SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 6273

    AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 2, 1994

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

SPONSORS: Senators Winsley, Wojahn, Franklin, Bauer, Roach, Oke, M. Rasmussen, Rinehart, Erwin, Skratek, Moyer and McAuliffe

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6273 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Pelz, Chairman; McAuliffe, Vice Chairman; Hochstatter, McDonald, Moyer, Nelson, M. Rasmussen, Rinehart, Skratek, A. Smith and Winsley.

Staff:  Susan Mielke (786‑7439)

Hearing Dates: January 31, 1994; February 2, 1994

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:

When a school district, or a multi-district substitute cooperative, determines it has a shortage of certificated substitute teachers and the district or cooperative board adopts a resolution to that effect, retired teachers may serve as a substitute teacher for up to an additional 15 days per school year without a reduction of their retirement benefits.  This applies to all persons governed by the provisions of plan I, regardless of the date of their retirement, but shall only apply to benefits payable after September 1, 1994.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

A district or multidistrict cooperative is required to determine a shortage of substitutes and any school boards affected shall adopt a resolution to extend the service of substitute teachers who are retired teachers for an additional 15 days.  The resolution is valid only for the school year in which it is adopted.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 18, 1994

TESTIMONY FOR:

Limiting retired teachers to 75 days of service as a substitute teacher is an arbitrary limit that is too rigid.  Substitutes are difficult to obtain in some districts.  Extending the time retired teachers may work does not take work away from unretired substitute teachers because the bill requires a shortage before the extension is allowed.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Stephen Dinger, Washington Federation of Independent Schools; Reuben Kvamme, Tacoma Public Schools; Marcia Costello, WA Association of School Administrators