The bill amends Section 16-16-24.3 of the General Laws regarding post-retirement employment for teachers, administrators, and staff members who have retired. It allows these individuals to exceed the previous ninety-day cap on post-retirement employment, permitting them to work up to one hundred eighty days in a school year. The local education authority (LEA) must determine there is a specialized need for temporary positions and notify the state retirement board, demonstrating that they have made a good-faith effort to fill the positions with non-retired employees. Additionally, the total number of retired individuals hired under this provision cannot exceed five percent of the total certified teacher positions reported by the LEA.

The bill clarifies that retired teachers, administrators, or staff members employed under this section will not receive additional service credits or be responsible for contributions to the pension system, although the LEA will make the employer contribution as if hiring a new teacher. The provisions of this act will sunset on August 1, 2027. This legislation aims to address staffing shortages in education by allowing retired personnel to fill critical roles while ensuring that the hiring process remains transparent and accountable.

Statutes affected:
8170: 16-16-24.3