HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                  HB 2455

Brief Description:  Allowing retired teachers to teach more hours.

Background:  The Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) Plan I includes teachers hired prior to October 1, 1977.  A retiree under this system may work 525 hours, or about 72 days, each year with no reduction in retirement benefits.  In school districts that have passed resolutions declaring a shortage of substitute teachers, a TRS Plan I retiree can work an additional 105 hours, for a total of about 90 days, as a substitute teacher.  The additional 105 hours is available only to those TRS Plan I retirees working as substitute teachers; it is not available to those retirees working as teachers under annual contracts guaranteeing a minimum number of hours.

TRS Plan II and TRS Plan III include teachers hired on or after October 1, 1977.  A TRS Plan II or III retiree can work up to five months (about 100 days) in a calendar year with no benefit reduction.

Benefits for substitute teachers and contract employees are bargained locally.  Although this varies from district to district, typically substitute teachers do not receive health benefits but contract employees do receive health benefits.

Summary:   In addition to the 525 hours that Teachers' Retirement System Plan I retirees may work each year with no reduction in benefits, TRS Plan I retirees working for certain school districts may work an additional 525 hours as substitute teachers with no reduction in benefits.  To qualify for the additional 525 hours, the retiree must be working for a school district that has passed a resolution stating that they have a shortage of substitute teachers.

For the purpose of determining who can qualify for the additional 525 hours, the term Asubstitute teacher@ includes temporary teachers working under contracts with a guaranteed number of days.

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

Fiscal Note:   Available.