House Bill No. by Representative Bacala proposes the enactment of R.S. 17:3357, which authorizes each public postsecondary education management board in Louisiana to develop and implement a voluntary phased retirement program for faculty and staff. The bill outlines that if a management board chooses to establish such a program, it must adopt a policy that addresses specific operational and institutional needs. Key provisions of the policy include that participation in the program is voluntary, eligibility criteria for employees, a participation period of 12 to 36 months, and the requirement for a memorandum of understanding detailing workload and expectations.

The bill also stipulates that the management boards may adopt their program policies before July 1, 2027, but actual implementation of the programs cannot begin until that date. Additionally, the legislation allows management boards to create guidance or implementation measures consistent with the new provisions. Overall, the bill aims to support faculty and staff recruitment and retention, facilitate knowledge transfer, and promote strategic succession planning within Louisiana's public postsecondary education institutions.