SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 5498

                            AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 1991

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

SPONSORS:Senators Bluechel, Niemi, Patterson, Rinehart, Jesernig, Stratton, Bauer, Conner, Johnson, L. Smith and Roach.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff:  Scott Huntley (786‑7421)

Hearing Dates:March 4, 1991

BACKGROUND:

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

In 1986 Congress amended the Age Discrimination in Employment Act 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 institutions of higher education is eliminated beginning July 1, 1991.  The statutory provisions related to full time re-employment after mandatory retirement are deleted.

Appropriation: none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

Effective Date:  July 1, 1991