January 30, 2013

Today’s Agenda Welcome Executive Director Briefing Teacher Plan Matters PLD GLI Update Employer Services Update

Employer Working Group Executive Director Briefing (catching up with Sandy)

Retirement Services Teacher Plan Matters

Determining Eligibility

5 MRSA §  Defines “Teacher” for MainePERS Teacher Retirement Plan

Teacher Member Paragraph A  Employee of Public School  Position that the Department of Education requires appropriate certification or license  Member holds certification or license

Teacher Member Paragraph B  Employee of Public School  Fills position not covered by Paragraph A  Principal function is to introduce new learning to students  Except…let’s look at some exceptions

Coach Exception  Coaches who have no other basis  Coaches who have another basis  Coach Definition MainePERS can help you determine if there is a basis for membership – especially if the employee worked for another employer.

Adult Education Teacher Exception  Adult Education teachers who teach classes for which certification is NOT required  Adult Education teachers who teach adult education classes for which certification is required and hold required certification  Adult Education teacher with basis

Common Teacher Eligibility Issues Substitute Teachers:  A school employee who performs the duty of substituting for a position that is mandatory teacher membership  Substitute Teacher MainePERS membership is optional effective 9/20/2007  One-time Election effective 7/12/2010. Status at the time the election is made can not be changed

Common Teacher Eligibility Issues Substitute Teachers continued:  Questions regarding optional or mandatory status should be directed to Employer Services or Retirement Services  Participating Local Districts – Eligibility is determined by your agreement. Please contact our PLD unit with questions

Retirement Services Information Review of what is not considered earnable compensation:  Payment in lieu of fringe benefits  Payment as a retirement stipend, an incentive to retire, or as consideration for notice of planned retirement  Payment as a bonus  Payment from a sick leave bank  Payment as interest to an employee, including interest on retroactive wage increases or other settlements  Payment which is not compensation for actual services rendered

Retirement Services Information Contact Retirement Services for:  Questions regarding the Preliminary Benefit Certification form  Questions regarding the Vacation/Sick Leave form

Retirement Services Information Cont. Retroactive Payments:  Report in the period which they are paid  If the payment was for a contract settlement that occurred after the school year ended, MainePERS must keep the monies in the year they were paid  If we need details we will contact you  Contact Employer Services with questions on how to report on your monthly payroll

Retirement Services Information Cont. Importance of Rate of Pay:  C = Full-time equivalent, H = Base hourly rate, D= Base daily rate  Rate of pay reported on the detail line of your monthly report directly impacts the members service credit  If the member is part-time, please report the full-time equivalent for creditable service purposes  Contact Employer Services with rate of pay reporting questions

PLD Participating Local Districts (Stephanie, the Great)  PLDs are unique  “Green Sheets” – being sent electronically this year

Let’s Take A Break

GLI Update April 1 is coming!

Employer Services Update Employer Services and ESS

Employer Services Update Old Business  Checking in on system speed  Forms project still underway  Building RRTW Member Contracts  Taking ESS off-line

Employer Services Update New Business  Moving to Chrome?  Employer Statements of Account

Employer Working Group

Thank you Employer Reporting Working Group