Hi, there.
As you know, we launched our brand new Employer Services Department in September to serve you better. Today, we're launching a completely overhauled version of The Key, our employer bulletin.
The Key is now delivered right to your inbox with timely, concise content. Take a look around and let us know what you think, suggest story ideas, or just say hello at web.master@trsl.org
We hope you like it as much as we do,
Your colleagues at TRSL
Annual employer training
Bring your laptop to TRSL's annual employer training and walk through reporting procedures right along with us!
Sessions will be held at TRSL from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Fourth Floor of the Louisiana Retirement Systems Building
  • Monday, March 16 - K-12 employers
  • Tuesday, March 17 - State agencies
  • Wednesday, March 18 - Charter schools
  • Thursday, March 19 - Higher education employers
View our complete schedule and register online for any of our upcoming workshops.
Contact retire.edu@trsl.org with any questions.
NEW compensation and contribution limits
As in previous years, the IRS has raised the annual earnable compensation and contribution limits used to calculate benefits payable to members of tax-qualified plans like TRSL. 
Limits for calendar year 2015
  • Members who joined TRSL on or after July 1, 1996 - Compensation limit increased from $260,000 to $265,000
  • Members who joined TRSL before July 1, 1996 - Compensation limit increased from $385,000 to $395,000
  • Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) participants - Contribution limit increased from $52,000 to $53,000 (includes both employer and employee contributions to ORP carrier)
A few things to remember:
  • Cash housing allowances are considered earnable compensation and are included in the compensation limits.
  • Earnable compensation also includes any payments made to 401k, 403b, or 457 accounts on behalf of an employee by the employer.
  • If contributions are made on earnings in excess of the compensation or contribution limits, TRSL will credit the employer account with applicable contributions; it is the employer's responsibility to refund the employee contributions to the member.
If you have questions about compensation limits, contact Venetia Clark at 225-925-6446, ext. 6462. If outside the Baton Rouge area, call toll -free at 877-ASK-TRSL (877-275--8775), ext. 6462.
TRSL members and military service
In accordance with the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), TRSL members performing military service have the following two options:   
  • Accrue service credit while deployed by paying applicable employee unsheltered contributions and having their employer remit the employee and employer contributions OR
  • Purchase the service credit upon returning from military service
Members who do not choose to purchase or accrue service credit by paying contributions are still eligible to receive service credit for eligibility purposes for time deployed, should they meet all USERRA eligibility requirements.
If you have any members who have returned from military leave under USERRA, please email a copy of their Form DD‐214 to Jeff George and include the following in your message:
  1. Last date of employment before military leave started
  2. Date of re‐employment upon returning from military duties
TRSL cannot update a member's service credit for eligibility purposes without this information.
Eligibility requirements for USERRA
  • Member returned to TRSL‐covered employment within 90 days after discharge from military duties. (Date of re‐employment must be on or after October 12, 1994.)
  • Member did not change TRSL employers immediately before and after military service.
  • Member received an honorable discharge from military service.
  • Timeframe to purchase service credit is four years, or three times the period of eligible military service, whichever is greater (not to exceed five years).
Need training for new staff?
Let TRSL's new Employer Services Department provide you with comprehensive or topic-specific training:
  • Eligibility and enrollments
  • Monthly reporting and salary corrections
  • Employer payments and accounts
  • Return-to-work reporting
We can also provide support in collecting required member data, like sick leave, and clearing outstanding questionable years reports. This type of assistance usually involves several on-site visits.
Interested? Contact Heather Landry (ext. 7093) or Sharon Lachney (ext. 4097) at 225-925-6446 or toll free (outside the Baton Rouge are) at 877-ASK-TRSL (877-275--8775).
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