Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB599 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 56 0328
2	2	House Bill 599
3	3	By: Representatives Donatucci of the 105
4	4	th
5	5	, Blackmon of the 146
6	6	th
7	7	, Erwin of the 32
8	8	nd
9	9	, Ehrhart
10	10	of the 36
11	11	th
12	12	, and Silcox of the 53
13	13	rd
14	14
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
18	18	1
19	19	relating to retirement allowances, disability benefits, and spouses' benefits, so as to extend2
20	20	the program to permit public school systems to employ certain beneficiaries of the Teachers3
21	21	Retirement System of Georgia as classroom teachers in a full-time capacity to June 30, 2030;4
22	22	to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.5
23	23	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
24	24	SECTION 1.7
25	25	Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 47 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to8
26	26	retirement allowances, disability benefits, and spouses' benefits, is amended by revising Code9
27	27	Section 47-3-127.1, relating to full-time employment of beneficiaries permitted under limited10
28	28	conditions, required employer contributions, and areas of highest need, as follows:11
29	29	"47-3-127.1.12
30	30	(a) From July 1, 2022, until June 30, 2026
31	31	2030, notwithstanding the provisions of Code13
32	32	Section 47-3-127, to the extent and under the conditions provided for in this Code section,14
33	33	a public school system may employ a beneficiary who has obtained 30 years of creditable15
34	34	service in this retirement system in a full-time capacity as a certified teacher of16
35	35	H. B. 599
36	36	- 1 - 25 LC 56 0328
37	37	pre-kindergarten through grade 12 who has as his or her primary responsibility the
38	38	17
39	39	academic instruction of students in a classroom in an area of highest need determined for18
40	40	the RESA to which such public school system is assigned, provided that at least one year19
41	41	has expired from the effective date of such beneficiary's retirement and he or she was not20
42	42	restored to service as a teacher pursuant to Code Section 47-3-127 during such period of21
43	43	time.22
44	44	(b)(1) An individual employed as described in subsection (a) of this Code section shall23
45	45	remain a beneficiary and shall continue to receive his or her retirement allowance and any24
46	46	postretirement benefit adjustments for which he or she is eligible; provided, however, that25
47	47	such service shall not constitute creditable service and shall not entitle such beneficiary26
48	48	to a recomputation of retirement benefits upon cessation of such service.27
49	49	(2) It shall be the duty of each beneficiary to notify an employer of his or her status as28
50	50	a beneficiary prior to accepting employment with such employer.29
51	51	(c)(1) Within 30 days of employing a beneficiary pursuant to this Code section, such30
52	52	employer shall notify the board of trustees of such beneficiary's name, the amount of his31
53	53	or her earnable compensation, a description of any other forms of remuneration to be32
54	54	made, the number of hours to be worked, job responsibilities, and other such information33
55	55	as the board of trustees may prescribe.34
56	56	(2) An employer that employs a beneficiary pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code35
57	57	section shall pay to the retirement system an amount equal to the product of:36
58	58	(A) The combination of the rate required by this chapter for employer contributions37
59	59	and employee contributions; and38
60	60	(B) The earnable compensation of such beneficiary.39
61	61	(3) A beneficiary shall not receive creditable service from or access to contributions40
62	62	made as a result of payments required by paragraph (2) of this subsection, and he or she41
63	63	shall be considered by the retirement system solely as a beneficiary.42
64	64	H. B. 599
65	65	- 2 - 25 LC 56 0328
66	66	(4) If an employer that is obligated to make contributions or reimbursements to the
67	67	43
68	68	retirement system pursuant to this Code section fails to make such contributions, any44
69	69	unpaid amounts shall be deducted from any funds payable to such employer by the state,45
70	70	including without limitation the Department of Education and the Board of Regents of46
71	71	the University System of Georgia, and shall be paid to the retirement system.47
72	72	(d)(1) As used in this Code section, 'area of highest need' means one of the three content48
73	73	areas for which there are the greatest percentages of unfilled positions for classroom49
74	74	teachers in a RESA.50
75	75	(2) The areas of highest need shall be determined for each RESA annually by the51
76	76	Department of Education after consultation with the Professional Standards Commission. 52
77	77	Such determinations shall be based upon a five-year average review of a survey reported53
78	78	by local school systems to the Department of Education. The areas of highest need for54
79	79	each RESA shall be reported to the retirement system on an annual basis beginning55
80	80	July 1, 2022, and ending July 1, 2025
81	81	2029.56
82	82	(e) Prior to July 1, 2025 2029, the state auditor shall conduct and publish a performance57
83	83	audit concerning the provisions of this Code section to include a determination of the value58
84	84	and necessity of the full-time employment of beneficiaries as permitted by this Code59
85	85	section, as well as the effects of such employment on the local school systems, the60
86	86	Teachers Retirement System of Georgia, and the teacher workforce as a whole for this61
87	87	state.62
88	88	(f) The provisions of this Code section shall not become part of the employment contract63
89	89	and shall be subject to future legislation."64
90	90	SECTION 2.65
91	91	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.66
92	92	H. B. 599
93	93	- 3 -