Legislature(1999 - 2000)
04/18/2000 01:50 PM Senate HES
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HB 277-RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR REHIRED TEACHERS
MR. JONATHON LACK, staff to Representative Halcro, sponsor of HB
277, explained that if a school district cannot fill a position
in a specific specialty or discipline, it cannot hire retired
teachers to fill those slots. CSHB 277(FIN) would allow a school
district, upon establishing a need in a specialty or discipline,
to fill the position with a retired teacher. When a retired
teacher is rehired, the teacher would continue to receive
retirement benefits and would be rehired at presumably a
different wage scale than what the teacher previously earned.
Approximately 8,000 teachers have retired from Alaska schools and
are living outside of Alaska. In the meantime there is a
significant shortage of teachers in rural school districts and in
larger school districts in the field of special education. HB
277 will diversify the available pool of retired teachers. HB
277 has an indeterminate zero fiscal note. He pointed out the
education community supports this bill.
SENATOR WILKEN asked if a teacher who retired after 20 year would
then come back into the system as a teacher.
MR. LACK explained that only occurs in the instance when the
school district is unable to hire a physics teacher, for example,
for a high school. The school district can then first certify a
need for a physics teacher at that high school and fill that
position with a retired teacher.
SENATOR WILKEN asked at what pay scale the teacher would be paid
or whether the teacher would get seniority.
MR. LACK replied that none of the contracts in the State
contemplate the ability to hire a retired teacher since it is not
permissible under current law. Individual bargaining units and
school districts will have to negotiate at what terms those
teachers would come back. Presumably they would be rehired at a
lower range and the school district could negotiate to provide no
benefits since the person would be covered under TRS. The
purpose of the bill is not to save school districts money. In a
worst case scenario, it will be a cost of zero to the school
district but in a best case scenario, it will allow school
districts to hire retired teachers at a lower wage with no
benefits. The impetus behind the legislation is to fill slots
that are not being filled right now.
SENATOR WILKEN said he is reluctant to take action on this bill
without speaking with his school district.
CHAIRMAN MILLER noted the bill has a referral to the Senate
Finance Committee.
SENATOR KELLY asked if this bill will have any impact on the
retirement system.
MR. GUY BELL, Division of Retirement and Benefits, said it really
depends on behavior. Approximately 1200 teachers in Alaska have
more than 20 years of service. If all of those teachers retire
and a number of them are rehired, there would be a cost to the
system.
MR. CARL ROSE, Executive Director of the AASB, expressed support
for CSHB 277(FIN) as it provides a remedy in an emergency
situation.
SENATOR KELLY asked Mr. Rose if the AASB is in favor of
alternative certification.
MR. ROSE said it is.
MR. CYR, NEAA, stated support for CSHB 277(FIN).
CHAIRMAN MILLER asked if anyone in the room is opposed to the
bill. [No one answered.]
SENATOR PEARCE moved CSHB 277(FIN) from committee with attached
fiscal notes and individual recommendations. There being no
objection, the motion carried.
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