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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
State lawmakers have approved a bill that could potentially help with the staffing shortages that are currently being faced in Tennessee schools.
Senate Bill 2702, sponsored by Senator Ken Yager (R-Kingston-District 12), allows individuals who are retired members of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) to return to work full time as a substitute teacher, K-12 teacher, or K-12 bus driver without losing their retirement benefits.
The amended bill is summarized below:
“Authorizes retired members of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) to return to work as a kindergarten through twelfth (K-12) grade teacher. Returning teachers are entitled to only seventy percent of the retirement allowance they would have received in absence of returning to work, and are not entitled to additional retirement benefits as the result of reemployment. Reemployment as a K12 teacher cannot exceed one year, unless hired to additional one-year periods. Employers of returning teachers are required to contribute the greater of either the amount they would have been mandated to pay had the retired member been a member of the retirement system during the time they are reemployed, or the amount equal to five percent of the member’s pay rate. Effective from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025.”
Currently, retired teachers can return and teach up to 120 days out of a school year, but the new legislation would allow them to work a full school year. Those contracts could be renewed each year if needed.
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Yager stated, “Many retirees are already helping their local school districts and want to continue to help, but are being held back by current requirements. This bill temporarily removes those barriers to provide much needed support in our schools. The companion bill has passed the House, and I’m appreciative of Rep. Rebecca Alexander (R-Jonesborough-District 7) for her strong support.
On March 21, the companion House bill was substituted for the Senate Bill. Both the House and Senate Speakers signed off on the bill after it was passed, and it has been transmitted to the governor for his signature as of March 28.
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
