HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 SSB  5177

Title:  An act relating to increasing the number of hours retired teachers or retired administrators can substitute teach and increasing the number of hours retired principals can serve as substitute principals.

Brief Description:  Increasing the number of hours retired teachers or retired administrators can substitute teach and increasing the number of hours retired principals can serve as substitute principals.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Goings, Oke, Winsley, Kohl‑Welles, Long, Eide, Fraser, Rasmussen and Benton).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  March 18, 1999.

Analysis Prepared by:  Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

Background:  The Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) Plan I includes teachers and school administrators hired prior to October 1, 1977.  A retiree under this system may work 525 hours, or about 75 days, each year with no reduction in retirement benefits. 

In  a school district that has passed a resolution declaring a shortage of substitute teachers, a TRS Plan I retiree can work an additional 105 hours, for a total of about 90 days, as a substitute teacher.  In a school district that has passed a resolution declaring an inability to find a replacement administrator to fill a vacancy, a TRS I retiree may serve as a substitute administrator for an additional 105 hours.  The additional 105 hours is available only to those TRS Plan I retirees working as substitute teachers or administrators.

A resolution is valid only for the school year in which it is adopted.  A copy of the resolution, with a list of retirees who have been hired, must be provided to the Department of Retirement Systems.

Summary of Bill:  In addition to the 525 hours that TRS Plan I retirees may work each year with no reduction in benefits, TRS Plan I retirees working for school districts that have declared a shortage of substitute teachers may work an additional 315 hours as substitute teachers. 

Retired principals working for school districts that have declared a difficulty in finding replacement principals may work as substitute principals for 315 hours in addition to the 525 hours currently allowed by law.  The school district must pass a resolution declaring the necessity of hiring a retired principal.  The resolution is valid for the school year for which it was adopted.  A copy of the resolution must be provided to the Department of Retirement Systems.

Differences between HB 1761 and SB 5177: 

‚HB 1761 extended the authorized hours a retired teacher or administrator could substitute teach to 350 additional hours.  SSB 5177 extends to 315 those additional hours.  (The difference amounts to 5 days).

‚HB 1761 extended the hours for administrators as well.   SSB 5177 extends the hours for principals only.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.