Senate committee approves bill requiring districts to notify teachers whether they receive Social Security or TRS; amendment lets some districts offer paid-up‑f

Senator Seltzer brought House Bill 37 before the Senate Education Committee on behalf of Rep. Leverett, proposing a disclosure requirement that would tell school employees whether they participate in Social Security or the Teachers Retirement System (TRS).

The bill requires school districts to notify new hires starting July 1 and to refresh that notice for current employees every five years. The measure also carried an amendment (AM490219) that removes a statutory prohibition and would allow local districts, if they choose, to permit school board members to pay the employee portion of family health coverage so family members can be enrolled.

The change on retirement disclosure was described by Senator Seltzer as “simply a disclosure bill.” He said the measure responds to a patchwork of district policies: some districts withhold Social Security while others participate in both Social Security and TRS, which can create surprises for teachers who move between districts. “You can imagine teaching in one county, moving to the next county, and you don't — the benefits are dramatically different,” he said, describing a map distributed to the committee showing which counties do not withhold Social Security.

The amendment addressing school board members was offered as a narrow statutory cleanup. As explained to the committee, current law prohibits school districts from permitting a board member to include family coverage through the district plan even if the board member pays the full cost. The amendment removes that prohibition and makes clear any family coverage costs would be borne by the board member rather than by QBE or state funds. Senator Seltzer said the amendment was discussed with Rep. Leverett and that Leverett supported attaching it to HB 37.

Robert Aycock of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators testified in support of the core disclosure provision, saying the association backed measures that prevent educators from being “blindsided” at retirement by differences in Social Security participation.

During committee discussion members asked procedural questions about where the new language would appear in the code and whether the amendment was germane; a committee member raised a germaneness point but committee counsel and the chair left that determination to the committee. The committee ultimately approved the bill with the committee substitute and amendment; the vote was taken by voice/hand and the chair announced that the bill “passes.” The transcript does not record a roll-call tally in names and numbers.

What the bill does: it requires districts to notify employees whether Social Security is withheld and whether they are members of TRS, for new hires beginning July 1 and for current employees every five years; it also removes a statutory bar so a district may, if it chooses, permit a school board member to pay the employee contribution to add family coverage under the district plan. The amendment specifies the family-coverage costs are to be paid by the board member.

The committee approved HB 37 as amended by committee substitute and AM490219 and moved the bill forward.

Votes at a glance: The committee approved the committee substitute and the amendment by voice/hand vote; the transcript records the chair saying the bill “passes” but does not provide a member-by-member roll call.