HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1182

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                          Education

                       Appropriations

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:  Representatives Brumsickle, Karahalios, Dorn, Chandler, Peery, G. Cole, Zellinsky, Chappell, Jacobsen, Basich, Carlson, Wood, Thomas, Brough, Cothern, Van Luven, Johanson, Shin, Jones, Morton, Ballard, Padden, Fuhrman, Sheahan, Talcott, Schoesler, Long, Eide, Flemming, Wang, Horn, Mielke, Tate, Springer, Cooke, Dyer, Leonard, Foreman, Vance, Pruitt and Finkbeiner.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Education, February 11, 1993, DPS;

Appropriations, February 3, 1994, DPS(ED-A APP).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 19 members:  Representatives Dorn, Chair; Cothern, Vice Chair; Brough, Ranking Minority Member; Thomas, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle; Carlson; G. Cole; Eide; G. Fisher; Hansen; Holm; Jones; Karahalios; J. Kohl; Patterson; Pruitt; Roland; Stevens; and Vance.

Staff:  Robert Butts (786-7111).

Background:  Under current law, retired teachers on Teachers' Retirement System Plan I (TRS I) may serve as substitute teachers for up to 75 days a school year without affecting their retirement benefits.

Some believe that the shortage of certificated substitute teachers in many regions of the state would be reduced if retired teachers could work an additional 15 days annually.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  The current TRS I limitation of 75 days per year of substitute teaching without reduction of retirement benefits may be extended 15 days for retired substitutes working in school districts or in multi-district substitute cooperatives in which it has determined that a shortage of substitutes exists.  Procedures for making the determination and notifying the Department of Retirement and retired teachers are specified.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  The original bill allowed all retired teachers to substitute an additional 15 days without a reduction in their retirement.  The substitute bill only allows for an additional 15 days in school districts and areas in which a shortage of substitutes exists.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The current 75 day limit seriously impacts a school district's ability to find substitutes.  Retired teachers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Jean Savidge, retired teacher (Supports); Marcia Costello, Washington Association of School Administrators (Supports); Bud Rochon, Educational Service District 113 (Supports); Walter Ball, Association of School Principals (Supports); Susan Patrick, Superintendent of Public Instruction (Supports); Karen Davis, Washington Education Association (Supports); and Linda Byrnes, State Board of Education (Supports).

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Majority Report:  The substitute bill by Committee on Education be substituted therefor and the substitute bill as amended by Committee on Appropriations do pass.  Signed by 24 members:  Representatives Sommers, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Silver, Ranking Minority Member; Carlson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Appelwick; Basich; Cooke; Dellwo; Dorn; Dunshee; G. Fisher; Foreman; Jacobsen; Lemmon; Leonard; Linville; H. Myers; Peery; Rust; Sehlin; Sheahan; Talcott; Wang and Wolfe.

Staff:  Jennifer Priddy (786-7118).

Summary of Recommendation of Committee on Appropriations Compared to Recommendation of Committee on Education:  Appropriations Committee amended bill to change date retired teachers could begin substitute teaching 90 days per year without losing retirement benefits from September 1, 1993 to September 1, 1994.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

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

Testimony For:  The current 75 day limit seriously impacts a school district's ability to find substitutes.  Retired teachers bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Brumsickle (supports); Donna Salcedo, Seattle School District (supports); Greg Kirsh, Public Schools Cooperative (supports); and Mike Warren (supports).