SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   SHB 1409

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 24, 1992

Brief Description:  Eliminating mandatory retirement for employees of public institutions of higher education.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen, H. Sommers, Wood, Wineberry, Nelson, May, Ogden, Miller, Sheldon, Basich, Paris, Spanel, Phillips, Rasmussen and Anderson)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff:  Scott Huntley (786‑7421)

Hearing Dates:  February 27, 1992

BACKGROUND:

Currently, faculty members and other designated employees of colleges and universities must retire from employment with their institutions of higher education at the end of the academic year following their 70th birthday.

In 1967, Congress passed the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.  The act was amended in 1986 to provide that age-based mandatory retirement policies in institutions of higher education must be eliminated by December 31, 1993.  Twenty-six colleges and universities in the country have already removed the age-based mandatory retirement programs in response to the federal legislation.

SUMMARY:

The mandatory retirement age for faculty members and designated employees at state universities, regional universities, The Evergreen State College and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is eliminated beginning July 1, 1992.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:  July 1, 1992