The 93rd General Assembly
Joint Public Retirement & Social Security Committee
Last week, I failed to properly recognize Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr. of Texarkana as the President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas Senate. I will always strive to pass along accurate information and correct any errors along the way. I apologize for last week’s oversight. I would also like to point out that Senator Jimmy Hickey, Jr. is a member of the Joint Retirement Committee this session. It is an honor to have the President Pro Tempore taking a direct role in the process to make ATRS a stronger retirement system for the educators of Arkansas.
The first Public Retirement Committee meeting will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021. This meeting will be an organizational meeting which will include briefings by the retirement systems' directors and committee actuary. I will provide a summary of the financial status of ATRS at the January 25th meeting. No bills affecting ATRS will be presented at the January 25th meeting.
The Joint Retirement Committee will meet in Room A of the MAC building at 8:30 am each Monday morning. A mask or other cloth face covering will be required to be worn over the mouth and nose of every individual in the committee room and the MAC Building lobby at all times. All individuals will be submitted to a temperature check and onsite health screening and be given an armband indicating admittance at the entrance of the MAC Building.
The Joint Retirement Committee agenda will be posted at least eighteen (18) hours prior to each meeting. The agenda will have bills listed in three categories.
(A) Regular Agenda – bills to be considered by the committee on the date of the agenda.
(B) Consent Agenda – bills on the committee agenda for which there is no known opposition or expected public testimony and that may be taken up at any time by the committee.
(C) Deferred Bills – bills for which committee consideration has been deferred either for failure of the sponsor to appear or at the request of the sponsor.
Here is the link to the full procedures for public access to the committee meetings: Committee Procedures and Public Access for 2021 Regular Session
The Joint Retirement Committee (JRC) meeting will be video streamed over the Internet. Just visit the Arkansas Legislative Meetings and Events web page on Monday at 8:30 a.m. Look for the item “PUBLIC RETIREMENT & SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS-JOINT” and click on the “video camera” icon. The agenda for the meeting will be posted here at least 18 hours before the start of the meeting. No bills affecting ATRS will be presented at the January 25th meeting.
ATRS will try to keep its members informed about the bills that impact ATRS, its members and employers. For more information regarding the ATRS Bill Package and Bills that may Impact ATRS visit the Legislation page on our website.
Stay in Touch with ATRS and View YOUR Account Information
The ATRS website allows members to have direct access to specific member account information. Now, approximately 23,500 members have direct account access to individualized account information. Here is the link to the instructions to sign up: www.artrs.gov/registration.
You can also sign up to obtain these executive director updates through your private email address. Updates are made throughout the year such as at retirement season and other times when information needs to be shared. Now, over 25,700 people have signed up to receive this executive director update by direct email delivery. It is always a great pleasure for ATRS staff to learn of more ways to provide information to ATRS members, employers, beneficiaries, government officials, and the public. The ATRS Board is committed to providing a system that is member friendly and transparent. Remember that ATRS is here to serve you.
Best regards,
Clint Rhoden
Executive Director ATRS
Office: (501) 588-4367
Mobile: (501) 291-1623
clintr@artrs.gov