Participation in the HCSP is negotiated and agreed upon by a bargaining unit and/or employer. Once the employer and/or bargaining unit has adopted the HCSP, employee participation is mandatory.

Only negotiated and agreed-upon contributions are allowed. Employees cannot choose to contribute more or less than what is negotiated by the employer and/or bargaining unit.

Employees may opt out of the HCSP if they meet certain criteria and are pre-approved by MSRS to waive participation.
 

Employee Eligibility Requirements  

  • Union Employees. HCSP contributions and employee participation must be negotiated or agreed to by both the bargaining unit and the employer and written into a collective bargaining agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Once contributions are established in the agreement, employees who meet the eligibility requirements must participate as set out in the agreement
     
  • Non-Union Employees. HCSP contributions and employee participation must be agreed to by the employer and included in a written personnel policy. Once contributions are established in the personnel policy, employees who meet the eligibility requirements must participate as set out in the policy.

Employer Eligibility Requirements

Employers that make retirement contribution and take retirement deductions on behalf of public employees and retirees and forwards those funds to a Minnesota public pension plan listed below can participate in the HCSP:

  • Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS)
  • Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA)
  • Teachers Retirement Association (TRA)
  • Individual Retirement Account Plan (IRAP)
  • Minnesota State (formerly MNSCU)
  • University of Minnesota Faculty Retirement Plan
  • Police or Firefighters Relief Association
  • St Paul Teachers' Retirement Fund (SPTRFA)
  • Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association
  • Retirement Plans for the Arts Board and Humanities Commission

Political subdivisions (transit authorities, post authorities, public housing authorities, etc.) may participate in the HCSP even if they do not contribute to a pension fund listed above.