Title 16
Education

Chapter 16
Teachers’ Retirement [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]

R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-16-24.2

§ 16-16-24.2. Substitute teaching and post-retirement employment related to statewide staffing. [Expires June 20, 2025.]

(a) Notwithstanding any public or general law, or rule or regulation to the contrary, any teacher, administrator, or staff member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45 may exceed the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment upon:

(1) A determination by the local education authority that there exists a specialized need, within their authority, to fill positions on a temporary basis, that may exceed the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment;

(2) Retired teachers, administrators, and staff members being asked to exceed the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment possess the skills, training, and knowledge necessary to help address teacher and administrative staffing shortages; and

(3) The local education authority has notified the state retirement board that it has determined that exceeding the ninety-day (90) cap on post-retirement employment is necessary to help address teacher and administrative staffing shortages.

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

(b) Any teacher, administrator, or staff member who has retired under the provisions of title 16, 36, or 45, and has been employed or re-employed under the provisions of this section, shall not be entitled to additional service credits for such employment, and the teacher, administrator, or staff member shall not be responsible for any contribution to the pension system as a result of the employment; provided, however, the local educational authority shall make the employer contribution for the teacher, administrator, or staff member as if the district had hired a new teacher, administrator, or staff member.

(c) This section shall become effective on June 21, 2024, and unless extended by the general assembly, this section shall sunset on June 20, 2025.

History of Section.
P.L. 2023, ch. 1, § 1; P.L. 2023, ch. 2, § 1; P.L. 2024, ch. 117, art. 12, § 3.