PERA serves more than half a million current and former public employees from more than 3,500 local units of government throughout the state of Minnesota. Established in 1931, PERA administers three statewide retirement plans providing defined benefit plan coverage to employees of local governments and school districts. The Association also manages a statewide retirement plan, providing defined contribution (DCP) coverage to elected officials, city managers, and ambulance service and medical personnel. Finally, PERA oversees a lump-sum defined benefit fund for volunteer firefighters in the state. All these programs are qualified retirement plans under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.