SENATE BILL REPORT

                   HB 1761

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

                   Education, March 31, 1999

Title:  An act relating to increasing the number of hours that a retired teacher or administrator can serve as a substitute teacher or administrator without a reduction in benefits.

Brief Description:  Increasing the number of hours retired teachers and administrators can serve as substitute teachers or administrators without a reduction in benefits.

Sponsors:  Representatives Talcott, Carrell, Rockefeller, Wensman, Stensen, Thomas, Fortunato, Mulliken, Haigh, Schoesler, Bush and Esser.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Education:  3/29/99, 3/31/99 [DPA].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

  Signed by Senators McAuliffe, Chair; Eide, Vice Chair; Bauer, Benton, Brown, Finkbeiner, Hochstatter, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, Sellar, Swecker and Zarelli.

Staff:  Natalie Adams (786-7444)

Background:  Currently, retired teachers and administrators receiving benefits under Teachers' Retirement System Plan I (TRS I) may serve as substitutes for up to 525 hours per school year without receiving a reduction in their retirement benefits.  In addition, an emergency provision allows retired individuals to serve up to an additional 105 hours per school year without receiving a reduction in their retirement benefits.

Some believe that increasing the number of hours that retired individuals can serve as substitute teachers and administrators will remedy the substitute shortage problem that many school districts currently face.

Summary of Amended Bill:  Retired teachers and principals receiving TRS I benefits may serve as substitute teachers and substitute principals for up to 315 additional hours without receiving a reduction in their retirement benefits.

Eligibility for a retired teacher to serve as a substitute teacher is dependent upon the school district showing that it has exhausted or believes it will exhaust its list of qualified substitute teachers.

Eligibility for a retired administrator to serve as a substitute administrator is dependent upon the school board declaring that the services of the substitute administrator are necessary because it cannot find a replacement to fill a vacancy.

Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:  Retired teachers may serve as substitute teachers and retired principals may serve as substitute principals up to 315 additional hours without receiving a reduction in retirement benefits.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  It is often difficult for districts to find qualified replacements for teachers and administrators.  This bill will ensure quality by allowing retired teachers and administrators to substitute when there is a need.  Our districts indicate that they have a need for these services.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO: John Kvamme, Washington Association of School Administrators and Association of Washington School Principals; Bob Maier, Washington Education Association; Leslie Main for Pat Hoban, Washington State Retired Teachers Association; Rainier Houser, Association of Washington School Principals.