§ 24-703. Judges; contributions; deductions; fees taxed as costs; payment; late fees; funding of retirement system; actuarial valuation; transfer of funds; adjustments.

(1) Each original member shall contribute monthly four percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund until the maximum benefit as limited in subsection (1) of section 24-710 has been earned. It shall be the duty of the Director of Administrative Services in accordance with subsection (7) of this section to make a deduction of four percent on the monthly payroll of each original member who is a judge of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals, a judge of the district court, a judge of a separate juvenile court, a judge of the county court, a clerk magistrate of the county court who was an associate county judge and a member of the fund at the time of his or her appointment as a clerk magistrate, or a judge of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court showing the amount to be deducted and its credit to the fund. The Director of Administrative Services and the State Treasurer shall credit the four percent as shown on the payroll and the amounts received from the various counties to the fund and remit the same to the executive director in charge of the judges retirement system who shall keep an accurate record of the contributions of each judge. (2)(a) In addition to the contribution required under subdivision (c) of this subsection, beginning on July 1, 2004, each future member who became a member prior to July 1, 2015, and who has not elected to make contributions and receive benefits as provided in section 24-703.03 shall contribute monthly six percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund until the maximum benefit as limited in subsection (2) of section 24-710 has been earned. After the maximum benefit as limited in subsection (2) of section 24-710 has been earned, such future member shall make no further contributions to the fund, except that (i) any time the maximum benefit is changed, a future member who has previously earned the maximum benefit as it existed prior to the change shall contribute monthly six percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund until the maximum benefit as changed and as limited in subsection (2) of section 24-710 has been earned and (ii) such future member shall continue to make the contribution required under subdivision (c) of this subsection. (b) In addition to the contribution required under subdivision (c) of this subsection, beginning on July 1, 2004, a judge who became a member prior to July 1, 2015, and who first serves as a judge on or after July 1, 2004, or a future member who became a member prior to July 1, 2015, and who elects to make contributions and receive benefits as provided in section 24-703.03 shall contribute monthly eight percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund until the maximum benefit as limited by subsection (2) of section 24-710 has been earned. In addition to the contribution required under subdivision (c) of this subsection, after the maximum benefit as limited in subsection (2) of section 24-710 has been earned, such judge or future member shall contribute monthly four percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund for the remainder of his or her active service. (c) Beginning on July 1, 2009, a member or judge described in subdivisions (a) and (b) of this subsection shall contribute monthly an additional one percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund. (d) Beginning on July 1, 2015, a judge who first serves as a judge on or after such date shall contribute monthly ten percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund prior to July 1, 2026. (e) Beginning on July 1, 2026, a judge who first serves as a judge on or after July 1, 2015: (i) If the benefits entitled to such judge under subsection (2) of section 24-710 have not reached the maximum retirement benefit base limit under such subsection, shall contribute monthly nine percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund; and (ii) If the benefits entitled to such judge under subsection (2) of section 24-710 have reached the maximum retirement benefit base limit under such subsection, shall contribute monthly five percent of his or her monthly compensation to the fund for the remainder of his or her active service. (f) It shall be the duty of the Director of Administrative Services to make a deduction on the monthly payroll of each such future member who is a judge of the Supreme Court, a judge of the Court of Appeals, a judge of the district court, a judge of a separate juvenile court, a judge of the county court, a clerk magistrate of the county court who was an associate county judge and a member of the fund at the time of his or her appointment as a clerk magistrate, or a judge of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court showing the amount to be deducted and its credit to the fund. This shall be done each month. The Director of Administrative Services and the State Treasurer shall credit the amount as shown on the payroll and the amounts received from the various counties to the fund and remit the same to the executive director in charge of the judges retirement system who shall keep an accurate record of the contributions of each judge. (3)(a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a Nebraska Retirement Fund for Judges fee of six dollars through June 30, 2021, eight dollars beginning July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, nine dollars beginning July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, ten dollars beginning July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, eleven dollars beginning July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025, and twelve dollars beginning July 1, 2025, shall be taxed as costs in each (i) civil cause of action, criminal cause of action, traffic misdemeanor or infraction, and city or village ordinance violation filed in the district courts, the county courts, and the separate juvenile courts, (ii) filing in the district court of an order, award, or judgment of the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court or any judge thereof pursuant to section 48-188, (iii) appeal or other proceeding filed in the Court of Appeals, and (iv) original action, appeal, or other proceeding filed in the Supreme Court. In county courts a sum shall be charged which is equal to ten percent of each fee provided by sections 33-125, 33-126.02, 33-126.03, and 33-126.06, rounded to the nearest even dollar. No judges retirement fee shall be charged for filing a report pursuant to sections 33-126.02 and 33-126.06. (b) The fee increases described in subdivision (a) of this subsection shall not be taxed as a cost in any criminal cause of action, traffic misdemeanor or infraction, or city or village ordinance violation filed in the district court or the county court. The fee on such criminal causes of action, traffic misdemeanors or infractions, or city or village ordinance violations shall remain six dollars on and after July 1, 2021. (c) When collected by the clerk of the district or county court, such fees shall be remitted to the State Treasurer within ten days after the close of each calendar month for credit to the Nebraska Retirement Fund for Judges. In addition, information regarding collection of court fees shall be submitted to the executive director in charge of the judges retirement system by the State Court Administrator within ten days after the close of each calendar month. (d) The board may charge a late administrative processing fee not to exceed twenty-five dollars if the information is not timely received or the money is delinquent. In addition, the board may charge a late fee of thirty-eight thousandths of one percent of the amount required to be submitted pursuant to this section for each day such amount has not been received. Such late fees shall be remitted to the executive director who shall promptly thereafter remit such fees to the State Treasurer for credit to the fund. (e) No Nebraska Retirement Fund for Judges fee which is uncollectible for any reason shall be waived by a county judge as provided in section 29-2709. (4) All expenditures from the fund shall be authorized by voucher in the manner prescribed in section 24-713. The fund shall be used for the payment of all annuities and other benefits to members and their beneficiaries and for the expenses of administration. (5)(a) Prior to July 1, 2021: (i) Beginning July 1, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter, the board shall cause an annual actuarial valuation to be performed that will value the plan assets for the year and ascertain the contributions required for such fiscal year. The actuary for the board shall perform an actuarial valuation of the system on the basis of actuarial assumptions recommended by the actuary, approved by the board, and kept on file with the board using the entry age actuarial cost method. Under this method, the actuarially required funding rate is equal to the normal cost rate, plus the contribution rate necessary to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability on a level percentage of salary basis. The normal cost under this method shall be determined for each individual member on a level percentage of salary basis. The normal cost amount is then summed for all members; (ii) Beginning July 1, 2006, any existing unfunded liabilities shall be reinitialized and amortized over a thirty-year period, and during each subsequent actuarial valuation through June 30, 2021, changes in the unfunded actuarial accrued liability due to changes in benefits, actuarial assumptions, the asset valuation method, or actuarial gains or losses shall be measured and amortized over a thirty-year period beginning on the valuation date of such change; (iii) If the unfunded actuarial accrued liability under the entry age actuarial cost method is zero or less than zero on an actuarial valuation date, then all prior unfunded actuarial accrued liabilities shall be considered fully funded and the unfunded actuarial accrued liability shall be reinitialized and amortized over a thirty-year period as of the actuarial valuation date; and (iv) If the actuarially required contribution rate exceeds the rate of all contributions required pursuant to the Judges Retirement Act, there shall be a supplemental appropriation sufficient to pay for the differences between the actuarially required contribution rate and the rate of all contributions required pursuant to the Judges Retirement Act. (b) Beginning July 1, 2021, and each fiscal year thereafter: (i) The board shall cause an annual actuarial valuation to be performed that will value the plan assets for the year and ascertain the contributions required for such fiscal year. The actuary for the board shall perform an actuarial valuation of the system on the basis of actuarial assumptions recommended by the actuary, approved by the board, and kept on file with the board using the entry age actuarial cost method. Under such method, the actuarially required funding rate is equal to the normal cost rate, plus the contribution rate necessary to amortize the unfunded actuarial accrued liability on a level percentage of salary basis. The normal cost under such method shall be determined for each individual member on a level percentage of salary basis. The normal cost amount is then summed for all members; (ii) Any changes in the unfunded actuarial accrued liability due to changes in benefits, actuarial assumptions, the asset valuation method, or actuarial gains or losses shall be measured and amortized over a twenty-five-year period beginning on the valuation date of such change; (iii) If the unfunded actuarial accrued liability under the entry age actuarial cost method is zero or less than zero on an actuarial valuation date, then all prior unfunded actuarial accrued liabilities shall be considered fully funded and the unfunded actuarial accrued liability shall be reinitialized and amortized over a twenty-five-year period as of the actuarial valuation date; and (iv) If the actuarially required contribution rate exceeds the rate of all contributions required pursuant to the Judges Retirement Act, there shall be a supplemental appropriation sufficient to pay for the differences between the actuarially required contribution rate and the rate of all contributions required pursuant to the act. (c) Upon the recommendation of the actuary to the board, and after the board notifies the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee of the Legislature, the board may combine or offset certain amortization bases to reduce future volatility of the actuarial contribution rate. Such notification to the committee shall be in writing and include, at a minimum, the actuary's projection of the contributions to fund the plan if the combination or offset were not implemented, the actuary's projection of the contributions to fund the plan if the combination or offset were implemented, and the actuary's explanation of why the combination or offset is in the best interests of the plan at the proposed time. (d) For purposes of this subsection, the rate of all contributions required pursuant to the Judges Retirement Act includes (i) member contributions, (ii) state contributions pursuant to subsection (6) of this section which shall be considered as a contribution for the plan year ending the prior June 30, (iii) court fees as provided in subsection (3) of this section, and (iv) all fees pursuant to sections 25-2804, 33-103, 33-103.01, 33-106.02, 33-123, 33-124, 33-125, 33-126.02, 33-126.03, and 33-126.06, as directed to be remitted to the fund. (6)(a)(i) In addition to the contributions otherwise required by this section, beginning July 1, 2023, and on July 1 of each year thereafter, the state shall contribute from the General Fund to the Nebraska Retirement Fund for Judges an amount equal to the following percent of the total annual compensation of all members of the retirement system except as otherwise provided in this subsection and as such rate shall be adjusted or terminated by the Legislature: (A) Prior to July 1, 2026, five percent; and (B) Beginning July 1, 2026, zero percent. (ii) No adjustment may cause the total contribution rate established in this subsection to exceed five percent. (iii) For purposes of this subsection: (A) Total annual compensation is based on the total member compensation reported in the most recent annual actuarial valuation report for the retirement system produced for the board pursuant to section 84-1503; and (B) The contribution described in this subsection shall be considered as a contribution for the plan year ending the prior June 30. (b) If the funded ratio on the actuarial value of assets is at or above one hundred percent for two consecutive years as reported in the annual actuarial valuation report, the actuary shall assess whether the percentage of the state contribution rate should be adjusted based on projected annual actuarial valuation report results including the funded ratio, actuarial contribution, and expected revenue sources using several assumed investment return scenarios that the actuary deems to be reasonable, and shall make a recommendation to the board as part of the annual actuarial valuation report. (c) If the state contribution rate has been adjusted to less than five percent and the funded ratio on the actuarial value of assets is below one hundred percent for two consecutive years as reported in the annual actuarial valuation report, the actuary shall assess whether the percentage of the state contribution rate should be adjusted based on projected annual actuarial valuation report results including the funded ratio, actuarial contribution, and expected revenue sources using several assumed investment return scenarios that the actuary deems to be reasonable, and shall make a recommendation to the board as part of the annual actuarial valuation report. (d) If an annual actuarial valuation report includes a recommendation from the actuary to adjust the contribution rate as described in subdivision (b) or (c) of this subsection, the board shall provide written notice electronically to the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee of the Legislature, to the Governor, and to the Supreme Court of such recommendation within seven business days after voting to approve an annual actuarial valuation report. The notice shall include the actuary's recommendation and analysis regarding such adjustment. (e) Following receipt of the actuary's recommendation and analysis pursuant to this subsection, the Nebraska Retirement Systems Committee of the Legislature shall determine the amount of any adjustment of the contribution rate and, if necessary, shall propose any such adjustment to the Legislature. (7) The state or county shall pick up the member contributions required by this section for all compensation paid on or after January 1, 1985, and the contributions so picked up shall be treated as employer contributions pursuant to section 414(h)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code in determining federal tax treatment under the code and shall not be included as gross income of the member until such time as they are distributed or made available. The contributions, although designated as member contributions, shall be paid by the state or county in lieu of member contributions. The state or county shall pay these member contributions from the same source of funds which is used in paying earnings to the member. The state or county shall pick up these contributions by a compensation deduction through a reduction in the compensation of the member. Member contributions picked up shall be treated for all purposes of the Judges Retirement Act in the same manner and to the extent as member contributions made prior to the date picked up. History: Laws 1955, c. 83, § 3, p. 246; Laws 1957, c. 79, § 2, p. 321; Laws 1959, c. 95, § 2, p. 411; Laws 1959, c. 189, § 14, p. 689; Laws 1963, c. 137, § 1, p. 513; Laws 1965, c. 115, § 2, p. 442; Laws 1965, c. 116, § 2, p. 446; Laws 1967, c. 140, § 1, p. 428; Laws 1969, c. 178, § 2, p. 957; Laws 1971, LB 987, § 5; Laws 1972, LB 1032, § 121; Laws 1972, LB 1471, § 1; Laws 1973, LB 226, § 11; Laws 1974, LB 228, § 1; Laws 1977, LB 344, § 2; Laws 1977, LB 467, § 1; Laws 1981, LB 459, § 3; Laws 1984, LB 13, § 33; Laws 1984, LB 218, § 2; Laws 1986, LB 92, § 2; Laws 1986, LB 529, § 18; Laws 1989, LB 233, § 1; Laws 1989, LB 506, § 3; Laws 1991, LB 549, § 16; Laws 1991, LB 732, § 37; Laws 1992, LB 672, § 31; Laws 1992, LB 682, § 2; Laws 1994, LB 833, § 14; Laws 1995, LB 574, § 34; Laws 2001, LB 408, § 9; Laws 2002, LB 407, § 13; Laws 2003, LB 320, § 1; Laws 2003, LB 760, § 4; Laws 2004, LB 1097, § 11; Laws 2005, LB 348, § 2; Laws 2005, LB 364, § 7; Laws 2006, LB 1019, § 5; Laws 2009, LB414, § 2; Laws 2013, LB263, § 11; Laws 2013, LB306, § 2; Laws 2013, LB553, § 1; Laws 2015, LB468, § 3; Laws 2021, LB17, § 2; Laws 2025, LB295, § 6; Laws 2026, LB820, § 5; Laws 2026, LB1101, § 1.