The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to allow individuals receiving retirement benefits under the Teachers Retirement System to work as critical needs substitute teachers or bus operators for an unlimited number of days each fiscal year, provided certain conditions are met. These conditions include the adoption of a policy by the county board to address areas of critical need for substitute teachers and bus operators, which must be approved by the state board. The policy must ensure that retired individuals can only be employed when no other qualified substitutes are available, and it is subject to annual renewal. Additionally, the bill establishes that retired teachers and bus operators will not lose their retirement benefits if they meet specific criteria regarding their retirement dates.

The legislation also modifies the requirements for posting vacant positions when retired individuals are employed as substitutes, allowing for electronic postings and reducing the frequency of required postings. The provisions of this bill are set to expire on June 30, 2030, and the state board is tasked with reporting annually on the effectiveness of these measures in addressing the shortage of substitute teachers and bus operators. Overall, the bill aims to alleviate the critical shortage of qualified substitutes in West Virginia schools by leveraging the experience of retired educators and operators.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18A-2-3
Committee Substitute: 18A-2-3
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 18A-2-3, 18A-4-15a