Senate Bill 2330

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RETIRED TEACHER RETURN TO WORK TASK FORCE TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ALL MATTERS RELATED TO TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS RETURNING TO THE WORKFORCE WITHIN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE FOR THE GOALS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TASK FORCE; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP AND REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO THE LEGISLATURE ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 2024; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is hereby created the Retired Teacher Return to Work Task Force to undertake a comprehensive analysis of all matters related to retired teachers and school administrators returning to the workforce within the state. The goal of the task force shall be to develop a recommendation to the Legislature on reforming the current statutory framework on teacher retirement benefits in an effort to welcome retired teachers and school administrators back to the workforce. The task force may propose legislation and rule changes based upon its recommendation.

(2) The members of the task force shall be as follows:

(a) The Chairmen of the Education Committees of the Mississippi Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives, or his or her designee from their respective committee membership;

(b) The Chairmen of the Appropriations Committees of the Mississippi Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives, or his or her designee from their respective committee membership;

(c) One (1) member of the Mississippi State Senate, to be named by the Lieutenant Governor; and one (1) member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, to be named by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who are interested in retired teachers and school administrators returning to the workforce;

(d) The State Superintendent of Public Education;

(e) One (1) representative from the Department of Education with experience in retention and recruitment of teachers and school administrators;

(f) One (1) representative from the PERS Board of Trustees;

(g) One (1) representative from the Department of Finance and Administration;

(h) One (1) representative from the Mississippi Office of Workforce and Development;

(i) One (1) representative from the Attorney General's Office;

(j) One (1) representative from an education advocacy organization to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor;

(k) One (1) representative from the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents;

(l) One (1) representative from the Mississippi Association of School Administrators; and

(m) One (1) representative from an education advocacy organization to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(3) The task force shall meet within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of this act. The task force shall:

(a) Evaluate current teacher shortage areas, including analyzing critical teacher shortage areas, and consider current teacher retention and recruitment efforts and compare these efforts to other states with better performance outcomes compared to Mississippi;

(b) Evaluate current legal framework that allows retired teachers to be employed on a contract or part-time basis with school systems in the state and consider how this framework may be changed to alleviate teacher shortages throughout the state;

(c) Explore options for full-time teachers and school administrators returning to schools, including considering private contracting as a potential option; and

(d) Consider potential solutions that would allow retired teachers and school administrators to return to schools without having a negative effect on the state's retirement system.

(4) The task force may request the assistance of the Mississippi Department of Education, the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration or any other related entity or organization with expertise on the subjects that the task force is considering.

(5) The members of the task force shall elect a chair from among the members. The task force shall develop and report its findings and recommendations for proposed legislation to the Legislature and proposed rules changes on or before December 1, 2024. A quorum of the membership shall be required to approve any final report and recommendation. Members of the task force shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expense in the same manner as public employees are reimbursed for official duties from any available funds, and members of the Legislature shall be reimbursed in the same manner as for attending out-of-session committee meetings.

(6) The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review shall provide necessary clerical support for the meetings of the task force and the preparation of the report. Proposed legislation shall be prepared by the Legislative Services Offices of the Senate and House as requested.

(7) The task force shall be dissolved upon presentation of its report.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.