August 2020 2020 Regular Session update Lawmakers okay major changes to return-to-work (RTW) requirements The 2020 Regular Session lasted from March 9 through June 1, with a month-long hiatus associated with the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Throughout the session, TRSL monitored 24 pieces of legislation that would have impacted the retirement system and its members. In the end, two bills and four resolutions impacting TRSL passed, including a bill with significant changes for employers that hire TRSL retirees. New RTW Law creates two groups of RTW retirees Act 337 of 2020 enacted La. R.S. 11:710.1. With passage of this new law, there are now two groups of RTW retirees subject to two different laws. 2010 RTW Group (subject to the 2010 RTW Law – La. R.S. 11:710) Retirees who returned to work for a TRSL-reporting employer before July 1, 2020 Retirees who retired on or before June 30, 2010 (grandfathered group) 2020 RTW Group (subject to the 2020 RTW Law – La. R.S. 11:710.1) Retirees who returned to work for a TRSL-reporting employer for the first time on or after July 1, 2020 Retirees in the 2010 RTW Group who make an irrevocable election to be in the 2020 RTW Group  Need a refresher on the new RTW law? Review this overview we shared with you earlier this summer. RTW resources UPDATED RTW MATERIALS: Visit the website for all RTW resources Brochure: Returning to Work after Retirement (revised brochure coming soon) Employer Procedures Manual: Index 15.0 and Index 15.1 (coming soon) New forms: Return-to-Work (RTW) of TRSL Retiree – La. R.S. 11:710.1 (Form 15ELEC) and Application for Return-to-Work (RTW) Supplement (Form 11RTW) WATCH RTW WEBINAR: Webinars on the 2020 RTW law were held in July. If you missed them, click here to watch one on demand and here to view a PDF of the presentation. GET RTW HELP: Email TRSL’s RTW specialist, Jessica Trosclair. Other legislation that passed Supplemental payment to UAL: Act 255 (House Bill 307), sponsored by Rep. Jerome Zeringue, makes a $36.7 million supplemental appropriation to the TRSL initial unfunded accrued liability (IUAL) from a portion of the FY 2018-19 surplus funds in the state treasury. Permanent benefit increases (PBIs): Senate Resolution 15 (Sen. Ed Price) and House Resolution 21 (Rep. Lance Harris) request the four state retirement systems work together to report to the legislature on alternative methods for providing permanent benefit increases (PBIs) to retirees in future years. Social Security offsets: House Concurrent Resolution 9 (Rep. Mike Johnson) and Senate Concurrent Resolution 34 (Sen. Beth Mizell) ask Congress to consider eliminating or reducing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) Social Security benefit reductions. Visit the “Legislation” page of www.TRSL.org for more information. Virtual employer training coming soon In the past, TRSL Employer Services staff have made site visits to assist agencies with training and reporting. However this fall, to keep both you and our staff safe in the face of COVID-19 restrictions, we will be offering virtual training opportunities. You’ll be able to schedule training and assistance appointments with us through the online meeting platform, GoToWebinar. We’ll send out a Special Bulletin when we begin scheduling sessions. Until that time, don’t forget your TRSL liaisons—they are your everyday employer resource for assistance with reporting requirements and questions. Click here to find your TRSL Liaisons. In the meantime, check out our employer webinars... If you just need a refresher on some TRSL topics or reporting procedures, you can still check out our existing catalog of employer-specific webinars on a variety of TRSL training topics. We offer topics such as eligibility and enrollments, online processes, and sick leave certification. And, you can register to participate live or view them on demand. To view pre-recorded webinars, click here To view upcoming topics and register, click here  Although the TRSL office building is still closed to the public, we continue to provide service to you and our members through phone, email, and online channels, like EMIS and Member Access. We will let you know as soon as on-site services, such as employer training and in-person counseling, are scheduled to resume. Both members and employers can continue to submit documents through normal delivery methods, including mail, email, or fax. You can keep up with the latest announcements regarding building reopening guidelines, as well as access all TRSL contact information, on the COVID-19 page of our website. New employees to enroll? Use this handy "to-do" list Remember, employees who are eligible for membership in TRSL must be enrolled within 60 days of employment. [LSA-R.S. 11:722] Social Security notice Have employee complete Statement Concerning Your Employment in a Job Not Covered  by Social Security (Form 2SS). Mail completed form to TRSL. (Plan B members are exempt.) Forfeiture notice Have employee complete Forfeiture of Retirement Benefits –Attestation of Understanding (Form 2FRB). Retain this document in the employee’s file. Beneficiary designation Provide employee a Beneficiary Designation for Non-Retired Members (Form 3) to complete and designate beneficiaries for his/her TRSL contributions. The employee is responsible for mailing the completed form to TRSL. (Refer to Index 3 for beneficiary information.) If your agency does submit these forms on behalf of employees, it’s important that you do so in a timely manner. Other documents Send supporting documentation  to TRSL, if available: Copy of member’s birth certificate (Write member’s SSN on each copy.) Copy of member’s Social Security card Copies of beneficiary’s birth certificates and SS cards (if available) NOTE: Do not hold enrollment applications if supporting documents are not available. All TRSL forms are available as fillable PDFs at www.TRSL.org.

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