Here's What's New!

The 53rd Legislature – First Regular Session, adjourned on May 10, 2017. The Arizona State Retirement System had five legislative initiatives pass into law. They all have relatively minor impact to members and retirees, mainly clarifying language in existing state statutes.

Below is a brief summary. You can also follow these and other retirement-related bills throughout the legislative session on our ASRS Bill Tracker.

After the close of each fiscal year, the ASRS conducts a valuation of the various benefit plans that it manages to ensure they are fiscally sound. From the valuations, contribution rates are set for the next fiscal year. Despite a relatively slow economy and lower investment performance, the contribution rates for the pension plan (which includes the health insurance premium benefit) will remain unchanged for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2017.

New contribution rates for members and employers are set to take effect with July payrolls. The total contribution rate for the defined benefit plan, health insurance supplement and long term disability plan will be 11.48 percent for both employer and employee, up just slightly from the rate of 11.47 percent for last fiscal year, which ended June 30. The new rate will be in effect through June 30, 2017. See Contribution Rates for more information.

Broadspire Services Inc., a leading third-party administrator, will replace Sedgwick as administrtor of the ASRS Long Term Disability Program effective September 1.

The change should have no major impact for the more than 4,000 members currently on the ASRS LTD plan. A letter from Broadspire is being mailed to all current members receiving Long Term Dsiability benefits.

LTD members may contact Sedgwick with questions about their coverage through Aug. 31. All contact from Sept. 1 forward should be directed to Broadspire.