FINAL BILL REPORT

                  HB 1761

                         C 387 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

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.

House Committee on Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Education

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:

Retired teachers and administrators may work an expanded number of hours as substitutes before losing pension benefits in school districts that have declared a shortage of substitute teachers or principals.  In addition to the original 525 hours, retired teachers and administrators working for school districts that have declared a shortage of substitute teachers may work for an additional 315 hours per school year as substitute teachers.  Retired principals working for school districts that have declared a shortage of principals may work an additional 315 hours as substitute administrators.

Votes on Final Passage:

House920

Senate480(Senate amended)

House960(House concurred)

Effective:July 25, 1999