A CTA-backed measure that would help school districts and community colleges avoid layoffs as they wrestle with budget shortfalls is a step closer to passage.
AB 1207 by Assembly Member Ellen M. Corbett (D-18) would implement two types of early retirement incentives for senior K-12 and community college faculty.
The measure was passed unanimously by the Assembly, and at press time was pending in the Senate. CTA representatives and Assembly Member Corbett were trying to get the measure enacted prior to the May 15 final layoff notification date.
AB 1207 would reauthorize the state's retirement incentive program that allows districts to grant members of the State Teachers' Retirement System (STRS) up to two years of additional service credit.
To do so, the district must certify that the action will produce cost savings.
Under prior law, districts had to put a "golden handshake" plan in place prior to Jan. 1, 1999.
The new measure, which was introduced at the request of a local CTA chapter, would give a district up to eight years to repay STRS for added costs incurred as a consequence of the bill.
In addition, the measure would put into place a new "2+2" early retirement incentive program. Under this provision, qualified employees could gain two additional years of service credit and two additional years of age factor.
Putting this program in place would require an employer and the representative employee organization to reach a memorandum of understanding.
The new retirement incentive plan would sunset Jan. 1, 2005.
Len Feldman