PERAC Memo #11 - 2022: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 2nd Quarter 2022

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 – 2nd Quarter 2022

DATE: April 1, 2022

Chapter 32 mandates retirement board members to 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 three credits each, unless otherwise noted.

Ways to receive your credits:

Credits for attending live PERAC webinars and the MACRS Conference are automatically updated by PERAC staff approximately one week after the event. All attendees must register through the links available on our website. Board members seeking educational credits – it is important that you register with your full name and the email address we have on record so we can accurately update your account. Board members must check in each day at MACRS to receive full credit. You must submit a completed Training Affidavit in PROSPER for all other trainings, including pre-recorded PERAC webinars and pre-approved webinar and conference attendance. Any session listed under sections I, II, and III are pre-approved. If a Certificate of Completion is offered for any training not directly provided by or sponsored by PERAC, you must submit the certificate through PROSPER to receive credit. Please note the full name of the recorded session you have viewed when submitting a Training Affidavit in PROSPER. Some sessions require pre-registration. Check individual sessions for closing dates. The Commission appreciates all the retirement board members who are making a good faith effort to fulfill their duties and responsibilities despite the challenges of this prolonged pandemic. With the easing of restrictions and following official health and safety guidelines, we are considering in-person sessions later this year, including the return of the Emerging Issues Forum.

I. Training Schedule Dates (pre-registration is required)

Date Topic/Organization Location / Registration Information April 4 Open Meeting Law Webinar 12:30 p.m. AGO https://tinyurl.com/AGO-0404 April 12 Procuring Legal Services Webinar 10:00 a.m. MCPPO ($29.00) https://tinyurl.com/mcppo-412 April 19 Open Meeting Law Webinar 12:30 p.m. AGO https://tinyurl.com/AGO-0419 May 5 Open Meeting Law Webinar 9:30 a.m. AGO https://tinyurl.com/AGO-0505 May 12 Public Sector Ethics Webinar 10:00 a.m. PERAC/Inspector General https://tinyurl.com/IGO-0512 May 18 How to Detect Fraud in Financial Statements Webinar 9:00 a.m. MCPPO ($29.00) https://tinyurl.com/mcppo-518 May 19 Open Meeting Law In-person Conference 10:00 a.m. AGO https://tinyurl.com/AGO-0519 May 21-22 TEDS Conference (Washington D.C.) Conference NCPERS (see website for cost) www.ncpers.org/teds May 22-25 ACE Conference (Washington D.C.) Conference NCPERS (see website for cost) www.ncpers.org/annual-conference June 2 Conflict of Interest* Webinar 10:00 a.m. State Ethics Commission https://tinyurl.com/0602-ethics June 7 Preventing Common Frauds and Scams Webinar 10:00 a.m. MCPPO ($29.00) https://tinyurl.com/MCPPO-0607 June 12-15 MACRS Spring Conference Conference (3-6 credits) Note: this event will be in person Registration info to follow

*Board members must complete the Conflict of Interest Law training at least once every two years, however, the live session may be taken for credit every year. A certificate of completion is required to receive credit for the Conflict of Interest training.

II. Recently Added or Recurring Pre-Approved Online Training (available on demand)

Organization Topic How to find webinar: State Ethics Commission Conflict of Interest Law* (select either State and County or Municipal links) https://go.usa.gov/xpPxD and view appropriate webinar Office of the Inspector General Inspector General Videos (You must watch all three videos) mass.gov/service-details/inspector-general-educational-videos Office of the Attorney General Open Meeting Law Training (You must watch all six videos) https://go.usa.gov/xpPx5 National Council on Teacher Retirement New webinar added: WEP Reform: An Update See our website for the link: mass.gov/service-details/perac-online-training National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems New webinars added: 2022 State & Federal Legislation; A Decade after the Deception See our website for the links: mass.gov/service-details/perac-online-training PERAC 2020 Cash Books & Annual Statement (recording, 3 credits via Training Affidavit in PROSPER) https://www.mass.gov/service-details/cash-books-annual-statement

Links to all of the above resources can be found on PERAC's Education page at mass.gov/perac-education.

• Board members must complete the Conflict of Interest Law training once every two years. A certificate of completion is required to receive credit for the Conflict of Interest training. Credit for the recorded session may only be awarded once every two years.

III. MACRS June Conference (up to six credits)

After a long hiatus, the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems (MACRS) will once again host an in-person conference. As has been the case in the past, PERAC, in conjunction with MACRS, will be making educational opportunities available at the June MACRS Conference from June 12 – June 15 in Hyannis. The breakout will be as follows:

The Legal Panel Session during the main MACRS Conference (Three Credits) Wednesday, June 15, 2022, PERAC sessions on proposed updates to PERAC Regulations (Three Credits) Registration information is forthcoming.

IV. Other Opportunities to Obtain Educational Credit

The Commission is willing to approve other 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 2022, 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 credit must take place well in advance of the date of the event or webinar. 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. Board members experiencing Extenuating Circumstances in meeting educational requirements should review Memo 15 of 2019 and contact PERAC with any questions.

The following list of local and national organizations provide additional educational opportunities that may be relevant for retirement board members:

American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA) City/Town Sponsored Conflict of Interest or Open Meeting Law Training Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) MA Association of School Committees Open Meeting Law Training MA Town Clerks Association Ethics Training National Association of State Retirement Administrators (NASRA) National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS) National Council on Teacher Retirement (NCTR) National Pension Education Association (NPEA)