Regular Session News #13: COLA, return-to-work bills pass full House
Feb 1, 2016
The House passed House Bill 32 (Jones) yesterday which grants a 1.5% benefit increase to eligible TRSL retirees and beneficiaries on July 1. Refer to www.TRSL.org for information about eligibility requirements.The House also passed a pair of bills that affect the state’s return-to-work law. House Bill 60 (Miguez) adds “school nurse” to the list of retirees who can return to work and continue to receive a benefit check, subject to a 25% of benefit earnings limitation. And, House Bill 61 (Hoffmann) adds “school psychologist” to the list of full-time critical shortage positions in which a retiree can return to work without a reduction of benefits.
House Bill 13, by Rep. Pearson, failed to pass the full House. It would have allowed TRSL members to purchase service credit for service as a teacher at an out-of-state nonpublic school.
House bills 32, 60, and 61 now head to the Senate retirement committee for consideration.
In the Senate:
The Senate retirement committee met yesterday and considered Senate Bill 452 (White). The bill, which failed to pass out of committee, would have allowed K-12 employers to opt out of participating in TRSL for certain new hires.
Upcoming meetings:
The House retirement committee is scheduled to meet on Thursday, April 28 at 9 a.m. The following bills are on the agenda:
- HB 64 (Jones) would require additional information be included in quarterly reporting by state and statewide retirement systems to legislative retirement committees.
- HB 907 (LeBas) increases the earnings allowed in TRSL for retirees who are re-employed as substitute classroom teachers.
- SB 2 (Peacock) authorizes payment of a benefit increase, funded by state retirement system experience accounts to certain retirees and beneficiaries.
- SB 5 (Peacock) provides for the payment of certain systems’ administrative expenses.
- SB 18 (Peacock) provides for actuarial determinations and application of funds.
A complete list of legislation impacting TRSL, including the position taken by the TRSL Board of Trustees on each bill, is available on the Legislation page of our website.