KRS § 161.550 — KY Code / Title XIII / Chapter 161 / Section 161.550
161.550 Contribution to system by employers and state -- Contributions to pension, medical insurance, and life insurance funds
Status: in_force

161.550 Contribution to system by employers and state -- Contributions to pension,

medical insurance, and life insurance funds.

(1) Each employer, except as provided in KRS 161.552 and 161.555, shall contribute

annually to the Teachers' Retirement System a permanent employer contribution

rate on behalf of each employee it employs equal to:

(a) Thirteen and one hundred five thousandths percent (13.105%) of the total

annual compensation of nonuniversity members who become members prior

to July 1, 2008. Of this permanent employer contribution rate:

1. Twelve and three hundred fifty-five thousandths percent (12.355%) of

the total annual compensation shall be used to fund pension and life

insurance benefits; and

2. Except as provided in KRS 161.552, three-quarters of a percent (0.75%)

of annual compensation shall be used to provide funding to the medical

insurance fund as provided under KRS 161.420(5). If the board of

trustees establishes a trust fund under 26 U.S.C. sec. 115, the board may

deposit the employer contribution provided in this subparagraph in that

trust fund except as provided in KRS 161.552;

(b) Fourteen and one hundred five thousandths percent (14.105%) of the total

annual compensation of nonuniversity members who become members on or

after July 1, 2008, but prior to January 1, 2022. Of this permanent employer

contribution rate:

1. Thirteen and three hundred fifty-five thousandths percent (13.355%) of

the total annual compensation shall be used to fund pension and life

insurance benefits; and

2. Except as provided in KRS 161.552, three-quarters of a percent (0.75%)

of annual compensation shall be used to provide funding to the medical

insurance fund as provided under KRS 161.420(5). If the board of

trustees establishes a trust fund under 26 U.S.C. sec. 115, the board may

deposit the employer contribution provided in this subparagraph in that

trust fund except as provided in KRS 161.552;

(c) Thirteen and sixty-five hundredths percent (13.65%) of the total annual

compensation of university members who become members prior to January

1, 2022. Of this permanent employer contribution rate:

1. Ten and eight hundred seventy-five thousandths percent (10.875%) of

the total annual compensation shall be used to fund pension and life

insurance benefits; and

2. Except as provided in KRS 161.552, two and seven hundred seventy-

five thousandths percent (2.775%) of annual compensation shall be used

to provide funding to the medical insurance fund as provided under KRS

161.420(5). If the board of trustees establishes a trust fund under 26

U.S.C. sec. 115, the board may deposit the employer contribution

provided in this subparagraph in that trust fund except as provided in

KRS 161.552;

(d) Ten and three-quarters percent (10.75%) of the total annual compensation of

nonuniversity members who become members on or after January 1, 2022. Of

this permanent employer contribution rate:

1. Eight percent (8%) of the total annual compensation shall be used to

fund pension and life insurance benefits. The contribution provided by

this subparagraph shall not be used to fund the supplemental benefit

account as provided by KRS 161.635;

2. Two percent (2%) of the total annual compensation shall be used to fund

the mandatory employer contribution of the supplemental benefit

component, except that the board may direct these contributions on a

prospective basis into the pension and life insurance funds to contain

costs within the provisions of KRS 161.633; and

3. Except as provided in KRS 161.552, three-quarters of one percent

(0.75%) of annual compensation shall be used to provide funding to the

medical insurance fund as provided under KRS 161.420(5). If the board

of trustees establishes a trust fund under 26 U.S.C. sec. 115, the board

may deposit the employer contribution provided in this subdivision in

that trust fund except as provided in KRS 161.552; and

(e) Nine and seven hundred seventy-five thousandths percent (9.775%) of total

annual compensation of university members who become members on or after

January 1, 2022. Of this permanent employer contribution rate:

1. Five and seven hundred seventy-five thousandths percent (5.775%) of

the total annual compensation shall be used to fund pension and life

insurance benefits. The contribution provided by this subparagraph shall

not be used to fund the supplemental benefit account as provided by

KRS 161.636;

2. Two percent (2%) of the total annual compensation shall be used to fund

the mandatory employer contribution of the supplemental benefit

component, except that the board may direct these contributions on a

prospective basis into the pension and life insurance funds to contain

costs within the provisions of KRS 161.634; and

3. Except as provided in KRS 161.552, two percent (2%) of annual

compensation shall be used to provide funding to the medical insurance

fund as provided under KRS 161.420(5). If the board of trustees

establishes a trust fund under 26 U.S.C. sec. 115, the board may deposit

the employer contribution provided in this subparagraph in that trust

fund except as provided in KRS 161.552.

(2) In addition to the required contributions in subsection (1) of this section, the state

shall contribute annually to the Teachers' Retirement System a percentage of the

total salaries of the state-funded and federally funded members it employs to pay

the cost of health insurance coverage for retirees who are not eligible for Medicare

and who retire on or after July 1, 2010, less the amounts that are otherwise required

to be paid by the retirees under KRS 161.675. The board shall deposit funds in the

medical insurance fund unless the board of trustees has established a trust fund

under 26 U.S.C. sec. 115 for this purpose. In this case, the board may deposit the

employer contribution in that trust fund. This contribution shall be known as the

state medical insurance fund stabilization contribution. The percentage to be

contributed by the state under this subsection:

(a) Shall be determined by the retirement system's actuary for each biennial

budget period;

(b) May be suspended or adjusted by the General Assembly if in its judgment the

welfare of the Commonwealth so demands; and

(c) Shall not exceed the lesser of the actual benefit cost for retirees not eligible

for Medicare who retire on or after July 1, 2010, or the amount contributed by

employers under subsection (3) of this section.

(3) All employers who employ nonuniversity members shall make a contribution for

each payroll on behalf of their active employees who participate in the Teachers'

Retirement System in an amount equal to three percent (3%) of payroll of those

active employees. Except as provided in KRS 161.552, the contribution specified

by this subsection shall be used to fund retiree health benefits.

(4) When the funds established to actuarially fund pension annuities and the medical

insurance fund established under KRS 161.420 become fully funded as determined

by the annual actuarial valuation, the board of trustees shall recommend to the

General Assembly that the contributions required under subsections (1)(c)2. and

(e)3. and (3) of this section shall, in an actuarially accountable manner, be either

decreased, suspended, or eliminated. The decrease, suspension, or elimination in

contributions required under subsection (1)(c)2. of this section shall not exceed two

and twenty-five thousandths percent (2.025%) of annual compensation. The

decrease, suspension, or elimination in contributions required under subsection

(1)(e)3. of this section shall not exceed one and twenty-five hundredths percent

(1.25%) of annual compensation.

(5) Each employer shall remit the required employer contributions to the retirement

system under the terms and conditions specified for member contributions under

KRS 161.560. The state shall provide annual appropriations based upon estimated

funds needed to meet the requirements of KRS 161.155, 161.168, 161.507(4),

161.515, 161.545, 161.605, 161.612, and 161.620(1), (3), (5), (6), and (7). In the

event an annual appropriation is less than the amount of these requirements, the

state shall make up the deficit in the next biennium budget appropriation to the

retirement system. Employer contributions to the retirement system are for the

exclusive purpose of providing benefits to members and annuitants and these

contributions shall be considered deferred compensation to the members. This

subsection shall not apply to costs applicable to individuals who become members

on or after January 1, 2022.