PERAC Memo #47 - 2012: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-Quarterly Update

PERAC Memo # 47 / 2012

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: All Retirement Boards FROM: Joseph E. Connarton, Executive Director RE: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-Quarterly Update DATE: October 3, 2012

Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2011, An Act Providing for Pension Reform and Benefit Modernization,
includes provisions mandating that retirement board members complete training during each year of
service on the retirement board. During each member’s term on the retirement board, the member
must complete 18 hours of training. This requirement, contained in the new Subdivision 7 of Section 20 of Chapter 32, takes effect for calendar year 2012.

PERAC will provide board members with appropriate forms to file as statements of completion of
education. These will be provided before December 31, 2012. Retirement boards must provide these forms to board members who must submit completed forms regarding training programs completed in 2012 to PERAC by January 31, 2013. The Commission will then provide the board member with a
summary status report by March 1, 2013.

Failure to meet this mandatory requirement will prohibit the member from serving beyond the
conclusion of the term for which the training requirement was not met.

Pre – Approval

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...” This provision of the statute has been interpreted to encompass particular programs offered by such entities. For
example, an ethics class or open meeting law class offered as part of a broader conference may be
eligible for education credit. However, as far as practicable, 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 to provide a general notice to retirement board members to maximize participation.

Attendance Update

As of this date nearly 500 members have met the minimum 3 credit requirement this calendar year. If you have not completed an education program(s) and earned the minimum we urge you to attend one of the sessions outlined herein.

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M E M O R A N D U M - Page Two TO: All Retirement Boards FROM: Joseph E. Connarton, Executive Director RE: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-Quarterly Update DATE: October 3, 2012

Ethics Training

The Commission will grant three (3) hours of credit to retirement board members who complete a
Public Education Seminar on the Conflict of Interest Law conducted by the State Ethics Commission. These sessions are sometimes held in conjunction with meetings of certain organizations. Credit will be granted upon receipt, by the Commission, of a copy of the Certificate of Attendance issued to the
retirement board member by the State Ethics Commission.

October, November, and December Educational Events

MACRS October Conference – (Six Hours Credit)

Educational credit will be granted for sessions offered as part of the MACRS Conference held in
Springfield, MA. October 14-17, 2012. PERAC will present three (3) hours of credit focusing on Anti- Spiking, Legislative Process, and the Impact of Chapter 176 on New Members on October 17. In
addition, three (3) hours of credit will be awarded for participation in sessions provided by MACRS on other days of the Conference. Topics will include Securities Litigation Part 2, Pension Board
Governance and Legal Issues. In all six (6) hours of credit are available.

PERAC Disability Training Program (3 Hours Credit)

Floor, Somerville, MA. (Please e-mail Rose Cipriani at RCipriani@per.state.ma.us to make
reservations).

Somerville, MA. (Please e-mail Rose Cipriani at RCipriani@per.state.ma.us to make
reservations).

3. Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Dan Toomey Room, First Floor, Danvers Town Hall, 1 Sylvan Street, Danvers, MA. Please use the Municipal Parking Lot across from Town Hall. (Please e-mail Rose Cipriani at RCipriani@per.state.ma.us to make reservations).

Anti-Spiking / Calculations (Two Hours Credit)

1. Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at Hingham Town Hall, Second Floor Conference
   Room, 210 Central Street, Hingham, MA. (Please e-mail Rose Cipriani at
   RCipriani@per.state.ma.us to make reservations).

Floor, Somerville, MA. (Please e-mail Rose Cipriani at RCipriani@per.state.ma.us to make
reservations).

M E M O R A N D U M - Page Three TO: All Retirement Boards FROM: Joseph E. Connarton, Executive Director RE: Mandatory Retirement Board Member Training-Quarterly Update DATE: October 3, 2012

Floor, Somerville, MA. (Please e-mail Rose Cipriani at RCipriani@per.state.ma.us to make
reservations).

4. Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Middlesex County Retirement Board, 25
   Linnell Circle, Billerica, MA (Please e-mail Rose Cipriani at RCipriani@per.state.ma.us to
   make reservations.

State Ethics Commission Seminars (Three Hours Credit)

The State Ethics Commission will also be conducting educational seminars at its offices in Boston at One Ashburton Place, Room 619. The following is the schedule of these sessions for the remainder of 2012: October 25, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. November 29, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.

Seating at these sessions is limited. Please contact 617-371-9500 to enroll.

Office of the Inspector General – Bidding Basics (Three Hours Credit)

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has developed an introductory online course that covers the legal requirements for the procurement of contracts by local government bodies for supplies and
services under M.G.L. c. 30B. Although that statute does not apply to “a contract for retirement board services” recently enacted law sets forth similar requirements for retirement boards to follow when
seeking certain services. In addition, retirement board members, under their fiduciary duty to act as a prudent expert would act, should employ best practices in this area.

Bidding Basics takes two to three hours to complete. It has been designed to be completed through
PACE, the Commonwealth’s Web-based Learning Management System, or at your stand alone
computer using a Compact Disc (CD). PACE should be accessible to any entity with an Internet
connection. Upon registering with the Office of the Inspector General, you will be issued a PACE
Login ID and Password so that you may access PACE for free. For further information about Bidding Basics, access http://www.mass.gov/ig/mcppo/seminars-and-courses/bidding-bascis.htm l. (Please be
sure to enter this address as it is spelled.) In the right-hand column of that page you may access a link to the Bidding Basics FAQs and a link to the Bidding Basics Online Registration Form, or you may
obtain the form directly by selecting http://www.mass.gov/ig/publications/forms/bb-online- regform.doc.

Thank You

The Commission would be remiss if we did not also thank all the rank and file members of the
retirement boards who, in spite of other pressing duties, are making a good faith effort to fulfill their
duties and responsibilities under the new law.