Active and Retired Members of the Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island: As directed by the General Assembly and required by Rhode Island Law, the General Treasurer has convened a Pension Advisory Working Group to assess the impacts of the Rhode Island Retirement Security Act of 2011. The Advisory Working Group is scheduled to meet six times over the next four months, beginning Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. All meetings will be open to the public and livestreamed by CapitolTV. ERSRI members are encouraged to submit written testimony to gentreasurer@treasury.ri.gov, or through the online submission form. More information concerning the scheduled meeting dates and the members of the Advisory Working Group can be found here.
Treasurer Diossa Announces Pension Advisory Working Group Members Published on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 Providence, RI – Today, Rhode Island General Treasurer James A. Diossa announced the members of the Pension Advisory Working Group. As passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly and enacted under R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-10.2-11, the working group is tasked with reviewing and analyzing the impact of the Rhode Island Retirement Security Act of 2011 on the state’s public retirement system. The group will then prepare a report containing the findings and proposed options for consideration by the governor, speaker of the house and president of the senate by March 1, 2024. “As General Treasurer, it is my duty to protect Rhode Island’s assets and strengthen the state’s financial position, beginning with the $10.5B in assets in our pension system. This working group will review the impact of the Retirement Security Act of 2011 and ensure that we continue to protect Rhode Island retirees, public employees, and taxpayers going forward,” said General Treasurer Diossa. “I am grateful to the individuals who have stepped up to lead this working group and look forward to a transparent and engaging process for the public.” Collectively, the Pension Advisory Working Group will meet six times as a full body on the dates below. The meetings will take place at 4:00 P.M. in the State House and are open to the public. Meeting dates, times, and location are subject to change. The current schedule as of now is as follows: November 2, 2023 November 30, 2023 December 14, 2023 January 17, 2024 January 31, 2024 February 21, 2024 The Working Group consists of the following members: Ernie Almonte, CPA – President of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns Eric Atwater, FSA – Partner, Aon PLC Patrick Crowley – Secretary Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Michael DiBiase – President and CEO of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council Thomas Huestis – Senior Managing Director at Public Resources Advisory Group John P. Maguire – Active Teacher Representative, Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island Board Alicia Munnell – Director at Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research. Laura Quinby, Ph.D., Senior Research Economist at Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research, will serve as Ms. Munnell’s designee George Nee – President of the AFL-CIO Edinaldo Tebaldi, Ph.D., Professor of Mathematics and Economics and Director of Strategic Planning & Institutional Effectiveness at Bryant University Jonathan Womer – Director of the Rhode Island Department of Administration