§ 21-81. Municipal employees' retirement system.

(a)

The provisions of R.S. 11:1731—11:1868, and any amendments thereto, establishing the Municipal Employees Retirement System of Louisiana (MERS) shall be applicable to eligible employees of the city.

(b)

Eligible employees of the city may take such actions as may be required by applicable laws and regulations in order to receive MERS benefits under applicable law.

(c)

Withholdings from salaries or wages of employees for the purpose of this section are authorized to be made in the amount and at such times as may be required by the MERS Board of Trustees in accordance with R.S. 11:1731 et seq., and shall be paid over to the board in such amounts and at such times as are designated by state law and MERS regulations.

(d)

Employer contributions and assessments for administrative expenses shall be paid from amounts appropriated for such purposes to the MERS Board of Trustees in accordance with applicable state law and MERS regulations. The term "employer" shall be defined as the city.

(e)

For employees hired prior to April 26, 2011, and in accordance with the authority granted under the provisions of R.S. 11:1168, the city shall pay to MERS, from its own funds, 100 percent of the employee contributions referenced R.S. 11:1786, 11:1806 and 11:1864.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, any person subject to this subsection shall pay 50 percent of the contributions referenced herein from their own funds beginning July 1, 2013, and shall pay 100 percent of such contributions from their own funds beginning July 1, 2014.

(f)

Employees hired subsequent to April 26, 2011, shall pay to MERS, from their own funds, 100 percent of the employee contributions referenced in R.S. 11:1786, 11:1806 and 11:1864.

(Ord. No. 3606, § 3, 4-26-2011; Ord. No. 3671, 1-22-2013)