March 24, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Week 11 of the General Assembly

Week 11 was a week of activity on many fronts for ATRS and now, we are in the final stretch of the legislative session. Legislators are working very hard and diligently to complete the session within the next 1-2 weeks. Of ATRS' 20 bill legislative package, currently fourteen (14) bills are now law, two additional (2) bills have passed both chambers and are on the Governor's desk, three (3) more bills have passed one chamber and are on the calendar of the second chamber, and one final (1) bill remains in the Retirement Committee. This update has two (2) attachments. The first is the Executive Director Narrative and the second is the Bill Package Summary.

As the session nears an end, ATRS would again like to express appreciation to all the legislators who sponsored legislation or helped on legislation on behalf of ATRS. Retirement legislation is always complex and difficult to sponsor or promote. Many members of the General Assembly made special efforts to help ATRS. For all the time and effort of so many, I am grateful!

Remember the ATRS website allows members to have direct access to specific member account information.  Now approximately 9,900 members have direct account access to individualized account information.  Here is the link to the instructions to sign up: https://www.artrs.gov/welcome.

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 14,600 people have signed up to receive this executive director update by direct email delivery.  You can find the link to sign up for email delivery to these updates here: https://www.artrs.gov/login.  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 3,300 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 join over 800 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.

Respectfully,

George Hopkins

(501) 682-1820 Office
(501) 318-5998 Cell
georgeh@artrs.gov

 Click on the following document for more information:

1. Session Update

2. Bill Summary

 

March 17, 2017 - Executive Director Update: Happy 80th Birthday ATRS and Week 10 of the General Assembly

Today is the 80th birthday of ATRS.  On March 17, 1937, the Arkansas General Assembly created ATRS in the middle of the Great Depression to recruit, retain, and reward educators to deliver the education curriculum to the school children throughout Arkansas.  Happy 80th Birthday ATRS!  80 years later, that mission remains unchanged in a world that has materially changed!

Week 10 of the Arkansas General Assembly is a good point for a quick score card.  The 20 bill ATRS legislative package has eight (8) bills that are law, four (4) bills are on the Governor's desk after passage of both chambers, three (3) bills have passed one chamber and are on the calendar for the second chamber, and five (5) bills remain in Committee.  In addition, ATRS has worked with sponsors on other bills to suggest amendments and provide input to ensure the ills remain neutral to ATRS.  ATRS expects that the session may be nearing an end in about two (2) weeks.  That means significant work has already been done, but a flurry of activity will be required by ATRS in the next two (2) weeks.

There are three (3) attachments to this update.  First, the special executive director update from earlier this week about the financial strength of ATRS and the purpose of the ATRS legislative package.  Second is the Bill Summary (some additional narrative has been added on a couple of bills that is highlighted in blue).  The Bill Summary also has the legislative status update on all ATRS bills. Third is the EDU narrative.

Earlier this week, ATRS provided a special executive director update that has been well received that explains ATRS is not in financial trouble, but always intends to be prepared for any financial crisis in the markets or any other issue that might arise.  The update explained that the 2017 ATRS legislative bill package is much like the insurance you purchase on your homes and valuable items.  It is intended to never be used, but to be in place if ever needed.  The special update is also an attachment to this update for those who missed it the first time.

Remember the ATRS website allows members to have direct access to specific member account information.  Now approximately 9,700 members have direct account access to individualized account information.  Here is the link to the instructions to sign up: https://www.artrs.gov/welcome.

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 14,400 people have signed up to receive this executive director update by direct email delivery.  You can find the link to sign up for email delivery to these updates here: https://www.artrs.gov/login.  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 3,300 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 join over 800 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.

Respectfully,

George Hopkins

(501) 682-1820 Office
(501) 318-5998 Cell
georgeh@artrs.gov

 Click on the following document for more information:

1. Strength of ATRS

2. Bill Summary

3. Session Update