2016 -- H 7106

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LC003397

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT

     Introduced By: Representatives Hearn, Ruggiero, Marcello, Malik, and Fogarty

     Date Introduced: January 08, 2016

     Referred To: House Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-16-24 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-16 entitled "Teachers'

Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

amended to read as follows:

     16-16-24. Substitute teaching and employment after retirement. -- (a) Any teacher or

athletic coach certified pursuant to chapter 11.1 of this title who has retired under the provisions

of any law of this state may substitute as a teacher at state schools and in the public schools of

this state. The total compensation of the substitute shall be limited to fifteen thousand dollars

($15,000) in any one school year for a period of no more than ninety (90) days in any one school

year without any forfeiture of or reduction in the retirement benefits and allowances the teacher is

receiving or may receive as a retired teacher. Notice of the employment shall be sent monthly to

the state retirement board by the school committee employing the teacher and by the employer

and by the retired teacher at the end of each teaching assignment.

      (b) Any teacher or athletic coach certified pursuant to chapter 11.1 of this title who has

retired under the provisions of any law of this state may be employed to fill a vacant position

(including, but not limited to, employment as a tutor, mentor principal or mentor assistant

principal) by any state school or public school of this state for a period of no more than ninety

(90) days in any one school year without any forfeiture of or reduction in the retirement benefits

and allowances he or she is receiving or may receive as a retiree. Notice of the employment shall

be sent monthly to the state retirement board by the employer and by the retired teacher.

Provided, however, that no employment may be offered to a retiree subject to this section after

July 1, 2002, unless the employer has made a good faith effort each school year to fill the position

with a nonretired employee without success, and certifies in writing that it has done so to the

employees' retirement system, and to the bargaining agents of all education unions with whom the

employer has collective bargaining agreements.

      (c) Any retired teacher or athletic coach may be employed pursuant to subsections (a)

and subsection (b) of this section, but in no event shall employment exceed ninety (90) days.

      (d) The calculation of the ninety (90) day period in any one school year shall be

determined by either of the following methods:

      (1) Three (3) hours shall constitute a half day and the number of half days shall be

limited to one hundred eighty (180) half days which shall be the equivalent of ninety (90) full

days; or

      (2) Each period per day shall constitute one-fifth (1/5) of a teaching day. Any teacher

hired to teach two (2) periods per day shall be deemed to have worked seventy-two (72) full days

per year. The computation is two-fifths times one hundred eighty (2/5 x 180) school days per

year which shall be equivalent to seventy-two (72) full days per year.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - TEACHERS' RETIREMENT

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     This act would limit the earnings of retired teachers or athletic coaches working as

substitute teachers to fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) per school year without any forfeiture of

or reduction in retirement benefits. This replaces the limitation of ninety (90) days in any school

year.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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