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REMINDER: It’s Time for School Districts, Municipalities and Other Tax-Exempt Entities That Sponsor 403(b) Plans to Adopt New Pre-Approved Documents

June 5, 2018

By Katharine G. Shaw & Bruce B. Deadman Reminder: It’s not too soon for sponsors of 403(b) plans to start the process of adopting IRS pre-approved plan documents. Under a new program, local governments, school districts and other tax-exempt entities that sponsor retirement plans under Section 403(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) can…

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New School Safety Legislation in Wisconsin

March 26, 2018

By Mary S. Gerbig & Abby S. Busler In the aftermath of multiple school shootings across the country, Wisconsin lawmakers took action this past week in an effort to improve safety in Wisconsin Schools. On March 26, 2018 Governor Scott Walker signed into law provisions calculated to improve school safety. The new laws are backed…

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Kenosha Unified School District Settles Transgender Lawsuit

January 11, 2018

By Mary S. Gerbig As reported by media on January 9, 2018, the Kenosha Unified School District announced that it plans to withdraw its petition for certiorari based on a settlement in the transgender case Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified School District. As background, on May 30, 2017, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reaffirmed protection…

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It’s Time for Tax-Exempt Entities to Restate Their 403(b) Plans

August 25, 2017

By Katharine G. Shaw & Bruce B. Deadman Under a new IRS program, tax-exempt entities who sponsor 403(b) retirement plans can adopt pre-approved documents that include determination letters that confirm the tax-qualified status of their plans. Plan sponsors need to adopt pre-approved plans before March 31, 2020, in order to qualify for the program. Under…

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OCR Changes Complaint Investigation Procedures

August 24, 2017

By Mary S. Gerbig & Abby S. Busler On June 8, 2017, Candice Jackson, Acting Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Division, modified many of the practices to investigate civil rights violations by public school districts. The changes are summarized as follows: First, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) no longer…

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OCR Changes Course on Transgender Complaints

By Mary S. Gerbig & Abby S. Busler On June 6, 2017, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released internal guidance on transgender student complaints. The memorandum eliminates OCR reliance on the May 2016 Dear Colleague Letter. OCR will no longer process complaints based solely on the basis of transgender students being denied facility use,…

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Annuitant, Be Aware! Reemployment May Cause a Suspension of Benefits

By Katharine G. Shaw Former employees who are currently collecting benefits under the Wisconsin ETF should carefully consider the potential effect of resuming work for a WRS employer on their benefit payments. The reemployment rules can be confusing, and take into account the dates of the annuitant’s prior WRS employment. Annuitants who previously terminated their…

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Wisconsin Supreme Court Makes Significant Ruling on Open Meetings Law

July 7, 2017

By James M. Kalny On June 29, the Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an opinion in State of Wisconsin ex rel. John Krueger v. Appleton Area School District Board of Education and Communication Arts 1 Materials Review Committee, No. 2015AP231 regarding what constitutes a governmental body for purposes of the Wisconsin Open Meetings Law. The Supreme…

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