This 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. Specifically, the county board must adopt a policy addressing areas of critical need for substitute teachers or 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 must be renewed annually. Additionally, the bill establishes that retired teachers or bus operators who begin working as substitutes within the same fiscal year they retire will lose retirement benefits attributed to the annuity reserve.

The legislation also includes provisions for the posting of vacant positions filled by retired substitutes, requiring that these postings occur electronically and be accessible to prospective employees. The bill emphasizes the need for transparency and compliance with existing retirement regulations while addressing the critical shortage of qualified substitutes in West Virginia. The provisions of this bill are set to expire on June 30, 2030.

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