Cover Letter for ERIP Legislation
I
am filing for your consideration, “An Act Providing for an Employee Retirement
Incentive Program”.
The
primary goal of the Employee Retirement Incentive Program (or “ERIP”) will be
to help reduce the state’s payroll, while minimizing the number of employees
who are involuntarily laid off. Effectively implementing an early retirement
program is a more responsible way to reduce the state’s payroll.
Key
provisions of the proposed ERIP legislation are as follows:
- In order to be eligible to receive the benefit of the ERIP, an employee must be:
- an executive department employee (The program is available only to persons
employed by an Executive Office of the Commonwealth, as defined by G. L. c. 6A,
s. 2, or by any agency, bureau, department, office, or division of the
Commonwealth within or reporting to such an Executive Office of the
Commonwealth);
- a Group 1 member of the state retirement system; and
- vested with a minimum of 20 years of service or at least 55 years of age on the
employee’s date of retirement.
- Each participating employee shall receive up to five years of creditable service or
years of age, or a combination of both that adds up to five years, for the
purpose of determining his or her retirement benefit pursuant to G. L. c. 32, s.
5(a)(2). Notwithstanding the available five year credit, no employee shall be
entitled to an annual retirement benefit greater than 80 percent of the average
annual rate of his or her regular compensation at the time of retirement as
provided by G. L. c. 32, s. 5.
- There will be a deferred payout mechanism for accrued vacation time and unpaid sick
leave and similar benefits for any employee who elects to participate in the
ERIP.
- An employee wishing to participate in the ERIP must file an application for
retirement with the State Retirement Board between April 6, 2015 and May 29,
2015.
- An employee participating in the ERIP must retire no later than June 30, 2015.
The
Baker-Polito Administration expects the ERIP to generate approximately $177,900,000
net operating budget savings in fiscal year 2016, after paying for all costs
sustained in fiscal year 2016, including a payment to defray the additional
unfunded liability resulting from implementing this program. This calculation
assumes that 4,500 eligible employees choose to participate in the ERIP.
Prompt
consideration and passage of this legislation is a crucial part of the
Baker-Polito approach to the fiscal year 2016 budget, and I ask you to consider
it promptly.
Charles D. Baker, Governor