AM NO 1 FAILED Y17 N21 E2 1091
Alaska2026Passed Legislature
HB78
HB78: Choice Between Teacher Retirement Plans
Last scannedSep 14, 2026, 12:32 AM
In one sentence
This law allows certain teachers who joined between June 30, 2006, and July 1, 2027, to switch from a defined contribution plan back to a defined benefit retirement plan if they are rehired after that date.
What it does
- Allows eligible teachers hired before July 1, 2027, who were not employed on that date but return to work afterward, to elect the defined benefit plan instead of staying in the defined contribution plan.
- Requires teachers switching plans to use their existing account balance and earnings to buy credited service time in the new plan.
- Mandates that married teachers must have a spouse sign the election form for it to be valid.
- Sets an 180-day deadline after rehiring for teachers to make this one-time, permanent choice.
- Requires the retirement board to calculate and transfer funds within 60 days of receiving the teacher's written request.
Who it affects
- Teachers who became members of the system between June 30, 2006, and July 1, 2027.
- Reemployed teachers who were not working on July 1, 2027, but return to work after that date.
- The Alaska Teachers' Retirement System administrator and board.
Limits and unknowns
- The election to switch plans is permanent and cannot be undone once made.
- Teachers who receive their entire account balance as cash before being rehired are not eligible to make this choice unless they roll it over within specific time limits.
- The law does not specify an effective date for when these rules begin, though the text references July 1, 2027.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Defined benefit plan
- A retirement system where the final payout amount is calculated based on years of service and salary history rather than investment performance.
- Defined contribution plan
- A retirement account where contributions are made into an individual account, and the final value depends on how well those investments perform over time.
- Credited service
- Time worked that counts toward eligibility for a pension or other benefits in the defined benefit plan.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
RETIREMENT SYSTEMS; DEFINED BENEFIT OPT. An Act relating to the public employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system; and providing certain employees an opportunity to choose between the defined benefit and defined contribution plans of the public employees' retirement system and the teachers' retirement system.
Official activity
Bill history
- (S) JOINT SESSION at 01:00 PM HOUSE CHAMBERText
- (H) JOINT SESSION at 01:00 PM HOUSE CHAMBERText
- (H) GOVERNOR VETO SUSTAINED Y33 N272911
- (H) CALL FOR THE QUESTION WITHDRAWN2911
- (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 5/18/262890
- (H) MANIFEST ERROR(S)2366
- (H) 4:30 P.M. 4/30/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR2365
- (H) ENGROSSED2346
- (H) VERSION: SCS CSHB 78(FIN) AM S(EFD FLD H)2327
- (H) ...CHANGES TITLE OF LEGISLATION2327
- (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) FAILED Y21 N192326
- (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y21 N192326
- (H) SUSTAINED RULING OF CHAIR Y19 N19 A22325
- (H) TECHNICAL TITLE CHANGE2324
- (H) CONCUR MESSAGE READ AND TAKEN UP2324
- (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 78(FIN) AM S2403
- (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED2403
- (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) ADOPTED Y20 N-2402
- (S) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y12 N82402
- (S) RECON SAME DAY VOTE Y15 N5 - IN 3RD RDG2401
Changes
Amendments
17 stored
AM NO 2 OFFERED 1093
AM 1 TO AM 2 ADOPTED UC 1097
AM NO 3 FAILED Y16 N22 E2 1098
AM NO 4 FAILED Y16 N22 E2 1099
AM NO 5 FAILED Y13 N25 E2 1100
AM NO 6 FAILED Y17 N21 E2 1101
AM NO 7 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN 1103
AM NO 8 NOT OFFERED 1104
AM NO 9 FAILED Y17 N21 E2 1104
AM NO 10 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN 1105
AM NO 11 FAILED Y16 N22 E2 1109
AM NO 12 FAILED Y17 N21 E2 1111
AM NO 13 NOT OFFERED 1114
AM NO 14 OFFERED 1114
AM 1 TO AM 14 ADOPTED UC 1115
AM NO 15 FAILED Y15 N23 E2 1115