The proposed bill amends the Code of West Virginia to establish the "Connor Drennan Substitute Teachers' Act," which allows retirees from the state Teachers Retirement System with specializations in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), English, or foreign languages to work as long-term substitute teachers in their respective fields. Under this legislation, these retirees can work in long-term substitute positions for up to 180 days per academic year without losing their monthly retirement benefits. The bill also stipulates that while no additional retirement contributions will be required from the employer during this employment, retirees may choose to contribute to their retirement if they wish.

Additionally, the bill includes legislative findings that emphasize the importance of employing qualified retired teachers to address persistent teacher shortages and the detrimental impact of retirement limitations on students' education. The amendments clarify the maximum number of days a retired teacher may work without affecting their retirement benefits, increasing the limit from 140 to 180 days. The bill aims to provide a more flexible framework for retired teachers to contribute to the education system while maintaining their retirement benefits.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-7A-38, 18-7E-1, 18-7E-2, 18-7E-3