Montana Administrative Code

2.43.4623 GUARANTEED ANNUAL BENEFIT ADJUSTMENT INCREASES FOR DROP PARTICIPANTS This rule applies to participants eligible for the guaranteed annual benefit adjustment (GABA) under 19-9-1009 , 19-9-1010 , or 19-9-1013 , MCA. A participant will be eligible for subsequent GABA incre…

2.43.4624 MINIMUM BENEFIT FOR DROP PARTICIPANTS This rule applies to participants eligible for the minimum benefit adjustment under 19-9-1007, MCA. The monthly DROP accrual paid during the DROP period may not be less than the minimum benefit. Participants who continue employment …

2.43.4803 FIREFIGHTERS' MINIMUM BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS When a city belonging to FURS has not negotiated a salary agreement with its actively employed firefighters by July 1 of any year, MPERA shall take the following actions: Retirement benefits will be paid to non-GABA retirees fro…

2.43.4807 PART-PAID FIREFIGHTERS' SERVICE Service credit earned by part-paid firefighters prior to July 1, 1981, will be computed and granted on the basis of the ratio of salary earned by the part-paid firefighter to the salary paid to a newly confirmed full-paid firefighter duri…

2.43.5001 BASIC UNIT OF SERVICE As of July 1, 1965, the basic unit of service for volunteer firefighters is one fiscal year. Volunteer firefighters not continuously on the active membership list of a single qualifying volunteer fire company for the entire fiscal year shall not be…

2.43.5002 FAILURE TO FILE REQUIRED REPORTS Annual certificates filed after the September 1 due date must be appealed to and considered by the board for approval. Information provided to the board by the fire chief or designated official must include: the original, notarized annua…

2.43.5003 MEMBERSHIP CARDS Each member must complete a VFCA membership card upon commencing service as a volunteer firefighter, name change, change of statutory beneficiary, or change of fire company/district. Authorizing statute(s): 19-17-203, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-17-…

2.43.5004 EFFECTIVE DATE FOR PENSION BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS By October 31 of each year the board shall determine whether the VFCA pension trust fund is actuarially sound and the amortization period for any unfunded liability remains at 20 years or less. As required by 19-17-404, MCA…

2.43.5005 APPLICATION PROCESS FOR VFCA DISABILITY BENEFITS All forms necessary to apply for disability benefits may be obtained from MPERA. The following forms must be completed and submitted to MPERA before the board will act on the application for disability benefits: applicati…

2.43.5006 APPLICATION FOR GROUP INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYMENTS Each volunteer fire company, or organization or agency maintaining supplemental insurance for a fire company, is eligible for payments toward supplemental insurance coverage for active members of the fire company provided…

2.43.5007 PAYMENTS FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES RESULTING FROM DUTY-RELATED INJURIES AND ILLNESSES Payments for medical expense claims made pursuant to Title 19, chapter 17, part 5, MCA, will be paid after: the claim is properly filed as described in 19-17-502, MCA; and all personal and/…

2.43.5008 PAYMENTS FOR FUNERAL EXPENSES RESULTING FROM DUTY-RELATED DEATH Payments for funeral expense claims made pursuant to Title 19, chapter 17, part 5, MCA, will be paid after: the claim is properly filed as described in 19-17-503, MCA; and all personal and/or group insuranc…

2.43.501 SERVICE RETIREMENT -- WHEN EFFECTIVE (IS HEREBY REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-3-903, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, 19-8-201, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-3-903, 19-5-501, 19-6-501, 19-8-601, MCA History: Eff. 12/31/72; REP, 1986 MAR p. 1454, Eff. 8/29/86.

2.43.507 ELECTION FOR COVERAGE UNDER NONDISCRIMINATORY PERS DISABILITY PROVISIONS (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-2-403, 19-3-304, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-3-1002, 19-3-1008, MCA History: NEW, 1991 MAR p. 2216, Eff. 11/15/91; REP, 1994 MAR p. 2106, Eff. 7/8/94.

2.43.5101 ADOPTION OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN DOCUMENT AND TRUST AGREEMENT The board adopts and incorporates by reference the following: State of Montana Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plan Document, that was approved by the board on June 12, 2025, and describes the ter…

2.43.5102 ADOPTION OF INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENT AND FIXED FUND INVESTMENT POLICY STATEMENT The board adopts and incorporates by reference the State of Montana 457 Plan (deferred compensation) Investment Policy Statement approved by the board on April 11, 2024. The Investment Po…

2.43.5103 DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN INVESTMENT OPTIONS The board will choose, regularly review, and may discontinue, add, or change investment options offered to participants of the Deferred Compensation Plan. In doing so, the board will consider recommendations of the statutori…

2.43.5104 ADOPTION OF STATE OF MONTANA PUBLIC EMPLOYEES POOLED TRUST The board adopts and incorporates by reference the Declaration of Trust – State of Montana Public Employees Pooled Trust approved by the board and effective on December 13, 2018, and became effective on January …

2.43.5109 DEFINITIONS Domestic Relations Order (DRO) is a draft document designed to divide a participant's 457 account pursuant to a domestic relations order. Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a domestic relations order that has been approved by the board. Authorizing…

2.43.5110 QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS The board will accept and implement QDROs in the Deferred Compensation (457) Plan sponsored by the State of Montana. Upon request, MPERA will provide to the public a checklist of required and optional provisions…

2.43.5111 QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS – CONTENTS A QDRO must contain the following information: the name, current mailing address, date of birth, and social security number of the participant; the name, current mailing address, date of birth, and social security number of…

2.43.5112 QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDERS – APPROVAL AND IMPLEMENTATION A participant or alternate payee must submit a certified copy of a DRO to MPERA for board approval. The board may delegate authority for approval to the executive director. MPERA will notify the participa…

2.43.520 ELECTION FOR GUARANTEED ANNUAL BENEFIT ADJUSTMENT COVERAGE (GABA) (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-2-403, 19-2-1101, 19-5-901, 19-6-710, 19-9-1009, 19-13-1010, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-2-1101, 19-5-901, 19-5-902, 19-6-710, 19-6-711, 19-9-1009, 19-9-1010, 19-9…

2.43.601 ESTIMATES OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS (IS HEREBY REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): Secs. 19-3-304, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, and 19-8-201 MCA Implementing statute(s): Secs. 19-3-304, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, and 19-8-201 MCA History: Eff. 12/31/72; REP, 1986 MAR p. 1454, Eff. 8/29/86.…

2.43.602 PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS (IS HEREBY REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): Secs. 19-3-304, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, and 19-8-201 MCA Implementing statute(s): Secs. 19-3-304, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, and 19-8-201 MCA History: Eff. 12/31/72; REP, 1986 MAR p. 1454, Eff. 8/29/86.

2.43.605 DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-3-304, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, 19-7-201, 19-8-201, 19-9-201, 19-13-202, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-3-1301, 19-5-602, 19-6-602, 19-7-602, 19-8-702, 19-9-912, 19-13-903, MCA History: NEW, 1986 MAR p. 1454, E…

2.43.606 CONVERSION OF OPTIONAL RETIREMENT (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-2-403, 19-5-701, 19-7-1001, 19-8-801, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-3-1501, MCA History: NEW, 1986 MAR p. 1454, Eff. 8/29/86; AMD, 1994 MAR p. 291, Eff. 2/11/94; AMD, 1995 MAR p. 1791, Eff. 9/15/95…

2.43.608 REDUCTION IN WORK FORCE (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-2-403, 19-3-304, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, 19-7-201, 19-8-201, 19-9-201, 19-13-202, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-3-703, 19-5-403, 19-6-403, 19-7-304, 19-8-503, 19-9-304, 19-9-602, 19-13-304, MCA History: NEW, 198…

2.43.609 POST-RETIREMENT ADJUSTMENT (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-3-304, 19-7-201, 19-8-201, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-3-1109, 19-3-1110, 19-3-1111, 19-7-708, 19-7-709, 19-7-710, 19-8-808, 19-8-809, 19-8-810, MCA History: NEW, 1990 MAR p. 1250, Eff. 7/1/90; AMD, 199…

2.43.610 MINIMUM BENEFIT ADJUSTMENT FOR RETIREES WITH PART-PAID FIREFIGHTER SERVICE (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-13-202, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-13-1007, 19-13-1009, MCA History: NEW, 1990 MAR p. 994A, Eff. 7/1/90; REP, 2008 MAR p. 2467, Eff. 12/1/08.

2.43.612 ELIGIBILITY FOR ANNUAL BENEFIT ADJUSTMENT (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-3-304, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, 19-7-201, 19-8-201, 19-9-201, 19-12-203, 19-13-202, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-15-102, MCA History: NEW, 1991 MAR p. 2402, Eff. 12/13/91; AMD, 1992 MAR p. 2721…

2.43.613 CALCULATION OF ANNUAL BENEFIT ADJUSTMENT (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-3-304, 19-5-201, 19-6-201, 19-7-201, 19-8-201, 19-9-201, 19-12-203, 19-13-202, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-15-102, MCA History: NEW, 1991 MAR p. 2402, Eff. 12/15/91; AMD, 1992 MAR p. 2721,…

2.43.614 ANNUAL CERTIFICATION OF PENSION PAYMENTS BY LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE PENSION PLANS (REPEALED) Authorizing statute(s): 19-15-101, MCA Implementing statute(s): 19-15-101, MCA History: NEW, 1991 MAR p. 2402, Eff. 12/15/91; AMD, 1992 MAR p. 2721, Eff. 12/25/92; REP, 1995 MAR p.…