Subchapter III. Financing and Administration

TITLE 29

State Government

Public Officers and Employees

CHAPTER 55A. COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL PENSION PLAN

Subchapter III. Financing and Administration

§ 5591. Member contributions.

(a) Effective January 1, 2006, employee contributions to the Fund shall be 3% of total annual compensation in excess of $6,000. In no event shall total compensation during any calendar year in excess of $6,000 be exempt from contributions.

(b) An employee can purchase service credit or repay a withdrawal benefit using a rollover distribution from:

(1) A direct rollover of an eligible rollover distribution from:

a. A qualified plan described in § 401(a) [26 U.S.C. § 401(a)] of the United States Internal Revenue Code;

b. An annuity contract described in § 403(b) [26 U.S.C. § 403(b)] of the United States Internal Revenue Code; or

c. An eligible plan under § 457(b) [26 U.S.C. § 457(b)] of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

(2) A participant contribution of an eligible rollover distribution from:

a. A qualified plan described in § 401(a) [26 U.S.C. § 401(a)] of the United States Internal Revenue Code;

b. An annuity contract described in § 403(b) [26 U.S.C. § 403(b)] of the United States Internal Revenue Code; or

c. An eligible plan under § 457(b) [26 U.S.C. § 457(b)] of the United States Internal Revenue Code.

(3) A participant rollover contribution of the portion of a distribution from an individual retirement account or annuity described in § 408 [26 U.S.C. § 408] of the United States Internal Revenue Code that is eligible to be rolled over and would otherwise be includible in gross income."

62 Del. Laws, c. 398, § 1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1; 73 Del. Laws, c. 419, §§ 2, 3; 75 Del. Laws, c. 132, § 3.;

§ 5592. Employer contributions.

The contribution of an employer for each fiscal year shall be the percentage of covered payroll approved by the Board on the basis of the most recent actuarial valuation, and shall equal:

(1) The normal cost; plus

(2) Adjustments for actuarial gains and losses or increases in benefits adopted on or subsequent to participation; plus

(3) Administrative costs.

62 Del. Laws, c. 398, § 1.;

§ 5593. Establishment of Fund.

There shall be established a County and Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "Fund," separate and distinct from the Fund established under Chapter 55 of this title, to which county or municipal appropriations and other employer contributions shall be deposited monthly, and to which member contributions shall be deposited upon deduction from the member's paycheck, and to which earnings on investments, refunds and reimbursements shall be deposited upon receipt, and from which benefits shall be paid and fees and expenses authorized by the Board shall be paid. Subject to Internal Revenue Code § 401(a)(24) [26 U.S.C. § 401(a)(24)], the assets of the Fund will be commingled in the Delaware Public Employees' Retirement System as provided for by § 8308 of this title. The assets of the Fund are held in trust and may not be used for or diverted to any purpose other than for the exclusive benefit of the employees and their beneficiaries.

67 Del. Laws, c. 86, § 18; 71 Del. Laws, c. 121, § 8; 76 Del. Laws, c. 279, § 8.;

§ 5594. Employer pickup of member contributions.

(a) Each participating employer, pursuant to the provisions of § 414(h)(2) of the United States Internal Revenue Code [26 U.S.C. § 414(h)(2)], shall pick up and pay the contributions which would otherwise be payable by the members under § 5591 of this title. The contributions so picked up shall be treated as employer contributions for purposes of determining the amounts of federal income taxes to withhold from the member's compensation.

(b) Member contributions picked up by the employer shall be paid from the same source of funds used for the payment of compensation to a member. A deduction shall be made from each member's compensation equal to the amount of the member's contributions picked up by the employer. This deduction, however, shall not reduce the member's compensation for purposes of computing benefits under the retirement system pursuant to this chapter.

(c) Member contributions shall be credited to a separate account within the member's individual account so that the amount contributed prior to the effective date for the pickup of member contributions may be distinguished from the amounts contributed on or after the effective date.

(d) The contributions, although designated as employee contributions, are being paid by the employer in lieu of the contributions by the employee. The employee will not be given the option of choosing to receive the contributed amounts directly instead of having them paid by the employer to the retirement system.

68 Del. Laws, c. 358, § 2.;

§ 5595. Payment of benefits.

Benefits shall be due and payable under this chapter only to the extent provided in this chapter, and neither the State nor the County and Municipal Employees' Retirement Fund shall be liable for any amount in excess of such sums.

71 Del. Laws, c. 132, § 89.;