California Association of Public Retirement Systems Virtual Attorneys’ Roundtable
Several of our attorneys were involved in the California Association of Public Retirement Systems (CALAPRS) Virtual Attorneys Roundtable on June 11, 2020.
Ashley Dunning, who served as meeting co-chair, led the first discussion on “Alameda DSA, et al. v. Alameda County Employees’ Retirement Association, et al., S. No. S247095.” She recapped and analyzed the oral arguments that were presented to the California Supreme Court on May 5, 2020. In this case, the Court considered the constitutionality of one aspect of the California Public Employees’ Pension Reform Act of 2013 and, potentially, the parameters of the “California Rule” governing legislative and administrative modifications to rules regarding public retirement benefit determinations applicable to current employees.
John Kennedy, Thomas Dover, Karla MacCary and David Kimport presented “Legal Challenges Arising From Remote Working and Return to Office Plans, with a Focus on Data Privacy, Employment Rules, and Contract Issues.” John discussed the challenges employers face as they have employees return to the office, continue teleworking or take sick or family medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). Thomas covered privacy, IT systems and software concerns and updates as employees continue to work remotely. Karla examined key aspects of contract enforcement under COVID-19, including force majeure, impossibility and frustration of purpose. And finally, David discussed best practices for office spaces and policies in a post-pandemic world to best accommodate public health and safety.
CALAPRS sponsors educational forums for sharing information and exchanging ideas among trustees and staff of California public retirement systems to enhance their ability to administer public pension plan benefits and manage investments consistent with their fiduciary responsibility.