HOUSE BILL REPORT

                 SSB 6273

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

Title:  An act relating to pension payments to retired teachers.

Brief Description:  Allowing retired teachers to work in educational institutions for ninety days per school year without a reduction in benefits.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Senators Winsley, Wojahn, Franklin, Bauer, Roach, Oke, M. Rasmussen, Rinehart, Erwin, Skratek, Moyer and McAuliffe).

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 24, 1994, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 17 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; B. Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens and L. Thomas.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  Under current law, retired teachers may serve as substitutes up to 75 days per school year without a reduction of their retirement benefits.

Summary of Bill:  When a school district, or all school districts in a multi-district substitute cooperative, determine they have a shortage of certificated substitute teachers and the affected school boards adopt a resolution to that effect, retired teachers may serve as a substitute teachers for up to an additional 15 days per school year without a reduction of their retirement benefits.  The board's resolutions are valid only for the school year in which adopted.  This applies to all persons governed by the provisions of plan I of the Teachers Retirement System, regardless of the date of their retirement, but shall only apply to benefits payable after September 1, 1994.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  School districts throughout the state are having a very difficult time finding substitute teachers. This legislation will help districts address this shortage of substitutes.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Senator Winsley, prime sponsor; Walter Ball, Washington School Principals Association; and John Kvamme, Tacoma Schools.