Who We Are

The MoDOT and Patrol Employees’ Retirement System (MPERS) was established in 1955 to provide retirement and survivor benefits, disability benefits, and death benefits for members of MPERS. Members consist of employees from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), and MPERS staff.

MPERS operates as a 401(a) tax-qualified “defined benefit plan” offering three (3) plans to its members, depending upon their beginning date of employment with the State of Missouri.

1. The (non-contributory) “Closed Plan” was offered to all members hired before July 1, 2000. Any member hired under the “Closed Plan” may elect to retire under the Closed Plan or the Year 2000 Plan.
2. All members hired on or after July 1, 2000, are members of the (non-contributory) “Year 2000 Plan.”
3. In 2010, a (contributory) tier was added to the Year 2000 Plan for new members hired on or after January 1, 2011. These members will pay a 4% contribution to help fund their retirement.

In 1955, Senate Bill 66 was passed, and the Highway Employees’ and Highway Patrol Retirement System was established. Senate Bill 66 took effect on August 29, 1955. On October 1, 1955, the System accepted 109 retirements.

Legislation to grant retirement benefits to long-term employees was the result of work done by some industrious employees of the State Highways Commission, the State Highway Patrol, and the Highway Employees’ Association. Those involved negotiated an arrangement with the State Highway Commission to forgo a future employee raise to fund the initial contributions to the retirement system. In the initial negotiations, it was agreed that the new retirement system would be funded by contributions from the employees of the State Highway Commission and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, as well as by contributions from both agencies. The initial contribution rate for both employees and employers was 4%.

In the late 1970s, legislation was passed to make the retirement system non-contributory for members, with the only contributions being made by the Highway Commission and Highway Patrol. The Closed Plan and the Year 2000 Plan remain non-contributory for employees today. A contributory tier has been added to the Year 2000 Plan for new hires effective January 1, 2011.

The System operates as an independent trust fund under the direction of the Board of Trustees. The System’s Board of Trustees, identified in the initial legislation, consisted of the Missouri Highway Commission, the Chief Engineer of the Highway Department, and the Superintendent of the State Highway Patrol. In 1955, the Missouri Highway Commission consisted of four members, with the state geologist being an ex-officio member of the board. Additional legislative changes were made in 1965, 1981, 1988, 1992, and 1999 — culminating in the current board structure.

Today, the 11-member board is made up of three Missouri Highways and Transportation Commissioners, the director of the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), a state representative, a state senator, an active MoDOT employee, an active MSHP employee, a retired member of MoDOT, and a retired member of MSHP.

For the first 35 years of its existence, the retirement system was operated as a unit of the State Highway Commission. Highway staff were assigned on a part-time basis to carry out the system’s business.

In 1988, the position of executive director was established. As the membership base and system assets grew, it became clear that full-time staff would be required to provide continuity and direction to improve and advance the system. Since that time, critical staff positions have been added – assistant executive director, chief investment officer, general counsel, and chief financial officer. Today, the system employs 23 staff members.

In August 2002, a building was purchased to provide a permanent home for the System. This step was taken to ensure the System could offer a comfortable, accessible environment for members to meet with staff to discuss their benefits.

The System is now known as the MoDOT and Patrol Employees’ Retirement System (MPERS) and provides retirement, survivor, and disability benefits to over 18,000 members.