1. Corina Del Toro Senior HR Representative Employee & Management Services

2.  Caregiver leave – Provides up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave to an employee to care for a family member (spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin) who is injured while serving on active military duty.  H.R. 2647 veterans  H.R. 2647 expands the caregiver leave provision to include veterans who are undergoing medical treatment, recuperation or therapy for serious injury or illness that occurred any time during the five years preceding the date of treatment. H.R. 2647 H.R. 2647

3. In January 2008, Congress amended the FMLA to provide:  Exigency leave – up to 12 weeks of leave for urgent needs related to a reservist family member’s (spouse, son, daughter, or parent’s) call to active service.

4.  H.R. 2647 effective October 28, 2009, expands the exigency leave benefits to include family members of active duty service members. (Previously, only family members of National Guard and Reservists were eligible for “exigency leave.”) H.R. 2647

5. Vilma L. Santos Interim HR Manager Human Resource Service Center

6.  Per Texas Attorney General: one-time supplemental payment to eligible TRS retirees is not permissible under Texas law  As a result, SB 1 of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) will increase the state contribution rate to TRS from 6.4% to 6.644%  Retiree surcharge total is 13.044%

7.  1/22/10 is the first payday that will include the increased matching and retiree surcharge  Retiree surcharge applies when a retiree is working in an otherwise benefits eligible position Surcharge is automatically assessed depending on the assignment, so no action necessary

8.  Effective January 1, 2010, all ORP participants will receive 8.5% employer matching  Currently, 8.5% is the maximum permitted by the state legislature  The employee contribution rate remains unchanged at 6.65%  E-mail was sent on 12/3/09 to those ORP participants impacted by the change

9.  The Defense Appropriations Act (HR 3326) was signed into law on 12/19/09  Includes a 2-month extension of the subsidy to continue it for involuntary terminations through 2/28/10  The 65% premium reduction is now available for up to 15 months, increased from 9 months  For more information, visit: http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html

10.  Special education opportunity available to all employees  Retirewise sessions consists of 4-weekly meetings that take a detailed look at what to expect and how to prepare for retirement  Sessions will be offered in February, March, April, May, October and November TXClass will open one month ahead – e.g., an employee should register in April for the May session TXClass E-mails reminders will go out monthly To register search for PN700 on TXClassTXClass

11.  Save the dates! Tuesday, March 23 – Teacher Retirement System, Medicare and Retiring from UT Austin, Social Security, and Estate Planning Thursday, March 25 – Retirement Provider booths and presentations  Events will take place in the Texas Union  Watch for e-mail communication, postcards and postings on the HRS Web site as well as the UT Austin KnowEvents