Enacted 2019 PERS legislation

HB 2016

Release Time for Tier One/Tier Two members
Tier One/Tier Two public employees who are designated representatives of their labor organizations will accrue PERS retirement credit when they take a leave to conduct labor organization business, called "release time."

HB 2118

Consumer Price Index
Updates connection date to federal Internal Revenue Code and other provisions of federal tax law. Identifies a revenue stream for Employer Incentive Fund and School Districts Unfunded Liability Fund.

Text of HB 2118

HB 2196

Oregon Military Department P&F Job Class
The Oregon Military Department (OMD) currently employs 41 people whose primary duty is to fight fires and who work on airbases in Portland and Klamath Falls. Prior to approval of HB 2196, these employees were not eligible for participation as P&F in PERS. However, on several levels, these employees were mistakenly reported as P&F and OMD made PERS contributions at the firefighter rate. HB 2196 clarifies that employees of the OMD whose primary duty is fighting structural, aircraft, wildland, or other fires are eligible for PERS participation as a firefighter before, on, or after the bill’s effective date so long as OMD made the required PERS contributions.

Text of HB 2196

HB 2417

Tier One/Tier Two Pre-Retirement Survivor Death Benefits
Provides an alternative method to calculate the death benefit for certain Tier One or Tier Two PERS members who die before retirement. This alternative is only available if the designated beneficiary is the deceased member's spouse and the member was still employed by a participating employer or is within 120 days of termination. The alternative death benefit established in this bill is in lieu of the death benefit provided under ORS 238.390 and 238.395(1) and is 50 percent of the pension that would otherwise have been paid to the deceased member. The member’s spouse must notify the board in writing of an election no later than 60 days after the date of death of the member.

The bill applies only to members who pass away after the effective date.

Text of HB 2417

HB 2972

Harney County Health District Alternative Retirement Plan and Work After Retirement Hour Exemption
Extends sunset on provisions allowing retired member of Public Employees Retirement System to be reemployed by participating public employer as teacher of career and technical education without loss of retirement benefits. Allows Tier One and Tier Two retirees employed by a school district or an education service district as a CTE teacher to work unlimited hours without loss of retirement benefits through June 30, 2023.

Text of HB 2972

HB 3007

Terminology Change in PERS Statutes from “an Affidavit” to “a Small Estate Affidavit”
Clarifies process for use of small estate affidavit in probate proceedings involving estates with less than $75,000 in personal property and $200,000 in real property. Specifies that the fair market value of the estate is determined at the time of the death of the decedent or, if the date of death is more than one year before the date of filing, then within 45 days of the filing. Prohibits use of the affidavit if the person would be disqualified from acting as a personal representative or if the person has been convicted of a felony in Oregon or other jurisdiction.

The bill applies to deeds executed and decedents who die on or after the bill’s effective date.

Text of HB 3007

HB 3146

Terminology Change in PERS Statutes from “Inmate” to “Adult in Custody
Replaces the term "inmate" with "adult in custody" throughout Oregon statute.

Text of HB 3146

SB 213

Federal Tax Law
Updates the year to 2018 on all PERS statutory provisions that references the Internal Revenue Code.

Text of SB 213

SB 576

Tier One/Tier Two Retirees Employed as Campus Security Officers at Institutions of Higher Education
Allows employment of PERS retirees as special campus security officers without hour limitations. Also, establishes Kaylee's Law: applies limitations to private security professionals and special campus safety officers employed at institutions of higher education.

Text of SB 576

SB 1049

Changes to Member Contributions and Amortization of UAL (Unfunded Actuarial Liability)
Learn about SB 1049 on PERS’ SB 1049 information pages for members and employers.

Text of SB 1049