SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 3685

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 13, 2021

      The Senate Education Committee favorably reports Senate Bill No. 3685.

     This bill would permit a certificated teacher who retired from the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to return to work full time with a board of education in a position of critical need, as determined by the State Commissioner of Education, without being reenrolled in the TPAF if reemployment commences during the period of the public health emergency and state of emergency declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  If the retired teacher returns to work with the former employer, it must occur more than 180 days after the retirement.  This bill will permit the teacher to receive the TPAF retirement allowance as well as a salary.  The bill permits the return to work under a contract for one year, which may be renewed only for one additional year. The total period of reemployment with any individual board of education must not exceed a two-year period, unless so approved by the Commissioner of Education as being in the best interests of the school district. Under the bill, the former member’s retirement must have been a bona fide retirement and any employment or reemployment under the bill must not be prearranged before retirement.

     Current law has a substantially similar provision to permit certain TPAF retirees to return to work with a board of education in a TPAF position as a certificated superintendent or certificated administrator for a limited period of time, without reenrollment in the TPAF.