PERAC Memo #20 - 2025: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 3rd Quarter, 2025

Memorandum Memorandum PERAC Memo #20: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 3rd Quarter, 2025 Date: 06/30/2025 Referenced Sources: PERAC Website PERAC Memo #20, 2025

To All Retirement Boards: TO: All Retirement Boards

FROM: Bill Keefe, Executive Director

RE: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training – 3rd Quarter, 2025

DATE: June 30, 2025

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, the New Administrator Training, and the Emerging Issues Forum 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. 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 through V 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. As a reminder, please remember to update your records with our new address: 10 Cabot Road, Suite 300, Medford, MA 02155. We look forward to seeing you at Emerging Issues in September and wish you an enjoyable summer!

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

Date/Time Topic/Organization Registration / Location July 10 Chapter 32 and Federal Taxation (part 2) Register for Webinar 1:00 p.m. PERAC/Ice Miller July 13-16 25th Annual Trustee Workshop Register for Conference NCTR Conference Williamsburg, VA July 15 Understanding Leadership Register for Webinar 10:00 a.m. OIG Academy July 23 Fraud Awareness Register for Webinar 10:00 a.m. OIG Academy July 29 Fiduciary Responsibility Training Register for Webinar 12:00 p.m. NPEA July 31 Open Meeting Law Register for Webinar 6:00 p.m. AGO August 9-13 Annual Conference Register for Conference NASRA Seattle, WA August 12 Open Meeting Law Register for Webinar 12:00 p.m. AGO August 17-19 Public Pension Funding Forum Register for Conference NCPERS Chicago, IL August 19 Chief Procurement Officer Responsibilities Register for Webinar 1:00 p.m. OIG Academy August 20 New Administrator Training Register for Training PERAC Northampton, MA September 12 Open Meeting Law Register for Webinar 10:00 a.m. AGO September 17 Emerging Issues Forum Registration opens next month! 9:00 a.m. PERAC Westborough, MA September 25 Open Meeting Law Register for Webinar 1:00 p.m. AGO September Economist Update Register for Webinar (date tbd) NPEA October 4-7 103rd Conference Register for Conference NCTR Salt Lake City, UT October 18-21 Annual Conference Register for Conference NPEA Salt Lake City, UT Date/Time Topic/Organization Registration / Location II. Recently Added or Recurring Pre-Approved Online Training (available on demand)

Organization Topic Office of the Inspector General Inspector General Videos You must watch all three videos Office of the Attorney General Open Meeting Law Training You must watch all six videos National Council on Teacher Retirement New webinars added:

Global Economic Forum (part 1) Global Economic Forum (part 2) Preparing for Full Funding – Ahead of Time Global Investing Amidst U.S. Policy Uncertainty National Institute on Retirement Security New webinars added:

Social Security Tradeoff Analysis 2025 Global Economic Outlook Organization Topic Links to all of the above resources can be found on PERAC’s Education page at mass.gov/perac-education. Members can view the recordings and receive 3 educational credits by completing a Training Affidavit in PROSPER.

III. Conflict of Interest Online Training (three credits)

The State Ethics Commission no longer offers live webinars for the Conflict of Interest Law training. Users must create a login to take the training and receive a certificate:

Go to mass.gov/how-to/complete-the-conflict-of-interest-law-education-requirements If your retirement system is not listed in the dropdown menu, please have your board contact the State Ethics Commission at ethicstraining@mass.gov. They will add organizations upon request. A certificate of completion is still required to receive credit for this training and credits may only be awarded once every two years. IV. New Administrator Training

Our next round of New Administrator training begins on August 21, 2025, in Northampton. The same training will be repeated again this fall in Danvers and next spring in Norwood.

This all-day training is designed for newer administrators and board staff with less than five years of experience, however, all staff and board members are welcome.

Date: August 20, 2025, 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Location: Hotel Northampton, 36 King Street, Northampton, MA 01060

Credits: Retirement board members who attend will receive three educational credits.

Register through PROSPER. If an individual wishing to attend does not have access to PROSPER, please contact Rose Morrison at rose.a.morrison@mass.gov.

V. Emerging Issues Forum

We will be returning to the DoubleTree by Hilton in Westborough, MA for the Emerging Issues Forum this year. The agenda and registration link will be published in mid-July.

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Location: DoubleTree by Hilton, Computer Drive, Westborough, MA

Credits: Retirement board members who attend will receive three educational credits.

Room block: new this year – we will have a very limited room block available for individuals wishing to drive to the venue the night before at a rate of $165 plus tax for a standard room. These rooms are available on a first come, first served basis through August 16, 2025. You can reserve the room directly through the hotel through the following link: Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission Booking Link.

Please contact Natacha Dunker at natacha.a.dunker@mass.gov if you would like to request a reasonable accommodation to attend PERAC sponsored in-person trainings or Forums.

VI. 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. We will 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 2019and 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)