HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 HB  1248

Title:  An act relating to increasing the number of hours that a retired teacher can teach without a reduction in benefits.

Brief Description:  Allowing retired teachers to teach more hours.

Sponsors:  Representatives Talcott, Carrell, Quall, Dunshee, Tokuda, Rockefeller, Esser, Keiser, Stensen, Wensman, McDonald, Grant, Linville, G. Chandler, Eickmeyer, Cooper, Schoesler, D. Schmidt, Bush, DeBolt, Barlean, Mulliken, Lambert, Van Luven, Carlson, Ruderman, Hurst, Pennington, O'Brien, Haigh, Kenney, Koster, Kagi, Campbell and Fortunato.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 1, 1999.

Bill Analysis Prepared by:  Susan Morrissey (786-7111).

                 Brief Summary of Bill

$Extending the number of hours that retired teachers and administrators may work as substitute teachers without losing retirement benefits.

$Extending the number of hours that retired teachers and administrators may work as substitute administrators without losing retirement benefits.

Background:  The Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) Plan I includes teachers and school administrators hired prior to October 1, 1977.  A retiree under this system may work 525 hours, or about 75 days, each year with no reduction in retirement benefits. 

In  a school district that has passed a resolution 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.  In a school district that has passed a resolution declaring an inability to find a replacement administrator to fill a vacancy, a TRS I retiree may serve as a substitute administrator for an additional 105 hours.  The additional 105 hours is available only to those TRS Plan I retirees working as substitute teachers or administrators.

A resolution is valid only for the school year in which it is adopted.  A copy of the resolution, with a list of retirees who have been hired, must be provided to the Department of Retirement Systems.

Summary of Bill:  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 school districts may work an additional 350 rather than 105 hours as substitute teachers or substitute administrators, subject to the current restrictions in law.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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