News
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane Attorney Speaks on COVID-19 and Chapter 32 at the MACRS 2020 Legal Panel
Matthew Feeney, an attorney with Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, presented at the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems’ Annual Legal Panel on September 3, 2020, held via webinar. This webinar serves the primary mission of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems, which is to preserve, strengthen and educate the 104 public retirement systems of the Commonwealth while promoting the rights and benefits of our respective members, present or future, and to uphold the public interest in the proper administration of contributory retirement systems. Speakers at the panel included: Judith A. Corrigan of PERAC, Lisa M. Maloney of Middlesex County Retirement System and Michael Sacco of Worcester Regional Retirement System.
Mr. Feeney’s presentation focused largely around COVID-19 and Chapter 32. He went into detail about procedural adjustments versus substantive application and adjustments. He also spent time discussing the impacts of COVID-19, personally and professionally, along with explaining the federal COVID-19 legislations and how they are related to Chapter 32 and furloughs.
Mr. Feeney heads up MHTL’s Chapter 32 public retirement practice and is well versed in all matters pertinent to the statute. Specifically, he provides frequent guidance to public retirement boards relative to the litany of member related issues that arise, and he frequently represents public retirement boards with litigation in varying forms.
With nearly fifteen years of experience as an Assistant District Attorney prior to joining MHTL, Mr. Feeney is one of MHTL’s most experienced litigators. In addition to his Chapter 32 work, Mr. Feeney also provides internal reviews and investigations for public entities as well as general litigation work before administrative bodies and courts upon behalf on municipal clients.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUES REVISED TITLE IX REGULATIONS
On April 19, 2024, the United States Department of Education (“DOE”) issued final regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The new regulations go into effect on August 1, 2024, so school districts are encouraged to review their policies and procedures and provide staff training on these new regulations as soon as possible. The final regulations continue to list specific elements that must be included in any policy, such as range of disciplinary actions, standards of evidence, and procedures. The DOE has provided template policies here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/resource-nondiscrimination-policies.pdf and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane will be creating model policies and notice letters as well.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUES REVISED TITLE IX REGULATIONS
On April 19, 2024, the United States Department of Education (“DOE”) issued final regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The new regulations go into effect on August 1, 2024, so school districts are encouraged to review their policies and procedures and provide staff training on these new regulations as soon as possible. The final regulations continue to list specific elements that must be included in any policy, such as range of disciplinary actions, standards of evidence, and procedures. The DOE has provided template policies here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/resource-nondiscrimination-policies.pdf and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane will be creating model policies and notice letters as well.
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