SB449,10,1515 (e) No interest may be credited to any money refunded under this subsection.
SB449, s. 20 16Section 20. 40.08 (8) (a) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB449,10,1817 40.08 (8) (a) Benefits provided under this chapter shall be considered
18abandoned as follows:
SB449,11,319 1. Any potential primary beneficiary under s. 40.02 (8), other than an estate,
20who has not applied for any benefit payable under this chapter as a result of the
21death of the participant and whom the department cannot locate by reasonable
22efforts, as determined by the department by rule, within one year after the death of
23the participant shall be presumed to have predeceased the participant and all other
24potential beneficiaries. Thereafter, if the department is unable to locate any
25resulting subsequent beneficiary within 6 months, all beneficiaries under s. 40.02 (8)

1(a) 1. and 2. shall be presumed to have predeceased the participant and the
2department shall pay all benefits payable under this chapter as a result of the death
3of the participant to the participant's estate in a lump sum.
SB449,11,124 2. If an estate that is determined by the department to be a beneficiary is closed
5prior to the payment of benefits payable under this chapter as a result of the death
6of the participant and the estate is not reopened within 6 months after the
7department notifies the estate that a benefit is payable, the benefit shall be
8considered irrevocably abandoned and shall be credited to the employer
9accumulation reserve, unless the estate was the designated beneficiary under s.
1040.02 (8) (a) 1. If the estate was the designated beneficiary under s. 40.02 (8) (a) 1.,
11the department shall pay the benefit to a beneficiary as determined under s. 40.02
12(8) (a) 2.
SB449,11,2213 3. A participant, other than a participating employe or annuitant, whom the
14department cannot locate by reasonable efforts, with such efforts beginning by the
15end of the month in which the participant attains, or would have attained, the age
16of 65, shall be considered to have abandoned all benefits under the Wisconsin
17retirement system on the date on which the participant attains, or would have
18attained, the age of 70. The department shall close the participant's account and
19shall transfer the moneys in the account to the employer accumulation reserve. The
20department shall restore the participant's account and shall debit the employer
21accumulation reserve accordingly if the participant subsequently applies for
22retirement benefits under this chapter before attaining the age of 80.
SB449,12,823 4. The former spouse of a participant who is an alternate payee and whom the
24department cannot locate by reasonable efforts, with such efforts beginning by the
25end of the month in which the participant attains, or would have attained, the age

1of 65, shall be considered to have abandoned all benefits under the Wisconsin
2retirement system on the date on which the participant attains, or would have
3attained, the age of 70. The department shall close the alternate payee's account and
4shall transfer the moneys in the account to the employer accumulation reserve. The
5department shall restore the alternate payee's account and shall debit the employer
6accumulation reserve accordingly if the alternate payee subsequently applies for
7retirement benefits under this chapter before the participant attains or would have
8attained the age of 80.
SB449,12,119 5. All presumptions under this paragraph are conclusive upon payment of the
10benefit payable under this chapter as a result of the death of the participant to any
11qualifying person, estate or entity other than the employer accumulation reserve.
SB449, s. 21 12Section 21. 40.08 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,12,1713 40.08 (8) (b) All moneys or credits in an account for a person presumed to have
14died intestate, without heirs or beneficiary, or to be abandoned by the person under
15par. (a) shall be applied, at the end of the calendar year in which notice is published
16under par. (c), to the appropriate employer accounts employer accumulation reserve
17to reduce future funding requirements.
SB449, s. 22 18Section 22. 40.08 (8) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,13,319 40.08 (8) (c) The department shall publish a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, in
20the official state paper stating the names of persons presumed to have died intestate,
21without heirs or beneficiary, or whose accounts are presumed to be abandoned under
22par. (a), and the fact that a benefit will be paid to the respective persons listed or their
23respective heirs or legatees on proof of ownership
, if applied for within 10 years after
24the date of publication of the notice
the time limits under par. (a) and if the
25participant, alternate payee or other person offers proof satisfactory to the

1department that the participant, alternate payee or other person is entitled to the
2benefit. Such proof shall include, but is not limited to, evidence that the participant
3died and that the person is the beneficiary under s. 40.02 (8)
.
SB449, s. 23 4Section 23. 40.08 (14) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,13,155 40.08 (14) (title) Lump sum rollovers Rollovers to other retirement plans.
6If a participant who is entitled to receive a lump sum payment or a monthly annuity
7certain under s. 40.24 (1) (f) for which the participant has specified a term of less than
8120 months
from the Wisconsin retirement system and who has an account
9established under any other retirement plan located in the United States so directs
10in writing, on a form prescribed by the department, the department shall pay the
11lump sum payment or the monthly annuity directly to the participant's account
12under that other retirement plan for credit under that other retirement plan. The
13department shall cease payment of the monthly annuity payments to the annuitant's
14account under the other retirement plan within 30 days of the written request of the
15annuitant or written notice of the annuitant's death.
SB449, s. 24 16Section 24. 40.23 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,13,2117 40.23 (1) (a) 1. The participant is separated, regardless of cause, and continues
18to be separated either until the annuity effective date, or until the date 30 days after
19the application is received by the department, or the date 30 days after separation,
20whichever is later, from all employment meeting the qualifications for inclusion
21specified in s. 40.22 for any participating employer.
SB449, s. 25 22Section 25. 40.23 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,14,823 40.23 (1) (b) All retirement annuities shall be effective on the day following, or
24on the first day of a month following, the date of separation from the last
25participating employer by which the participant was employed, as specified by the

1participant in the written application for the annuity. However, the date shall not
2be more than 90 days prior to the date of receipt of the application by the department.
3The participant may specify that additional contribution accumulations shall not be
4applied to provide an annuity until a subsequent application is filed for an annuity
5to be paid from the additional contribution accumulations. The subsequent
6application shall be made as specified under sub. (4) or the department shall
7automatically distribute the accumulated additional contribution accumulations as
8a lump sum.
SB449, s. 26 9Section 26. 40.23 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,14,1510 40.23 (1) (c) No application specifying an annuity effective date later than 60
11days after the date of its receipt by the department shall be accepted , unless the
12participant files the application on or after January 1 of the calendar year in which
13the participant attains the age of 69.5 years specifying an annuity effective date that
14begins before April 1 of the year following the calendar year in which the participant
15attains the age of 70.5 years
.
SB449, s. 27 16Section 27. 40.23 (1) (d) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
SB449,14,2217 40.23 (1) (d) Notwithstanding par. (c), an application for an annuity to be
18effective on the day following termination of employment may be filed up to 90 days
19prior to the employe's anticipated termination date. The anticipated termination
20date shall be stated in the application and the department shall not make an annuity
21payment until the employe has terminated. The department shall reject any
22application that is filed more than 90 days prior to the employe's termination date.
SB449, s. 28 23Section 28. 40.23 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,15,1224 40.23 (2m) (b) Except as provided in s. 40.26, subject to the limitations under
25section 415 of the internal revenue code, as defined for the current taxable year under

1s. 71.01 (6),
the initial amount of the normal form annuity shall be an amount equal
2to 65%, or 85% for participants whose formula rate is determined under par. (e) 4.,
3of the participant's final average earnings plus the amount which can be provided
4under pars. (c) and (d) or, if less, shall be in the monthly amount equal to the sum
5of the amounts determined under pars. (c), (d) and (e) as modified by par. (f) and in
6accordance with the actuarial tables in effect on the annuity effective date. If the
7participant has creditable service under both par. (e) 4. and another category under
8par. (e), the percent applied under this paragraph shall be determined by multiplying
9the percent that each type of creditable service is of the participant's total creditable
10service by 85% and 65%, respectively, and adding the results, except that the
11resulting benefit may not be less than the amount of the normal form annuity that
12could be paid based solely on the creditable service under par. (e) 4.
SB449, s. 29 13Section 29. 40.23 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB449,15,2014 40.23 (4) (a) Subject to all requirements under the internal revenue code, the
15department shall distribute to the participant the entire amount that is credited to
16the account of a participant under the Wisconsin retirement system no later than the
17required beginning date, unless the department distributes this amount as an
18annuity or in more than one payment. If the department distributes this amount as
19an annuity or in more than one payment, the department shall begin the distribution
20no later than the required beginning date.
SB449,16,221 (b) In the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year of a
22participant's required beginning date, if the department distributes the amount that
23is credited to the account of a participant under the Wisconsin retirement system in
24a form other than as a lump sum payment, the department, subject to all

1requirements under the internal revenue code, shall calculate the distribution to the
2participant according to one of the following:
SB449,16,43 1. The life of a participant or, if the annuity is in the form of a joint and survivor
4annuity, the joint lives of the participant and the named survivor.
SB449,16,85 2. For an annuity authorized under s. 40.24 (1) (f), a term certain not to exceed
6the life expectancy of the participant or, if the annuity is in the form of a joint and
7survivor annuity, the joint life expectancies of the participant and the named
8survivor.
SB449,16,219 (c) If a participant during the calendar year in which he or she attains 69.5
10years, or the alternate payee during the calendar year in which the participant
11attains 69.5 years, does not apply before December 31 in that year for a distribution
12of the amount that is credited to the account of a participant under the Wisconsin
13retirement system, the department shall begin, effective the following January 1, an
14automatic distribution to the participant or alternate payee. If the department
15makes an automatic distribution under this paragraph, the beneficiary designation
16filed with the department before the date on which the department begins the
17automatic distribution is no longer applicable under ss. 40.71 and 40.73. Unless the
18participant or alternate payee files a subsequent beneficiary designation with the
19department after the date on which the department begins the automatic
20distribution, the department shall pay any death benefit as provided under s. 40.02
21(8) (a) 2.
SB449,17,422 (d) If a participant dies after the department begins to distribute the amount
23that is credited to the account of a participant under the Wisconsin retirement
24system, but before the entire amount in the account has been distributed, the
25department shall distribute the remaining portion of the account at least as rapidly

1as is provided in the manner of distribution selected by the participant. If the
2beneficiary does not apply to the department to continue the distribution, within a
3period specified by rule, the department shall pay the remaining distribution to the
4beneficiary as a lump sum.
SB449,17,155 (e) If a participant dies before the distribution of benefits has commenced and
6the participant's beneficiary is the spouse, the department shall begin the
7distribution within 5 years after the date of the participant's death. If the spouse files
8a subsequent beneficiary designation with the department, the payment of the
9distribution may be deferred until the January 1 of the year in which the participant
10would have attained the age of 70.5 years. If the spouse does not apply for a
11distribution, the distribution shall begin as an automatic distribution as provided
12under par. (c). If the spouse dies, but has designated a new beneficiary, the birth date
13of the spouse shall be used for the purposes of determining the required beginning
14date. The department shall specify by rule all procedures relating to an automatic
15distribution to the spouse. These rules shall comply with the internal revenue code.
SB449,17,1816 (f) If a participant dies before the distribution of benefits has commenced and
17the participant's beneficiary is not the spouse, the beneficiary shall do one of the
18following:
SB449,17,2019 1. Elect a lump sum payment by December 31 of the 5th calendar year after the
20date of the participant's death.
SB449,17,2221 2. Elect an annuity benefit, not to exceed his or her life expectancy, by December
2231 of the calendar year after the date of the participant's death.
SB449,17,2523 (g) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create any benefit, lump
24sum payment option or form of annuity not otherwise expressly provided for in this
25subchapter.
SB449, s. 30
1Section 30. 40.24 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,18,142 40.24 (1) (f) From accumulated additional contributions made under s. 40.05
3(1) (a) 5. only, an annuity certain payable for and terminating after the number of
4months specified by the applicant, regardless of whether the applicant dies before or
5after the number of months specified, provided that the monthly amount of the
6annuity certain is at least equal to the minimum amount established under s. 40.25
7(1) (a). The Subject to the period of distribution required under s. 40.23 (4) (b) 2., the
8number of months specified shall not exceed 180 and shall not be less than 24. If the
9death of the annuitant occurs prior to the expiration of the certain period, the
10remaining payments shall be made in accordance with s. 40.73 (2) without regard to
11any other annuity payments payable to the beneficiary. An annuity under this
12paragraph may be initiated prior to any other annuity amount provided under this
13subchapter and prior to age 55 if all other qualifications for receiving an annuity
14payment are met.
SB449, s. 31 15Section 31. 40.24 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
SB449,18,2016 40.24 (5) An annuity in a form other than the normal form shall be the actuarial
17equivalent of the annuity in the normal form if, on the effective date of the annuity,
18the annuity has the same single-sum present value as the annuity in the normal
19form, as calculated by the department according to methods and assumptions
20specified by the actuary.
SB449, s. 32 21Section 32. 40.24 (7) (a) 6. of the statutes is created to read:
SB449,18,2222 40.24 (7) (a) 6. Automatic distributions under s. 40.23 (4).
SB449, s. 33 23Section 33. 40.25 (6) (a) 2. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,19,624 40.25 (6) (a) 2. Applications for reestablishment of creditable service must
25include all creditable service that has been forfeited except that the number of years

1which may be reestablished under this subsection may not be greater than the
2creditable service of the participating employe at the date of application, or 10 years,
3whichever is smaller. The department may, by rule, permit a participating employe
4to reestablish creditable service by making payments under subd. 3. over a period
5of more than one year to prevent exceeding the maximum contribution limits under
6section 415 of the internal revenue code.
SB449, s. 34 7Section 34. 40.25 (6) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,19,248 40.25 (6) (a) 3. The participating employe applying for forfeited creditable
9service under this subsection shall pay to the fund an amount equal to the employe's
10statutory contribution on earnings under s. 40.05 (1) (a) for each year of forfeited
11service to be reestablished, based upon the participating employe's final average
12earnings, determined as if the employe retired on the date the department receives
13the application. Beginning on the date specified by the department, but not earlier
14than April 23, 1992, and not later than January 1, 1993, the participating employe
15may elect to use part or all of his or her accumulated additional contributions made
16under s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5. to pay part or all of the amount payable under this
17subdivision.
The amount payable under this subdivision shall be paid in a lump sum
18payment. A participating employe who elects to use accumulated additional
19contributions as provided in this subdivision may terminate that election only if,
20within 30 days after the date on which the department receives the participating
21employe's application for forfeited creditable service, the participating employe
22submits to the department a written notice to terminate that election.
No employer
23may pay any amount payable under this subdivision on behalf of any participating
24employe.
SB449, s. 35 25Section 35. 40.25 (6) (a) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
SB449,20,3
140.25 (6) (a) 5. The payment under subd. 3., in combination with any other
2required contributions or additional contributions, may not exceed the maximum
3contribution limit under section 415 of the internal revenue code.
SB449, s. 36 4Section 36. 40.25 (7) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,20,75 40.25 (7) (a) 1. The participant files an application to receive creditable service
6under this paragraph not more than 90 days after before termination of employment
7as a participating employe.
SB449, s. 37 8Section 37. 40.26 (1) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 40.26 (1) and
9amended to read:
SB449,20,1710 40.26 (1) Except as provided in ss. 40.05 (2) (g) 2. and 40.23 (1) (am), if a
11participant receiving a retirement annuity, or a disability annuitant who has
12attained his or her normal retirement date, receives earnings that are subject to s.
1340.05 (1) or that would be subject to s. 40.05 (1) except for the exclusion specified in
14s. 40.22 (2) (L), the annuity shall be terminated and no annuity payment shall be
15payable after the month in which all of the following apply: the participant files with
16the department a written election to be included within the provisions of the
17Wisconsin retirement system as a participating employe.
SB449, s. 38 18Section 38. 40.26 (1) (a) and (b) of the statutes are repealed.
SB449, s. 39 19Section 39. 40.26 (2) (d) of the statutes is repealed.
SB449, s. 40 20Section 40. 40.26 (3) (bm) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,21,221 40.26 (3) (bm) (intro.) If a former annuitant receives earnings at or above the
22level specified under sub. (1) for
becomes a participating employe and accumulates
23at least 3 continuous years of creditable service before subsequent retirement and
24application for an annuity under this subsection, and if changes in the statutes after
25the effective date of the original annuity would result in a change in the amount of

1an annuity recomputed under this subsection, the annuity of the former annuitant
2shall be recomputed as follows:
SB449, s. 41 3Section 41. 40.26 (5) of the statutes is created to read:
SB449,21,74 40.26 (5) If a participant applies for an annuity or lump sum payment during
5the period in which less than 30 days have elapsed between the termination of
6employment with a participating employer and becoming a participating employe
7with any participating employer, all of the following shall apply:
SB449,21,88 (a) The participant shall not qualify for an annuity under s. 40.23 (1) (a) 1.
SB449,21,109 (b) The participant may not receive any benefit under this chapter on which the
10receipt of an annuity is a condition.
SB449,21,1911 (c) Any annuity or lump sum payment made to the participant shall be
12considered to have been made in error and is subject to s. 40.08 (4). The sum of the
13payments made in error shall be credited to a memorandum account. The
14memorandum account is subject to s. 40.04 (4) (a) 2. and 2m. and (c). If the annuity
15was recomputed under s. 40.08 (1m), the memorandum account established under
16this paragraph shall be adjusted pursuant to s. 40.08 (1m) (f) 2. The retirement
17account of a participant paid in error, and whose annuity was terminated, shall be
18reestablished as if the terminated annuity had never been effective, including the
19crediting of interest.
SB449, s. 42 20Section 42. 40.27 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,21,2521 40.27 (2) (b) Different Prorated percentages based on the annuity effective date
22may be applied to annuities with different effective dates as may be determined to
23be equitable
during the calendar year preceding the effective date of the distribution,
24as provided by rule,
but no other distinction may be made among the various types
25of annuities payable from the fixed annuity reserve.
SB449, s. 43
1Section 43. 40.31 of the statutes is created to read:
SB449,22,6 240.31 Maximum benefit limitations. (1) General limitation. (a)
3Limitation amounts. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this section and
4section 415 of the internal revenue code, the maximum retirement benefits payable
5to a participant in a calendar year, excluding benefits attributable to contributions
6subject to any limitations under s. 40.23, may not exceed the lesser of the following:
SB449,22,107 1. For a straight-life annuity terminating at the death of the annuitant,
8$120,000. If the annuity is in a form other than a straight-life annuity, the limitation
9is the reduced actuarial equivalent of a straight-life annuity terminating at the
10death of the annuitant and paying $120,000 per year.
SB449,22,1311 2. One hundred percent of the participant's average annual earnings for the
12period of up to 3 consecutive calendar years during which the person was a
13participating employe and which yield the highest average annual earnings.
SB449,22,2014 (b) Early commencement. If the participant's benefit commencement date
15occurs before the date on which the participant attains the age of 62, the dollar
16limitation under par. (a) shall be the actuarial equivalent of the dollar limitation of
17an annual straight life annuity beginning at the age of 62 and terminating at the
18death of the annuitant. For the purposes of this paragraph, the interest rate
19assumption that is used to determine the actuarial equivalency may not exceed 5%.
20Under this subsection, the dollar limitation shall be:
SB449,22,2121 1. Not less than $75,000 if the benefit commences at or after the age of 55.
SB449,22,2222 2. Equal to $75,000 if the benefit commences before the age of 55.
SB449,23,223 3. Not less than $50,000 for participants who have at least 15 years of service
24as a full-time employe of any police or fire department which is organized and
25operated by the employer to provide police protection, fire fighting services or

1emergency medical services for any geographic area within the jurisdiction of the
2employer.
SB449,23,83 (c) Deferred commencement. If the participant's benefit commencement date
4occurs after the date on which the participant attains the age of 65, the dollar
5limitation under par. (a) shall be the actuarial equivalent of the dollar limitation of
6an annual straight life annuity beginning at the age of 65 and terminating at the
7death of the annuitant. For the purposes of this paragraph, the interest rate
8assumption that is used to determine the actuarial equivalency may not exceed 5%.
SB449,23,129 (d) Limitation adjustments. The dollar limitations under pars. (a) 1. and (b)
10and the compensation limit under par. (a) 2. may be increased by the department by
11rule to conform with any applicable U.S. treasury regulations concerning
12cost-of-living adjustments.
SB449,23,15 13(2) Exceptions to general limitation. Benefits payable to a participant shall
14be considered not to exceed any limitation under this section if one of the following
15applies:
SB449,23,2016 (a) The amount of the benefit does not exceed the total benefits of the
17participant under all of the qualified defined benefit plans maintained or previously
18maintained by all of a participant's employers, as determined by the department
19without regard to any amendment to any of the benefit plans made after October 14,
201987.
SB449,23,2321 (b) The amount of the benefit does not exceed $10,000 for the plan year and
22none of the participant's employers have at any time maintained a defined
23contribution plan in which the participant participated.
SB449,24,7 24(3) Treatment of defined benefit and defined contribution plans. For the
25purpose of determining whether a participant's retirement benefits exceed the

1maximum retirement limitations under this section, all defined benefit plans of the
2employer, including defined benefit plans that are terminated, shall be treated as a
3single defined benefit plan and all defined contribution plans of the employer,
4including defined contribution plans that are terminated, shall be treated as a single
5defined contribution plan. The department may provide by rule additional
6limitations for participants who are participating in more than one retirement
7system.
SB449,24,12 8(4) Division of benefits. For the purpose of determining whether a
9participant's retirement benefits exceed the maximum retirement limitations under
10this section for a participant whose retirement benefits have been divided under s.
1140.08 (1m), the participant's retirement benefits shall be measured as if no division
12had occurred.
SB449,24,16 13(5) Rules. The department may by rule adjust the maximum benefit
14limitations under this section to conform with the internal revenue code and any
15regulations promulgated by the U.S. secretary of the treasury, including an
16adjustment which eliminates the maximum benefit limitations under this section.
SB449, s. 44 17Section 44. 40.32 of the statutes is created to read:
SB449,24,23 1840.32 Limitations on contributions. (1) The sum of all contributions
19allocated to a participant's account under each defined contribution plan sponsored
20by the employer, including all employer contributions and picked-up contributions
21credited with interest at the effective rate under s. 40.04 (4) (a) and (5) (b) and all
22employe contributions made under ss. 40.02 (17), 40.05 (1) and (2m) and 40.25 (6) (a),
23may not in any calendar year exceed the lesser of the following:
SB449,24,2424 (a) Thirty thousand dollars.
SB449,25,2
1(b) Twenty-five percent of the participant's compensation, as defined in the
2internal revenue code, for the calendar year.
SB449,25,43(c) The maximum contribution limit under section 415 (c) of the internal
4revenue code.
SB449,25,6 5(2) The department may provide by rule additional limitations for participants
6who are participating in more than one retirement system.
SB449,25,13 7(3) Any contribution that the department receives, which is allocated to the
8account of a participant and which exceeds the contributions limitation under this
9section, may be refunded or credited as provided in s. 40.08 (6). If the department
10refunds any contributions that exceed the limitation under this section, the
11department shall first refund amounts voluntarily contributed by a participating
12employe, either as an additional contribution under s. 40.05 (1) (a) 5. or a purchase
13of forfeited or creditable service under s. 40.02 (17) or 40.25 (6) (a).
SB449, s. 45 14Section 45. 40.73 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB449,25,1915 40.73 (3) (a) A death benefit may be paid as a beneficiary an annuity for the
16life of the beneficiary
, if the amount of the death benefit is sufficient to provide a
17beneficiary annuity in the normal form at least equal to the amount determined
18under s. 40.25 (1) (a) and the beneficiary or the participant has elected to have the
19death benefit paid as a beneficiary annuity.
SB449, s. 46 20Section 46. 40.73 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
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