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ABOUT LASERS

Created in 1946, LASERS is a defined benefit plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Governance

The LASERS Board of Trustees governs your retirement system. It is composed of 13 Trustees, nine of whom are elected by the membership.

  • Six Trustees are elected by active members;
  • Three Trustees are elected by retired members;
  • Four ex officio seats are occupied by the Louisiana State Treasurer, the Chair of the Senate Committee on Retirement, a member of the House Committee on Retirement, and the Commissioner of the Division of Administration, or their designees.

Membership

Membership in LASERS is mandatory for all state employees whose employing agencies are LASERS participants, except those exempted by state law. Our membership totals approximately 100,000 members.

The various categories of LASERS members include regular state employees, hazardous duty services, correctional officers, wildlife agents, peace officers, bridge police for the Crescent City Connection (DOTD), alcohol and tobacco agents for the Dept. of Revenue, certain legislative officers and elected officials, and judges and court officers.

For further details, please see the General Membership section of the Member’s Guide to Retirement.

Membership Figures

As of June 30, 2025

Category Figure
Annual Benefit Payments $1.6 billion
Average Monthly Benefit* $2,461
Active Employees 39,421
Retirees 50,011
DROP Participants 886

*Rank-and-file members

Note: Inactive and terminated vested members are not included in the above Membership Figures.

Funding

The LASERS trust fund is the source of all benefits paid to LASERS members and their beneficiaries.

Funding comes from these sources:

  • Earnings from Investments
  • Employee contributions
  • Employer contributions
  • Legislative Acts (Learn more here.)

Assets and Returns (as of 6/30/25)

  • 12.4% Investment Return
  • $17.2 Billion in Market Value of Assets

LASERS manages over one-third of its investments internally, saving millions of dollars per year in professional management fees.

Investments in Louisiana 

  • Approximately $1.4 billion in benefits paid in Louisiana.
  • Approximately 92% of LASERS retirees live in Louisiana, resulting in an estimated $1.7 billion economic impact on our state and hometown economies.
  • LASERS invested approximately $2.1 billion in companies with business in Louisiana and over $200 million in Louisiana-headquartered companies. These investments help support thousands of jobs in the state.

LASERS Gift Policy

No gifts for LASERS employees or trustees, please.

LASERS Gift Policy

No gifts for LASERS employees or Trustees, please.

In accordance with the Louisiana Code of Governmental Ethics (R.S. 42:1101, et seq.) Trustees and employees of the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System (LASERS) are unable to accept a gift or gratuity from any person or from any officer, director, agent, or employee of any company or contractor doing business with LASERS or seeking to do business with LASERS. (R.S. 42:1115) We are prohibited from accepting “anything of economic value” for any service, where the subject is devoted substantially to the responsibilities, programs, or operations of LASERS (R.S. 42:1111). Nor can we accept anything of “economic value” for services rendered to or for anyone who has or is seeking to obtain contractual or other business or financial relationships with LASERS (R.S. 42:1111).

R.S. 11:1102(22)(a) provides that “anything of economic value” shall not include “promotional items having no substantial resale value; …. or food, drink, or refreshments consumed by a public servant, including reasonable transportation or entertainment incidental thereto, while the personal guest” of an officer,
director, agent, or employee of any company or contractor doing business with LASERS or seeking to do business with LASERS. Food, drink, and refreshments are subject to a $61 per event limit. R.S. 42:1117 prohibits private persons or entities from giving or paying a public servant anything of economic value that the Ethics Code prohibits that public servant from receiving.

Persons who have or who are seeking a contractual, business, or financial relationship with a state or statewide retirement system and who expend more than $500 per year on promotional items, food, drink, refreshments, transportation, or entertainment for retirement officials must file disclosure reports with the Board of Ethics pursuant to R.S. 42:1114.2. In addition, those persons may be required to register and report pursuant to the Executive Branch Lobbying laws, R.S. 49:71, et seq.

Further information on disclosure requirements is available from the Board of Ethics at www.ethics.state.la.us or by calling 225.219.5600 or 800.842.6630.
Anything of economic value sent to either a Trustee or employee of LASERS shall be returned.

LASERS appreciates your cooperation.