Advocacy

Montana Retired Educators’ Association                            8/27/07

Montana Retired Educators’ Association is composed of voices from sixteen units in this vast state.  Each unit elects their own president, president-elect, vice president, secretary and treasurer.  The Executive Board is elected by members of the sixteen units to guide the direction of the organization. 

MREA is an affiliation of AARP in each of the states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U. S.Virgin Islands.  MREA is known as AARP’s Educator Community.

Background: Retired Teachers’ Association was founded in 1947 by retired educator, Dr. Percy Andrus.  National members share a commitment to learning, voluntary service and civic participation.  NRTA members represent interests of 50+ educators at local, state and national levels.  Members are dedicated to educational opportunity, advocacy and the economic security of all generations.

During the 2009 legislative session, three bills were passed that apply to the Teachers Retirement System. House Bill 363 establishes the conditions for re-employment of TRS Retirees. A retired member must have retired with 30 years in the TRS and qualify under other conditions stated in the bill. House Bill 34 was introduced at the request of the TRS Board to help fund the TRS through additional contributions, reduce liabilities and limit practices that increase unfunded liabilities. House Bill 59 was a general revision bill making administrative changes to the TRS laws. Many of the amendments were necessary to comply with the Pension Protection Act (PPA) of 2006, and/or are required to comply with the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) regulations governing qualified pension plans. For more information on these bills the TRS website is www.trs.mt.gov.

In addition to these three bills is HB 659. This bill directs The State Administration and Veterans’ Affairs (SAVA) interim committee to examine and recommend changes to the statewide retirement systems, including a redesign of the Teachers’ Retirement System. The reasons for the study include that the Montana Constitution requires the retirement systems be funded on an actuarially sound basis. At the most recent assessment the system does not amortize during a benchmark 30-year period.
The SAVA committee will be studying possible solutions during this interim session and must complete their work by the September 15, 2010 deadline. At that time they can forward legislation on to the 62^nd legislature or if it takes no action it should make a clear statement to that effect and supporting statement with findings and conclusions developed as a result of their study.
All citizens are encouraged to participate by attending meetings or talking to the SAVA committee members. For information about meetings go to http://leg.mt.gov/css/committees/interim/default.asp.

Charlene Suckow, the legislative chair, will be attending all these meetings as your representative. All other members are encouraged to attend. Legislative update for MREA Website