Because a significant portion of OUS faculty has chosen to participate in the Optional Retirement Plan (ORP) authorized by ORS 238.100, AOF weights in on legislation and administrative issues that affect the ORP.

Currently AOF is monitoring OUS’ efforts to "decouple" the ORP employer rate from the PERS employer rate, which historically resulted in lower employer contributions to employee pensions.

After AOF announced it would fight any legislation to decouple the rate, OUS announced in late 2006 that it would not introduce decoupling legislation in the next legislative session.

AOF led the fight to reverse the November 1, 2003 reduction in ORP employer contribution rates. AOF retained Portland’s Bennett Hartman law firm to conduct basic research on what avenues of legal recourse might be available to ORP members.

AOF only supports "decoupling" if there is a floor of the PERS/OPSRP employer rate.

ORP Factsheet