This bill amends the School Employees Retirement Act in Nebraska by removing the definition of "prior service," which referred to service as a school employee before July 1, 1945. It introduces new definitions and clarifications for terms such as "public school," "regular employee," "final average compensation," "service annuity," "state deposit," "substitute employee," "surviving spouse," and "temporary employee." Notably, the definition of "surviving spouse" is expanded to include a spouse or former spouse if survivorship rights are established under a qualified domestic relations order. The bill also harmonizes various provisions to ensure consistency and clarity in the application of the retirement system.

Additionally, the bill modifies provisions for members who separate from service but have not applied for retirement benefits, allowing them to return as temporary or substitute employees without losing their retirement status, provided they meet certain conditions. It establishes that these members will not accrue service credit or be eligible for retirement benefits until they experience a bona fide termination of employment. Furthermore, it introduces a one-hundred-eighty-day period during which members who have applied for retirement benefits cannot return to work without affecting their retirement status, with exceptions for intermittent volunteer or substitute work. The bill repeals previous sections of the law that are now superseded by these amendments.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-902, 79-930