Oklahoma 2024 2024 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1520 Engrossed / Bill

Filed 04/29/2024

                    RBH No. 10979 
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ENGROSSED HOUSE AMENDME NT 
 TO 
ENGROSSED SENATE BILL NO . 1520 By: Pemberton and Stephens of 
the Senate 
 
  and 
 
  Hays of the House 
 
 
 
 
An Act relating to the Teachers’ Retirement System of 
Oklahoma; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 17 -116.10, 
which relates to postretirement employment; modifying 
earnings limitation for certain retirees returning to 
work in a public school; providing an effective date; 
and declaring an emergency. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AUTHORS:  Add the following House Coauthor s: Hilbert and Davis 
 
AMENDMENT NO. 1.  Strike the title, enacting clause, and entire bill 
and insert: 
 
 
 
 
"An Act relating to the public retirement systems; 
amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 17-116.10, which 
relates to postretirement employment; modifying 
earnings limitation for certain retirees returning to 
work in a public school; modifying postretirement 
earning limitation for certain time period ; providing 
an effective date; and declaring an emergency. 
 
 
 
 
 
  RBH No. 10979 
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE PE OPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2021, Section 17-116.10, 
is amended to read as follows: 
Section 17-116.10 A.  Subject to the requirements of Section 6 -
101.2 of this title and any other applicable requ irements of law, a 
member of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma may enter into 
postretirement employment with a public school of Okla homa and still 
receive monthly retirement be nefits subject to the following 
limitations: 
1.  A retired member is n ot eligible to be employed by the 
public schools of Ok lahoma, in any capacity, for sixty (60) calendar 
days between the retiree ’s last day of preretirement public 
education employment and any postretirement public education 
employment.  For purposes of thi s section, the term “last day of 
preretirement employm ent” shall mean the last day the employee is 
required to be physically present on the jo b to complete the terms 
of the employment co ntract or agreement.  An employee on paid leave 
is still considered to be employed for purposes of this section.  
Employment under any conditions during this time, volunteer services 
for the purpose of obtaining a paid position at a later date, or 
payment at a later time for services performed during this time 
period shall cause the forfeiture of all retirement benefits 
received during the period;  RBH No. 10979 
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2.  Unless otherwise provided in this paragraph or in paragraph 
3 of this subsection, earnings from the public schools may not 
exceed one-half (1/2) of the member ’s final average salary used in 
computing retirement benefits, or the Earnings Limitation earnings 
limitation for employees allowed by the Social Security 
Administration, whichever is less.  For Until July 1, 2027, for 
retired members having attained the age of fifty -five (55) years but 
less than fifty-nine and one-half (59 1/2) years, the limit on 
allowed earnings from the public schools of Oklahoma for employmen t 
for the performance of duties ordinarily p erformed by classified or 
nonclassified personnel s hall be the lesser of Thirty Thousand 
Dollars ($30,000.00) or one -half (1/2) of the member’s final average 
salary used in computing retirement benefits unless th e earnings 
limitation allowed by the Social Security Administration would be 
greater than Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00).  Until July 1, 
2027, for retired members having attained the age of fifty-nine and 
one-half (59 1/2) years or older, there shall be no limit on allowed 
earnings from the public schools of Oklahoma for the performance of 
duties ordinarily performed by classified or nonclassified 
personnel.  Effective July 1, 2027, for retired members under the 
age of sixty-two (62) years, the limit on allowed earnings from the 
public schools of Oklahoma f or employment for the performance of 
duties ordinarily performed by classified or nonclassified personnel 
shall be the lesser of Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) or one - RBH No. 10979 
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half (1/2) of the member ’s final average salary used in computing 
retirement benefits unless the earnings limitation allowed by th e 
Social Security Administration would be greater than Fifteen 
Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00).  For Effective July 1, 2027, for 
retired members sixty -two (62) years of age or older the limit on 
allowed earnings from the public schools of Oklahoma for the 
performance of duties ordinarily performed by classified or 
nonclassified personnel shall be the lesser of Thirty Thousand 
Dollars ($30,000.00) or one -half (1/2) of the member ’s final average 
salary used in computing retirement benefits. 
For purposes of this paragrap h, the following shall apply: 
a. earnings shall mean “regular annual compensation” as 
defined in paragraph (25) of Section 17 -101 of this 
title, and shall include any payment by a public 
school for services rendered by a retired member who 
is employed for any purpose whatsoever.  Supplemental 
retirement payments paid by a former public school 
employer pursuant to subsection 9 of Section 17 -105 of 
this title or other state law shall not be considered 
as earnings, 
b. the Earnings Limitation earnings limitation for 
employees allowed by the Social Security 
Administration to workers between the age of sixty -two  RBH No. 10979 
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(62) years and sixty -five (65) years shall apply to 
retired members below the age of sixty -two (62) years, 
c. the limit on allowed earnings from the publi c schools 
shall be automatically adjusted effective th e first 
day of January of each year to reflect the current 
Earnings Limitation earnings limitation for employees 
as determined from time to time by the Social Security 
Administration, 
d. the earnings limit for the calendar year in which a 
member retires shall be one-twelfth (1/12) of the 
annual limit multiplied by the number of months the 
member is eligible to work and receive payments from 
the public schools of Oklahoma, 
e. earnings in excess of the max imum limit on allowed 
earnings from public schools of Oklahoma shall result 
in a loss of future retirement benefits for the year 
the postretirement employment was performed of One 
Dollar ($1.00) for each One Doll ar ($1.00) earned over 
the maximum allowed e arnings amount, and 
f. for those members age seventy ( 70) years and over, the 
earnings in excess of the maximum limit allowed 
earnings from public schools of Oklahoma shall be one -
half (1/2) the member’s final average salary used in 
computing retirement be nefits.  However, any retired  RBH No. 10979 
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member receiving benefit s from the Retirement System 
who reached age seventy (70) years prior to July 1, 
1991, shall not be restricted by the earnings limit s 
pursuant to this subpara graph until January 1, 1994.  
To qualify for the provisions of this subparagraph, 
the member must be employed less than one-half (1/2) 
the time compared to other full -time employees in 
similar positions; 
3.  Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this subsection, a retired 
classified or nonclassified member who has been retired for thirty-
six (36) or more mont hs and who is employed by a public school to 
perform duties ordinarily performed by clas sified or nonclassified 
personnel shall be a ble to receive annualized earnings from the 
public school with no redu ction in retirement benefits regardless of 
the amount of annualized earnings.  For a period of three (3) years 
beginning July 1, 2017, members who have retired as of July 1, 2017, 
as active classroom teachers, who have been retired and receiving a 
benefit for at least one (1) year, and who have not been emplo yed by 
any public school during that one -year period, shall be eligible to 
be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career 
tech school districts, with no limitations on earnings.  For a 
period of three (3) years beginning July 1, 2021, mem bers who have 
retired as of July 1, 2020, who have been retired and receiving a 
benefit for at least one (1) year, and who have not been e mployed by  RBH No. 10979 
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any public school during that one -year period, shall be eligible to 
be reemployed as an active classroom te acher in common or career 
tech school districts, with no limitations on earnings.  The o ne-
year period starts with the retiree ’s last day of preretirement 
public education employment.  Members returning under this section 
shall not be subject to any earning limitations earnings limitation 
following the end of the three -year periods described in this 
paragraph.  Members returning under this s ection shall only be 
employed pursuant to a temporary contract; and 
4.  A member shall be considered to be employed by a school 
district to perform the duties ordinarily performed by classified or 
nonclassified personnel if the member is hired by the school 
district in the member’s individual capacity to perform the du ties 
or if the member performs the duties through empl oyment with a 
proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company 
or partnership, or any other business structure that has agreed or 
contracted to provide the services to the school dist rict. 
B.  A public school district that employs a reti red member shall 
be required to make contributions to the System for the retired 
member in an amount as required in Section 17 -108.1 and in paragraph 
3 of subsection B of Section 17 -116.2 of this title. 
C.  For purposes of this section, postretirement empl oyment of 
less than one thousand (1,000) hours per year with the Governor, the 
State Senate, the House of Representatives or the Legislati ve  RBH No. 10979 
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Service Bureau shall not be considered as postretirement empl oyment 
with a public school of Oklahoma. 
D.  The Board of Trustees of the Teachers’ Retirement System of 
Oklahoma shall promulgate such rules as are necessary to implement 
the provisions of this section. 
E.  A member who has entered into postretirement emp loyment with 
a participating employer of the Teachers ’ Retirement System of 
Oklahoma must fully comply with all the provisions of the rules 
promulgated by the Board of Trustees pursuant to thi s section in 
order to continue receiving his or her monthly reti rement benefit. 
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2024. 
SECTION 3.  It being immediately nec essary for the preservation 
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby 
declared to exist, by re ason whereof this act shall take effect and 
be in full force from and after its passage and approval." 
  RBH No. 10979 
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Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of April, 2024. 
 
 
 
 
  
Presiding Officer of the House of 
 	Representatives 
 
 
Passed the Senate the ____ day of _______ ___, 2024. 
 
 
 
 
  
Presiding Officer of the Senate RBS No. 2448 
 
ENGR. S. B. NO. 1520 	Page 1  1 
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ENGROSSED SENATE 
BILL NO. 1520 	By: Pemberton and Stephens of 
the Senate 
 
  and 
 
  Hays of the House 
 
 
 
An Act relating to the Teachers’ Retirement System of 
Oklahoma; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 17 -116.10, 
which relates to postretirement employ ment; modifying 
earnings limitation for certain retirees returning to 
work in a public school; providing an effective date; 
and declaring an emergency. 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: 
SECTION 4.     AMENDATORY    70 O.S. 2021, Section 17-116.10, 
is amended to read as follows: 
Section 17-116.10.  A.  Subject to the requirements of Section 
6-101.2 of this title and any other applicable requirements of law, 
a member of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma may enter 
into postretirement employment with a public school of Oklahoma and 
still receive monthly retirement benefits subject to the following 
limitations: 
1.  A retired member is not eligible to be employed by the 
public schools of Oklahoma, in any capacit y, for sixty (60) calendar 
days between the retiree ’s last day of preretirement public 
education employment and any postretirement public education 
employment.  For purposes of this section, the term “last day of  RBS No. 2448 
 
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preretirement employment ” shall mean the last day the employee is 
required to be physically present on the job to complete the terms 
of the employment contract or agreement.  An employee on paid leave 
is still considered to be employed for purposes of this section.  
Employment under any conditions during this time, volunteer services 
for the purpose of obtaining a paid position at a later date, or 
payment at a later time for services performed during this time 
period shall cause the forfeiture of all retirement benefits 
received during the period; 
2.  Unless otherwise provided in paragraph 3 of this subsection, 
earnings from the public schools may not exceed one -half (1/2) of 
the member’s final average salary used in computing retirement 
benefits, or the Earnings Limitation earnings limitation for 
employees allowed by the Social Security Administration, whichever 
is less.  For retired members under the age of sixty -two (62) years, 
the limit on allowed earnings from the public schools of Oklahoma 
for employment for the performance of duties ordinarily performed by 
classified or nonclassified personnel shall be the lesser of Fifteen 
Thousand Dollars ($15,000.00) or one -half (1/2) of the member ’s 
final average salary used in computing retirement benefits unless 
the earnings limitation allowed by the Socia l Security 
Administration would be greater than Fifteen Thousand Dollars 
($15,000.00).  For retired members sixty -two (62) years of age or 
older the limit on allowed earnings from the public schools of  RBS No. 2448 
 
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Oklahoma for the performance of duties ordinarily perf ormed by 
classified or nonclassified personnel shall be the lesser of Thirty 
Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) or one -half (1/2) of the member ’s 
final average salary used in computing retirement benefits.  On and 
after the effective date of this act, for retir ed members under the 
age of sixty-two (62) years, the limit on allowed earnings from the 
public schools of Oklahoma for employment for the performance of 
duties ordinarily performed by classified or nonclassified personnel 
shall be the lesser of Thirty Tho usand Dollars ($30,000.00) or one -
half (1/2) of the member ’s final average salary used in computing 
retirement benefits unless the earnings limitation allowed by the 
Social Security Administration would be greater than Thirty Thousand 
Dollars ($30,000.00).  On and after the effective date of this act, 
for retired members sixty -two (62) years of age or older , the limit 
on allowed earnings from the public schools of Oklahoma for the 
performance of duties ordinarily performed by classified or 
nonclassified personnel shall be the lesser of Fifty -five Thousand 
Dollars ($55,000.00) or one -half (1/2) of the member ’s final average 
salary used in computing retirem ent benefits. For purposes of this 
paragraph, the following shall apply: 
a. earnings shall mean “regular annual compensation” as 
defined in paragraph (25) of Section 17 -101 of this 
title, and shall include any payment by a public 
school for services rendered by a retired member who  RBS No. 2448 
 
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is employed for any purpose whatsoever.  Supplemental 
retirement payments pai d by a former public school 
employer pursuant to subsection 9 of Section 17 -105 of 
this title or other state law shall not be considered 
as earnings, 
b. the Earnings Limitation earnings limitation for 
employees allowed by the Social Security 
Administration to workers between the age of sixty -two 
(62) years and sixty -five (65) years shall apply to 
retired members below the age of sixty -two (62) years, 
c. the limit on allowed earnings from the public schools 
shall be automatically adjusted effective the first 
day of January of each year to reflect the current 
Earnings Limitation earnings limitation for employees 
as determined from time to time by the Social Security 
Administration, 
d. the earnings limit for the calendar year in which a 
member retires shall be one-twelfth (1/12) of the 
annual limit multiplied by the number of months the 
member is eligible to work and receive payments from 
the public schools of Oklahoma, 
e. earnings in excess of the maximum limit on allowed 
earnings from public schools of Oklahom a shall result 
in a loss of future retirement benefits for the year  RBS No. 2448 
 
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the postretirement employment was performed of One 
Dollar ($1.00) for each One Doll ar ($1.00) earned over 
the maximum allowed earnings amount, and 
f. for those members age seventy (70) yea rs and over, the 
earnings in excess of the maximum limit allowed 
earnings from public schools of Oklahoma shall be one -
half (1/2) the member ’s final average salary used in 
computing retirement benefits.  However, any retired 
member receiving benefits from the Retirement System 
who reached age seventy (70) years prior to July 1, 
1991, shall not be restricted by the earnings limits 
pursuant to this subpara graph until January 1, 1994.  
To qualify for the provisions of this subparagraph, 
the member must be empl oyed less than one-half (1/2) 
the time compared to other full -time employees in 
similar positions; 
3.  Notwithstanding paragraph 2 of this subsection, a retired 
classified or nonclassified member who has been retired for thirty -
six (36) or more months and who is employed by a public school to 
perform duties ordinarily performed by classified or nonclassified 
personnel shall be able to receive annualized earnings from the 
public school with no reduction in retirement benefits regardless of 
the amount of annualized earnings.  For a period of three (3) years 
beginning July 1, 2017, members who have retired as of July 1, 2017,  RBS No. 2448 
 
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as active classroom teachers, who have been retired and receiving a 
benefit for at least one (1) year, and who have not been employed by 
any public school during that one -year period, shall be eligible to 
be reemployed as an active classroom teacher in common or career 
tech school districts, with no limitations on earnings.  For a 
period of three (3) years beginning July 1, 2021, members wh o have 
retired as of July 1, 2020, who have been retired and receiving a 
benefit for at least one (1) year, and who have not been employed by 
any public school during that one -year period, shall be eligible to 
be reemployed as an active classroom teacher i n common or career 
tech school districts, with no limitations on earnings.  The one -
year period starts with the retiree ’s last day of preretirement 
public education employment.  Members returning under this section 
shall not be subject to any earning limitations earnings limitation 
following the end of the three -year periods described in this 
paragraph.  Members returning under this section shall only be 
employed pursuant to a temporary contract; and 
4.  A member shall be considered to be employed by a scho ol 
district to perform the duties ordinarily performed by classified or 
nonclassified personnel if the member is hired by the school 
district in the member’s individual capacity to perform the duties 
or if the member performs the duties through employment with a 
proprietorship, partnership, corporation, limited liability company  RBS No. 2448 
 
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or partnership, or any other business structure that has agreed or 
contracted to provide the services to the school district. 
B.  A public school district that employs a retired mem ber shall 
be required to make contributions to the System for the retired 
member in an amount as required in Section 17 -108.1 and in paragraph 
3 of subsection B of Section 17 -116.2 of this title. 
C.  For purposes of this section, postretirement employment of 
less than one thousand (1,000) hours per year with the Governor, the 
State Senate, the House of Representatives or the Legislative 
Service Bureau shall not be considered as postretirement employment 
with a public school of Oklahoma. 
D.  The Board of Tru stees of the Teachers’ Retirement System of 
Oklahoma shall promulgate such rules as are necessary to implement 
the provisions of this section. 
E.  A member who has entered into postretirement employment with 
a participating employer of the Teachers ’ Retirement System of 
Oklahoma must fully comply with all the provisions of the rules 
promulgated by the Board of Trustees pursuant to this section in 
order to continue receiving his or her monthly retirement benefit. 
SECTION 5.  This act shall be come effective July 1, 2024. 
SECTION 6.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation 
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby 
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and 
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.  RBS No. 2448 
 
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Passed the Senate the 4th day of March, 2024. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the Senate 
 
 
Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 
2024. 
 
 
  
 	Presiding Officer of the House 
 	of Representatives