Legislative Session

    The 2017 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature ended June 8. The following retirement bills were passed.

    Author: Pearson
    Position Taken: Neutral
    Status: Passed

    Addresses legislative staff attending executive sessions of state and statewide retirement system board meetings. The Act also provides that for elections or appointments after July 1, 2017, no person who has been found in violation of the Code of Governmental Ethics for actions involving the misuse of public funds shall be eligible to serve as a trustee for a retirement system.

    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:95/N:0)
    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:33/N:0)
    • House Floor – House Rejected Senate Amendments
    • Conference Committee
      • House: Pearson, G. Miller, Hollis
      • Senate: Peacock, Cortez, Alario
    • Conference Committee Report Received
    • House Floor – Conference Committee Report Adopted (Y:91/N:0)
    • Senate Floor – Conference Committee Report Adopted (Y:35/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor
    • Act 366 (HB 33) – Effective August 1, 2017

    Author: Carter
    Position Taken: Support, insofar as it reduces debt
    Status: Failed

    (Constitutional Amendment) Removes the prohibition related to the imposition of an additional tax or license on gas, authorizes the levy of a tax, fee, permit, or license on natural gas transported in Louisiana, and creates the Fair Share Fund (the Fair Share Fund may provide additional funds for payments against the UAL).

    • House Ways and Means

    Author: Peacock
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    Provides for correction of membership enrollment errors. Within 30 days of discovery of an error, the process of correction must be initiated. The employer must pay any amount necessary to the correct retirement system to provide service credit if the amount transferred is insufficient. The accrual rate of the correct system is used to calculate the employee’s benefit.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:33/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:98/N:0)
    • Enrolled
    • Signed by the Governor – Act 285 (SB 8)
    • Effective June 30, 2017

    Author: Mizell
    Position Taken: Support
    Status: Passed

    Memorializes congress to consider eliminating the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) Social Security benefit reductions.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • Senate Floor – Passed (Y:36/N:0)
    • House Retirement – Reported Favorably
    • House Floor – Passed (Y:78/N:0)
    • Enrolled

    Author: Milkovich
    Position Taken: None
    Status: Failed

    To urge and request each state retirement system to provide comprehensive quarterly reports to the Senate Committee on Retirement detailing the amount of funds invested, a listing of each investment and with whom, the returns on each investment and the fees paid by the system for services related to that investment for the quarter and for the plan year to date, the methodology by which the fees are calculated, and to whom paid, commencing with the quarter beginning on July 1, 2017. For all private assets, the reported methodology shall not include any proprietary or trade secret information. This shall replace the reporting required pursuant to Senate Resolution No. 175 of the 2005 Regular Session of the Legislature.

    • Senate Retirement – Reported Favorably with Amendments
    • Senate Floor – Returned to Calendar; Subject to Call

    Author: Milkovich
    Position Taken: Not Yet Taken
    Status: Passed

    To urge and request each state retirement system to make the quarterly investment reports that are submitted pursuant to Senate Resolution No. 175 of the 2005 Regular Session available on their website.

    • Senate Floor – Passed

    2016 Legislative Session

    The 2016 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature resulted in the passage of some changes to the Plans administered by LASERS.

    Authorizes a COLA of up to 1.5 percent (based on the amount of funds available in the Experience Account) for LASERS retirees and beneficiaries.

    * Two COLA measures passed, but only one COLA of 1.5 percent was granted since the payment is based on the availability of funds in the Experience Account.

    Includes noninvestment related administrative expenses in calculating the required employer contribution rate.

    As amended: Clarifies provisions created in Act 399 of 2014; reduces the amortization period for actuarial gains and losses from 30 years to 20 years once the system is 70% funded (rather than 85% funded); and provides for the reamortization of schedules of gains and losses for the 2019 – 2020 fiscal year and every fifth fiscal year thereafter.

    Adds employees of the Chenier Plain Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority to LASERS. Requires Authority to adopt resolution by September 30, 2016, to implement. [The resolution was not adopted so this Act was not implemented.]

    Adds employees of the Iberia Parish Levee, Hurricane and Conservation District to LASERS. Requires District to adopt resolution by September 30, 2016, to implement. [The resolution was not adopted so this Act was not implemented.]

    Provides that actuarial notes for any bills prefiled at least 45 days prior to a regular session of the legislature shall be completed and filed at least five days prior to the convening of that session.

    Requires that actuarial notes include the estimated fiscal impact on governmental entities, including the effect on federal, state, and local funds.

    Requires the executive director of each of the state and statewide retirement systems to file annual personal financial disclosure statements.

    Requires the Legislative Auditor to prepare, at least every five years, comparative summaries of each system’s actuarial assumptions and funded ratio and the auditor’s findings as to the appropriateness of each system’s assumptions.

    As amended: Authorizes a COLA of up to 1.5 percent (based on the amount of funds available in the Experience Account) for LASERS retirees and beneficiaries.

    * Two COLA measures passed, but only one COLA of 1.5 percent was granted since the payment is based on the availability of funds in the Experience Account.

    Makes state museum police officers and state park wardens eligible for the Hazardous Duty Plan.

    As amended, replaces the Chairman of the House Retirement Committee with a member of the House Retirement Committee appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on each state and statewide retirement system board.

    (Constitutional Amendment & Statutory Change) Establishes the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund, to be funded by certain mineral revenue and certain corporate franchise and income taxes. May provide annual appropriations to pay the IUALs of LASERS and TRSL. Funds shall be allocated proportionally based on each system’s IUAL balance. Act 639 became effective upon adoption of Constitutional Amendment (contained in Act 679).

    Requests that the House Committee on Retirement study both the current and best practices in retirement system reporting standards and in adoption of actuarial assumptions and methods, to investigate past legislative improvements and the need for further improvement relative to state and statewide systems, and to report finding to the House of Representatives prior to the 2017 Regular Session.

    2015 Legislative Session

    The 2015 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature resulted in the passage of only a few changes to the Plans administered by LASERS.

    Effective June 5, 2015, for surviving children of Wildlife agents in the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, allows benefits to continue to age 23, so long as the child remains unmarried and is a full-time student.

    Effective June 19, 2015, appropriates about $2.7 million to LASERS to be applied to the initial unfunded liability of the System, as required by the State Constitution.

    Effective August 1, 2015, increases littering fines and distributes 50 percent of the fines to the retirement system of the law enforcement agency issuing the litter citation.

    2014 Legislative Session

    The 2014 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature resulted in the passage of a number of changes to the Plan administered by LASERS.

    Appropriates about $4.3 million in surplus funds to LASERS to be applied to the Initial Unfunded Accrued Liability of the system.

    Effective July 1, 2014, granted a 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment to eligible retirees and beneficiaries. A retiree was eligible for the COLA if, by June 30, 2014, they had been retired at least one year and were at least age 60, unless they were a disability retiree. The amount on which the COLA is based was limited to the first $96,931 of the member’s retirement benefit.

    Changes retirement eligibility to five years of service at age 62, for those hired on or after July 1, 2015. It does not apply to members of the Hazardous Duty Services Plan.

    Effective July 1, 2014, is a complex piece of legislation designed to direct more investment earnings to pay System debt and tie the granting of future COLAs to the funded level of the System. It applies not only to LASERS, but to the other state retirement systems. It will result in the value of only one COLA being placed in the Experience Account until the System is 80 percent funded. Excess earnings that were previously put into the Experience Account will be applied to System debt. COLAs will be limited to every other year until the System is 85 percent funded and will be limited to the first $60,000 of the retirement benefit (indexed to the CPI-U as of July 1, 2015). The amount of future COLAs will range from 1.5% to 3.0%, depending on the system funded level and investment returns, and limited by the CPI-U.

    Effective June 30, 2014, changes the actuarial funding method for LASERS from projected unit credit to entry age normal.

    Provides for enrollment of new hires of the Harbor Police Department of the Port of New Orleans in the LASERS Hazardous Duty Services Plan starting July 1, 2014. It also authorizes a cooperative endeavor agreement to transfer the administration of the Harbor Police Retirement System to LASERS, effective July 1, 2015, upon approval of the agreement by the Public Retirement Systems’ Actuarial Committee.

    Effective June 30, 2014, makes technical corrections dealing with the joint and survivor annuity option, the employee contribution rate for members working after DROP, and survivor benefits for physically handicapped and mentally disabled children.

    Provides enhanced retroactive retirement benefits to certain Adult Probation & Parole Officers employed prior to July 1, 2014. The benefits are funded through the Adult Probation & Parole Officer Retirement Fund.

    2013 Legislative Session

    Author: Harrison
    LASERS Opinion: Supported
    Status: Passed

    Suspends implementation of the provisions of the Cash Balance Plan to July 1, 2014.

    Author: Cortez
    LASERS Opinion: Supported

    The SCR companion resolution did not complete the process.

    Author: Barrow
    LASERS Opinion: Opposed
    Status: Failed

    Provides for a 25 years at any age retirement eligibility for employees of hospitals operated as part of the LSU Health Sciences Center which were subject to closures.

    Author: Pearson
    LASERS Opinion: Opposed
    Status: Failed

    Increases employee contribution rate for all members by two percent to pay the system’s unfunded accrued liability (UAL).  Provides for a 60-month final average compensation (FAC) and 15 percent anti-spiking for all LASERS members.

    Author: Badon
    LASERS Opinion: Opposed
    Status: Failed

    Provides for a “divided benefit” for members whose actual earnings in a calendar month are 30 percent or more above his average monthly earnings for the immediately preceding 12 months.

    Author: Pearson
    LASERS Opinion: Opposed
    Status: Failed

    Re-enacts the Cash Balance Plan and makes changes regarding membership, withdrawals, interest, transfers, reciprocals, disability and survivor benefits, reemployment, purchases and dual plan membership.

    Author: Guillory
    LASERS Opinion: Supported
    Status: Withdrawn

    Changes the LASERS actuarial funding method from projected unit credit to entry age normal. After amendments adding contingencies to the funding method change, the bill was withdrawn by the author.

    Author: Peacock
    LASERS Opinion: Opposed
    Status: Failed

    Provides for a 60-month FAC and 15% anti-spiking for all LASERS members.

    Author: Guillory
    LASERS Opinion: Opposed
    Status: Failed

    Increases employee contributions by three percent beginning July 1, 2013, provides for a 60-month FAC, and 15 percent anti-spiking for all LASERS Members.

    Author: Guillory
    LASERS Opinion: Supported
    Status: Failed

    Creates the State Retirement Fund and allocates two percent of revenue collections in excess of Fiscal Year 2011-2012 levels to the Fund for payment of the UAL and COLAs.

    2012 Legislative Session

    The 2012 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature was a very active one in terms of retirement legislation. Bills which would have made significant changes for current employees of LASERS, such as increasing the final average compensation period from 36 to 60 months, increasing employee contributions, and raising the retirement age to 67 did not pass. Measures that did pass are summarized below.

    Effective June 30, 2012, adds the Commissioner of Administration or his designee to the LASERS Board.

    Effective May 22, 2012, provides that designated legislative staff may attend executive sessions of meetings of state and statewide retirement system boards and committees.

    Effective July 1, 2012, adds employees of the Lafitte Area Independent Levee District to LASERS. This requires the governing body of the Levee District to adopt a resolution declaring the district a participating employer in LASERS on or before October 1, 2012.

    Effective upon approval of Act 868 by the voters, sets out the mechanism for the forfeiture of retirement benefits for members convicted of public corruption crimes. Such crimes are defined as those in which the member acted willing and in the course of scope of his public office and realized or attempted to realize financial gain or involved a criminal sexual act with a minor.

    The forfeiture provisions will apply to public employees or elected officials hired/rehired on or after January 1, 2013, and to benefits earned on or after January 1, 2013. The sentencing court will determine if the conviction warrants forfeiture or garnishment and whether benefits should be paid to the member’s spouse, dependent, or former spouse.

    Creates a Cash Balance Plan for all nonhazardous duty LASERS members whose first employment making them eligible for membership in a state system occurs on or after July 1, 2013.

    Effective August 31, 2012, increases the educational requirements for the LASERS Board. This measure also provides that a member who joined the Optional Retirement Plan before December 31, 2007, may regain membership in the defined benefit plan.

    Provides that a portion of certain sales and use taxes shall be allocated to the Unfunded Accrued Liability and Specialized Educational Institutions Support Fund. This may provide additional payments against the UAL.

    Effective upon passage of constitutional amendment by the voters on November 6, 2012, allows for the forfeiture of all or part of the benefits from a public retirement system by any member convicted of a felony associated with and committed during public service.

    Effective upon passage of constitutional amendment by the voters on November 6, 2012, provides that all retirement bills that are required to be pre-filed must be pre-filed by the 45th calendar day prior to the first day of a regular session. It would also require that public notice of retirement bills be published at least 60 days prior to introduction.

    Directs the House and Senate Committees on Retirement to study alternative funding methods for COLAs for retired members of the state retirement systems.

    2011 Legislative Session

    (SB 9) allows members of LASERS to purchase service credit (Air Time) for purposes of retirement eligibility.

    (HB 404) provides for the purchase of credit for certain federal service by LASERS members with at least one year of service credit. The member must have been a contributing member of a retirement plan for federal employees and must pay the greater of the actuarial cost or the employee and employer contributions plus interest. A lump sum payment is required.

    (HB 571) makes changes to Act 992 of the 2010 Regular Session. Specific changes include:

    • Clarifies that survivor benefits for handicapped or mentally disabled children do not cease when the child reaches 18
    • Provides that a person who has participated in DROP or is a rehired retiree under Option 1 or 3 is not eligible for the HAZ PLAN
    • Provides that a HAZ PLAN member who does not meet eligibility under that plan may retire with five years at age 60 with rank-and-file benefits at the 2.5 percent accrual rate
    • Provides that HAZ PLAN members may retire with an IBO and select the self-funded COLA
    • Provides that a member who joins the HAZ PLAN but does not transfer prior service must pay any actuarial cost resulting to the system
    • Clarifies that an employee who was in a hazardous duty service plan prior to December 31, 2010, who earns service in a hazardous duty position after January 1, 2011, may consider the service earned as covered by that plan.

    (HB 377), relative to state and statewide retirement systems, provides with respect to earnable compensation and service credit for any member of such a system elected to the legislature. Any legislator who is eligible for LASERS who is elected on or after July 1, 2011, will receive a two percent accrual rate for legislative service earned after that date. The change will not apply to anyone serving in the legislature on June 30, 2011.

    (HB 384), which was the subject of a Constitutional Amendment passed on October 22, 2011, and Act 357 (HB 435) provide that a minimum of nonrecurring revenue be applied toward reducing the balance of the unfunded accrued liability of the LASERS and TRSL retirement systems. For fiscal years 2013-14 and 2014-15, a minimum of five percent should be applied, with a minimum of 10 percent applied for future years.

    2010 Legislative Session

    (HB 96) creates the “State Employee Retired” license plate. A minimum of 1,000 applicants are required before plates are issued. An initial $25 fee would be paid to LASERS for the purpose of paying down the unfunded accrued liability (UAL) of the system.  [These plates have never been issued.]

    (HB 517) clarifies that a 9.5 percent employee contribution rate applies for the Sergeant-at-Arms of House and Senate, the Clerk of the House, and Secretary of the Senate.

    (HB 518) clarifies the definition of “accumulated contributions” to include all amounts paid by a member excluding interest paid on the repayment of a refund.

    (HB 746) clarifies the method of calculation of 20 year actuarially reduced retirement for members who are in state service versus out of state service.

    (HB 1142) makes changes requested by the LASERS Board of Trustees to conform to statutory provisions with Internal Revenue Code requirements.

    (SB 13) allows garnishment of Louisiana public retirement pension benefits of an elected official or other public employee to pay fines, restitution, or expenses of incarceration, for a felony associated with his office. Garnishment shall not impinge on community property interests. Applies to felonies committed on or after July 1, 2010.

    (SB 134) makes changes to the meeting schedule and support for the Public Retirement Systems’ Actuarial Committee (PRSAC) and requires reports to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

    (HB 1460) allows LASERS to make payments to a trust created for a child who is beneficiary of retirement benefits.

    (HB 1337) changes the benefit structure for LASERS members hired after January 1, 2011. For LASERS, it results in three plans: hazardous duty, rank-and- file, and judges. Rank-and-file includes members who previously had specialty plans, other than judges. Implements 60 month FAC and five years at age 60 retirement eligibility for non-hazardous duty members along with 20 years at any age actuarially reduced retirement. Employee contribution rate is eight percent for rank and file, 9.5 percent for HAZ PLAN members, and 13 percent for judges.

    (SB 594) amends the “prudent man” standard to require various considerations before investments are made and requires quarterly reports to be electronically submitted to Retirement Committees.

    (SB 704) provides relative to military service credit and compliance with USERRA.

    (HB 748) requires calculation of normal cost of retirement benefits to be segregated by subgroups of members and changes in liability to be attributed to each subgroup so that employer contributions are individualized.

    (HB 229), which passed as a Constitutional Amendment in the November 2, 2010 election, requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to enact any changes to public retirement provisions having an actuarial cost.