Legislature Passes Two Retirement Bills

The Legislature passed two retirement bills but failed to act on two of WEAC’s other high priority bills before adjourning its session March 26.

The Legislature passed and sent to the governor a bill (SB-257) that changes the retirement calculation for support staff who work in the technical college system and in Cooperative Educational Service Agencies.

The bill requires that those retirement calculations be changed from a calendar year to a school year basis. Because most school personnel start and end their careers on the school calendar, many lose the last six months in calculating their three highest years of earnings. This bill will result in a 2% increase in pensions for those affected when fully implemented. The bill still needs to be signed by the governor.

This bill gives the same yearly retirement calculation for technical college and CESA support staff that applies to Wisconsin’s public school teachers and support staff.

The Legislature also passed a bill (SB-32) which eliminates the five-year vesting requirement in the Wisconsin Retirement System. If the bill is signed by the governor, state employees will no longer have to work for the government for five years in order to receive retirement benefits.

The bill strengthens the “defined benefit” system and weakens arguments for shifting to a “defined contribution” retirement plan.

Two of WEAC’s high priority bills for this session – improving school safety and discipline and creating a Professional Standards Council for teachers – were not brought up for a vote before the Assembly adjourned. However, both those bills may be resurrected during a special or extraordinary legislative session in later April or early May. Both bills had strong bi-partisan support.

The school safety and discipline bill passed the Senate 30-2. Under the bill, a teacher may dismiss from his or her classroom an unruly, uncooperative, dangerous or disruptive student, in accordance with a student code of conduct which must be developed by all school boards.

The Professional Standards Council bill passed the Senate 28-4. Creation of a Professional Standards Council is a key element of WEAC's Legislative Agenda. The council would be housed in the Department of Public Instruction. It would oversee teacher training, licensing and classroom practices. The 19-member council would be composed of teachers, higher education academics, curriculum interests, parents and students.

Members are encouraged to continue to contact their legislators and urge approval of these bills this spring.

Posted March 27, 1998