Revise TRS laws related to reemployment

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69th Legislature 2025 HB 349
- 1 - Authorized Print Version – HB 349
ENROLLED BILL
AN ACT ESTABLISHING PROVISIONS FOR RETIREES UNDER THE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
TO RETURN TO WORK FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION WITHOUT LOSING
RETIREMENT BENEFITS; ESTABLISHING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING RULEMAKING
AUTHORITY; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A
TERMINATION DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. (Temporary) Reemployment of certain retirees by superintendent of public
instruction -- procedure -- definitions. (1) Subject to the provisions of this section:
(a) a retired member of the teachers' retirement system who has been receiving a retirement
allowance for no less than 2 months, except for a disability retirement allowance pursuant to Title 19, chapter
20, part 6, may be employed in a position reportable to the teachers' retirement system on a full-time basis by
the superintendent of public instruction for a maximum of 5 years during the lifetime of the retired member
without the loss or interruption of any payments or benefits if:
(i) the retired member completed 27 or more years of creditable service prior to retirement; and
(ii) each year, prior to employing a retired member, the superintendent of public instruction certifies
to the teachers' retirement system board that after having advertised the position, the employer has been
unable to fill the position because the employer has either received no qualified applicants or has not received
an acceptance of an offer of employment made to a nonretired member of the teachers' retirement system;
(b) the employer certification required by this section must include the retired member's name and
social security number and a copy of the proposed contract of employment for the retired member;
(c) on receipt of the employer's certification and the proposed contract of employment, the
teachers' retirement system board shall verify whether the retired member meets the requirements of
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69th Legislature 2025 HB 349
- 2 - Authorized Print Version – HB 349
ENROLLED BILL
subsection (1)(a)(i) and shall notify the employer and the retired member of its findings;
(d) a retired member reemployed under this section is ineligible for active membership under 19-
20-302 and is ineligible to receive service credit under any retirement system identified in Title 19; and
(e) the board shall report biennially to the education interim committee and the state administration
and veterans' affairs interim committee in accordance with 5-11-210 regarding the implementation of and
results arising from this section.
(2) An employer employing a retired member pursuant to this section shall contribute monthly to
the teachers' retirement system an amount equal to the sum of the contribution rates provided in 19-20-602, 19-
20-604, 19-20-605, 19-20-608, and 19-20-609.
(3) A retired member reemployed pursuant to this section is exempt from the earnings and
employment limits provided in 19-20-731.
(4) The board may adopt rules to implement this section.
(5) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
(a) "Employer" means the superintendent of public instruction as described in 20-3-101 that
employs a retired member of the teachers' retirement system.
(b) "System" means the teachers' retirement system.
(c) "Year" means all or any part of a fiscal year running July 1 through June 30.
Section 2. Codification instruction. [Section 1] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title
19, chapter 20, part 7, and the provisions of Title 19, chapter 20, part 7, apply to [section 1].
Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective on passage and approval.
Section 4. Termination. [This act] terminates June 30, 2031.
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I hereby certify that the within bill,
HB 349, originated in the House.
___________________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
___________________________________________
Speaker of the House
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
___________________________________________
President of the Senate
Signed this _______________________________day
of____________________________________, 2025.
HOUSE BILL NO. 349
INTRODUCED BY M. NIKOLAKAKOS, J. SECKINGER, P. ELVERUM, R. GREGG, E. TILLEMAN, G.
HUNTER, L. JONES, M. YAKAWICH, B. LER, R. MINER, B. BARKER, G. HERTZ, G. NIKOLAKAKOS, M.
ROMANO, J. HINKLE
AN ACT ESTABLISHING PROVISIONS FOR RETIREES UNDER THE TEACHERS' RETIREMENT SYSTEM
TO RETURN TO WORK FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION WITHOUT LOSING
RETIREMENT BENEFITS; ESTABLISHING REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; PROVIDING RULEMAKING
AUTHORITY; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE AND A
TERMINATION DATE.