ORP task force approves package of recommendations to expand ORP eligibility, strengthen ORP voice and raise employer contributions

The ORP Task Force of the Board of Regents met Dec. 18 to finalize a set of recommendations for a report to the legislature due Jan. 10. Chair (meeting facilitator) opened the meeting, asked staff to call the roll and guided members through each recommendation; the task force voted to include all of the recommendations discussed and authorized staff to make technical edits before the report is submitted.

The package includes several interlocking items aimed at ORP participants and institutional employers. The task force recommended explicitly adding postsecondary institutions to statutory ORP eligibility language so that certain employees within the Louisiana Community and Technical College System would be eligible for ORP. The Chair said the report is due Jan. 10 and recommended allowing staff to make technical updates after today’s meeting to ensure numbers and wording are current.

Members discussed how ORP elections currently work: employees default into the defined benefit (DB) plan and may elect to move to ORP, with an election window tied to service credit and an early 60‑day rule that affects whether employer contributions follow the election. The group agreed to add explanatory footnotes in the…