HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                 HB  1761

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.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Meeting Date:  February 15, 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.