Policy Statement  Policy #97-007: Designation of Persons with Access to Records Obtained by the PERAC Pension Fraud Unit

Date:	12/09/1997
Referenced Sources:	Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission

Designation of Persons with Access to Records Obtained by the PERAC Pension Fraud Unit

The Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (Commission) is responsible for the prevention and investigation of fraudulent disability pension claims and payments. To this end, the Pension Fraud Unit was created with the powers and duties specified in Section 10 of Chapter 427 of the Acts of 1996. This Unit was later renamed the Fraud Prevention Unit. 

Authorized personnel of the Fraud Prevention Unit are to be allowed to have access to certain information and records when they are relevant to any investigation by the Fraud Prevention Unit. These records include those kept by the Registry of Motor Vehicles; by the Department of Industrial Accidents; by the Department of Revenue; by the Department of Transitional Assistance; by the Department of Employment and Training; by any retirement board of a city, town, county or other governmental unit; and the criminal off ender record information which may be disseminated pursuant to G .L. c. 6, § 172. Access to such information and records shall be solely for the use by such authorized personnel in the performance of their official duties and responsibilities. 

The Commission recognizes that access to investigative records must be limited to those persons who require access in connection with their official duties. The Commission therefore establishes this policy to ensure that access is limited and that those persons having such access shall maintain the information obtained as confidential. 

The Executive Director shall identify and designate in writing the authorized personnel employed by the Commission who are to have access to records obtained by the Fraud Prevention Unit. The Chairman of the Audit/Fraud Subcommittee shall, from time to time, cause these persons to be instructed in the requirements and procedures for maintaining the confidential nature of the records of the Unit. 

If any agency providing records to the Commission's Fraud Prevention Unit has established additional requirements, the persons identified and designated to have access to records when obtained by the Fraud Prevention Unit shall be made aware of these additional requirements and shall comply with them. 

Adopted at Commission meeting on December 9, 1997 and amended on April 11, 2018.