PROVIDENCE, R.I. — General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo today announced a schedule of regional meetings designed to educate public employees about how the Rhode Island Retirement Security Act of 2011 (RIRSA) will affect their retirement eligibility and pension benefits, as well as extended hours for ERSRI retirement counselors. The new law fully takes effect on July 1, 2012.
"These regional meetings are an important component of Treasury's pension education campaign," Raimondo said. "They offer an opportunity for ERSRI members to hear how the new law will affect them and to ask questions of ERSRI staff."
Meetings are scheduled in the following locations for these specific groups:
-State employees: Wednesday, March 7, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Cranston High School East
-Teachers: Tuesday, March 20, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Martin Middle School in East Providence
-MERS general employees: Thursday, April 5, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the South Kingstown Council Chambers, South Kingstown Town Hall
-MERS police and fire: Thursday, April 19, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Smithfield High School
The same presentation will also be offered at the ERSRI office located at 50 Service Avenue, Warwick:
- March 12 and 13 for state employees
- March 26 and 27 for teachers
- April 9 and 10 for MERS general employees
- April 23 and 24 for MERS police and fire.
Members must register in advance for these sessions, which all begin at 5 p.m. Members may attend even if they have previously received a benefit estimate from ERSRI. Call (401) 462-7600 to register.
In addition to offering evening presentations, ERSRI retirement counselors will also be available to answer member questions by telephone until 7 p.m. on March 12, 13, 26, and 27, and April 9, 10, 23 and 24.
Public employers interested in hosting an on-site session for their employees should contact Roxanne at (401) 462-7608.
Additional education tools, including new online retirement eligibility calculators and online tutorials, will be available in the coming weeks. For more information about RIRSA, ERSRI members can read An Employee's Guide to Understanding the Rhode Island Retirement Security Act.