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PERS asks committee to expand collection tools after charter-school delinquencies
Summary
PERS told the Assembly committee that Senate Bill 418 would expand collection tools by requiring the retirement system to notify the state oversight authority that has jurisdiction over a delinquent public employer — for example, instructing the Superintendent of Public Instruction to offset funds for delinquent charter-school contributions.
The Assembly Committee on Government Affairs heard Senate Bill 418, requested by the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), to strengthen procedures for collecting delinquent employer contributions and to standardize those procedures across the more than 200 employers that participate in the system.
PERS Executive Officer Tina Lis told the committee that the system currently receives payroll reports and employer/employee contributions monthly and that late employer payments delay crediting of service and can harm employees who are trying to retire or withdraw contributions. "While a vast majority of our public employers are very responsible... that is not always the case," Lis said, describing PERS' existing engagement and escalation process.
Under current law PERS may notify the Department of Taxation when an employer is 90 days delinquent; that process works for many local governments. PERS said the Department of Taxation lacks authority over some employer types — most notably charter schools — and recently could not assist. The bill would require PERS to notify the appropriate oversight authority depending on the type of delinquent employer: the State Board of Examiners (for executive-branch agencies), the Office of the Court Administrator (judicial branch), the Legislative Counsel Bureau director (legislative branch), the Department of Taxation (local governments) or the Superintendent of Public Instruction (school districts and charter schools). It would also provide a mechanism for an offset when funds flow through an authority that can be intercepted to satisfy delinquent payments.
PERS officials gave figures to illustrate scale. Chief Administrative Analyst Teresa Chalmers said the system receives roughly $200 million to $300 million in contributions monthly; Lis said total delinquencies have ranged in recent periods from about $1 million in aggregate to lower figures. As of April 12, 2025 PERS reported two charter schools more than 90 days late with contributions, owing approximately $266,120 and currently on payment plans. PERS staff said nine employers had been delinquent in the prior two years and that charter schools were the employer type most frequently creating collection difficulty because they can cease operation.
Supporters included Brian Wallace of the Nevada State Education Association, who is also a vice chair of the PERS board, and Kent Ervin of the Nevada Faculty Alliance; both urged passage to protect employees' retirement records and accounts.
Committee members questioned whether the statute already provides for interest or penalties to make the system whole; PERS staff said penalties and interest are in statute and that the Retirement Board may waive penalties for good cause, but that collection options were limited when the Department of Taxation lacked jurisdiction over certain employer types. Members also asked whether offsets or other remedies would apply only after 90 days and after staff attempts to resolve delinquencies; PERS confirmed the 90-day threshold and described escalation steps before a referral.
No recorded opposition testimony was submitted at the hearing and the committee closed the hearing without a vote. PERS representatives thanked the committee and the Senate sponsors for consideration of the bill.
