Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 495 - Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System › Chapter 4 - Employers › Rule 495-4.1 - Covered Employers

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1)
Definition.
All public employers in the state of Iowa, its
			 cities, counties, townships, agencies, political subdivisions,
			 instrumentalities and public schools are required to participate in IPERS. For
			 the purposes of these rules, the following definitions also apply:
a.
"Political subdivision"
means a geographic area or territorial division of the state which has
			 responsibility for certain governmental functions. Political subdivisions are
			 characterized by public election of officers and taxing powers. The following
			 examples are representative: cities, municipalities, counties, townships,
			 schools and school districts, drainage and levee districts, and
			 utilities.
b.
"Instrumentality of the state or a political subdivision"
means an independent entity that is organized to carry on some specific
			 function of government. Public instrumentalities are created by some form of
			 governmental body, including federal and state statutes and regulations, and
			 are characterized by being under the control of a governmental body. Such
			 control may include final budgetary authorization, general policy development,
			 appointment of a board by a governmental body, and allocation of
			 funds.
c.
"Public
			 agency"
means state agencies and agencies of political subdivisions.
			 Representative examples include an executive board, commission, bureau,
			 division, office, or department of the state or a political
			 subdivision.
d. Effective July 1,
			 1994, the definition of employer includes an area agency on aging that does not
			 offer an alternative plan to all of its employees that is qualified under the
			 federal Internal Revenue Code.
Covered employers include, but are not limited to: the state of
				Iowa and its administrative agencies; counties, including their hospitals and
				county homes; cities, including their hospitals, park boards and commissions;
				recreation commissions; townships; public libraries; cemetery associations;
				municipal utilities including waterworks, gasworks, electric light and power;
				school districts including their lunch and activity programs; state colleges
				and universities; and state hospitals and institutions.
An entity not already reporting to IPERS which meets the
				conditions for becoming an IPERS-covered employer shall immediately contact
				IPERS to provide notice which includes the name and address of the entity and
				other information required by IPERS. If, after review of this information,
				IPERS determines that the entity should be enrolled as a covered employer,
				IPERS will notify the entity and provide an IPERS account number for the entity
				to use when submitting information. IPERS shall not be required to provide
				benefits otherwise available under Iowa Code chapter 97B for periods of service
				prior to the effective date for which IPERS actually approves the entity for
				coverage, unless the employer agrees to pay the full actuarial cost of
				providing such benefits.
An employer may request a revised beginning date for its status
				as a covered employer. The employer must submit acceptable proof to IPERS that
				its status as a covered employer began earlier than the date previously
				provided. In such case, the employer shall provide IPERS coverage retroactively
				to all employees providing services to that employer on or after the revised
				beginning date and shall pay all actuarial costs.