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Administrative Procedure 444: CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES PENSION PLAN (LAPP)

Background

The Division recognizes the benefit of providing contributions towards the Local Authority Pension Plan for employees and wishes to establish procedures and criteria under which individuals can access the plan.

Procedures

  1. This Administrative Procedure affects all employees with the exception of certified staff and bus operators.

  2. Pension Plan
    1. Pension contribution rates will be according to the current LAPP rates as set forth by Alberta Pension Services.
    2. Employees must contribute the full employee amount including purchasing any prior service. 
    3. All full-time employees must participate in the LAPP program unless they fall under the “Excluded from Membership” sections as found in the LAPP e-guide.
      1. Employees who are full-time, but on temporary contracts will not be eligible to participate in the plan until such time as they become permanent full-time employees.
    4. Part-time employees must work a minimum of twenty-four (24) hours per week or more to be eligible to participate in the LAPP program.
      1. If an enrolled part-time employee’s hours are subsequently reduced below twenty-four (24) hours, they will have the option to continue to participate as long as their hours are not less than fourteen (14) per week, as set out in the LAPP e-guide. If an employee elects to not participate, written notice must be given to the employer. Subsequently, re-enrollment in the plan will not be available until the minimum hours of twenty-four (24) are met.
    5. Educational Assistants will commence participation after their probationary period of one year. All other employee groups commence participation immediately upon employment.
    6. If a newly hired employee has previously participated in a pension program that has a reciprocal agreement with LAPP, that employee will immediately start contributing to the LAPP program.
      1. A full-time employee can earn up to one year of service (1.0000) within a calendar year. Base units used to calculate service vary by each job class, description, or contract as outlined below.

  3. Pensionable Salary
    1. A full-time employee can earn up to one year of service (1.0000) within a calendar year. Base units used to calculate service vary by each job class, description, or contract as outlined below.
      1. 6 hours/day, 30 hours/week
      2. 7 hours/day, 35 hours/week
      3. 8 hours/day, 40 hours/week
    2. Pay types included in determining pensionable salary are regular pay / gross basic pay. This includes regular time and vacation time if applicable.
    3. Pay types not included in determining pensionable salary are overtime pay, expense allowances, and lump-sum payments.
    4. For other regulations not stipulated above, the Division will follow the current LAPP Act and Regulations.

  4. Seasonal employees are not considered full-time permanent and will not qualify for inclusion under the LAPP program.

  5. All employees must follow the regulations contained in the LAPP Instruction Manual and must provide all of the pertinent personal information.

Reference

Section 33,52,53,68,222 Education Act

Local Authorities Pension Plan Regulation

 

Approved: June 22, 2000

Amended: January 9, 2018; August 21, 2018; January 21, 2020

Last Updated: January 21, 2020