The bill amends Section 16-16-24.2 of the General Laws concerning teachers' retirement, specifically addressing the employment of retired teachers, administrators, and staff members. It allows these individuals to exceed the current ninety-day cap on post-retirement employment if a local education authority determines there is a specialized need to fill positions temporarily. The authority must also notify the state retirement board of this necessity and demonstrate that they have made a good-faith effort to fill the position with a non-retired employee. Additionally, while retirees employed under this provision will not earn additional service credits or be required to contribute to the pension system, the local educational authority will still make employer contributions as if hiring a new employee.

Furthermore, the bill extends the sunset provision for this allowance from June 20, 2025, to July 1, 2026, thereby providing retired educators with more opportunities to address staffing shortages in schools. The act will take effect upon passage, ensuring that the provisions are in place to support educational staffing needs in the upcoming years.

Statutes affected:
1048: 16-16-24.2