Retire and Rehire Measure Passes 03/03/10 (audio)

Air Date:03/03/2010

By Eryn Clement

A measure that revises certain provisions for individuals who retire and decide to reenter the work force passed in a House committee. Senate bill 18 requires individuals to wait three months after retiring before reentering employment and receive a fifteen percent reduction in benefits during reemployment.  A large amount of testimony was heard particularly by those in the educational system.

Testimony went on for nearly an hour in the House Retirement Laws Committee regarding Senate bill 18. Proponents say this legislation doesn’t eliminate people having the ability to reenter the work force. The bill just adds some stipulations for individuals whose employer is part of the state’s retirement system. Supporters say this bill will save money. However, educators believe this bill will negatively affect them. Jim Holbeck is the superintendent at the Harrisburg School District. He says many teachers retire and then are rehired. Holbeck believes this bill will make hiring teachers more difficult.

 “I think there’s a lot of doubt involved in all of this. But I think we’ve painted a picture that makes this sellable that we need to do this. It’s going to cause a major problem in this state and the problem’s going to be a larger shortage of staff,” says Holbeck.

Despite opposition, the bill passed with a 4 to 1 vote and now moves to the House floor for further debate.

Member stations can download the audio file here.

 

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