INTRODUCTION
The Maine Public Employees Retirement System is an independent public agency of the State of Maine that traces its history to 1942. By the authority granted to it by the Maine State Legislature, the Maine Public Employees Retirement System administers retirement programs that cover State employees, the State's public school teachers, judges, legislators, and employees of the approximately 267 municipalities and other public entities, called "participating local districts" (PLDs), that have chosen to provide retirement plans through MainePERS. The System is also responsible for the payment of retirement and survivors' benefits with respect to former governors. In addition, the System also administers a Group Life Insurance Program . This program provides or makes available life insurance benefits for active and retired System members and for the employees of a few local districts for whom the MainePERS administers only the group life insurance program.
RETIREMENT AND RELATED BENEFITS
The System's primary responsibility is the administration of retirement plans. Retirement and related benefits provided by MainePERS include:
• service retirement benefits , which provide income to a member after the member retires;
• disability retirement benefits , which provide income to a member who becomes disabled (as defined by MainePERS law) while the member is in service and before the member retires; and
• death benefits , which are paid to a member's designated beneficiary (or family or estate if no designation has been made) if the member dies before retirement.
Administration of these programs includes financial administration, investment administration, recordkeeping of members' work and compensation data, and administration of retirement-related services provided to members, employers and retirees.
The System also administers two defined contribution retirement plans that are established under sections 401(a) and 457 of the Internal Revenue Code. These plans are available to employees of those employers that have adopted one or both of the plans.
SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Gail Drake Wright |
Executive Director |
John C. Milazzo |
Chief Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel |
Christine S. Gianopoulos |
Deputy Executive Director |
Rebecca A. Grant |
Manager, Retirement Services |
| Marlene McMullen-Pelsor |
Manager, Employer and Ancillary Services |
| Kathy J. Morin |
Manager, Actuarial and Legislative Affairs |
| Andrew H. Sawyer |
Chief Investment Officer |
ADMINISTRATION
The Office of the Executive Director has overall administrative responsibility for the System. The Executive Director oversees all actuarial work and investments, and has administrative responsibility for the Internal Audit function. Actuarial work is carried out with the assistance of an actuary; investment operations are carried out with the assistance of the System's Director of Investments, an investment consultant, investment managers and other appropriate consultants. In addition, the Office performs the executive functions of the System, prepares and manages the administrative budget, and has day-to-day responsibility for legislative matters; appeals; federal, state, and local governmental relations; planning; organizational development; and numerous special projects.
The Department of Service Programs administers the service and disability retirement programs, employer programs, survivor benefit and group life insurance programs, and records management. The Department is the System's primary contact for members, employers, and benefit recipients, responding to requests for retirement or estimated benefits, as well as ensuring the appropriate processing of historical member data into the Membership Recordkeeping System (MRKS).
The Department of Administration is responsible for primarily internal functions and operations. The Accounting and Finance Division has responsibility for MainePERS accounting and financial management systems, as well as financial reporting and budget support. The Information Technology Division acquires, develops, and supports the technology and telecommunications resources used by staff to perform the work of the System, including programming and development of Member Record Keeping System (MRKS). The Payrolls Administration Division processes the benefits payroll and member refunds.
The Department also includes the Human Resources, Facilities/Support Services (mail, and telephone reception), and Communications Divisions.
