This bill amends several sections of Washington state law to provide retired individuals from the public employees' retirement system, teachers' retirement system, and school employees' retirement system with additional opportunities to work while receiving pension benefits. Specifically, it allows retirees to work up to 1,040 hours per year in nonadministrative positions within school districts without losing their pension payments, extending the current limit of 867 hours. The bill also extends the timeframe for these provisions from July 1, 2025, to July 1, 2029, for certain retirees, including those who retired before January 1, 2022, and are employed as district superintendents or in-school administrators in second-class school districts.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions that maintain the existing penalties for retirees who return to work sooner than one month after their accrual date, which results in a reduction of their monthly retirement allowance. It emphasizes that the legislature retains the right to amend or repeal these provisions in the future, and it declares an emergency, allowing the act to take effect immediately. The amendments aim to address workforce shortages in public education while providing flexibility for retirees to contribute to their communities without jeopardizing their pension benefits.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 41.32.570, 41.32.802, 41.32.862, 41.35.060, 41.40.037