April 16, 2021 - Executive Director Update: ATRS Retirement Planner for 2021

COVID-19 Update and Continuance of Operation

While ATRS remains closed to the public due to COVID-19, you may submit forms in-person in our lobby. Please wear a mask upon entering the ATRS building.

Counselors are available weekdays, 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., by phone (501-682-1517) or email (info@artrs.gov). Video conferencing is now available upon request.

Thank you for your patience and continuous support as we all do our part in helping to protect each other.

We strongly urge you to check out our website, follow us on Facebook or Twitter for the most up to date information. With an informed membership and dedicated staff and trustees, ATRS is prepared to meet the challenges today and the future.

Planning for Retirement

Retirement season has arrived for ATRS and its members. This is a special time of the year for ATRS. For some, this is the season to retire and for others to move from being an active member to T-DROP participant. It is an honor and great privilege to help members cross the finish line into retirement and T-DROP. We understand the retirement applicants' tears of joy and sometimes the tears of sadness that may flow together as retirement moves from a dream into a reality. Always remember that every ATRS retiree always receives a lifetime monthly retirement benefit!

The goal of the ATRS Board and ATRS staff is to help in every way possible to make this special journey into retirement and T-DROP a happy and pleasant experience for you! We are here for one reason, to serve you. If this is the year that you plan to retire or enter T-DROP, please know that we look forward to helping you. If you are uncertain if this is the year for retirement or T-DROP, then the ATRS staff also welcomes you to get counseling and estimates to see on a comparative basis how staying a little longer may help build your retirement income. One suggestion in the attachments is for you to pause and reflect if you are considering retiring but remain uncertain. ATRS staff will be available on Memorial Day, May 31, 2021 to counsel members, help with applications, provide projections, and accept applications. For all your questions, contact our Call Center at (501) 682-1517.

ATRS has attached a 2021 Retirement Planner that provides important information about retirement. Also attached is a copy of the notice that ATRS sends to ATRS employers about retirement.

May 31st is the deadline to file an application to become a July 1st retiree or a 2021 T-DROP participant.

ATRS Employers: Please forward this executive director update email to all employees. ATRS wants to get this planner to as many ATRS members as possible.

If you are considering retiring or entering T-DROP, then ATRS is here to help you with the process and make it as easy as possible. Starting early can help get you through the process more smoothly and with less stress. ATRS thanks you for your dedicated service to the schools and children of Arkansas. ATRS is now ready to help you on your retirement or T-DROP path, just as you have helped the children of Arkansas on their educational path during your career in public education.

You can find additional information in the Retirement and T-DROP frequently asked questions located on the ATRS Frequently Asked Questions web page.

List of Attachments:

1. Employer Memo
2. Retirement Planner

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 24,700 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 26,200 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

April 8, 2021 - Executive Director Update: Week Number Thirteen of the Legislative Session

The 93rd General Assembly

Joint Public Retirement & Social Security Committee (JRC)

The Joint Retirement Committee (JRC) met on Monday, April 5th where Representative Les Warren presented HB1325 and Representative Reginald Murdock presented HB1300.

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

SB50 has been signed by Governor Hutchinson and is now Act 579. Act 579 authorizes the ATRS budget appropriation for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. 

HB1325 was passed out of the House and is on the Senate calendar. This bill clarifies and improves the subchapter that deals with reciprocity. It allows each system to define the final average salary used in reciprocal calculations. It contains a grandfather clause regarding the use of the highest final average salary for anyone who currently has reciprocal service. This bill will ensure that there are no conflicts with general reciprocal law and ATRS law.

HB1300 was passed out of the House and the Senate this week. It is on the Governor’s desk to sign. This bill allows high school students working during the summer as part of specific summer work programs to not be considered employees of the school. ATRS will not lose any contributions that would be made by some other employee.

Monitoring Teacher Retirement Related Legislation

Now that the deadline for filing bills that directly impact one of the Arkansas public retirement plans has passed, ATRS is monitoring other bills as they are filed to determine if they could indirectly impact ATRS. As these bills are identified, we will add them to the ATRS Legislation page on the website. These bills will start in the “ATRS Monitoring” status. As more information is gathered about the purpose, intent, or actuarial cost of the bills, the status could change to “ATRS Opposes” or “ATRS Supports”.

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 24,500 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 26,100 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