Senate Education Committee to begin discussing bill affecting retired teachers

(From Sen. Gary Romine, R-Farmington)

Committee hearings began this week, and several Senate bills have already started moving through the legislative process. 

On Wednesday, Jan. 23, Senate Bill 17 was heard by the Health and Pensions Committee. I filed SB 17 to fix an unintentional consequence from Senate Bill 892(2018). 

Senate Bill 892 allowed retired teachers to be employed in certain positions throughout a school district, such as a school bus driver, while still receiving their retirement benefits from the Public School Retirement System of Missouri (PSRS).

The language of SB 892 unintentionally excluded retired teachers from receiving their retirement benefits if they were employed at one of our state’s community colleges. This led to a decline in the number of adjunct professors as many retired teachers had previously filled those positions. It is evident that this was not the intention of SB 892, and I am pleased to file SB 17 which will allow retired teachers to teach at community colleges and still receive their retirement benefits.

The Education Committee will begin discussing bills and proposals next week. As chairman of this committee, I am eager to start considering bills, especially those concerning workforce development. The governor has made it clear that workforce development is a priority, and I believe this issue is closely tied to education. I look forward to hearing testimony on each of these bills and discussing them with my fellow committee members.