Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 238 § 238.690 — Integration of retirement plan of mass transit district

Integration of retirement plan of mass transit district. (1) A retirement plan that has been adopted by a mass transit district organized under ORS 267.010 to 267.394 situated in a metropolitan statistical area with a population exceeding 400,000 may be integrated with, or the district may become a participant in, the Public Employees Retirement System in the manner prescribed in subsection (2) of this section. (2)(a) A proposed form of contract setting forth all the terms, conditions and provisions of the integration or participation shall be a mandatory subject of bargaining subject to the provisions of ORS 243.650 to 243.809. (b) The proposed contract shall be submitted to a vote of the employees of the mass transit district, or the members of the affected bargaining unit of the applicable labor organization, and the board of directors of the mass transit district. In submitting a proposed contract to its members, the labor organization shall follow the procedure provided in its bylaws for the promulgation and adoption of bylaws. (c) Adoption by the employees or members of the affected bargaining unit of the applicable labor organization of the proposed contract of integration or participation shall be by an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the affected employees or active members of the affected bargaining unit of the applicable labor organization at the time of the election. (d) The proposed contract so formulated, approved and adopted shall be submitted to the Public Employees Retirement Board. The board may exercise its authority to negotiate and enter into a contract with the mass transit district that would accomplish the integration or participation without adversely affecting the current operational and capital requirements of the mass transit district. The board may not enter into any contract that prevents those adverse effects by adjusting the level of benefits received by any of the employees of the mass transit district. (e) A contract of prospective participation does not in any way alter, impair or adversely affect any rights, benefits or privileges that have vested under the provisions of law or collective bargaining agreement in an employee of a mass transit district by virtue of retirement, either on account of disability or on account of having attained the retirement age, prior to the effective date of the contract of integration or participation. (f) When a public employer enters into a contract with the board under this section, the public employer shall agree to eventually extend coverage under this chapter to all eligible employees of the employer through subsequent contracts with the board. (3) For the purposes of this section, “metropolitan statistical area” has the meaning given that term in ORS 267.010. [Formerly 237.037; 2009 c.11 §20] (Bonding of Pension Liabilities)