Date: | 01/06/2020 |
---|---|
Referenced Sources: | PERAC Website |
PERAC Memo #03, 2020
Date: | 01/06/2020 |
---|---|
Referenced Sources: | PERAC Website |
PERAC Memo #03, 2020
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Call to report suspected pension fraud
M E M O R A N D U M
TO: All Retirement Boards
FROM: John W. Parsons, Esq., Executive Director
RE: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 1st Quarter 2020
DATE: January 13, 2020
Chapter 32 mandates that retirement board members complete training during each year of service on the retirement board. This requirement has two elements: 18 credits over the course of the member’s term and at least 3 credits in each year of the term. Failure to meet either of these statutory standards will prohibit the member from serving beyond the conclusion of the term for which the training requirement was not met. We urge board members to utilize the full array of training choices in order to remain eligible to serve. All classes, webinars, seminars, and conferences listed will earn the attendee three credits each.
If a certificate of completion is offered for training not directly offered by PERAC, you must submit it through PROSPER for proper credit. Otherwise, please submit the Training Affidavit in PROSPER.
Please view sections I, II, and III on the following pages of this memo for available pre-approved trainings. Other possible educational opportunities, listed in section IV, must be preapproved by the PERAC Compliance Unit before attendance to confirm if credit will be offered.
I. 1st Quarter Training Schedule
Date | Topic/Organization | Location / Registration Information |
January 23 | Open Meeting Law | Webinar (pre-registration required) |
12:30 p.m. | Offered by: Office of the Attorney General |
Register:OMLTraining@state.ma.us or 617-963-2925. |
January 23 | Conflict of Interest Law* | McCormack State Building 1 Ashburton Place, Room 619, Boston, MA. |
10:00 a.m. | Offered by: State Ethics Commission |
Register: 617-371-9505 or e-mailing:David.giannotti@mass.gov |
January 29 (snow date –January 30) | 2018 Fee Report & Other Compliance Matters | PERAC Training Room 5 Middlesex Avenue, 3rdfloor, Somerville, MA |
10:00 a.m. | Offered by: PERAC |
Register: PROSPER |
February 12 | 2018 Fee Report & Other Compliance Matters | Webinar |
10:00 a.m. | Offered by: PERAC |
Register: PROSPER |
February 13 | Open Meeting Law | Webinar (pre-registration required) |
12:30 p.m. | Offered by: Office of the Attorney General |
Register:OMLTraining@state.ma.us or 617-963-2925 |
February 26 (snow date –February 28) |
Public Pensions: Important Updates in both Massachusetts and Federal Law | Springfield Retirement Board 70 Tapley Street, Springfield, MA |
10:00 a.m. | Offered by: PERAC |
Register: PROSPER |
March 18 | Annual Statement/Cash Books | Webinar |
10:00 a.m. | Offered by: PERAC |
Register: PROSPER |
March 26 | Conflict of Interest Law* | McCormack State Building 1 Ashburton Place, Room 619, Boston, MA |
10:00 a.m. | Offered by: State Ethics Commission |
Register: 617-371-9505 or e-mailing:David.giannotti@mass.gov |
* Board members must complete the Conflict of Interest Law training once every two years. A certificate of completion is required to receive credit.
II. PERAC Online Training (available year-round)
Topics |
Chapter 32 in a Nutshell |
Recent Cases of Interest |
Audit Process Revisions |
An Introduction to the Annual Statement |
Please see our website’s Education page,https://www.mass.gov/perac-education,for links to the above webinars. You must complete the Training Affidavit in PROSPER to receive credit. When completing your affidavit, select the webinars marked “Affidavit Required” from the drop-down list in PROSPER.
III. Pre-Approved Online Training (available year-round)
Organization | Topic | How to find webinar: |
State Ethics Commission | Conflict of Interest Law* | https://go.usa.gov/xpPxD and select State,County, or Municipal employee to view appropriate webinar |
Office of the Inspector General | How to be an Effective Public Board and Commission Member | https://tinyurl.com/IG20abc to view webinar |
Office of the Attorney General | Open Meeting Law Training | https://go.usa.gov/xpPx5 to view. You must watch all six videos |
National Council on Teacher Retirement | Setting the Discount Rate – A Balancing Act |
www.nctr.org/government-relations/federal-webinar/ and enter the password: nctrinsight |
National Crime Prevention Council | Investment Fraud Prevention Program | https://tinyurl.com/NCPC-perac Download and review all five pdf presentations |
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services | Cybersecurity | Webinar no longer available |
* Board members must complete the Conflict of Interest Law training once every two years. A certificate of completion is required to receive credit.
IV. Other Opportunities to Obtain Educational Credit
The Commission is willing to approve educational credits for a variety of events sponsored by “…local, state, regional and national organizations recognized by the Commission as having expertise in retirement issues of importance to retirement board members or other entities…”
Additionally, the Commission has approved education credit for participating in Webinars.In 2020, we will again entertain requests for credit in relation to relevant webinars provided that such a request is made well in advance of the session.
Approval for such credit must take place well in advance of the date of the event. This will enable the Commission to analyze the program and provide a general notice to other retirement board members to maximize participation. Once approved, you must complete the Training Affidavit in PROSPER to ensure proper credit.
The following represent a list of educational opportunities both nationally and within Massachusetts.
National Organizations | Event |
National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS) | TEDS (ncpers.org) |
NCPERS | PATS (ncpers.org) |
NCPERS | Annual Conference (ncpers.org) |
National Council on Teacher Retirement (NCTR) | Trustee Workshop (nctr.org) |
NCTR | Annual Conference (nctr.org) |
National Pension Education Association | Annual Conference (npea.com) |
National Association of State Retirement Administrators | Annual Conference (nasra.org) |
Government Finance Officers Association | Annual Conference (gfoa.org) |
American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries | Annual Conference (asppa.org) |
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans | New Trustee Institute/Advanced Trustees Institute (ifebp.org) |
Massachusetts Organizations | Event |
PRIM | Investors’ Conference |
Ethics Training | MA Town Clerks Association |
Open Meeting Law | MA Association of School Committees |
City/Town Sponsored | Conflict of Interest Training |
City/Town Sponsored | Open Meeting Law Training |
The Commission would be remiss if we did not thank all the members of the retirement boards who, in spite of other pressing duties, are making a good faith effort to fulfill their duties and responsibilities.
Philip Y Brown, Esq., Chairman
Auditor Suzanne M. Bump
Kathleen M. Fallon
Kate Fitzpatrick
James M. Machado
Robert B. McCarthy
Jennifer F. Sullivan
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Call to report suspected pension fraud