January 17, 2019 - Executive Director Update: Week Number One of the Legislative Session

The 92nd General Assembly

On Monday, January 14, 2019, the 92^nd General Assembly of Arkansas began the Regular Session for 2019.  In a general session, laws affecting any and all issues can be introduced as compared to the fiscal session in even numbered years that is essentially limited to fiscal issues and appropriations.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives is Representative Matthew Shepherd of El Dorado. The President Pro Tempore of the Arkansas Senate is Senator Jim Hendren of Gravette.  ATRS looks forward to the leadership and direction provided by these respected leaders of the 92^nd General Assembly.

ATRS is working closely with Governor Hutchinson and his staff on legislative issues already during this session.  Governor Hutchinson always provides leadership and important input on retirement proposals and other issues that affect all Arkansans.  ATRS appreciates Governor Hutchinson's input and advice on legislation.

Over the last year, the ATRS Board and staff have researched the ATRS laws and operations to ensure that ATRS was prepared to address any and all fiscal challenges that might arise.  Over the last 2 years, the ATRS Board approved recommendations by the ATRS Operations Committee for proposals for the 92^nd General Assembly to consider.

This is the update for week one of the General Assembly.  The legislative activity has been mostly organizational thus far this week without much to report on the bill introduction front.

The deadline for filing retirement legislation is January 28, 2019. This early filing deadline is due to the complex nature of bills that affect the benefits and operations of retirement systems and each must have an actuarial evaluation. A quality actuarial report is vital to ensure retirement legislation is fully vetted and the impact is clearly understood.  The early introduction process provides sufficient time for full actuarial review and thoughtful legislative action on retirement legislation.

Joint Public Retirement & Social Security Committee

Almost all legislation affecting Arkansas' public retirement systems is assigned to the Joint Public Retirement & Social Security Programs Committee, commonly referred to as the Joint Retirement Committee.  The Committee has 20 total members with 10 from the Arkansas House of Representatives and 10 from the Arkansas State Senate. The House also has ten (10) alternates to the Public Retirement Committee to serve if a House member is unavailable for the Committee meeting.

The Public Retirement Committee's leadership includes a House Co-Chair and a Senate Co-Chair along with a House Co-Vice Chair and a Senate Co-Vice Chair. The Chairmanship of the Committee alternates between the House and the Senate during the session.  This Committee has the difficult but important task of sorting through numerous actuarial reports, pages of financial data, complex formulas, and information to ensure that the public retirement systems operate fairly and efficiently for members, employers, the state, and the public.

On Monday, Speaker of the House Shepherd named the 10 House members and 10 House alternates to the Joint Retirement Committee. Speaker Shepherd also named the House Co-Chair and House Co-Vice Chair of Joint Retirement. Representative Les Warren, of Hot Springs, was named the House Co-Chair.  Representative Gary Deffenbaugh, of Van Buren, was named as House Co-Vice Chair of Joint Retirement. Representative Warren and Representative Deffenbaugh will provide the Committee with experience, knowledge of retirement issues from a close perspective, legislative expertise, and a strong background in policy.

Senator Bill Sample, also of Hot Springs, is Senate Co-Chair.  Senator Keith Ingram, of West Memphis, is Senate Co-Vice Chair. Senator Sample and Senator Ingram are both experienced and ready to provide leadership and direction in the committee. All four leaders of the committee provide the Joint Retirement Committee with quality leadership, experience, knowledge of retirement issues, and command of the legislative process.

Both the House and Senate have named the members of the Joint Retirement Committee. The 10 House members of Joint Retirement provides both experience and energy. Four of the House members and six of the Senate members are returning members of the Retirement Committee and will provide both knowledge and preparation for the committee. The 10 Arkansas State Senate members who will serve on the Joint Retirement Committee are:

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

The 10 Committee Members from the House and their Alternates are:

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

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 14,000 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 16,400 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 4,500 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 920 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

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

Public Notice: 2019 Board of Trustees Election

Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS)

Board of Trustees Election 2019

The election of the vacant positions on the ATRS Board of Trustees that was scheduled for March, 2019 was uncontested in all four (4) positions:

• Position #1 (Certified Member Trustee – 1st Congressional District)
• Position #3 (Certified Member Trustee – 3rd Congressional District)
• Position #4 (Certified Member Trustee – 4th Congressional District)
• Position #10 (Retirant Trustee)

Therefore there will not be an election. The positions and candidates that will be certified at the February ATRS Board meeting are:

• Position #1:  Robin Nichols
• Position #3:  Arthur "Chip" Martin, III
• Position #4:  Kathy Clayton
• Position #10:  Bobby Lester