New Jersey § 18a:66-18

§ 18a:66-18.

The contingent reserve fund shall be the fund in which shall be credited contributions

made by the State and other employers. a. Upon the basis of the tables recommended by the actuary which the board of trustees

adopts and regular interest, the actuary of the board shall compute annually, beginning

as of March 31, 1992, the amount of contribution which shall be the normal cost as

computed under the projected unit credit method attributable to service rendered under

the retirement system for the year beginning on July 1 immediately succeeding the

date of the computation. This shall be known as the “normal contribution.” b. Upon the basis of the tables recommended by the actuary which the board of trustees

adopts and regular interest, the actuary of the board shall annually determine if

there is an amount of the accrued liability of the retirement system, computed under

the projected unit credit method, including the liability for pension adjustment benefits

for active employees funded pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1987, c. 385 ( C.18A:66-18.1 ), which is not already covered by the assets of the retirement system, valued in

accordance with the asset valuation method established in this section. This shall be known as the “unfunded accrued liability.” If there was no unfunded accrued liability for the valuation period immediately preceding

the current valuation period, the actuary, using the total amount of this unfunded

accrued liability, shall compute the initial amount of contribution which, if paid

annually in level dollars for a specific period of time, will amortize this liability. The State Treasurer shall determine, upon the advice of the Director of the Division

of Pensions and Benefits, the board of trustees and the actuary, the time period for

full funding of this liability, which shall not exceed 30 years. This shall be known as the “accrued liability contribution.” Thereafter, any increase or decrease in the unfunded accrued liability as a result

of actuarial losses or gains for subsequent valuation years shall serve to increase

or decrease, respectively, the amortization period for the unfunded accrued liability,

unless an increase in the amortization period will cause it to exceed 30 years. If an increase in the amortization period as a result of actuarial losses for a

valuation year would exceed 30 years, the accrued liability contribution shall be

computed for the valuation year in the same manner provided for the computation of

the initial accrued liability contribution under this section. Beginning with the July 1, 2019 actuarial valuation, the accrued liability contribution

shall be computed so that if the contribution is paid annually in level dollars, it

will amortize this unfunded accrued liability over a closed 30-year period. Beginning with the July 1, 2029 actuarial valuation, when the remaining amortization

period reaches 20 years, any increase or decrease in the unfunded accrued liability

as a result of actuarial losses or gains for subsequent valuation years shall serve

to increase or decrease, respectively, the amortization period for the unfunded accrued

liability, unless an increase in the amortization period will cause it to exceed 20

years. If an increase in the amortization period as a result of actuarial losses for a

valuation year would exceed 20 years, the accrued liability contribution shall be

computed for the valuation year in the same manner provided for the computation of

the initial accrued liability contribution under this section. The State may pay all or any portion of its unfunded accrued liability under the retirement

system from any source of funds legally available for the purpose, including, without

limitation, the proceeds of bonds authorized by law for this purpose. The value of the assets , excluding the special asset value set forth in section 38 of P.L.2010, c. 1 ( C.43:3C-14 ), to be used in the computation of the contributions provided for under this section

for valuation periods shall be the value of the assets for the preceding valuation

period increased by the regular interest rate, plus the net cash flow for the valuation

period (the difference between the benefits and expenses paid by the system and the

contributions to the system) increased by one half of the regular interest rate, plus

20% of the difference between this expected value and the full market value of the

assets as of the end of the valuation period. This shall be known as the “valuation assets.” Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, the valuation assets for the

valuation period ending March 31, 1996 shall be the full market value of the assets

as of that date and shall include the proceeds from the bonds issued pursuant to the

“Pension Bond Financing Act of 1997,” P.L.1997, c. 114 ( C.34:1B-7.45 et seq. ), paid to the system by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to fund the

unfunded accrued liability of the system. Notwithstanding the first sentence of this paragraph, the valuation assets for the

valuation period ending June 30, 1999 shall be the full market value of the assets

as of that date. “ Excess valuation assets ” for a valuation period means: (1) the valuation assets; less (2) the actuarial accrued liability for basic benefits and pension adjustment benefits,

excluding the unfunded accrued liability for early retirement incentive benefits pursuant

to P.L.1991, c. 231 and P.L.1993, c. 163 for employers other than the State; less (3) the contributory group insurance premium fund created by N.J.S.18A:66-77 ; less (4) the post-retirement medical premium fund created pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1987,

c. 385 ( C.18A:66-18.1 ), as amended by section 3 of P.L.1994, c. 62 ; less (5) the present value of the projected total normal cost for pension adjustment benefits

in excess of the projected total phased-in normal cost for pension adjustment benefits

as originally authorized by section 2 of P.L.1987, c. 385 ( C.18A:66-18.1 ) over the full phase-in period, determined in the manner prescribed for the determination

and amortization of the unfunded accrued liability of the system, if the sum of the

foregoing items is greater than zero. If there are excess valuation assets for the valuation period ending March 31, 1996,

the normal contributions for the valuation periods ending March 31, 1996 and March

31, 1997 which have not yet been paid to the retirement system shall be reduced to

the extent possible by the excess valuation assets, provided that the General Fund

balances that would have been paid to the retirement system except for this provision

shall first be allocated as State aid to public schools to the extent that additional

sums are required to comply with the May 14, 1997 decision of the New Jersey Supreme

Court in Abbott v. Burke, and provided further that the normal contribution for the

valuation period ending March 31, 1996 shall not be less than $54,000,000. If there are excess valuation assets for a valuation period ending after March 31,

1996, the State Treasurer may reduce the normal contribution payable for the next

valuation period as follows: (1) for valuation periods ending March 31, 1997 through March 31, 2001, to the extent

possible by up to 100% of the excess valuation assets; (2) for the valuation period ending March 31, 2002, to the extent possible by up to

84% of the excess valuation assets; (3) for the valuation period ending March 31, 2003, to the extent possible by up to

68% of the excess valuation assets; and (4) for valuation periods ending March 31, 2004 through June 30, 2007, to the extent

possible by up to 50% of the excess valuation assets. For calendar years 1998 and 1999, the rate of contribution of members of the retirement

system under N.J.S.18A:66-29 shall be reduced by 1/2 of 1% from excess valuation assets. For calendar years 2000 and 2001, the rate of contribution of members of the retirement

system shall be reduced equally with normal contributions to the extent possible,

but not more than 1/2 of 1%, from excess valuation assets. Thereafter, through calendar year 2007, the rate of contribution of members of the

retirement system under that section for a calendar year shall be reduced equally

with normal contributions to the extent possible, but not by more than 2%, from excess

valuation assets if the State Treasurer determines that excess valuation assets shall

be used to reduce normal contributions by the State for the fiscal year beginning

immediately prior to the calendar year, and excess valuation assets above the amount

necessary to fund the reduction for that calendar year in the member contribution

rate plus an equal reduction in the normal contribution shall be available for the

further reduction of normal contributions, subject to the limitations prescribed by

this subsection. If there are excess valuation assets after reductions in normal contributions and

member contributions as authorized in the preceding paragraphs for a valuation period

beginning with the valuation period ending June 30, 1999, an amount of excess valuation

assets not to exceed the amount of the member contributions for the fiscal year in

which the normal contributions are payable shall be credited to the benefit enhancement

fund. The amount of excess valuation assets credited to the benefit enhancement fund shall

not exceed the present value of the expected additional normal contributions attributable

to the provisions of P.L.2001, c. 133 payable on behalf of the active members over the expected working lives of the active

members in accordance with the tables of actuarial assumptions for the valuation period. No additional excess valuation assets shall be credited to the benefit enhancement

fund after the maximum amount is attained. Interest shall be credited to the benefit enhancement fund as provided under N.J.S.18A:66-25 . The normal contribution for the increased benefits for active members under P.L.2001, c. 133 shall be paid from the benefit enhancement fund. If assets in the benefit enhancement fund are insufficient to pay the normal contribution

for the increased benefits for a valuation period, the State shall pay the amount

of normal contribution for the increased benefits not covered by assets from the benefit

enhancement fund. c. (Deleted by amendment, P.L.1992, c. 125 .) d. The retirement system shall certify annually the aggregate amount payable to the

contingent reserve fund in the ensuing year, which amount shall be equal to the sum

of the amounts described in this section, and which shall be paid into the contingent

reserve fund in the manner provided by N.J.S.18A:66-33 . e. Except as provided in N.J.S.18A:66-26 and N.J.S.18A:66-53 , the death benefits payable under the provisions of this article upon the death of

an active or retired member shall be paid from the contingent reserve fund. f. The disbursements for benefits not covered by reserves in the system on account

of veterans shall be met by direct contribution of the State.