The pace of retirement issues in the Public Retirement Committee has continued to increase as cost and impact studies return from the actuaries.  The ATRS Package Bills are right about where ATRS had expected for this point in the session.  Two of the Package Bills are out of committee and passed the Senate.   ATRS does have a Shell Bill Alert included in this week's update.  You may want to open the Executive Director Update to get a detailed explanation on the newly amended former shell bill and its impact on ATRS and other public retirement plans after today's amendment.

I have attached an updated bill summary for the 90th General Assembly regarding bills affecting ATRS through 1 pm on February 6, 2015. ATRS has 7 "package" bills and one appropriation bill for 8 ATRS supported bills.  ATRS and the Board are very grateful to the sponsors who have helped with the ATRS bill package in this session.  The bill summary also lists 4 shell bills that were introduced on behalf of ATRS, if needed.  There is one Code Revision Commission that makes minor wording changes.

Last week there were 2 shell bills that ATRS had no background upon.   ATRS informed you that the bills could be amended to possibly affect ATRS. One of the 2 shell bills was amended today and it impacts ATRS along with other public retirement plans in Arkansas.  As of 2 pm the last remaining shell bill had no potential amendments shown.

ATRS has 3 package bills on the active agenda of the Public Retirement Committee meeting Monday at 10:00 a.m.  The ATRS Package Bills ready for committee action are:

SB48 by Senator Bill Sample Revisions to ATRS' Disability.
SB50 by Senator Eddie Cheatham ATRS Technical Corrections Bill
SB137 by Senator Jason Rapert Guarantees Lifetime Benefit

One ATRS package bill is still in actuarial study.  It is:

HB1078 by Representative Gary Deffenbaugh Option C Beneficiary Change

Remember that ATRS has a new website that allows members to have direct access to specific member account information.  Active members, retirees, T-DROP participants, and CBA account holders can see relevant and specific account information. Active members can access a handy benefits calculator to see how retirement would look now or at a future time. 

ATRS now has over 2,500 registered direct access members since registration started on August 1st.  Here is the link to an update that provides instructions on the 10 to 15 minute process it takes for a member to register to have direct access to specific ATRS account information: https://www.artrs.gov/general/director-updates/716-08-15-2014-executive-director-update-the-new-atrs-website

If you have not signed up to obtain the executive director updates through your private email address, you can obtain the executive director update on the ATRS website.  The update attached to this email is also available on the ATRS website at https://www.artrs.gov/general/director-updates.    Now, almost 8,000 people have signed up to receive this executive director email update and other ATRS information via an email listserve.  In addition, over 10,000 people have access to the ATRS executive director updates via email delivery.  It is always a great pleasure for ATRS staff to learn of more ways to provide information to ATRS members, employers, and beneficiaries.  The ATRS Board is committed to providing a system that is member friendly and transparent.

You can also get helpful ATRS information on the ATRS Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/arkansasteacherretirementsystem under the name of Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.  Over 2,300 Facebook users get updates via the ATRS Facebook page. Go to the Facebook page and "like" ATRS to get daily updates.  I try to go to the Facebook page every day to post information and answer member questions about ATRS.  In addition, if you use Twitter, you can follow events at ATRS and issues of interest by finding the Twitter ID of ATRS or find George Hopkins in the Twitter directory. The link is https://twitter.com/atrs  ATRS is here to serve you!


Respectfully, George Hopkins

Click on the following document(s) for more information:

90th General Assembly; Narrative

Status and Summary of ATRS Bill Package