April 5, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Twelve of the Legislative Session

Joint Public Retirement & Social Security Committee (JRC)

The Joint Public Retirement Committee (JRC) has concluded all of its business for this legislative session.  There are no scheduled meetings at this time.

The 2019 Legislative Session is almost complete.  All of the bills in the ATRS sponsored package are now law.

A special thank you is due to all members of the Joint Retirement Committee for the time and patience spent working with ATRS staff and the ATRS Board of Trustees to keep our system strong while protecting the benefits of Arkansas educators.   Here is the list of the committee members and alternates by chamber:

2019 Senate Members of Retirement Committee

*Senator Bill Sample, Chair		Hot Springs
Senator Keith Ingram, Vice Chair		West Memphis
Senator Cecile Bledsoe		Rogers
*Senator Eddie Cheatham		Crossett
*Senator Joyce Elliott		Little Rock
Senator Kim Hammer		Benton
*Senator Blake Johnson		Corning
Senator Greg Leding		Fayetteville
*Senator Jason Rapert		Conway
*Senator Larry Teague		Nashville

 *Returning members

2019 House Members of Retirement Committee

*Representative Les Warren, Chair		Hot Springs
*Representative Gary Deffenbaugh, Vice Chair		Van Buren
*Representative Bruce Coleman		Mountainburg
Representative Michelle Gray		Melbourne
Representative Grant Hodges		Rogers
Representative Monte Hodges		Blytheville
*Representative Douglas House		North Little Rock
Representative John Maddox		Mena
Representative Mark Perry		Jacksonville
Representative Stu Smith		Batesville

 *Returning members

House Alternates

Representative Sonia Eubanks Barker		Smackover
Representative Harlan Breaux		Holiday Island
Representative Andrew Collins		Little Rock
Representative Bruce Cozart		Hot Springs
Representative Brian S. Evans		Cabot
Representative Lanny Fite		Benton
Representative Julie Mayberry		Hensley
Representative Tippi McCullough		Little Rock
Representative Jamie Scott		North Little Rock

 

The ATRS Board is grateful for all the assistance and advocacy by member organizations.  Your voices and concerns about issues affecting ATRS have been heard by the JRC.  The cooperation from Governor Hutchinson's office and others is also recognized and appreciated.

This executive director update concludes the weekly updates from the regular session.

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 17,000 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 20,000 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.

You can also get helpful ATRS information on the ATRS Facebook page under the name of Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.  Over 5,100 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 join over 970 others by following events at ATRS and issues of interest on the ATRS Twitter page. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call ATRS locally at (501) 588-4374 or toll free (800) 666-2877.

Best regards,

Clint Rhoden
Executive Director ATRS

(501) 291-1623 Mobile
(501) 588-4367 Office
clintr@artrs.gov

March 29, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Eleven of the Legislative Session

Joint Public Retirement & Social Security Committee (JRC)

On Monday, April 1st at 9:00 a.m. the Joint Public Retirement Committee (JRC) meeting will be video streamed over the Internet. Just visit the Arkansas Legislative Meetings and Events web page on Monday at 9:00 a.m. Look for the item “PUBLIC RETIREMENT & SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMS-JOINT” and click on the “video camera” icon.

The 2019 Legislative Session is in its final weeks. All of the bills in the ATRS sponsored package have been presented to the JRC and are law or have passed both chambers and are awaiting action by the Governor. The ATRS staff remains vigilant in monitoring any legislative changes that could affect the retirement systems of Arkansas.

HB1173, a.k.a. “The Stress Testing Bill”, was heard on Monday, March 25th. Sixteen (16) citizens signed up to speak against the bill and were allowed to speak after the committee discussed the merits of the bill. At the end of the presentation, the bill failed due to the lack of a “do pass” motion.

SB52 would permit the forfeiture of retirement benefits in the event a member of an Arkansas retirement system is convicted of a felony arising out of their official duties as a state employee. SB52 was also heard by the JRC on Monday, March 25th. The main problem with this bill is that it could possibly jeopardize the qualified federal tax status of the Arkansas retirement systems. This bill also failed due to the lack of a “do pass” motion.

There are also no bills that would change the cost of living adjustment (COLA) scheduled to be heard by the JRC.

Your voices and concerns about these bills have been heard by the JRC. We should continue to thank our legislators for their willingness to work with ATRS staff and the ATRS Board of Trustees in keeping our system strong while protecting the benefits of Arkansas educators.

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 17,000 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 20,000 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.

You can also get helpful ATRS information on the ATRS Facebook page under the name of Arkansas Teacher Retirement System.  Over 5,100 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 join over 970 others by following events at ATRS and issues of interest on the ATRS Twitter page.  Remember that ATRS is here to serve you!  If you have questions, email me or call.

Best regards,

Clint Rhoden
Executive Director ATRS

mobile: (501) 291-1623
clintr@artrs.gov