SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    HB 1409

                             AS OF MARCH 20, 1991

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

SPONSORS: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:March 25, 1991

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 professors and designated employees at state universities, regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the State Board for Community College Education is eliminated beginning July 1, 1991.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:  July 1, 1991