ESP retirement provision endorsed by state budget committee

4/23/2009 2:17:26 PM

The Legislature's Joint Finance Committee, on an 11-4 party-line vote, has endorsed Governor Doyle’s budget proposal to treat education support professionals the same as teachers, librarians and administrators under the Wisconsin Retirement System. The vote means that the ESP retirement provision will remain in the proposed 2009-10 state budget that the committee will present to the Legislature.

The provision lowers the one-third, full-time equivalent minimum requirement for ESP to qualify as WRS participants from 600 hours per year to 440 hours per year. This provision would apply to creditable service performed on or after the effective date of the budget bill, and would not have any retroactive effect.

Restoring fairness to the retirement system for ESP is a WEAC Legislative Agenda item for 2009-10. In March, WEAC President Mary Bell testified before the committee, saying it was only fair to treat ESP the same as teachers  by defining full-time employment based on a school year versus a calendar year for purposes of determining eligibility and for early retirement calculations.

"Education support professionals play an important role in making Wisconsin’s public schools run effectively," Bell said. "Just like teachers, ESP help shape the minds and character of children, and help start young people on a path to becoming lifelong learners, responsible adults, and kind, caring citizens. The time spent by ESP in public schools should be given the same level of respect as other professions in public schools with fair treatment under the
Wisconsin Retirement System."

Governor Dole also included in his budget proposal a provision to base early retirement calculations for ESP on a school year rather than a calendar year. The Joint Finance Committee is expected to take up this provision later in May after the committee receives an actuarial study.

State Budget