Proposal to give full PERS service credit to 9‑month education support staff draws wide support and no measurable cost estimate

Assembly Bill 232, introduced by Assemblyman Max Carter, would change how part‑time school employees are credited by the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). Under the bill, education support professionals (ESPs) — including paraprofessionals, school aides and bus drivers — who work 900 hours across at least eight calendar months in a school year would be credited with one year of service for retirement purposes.

Carter said the current formula results in certified teachers receiving a full year of service for a school year while some ESPs working essentially the same hours receive only prorated credit; that inequality forces many ESPs to work several additional years to reach comparable retirement thresholds. Cabrina Fazer of PERS testified the agency and its actuary reviewed the change and found no measurable fiscal cost because the proposal augments service credit rather than wages and simplifies manual calculations.

Multiple ESPs and union leaders described the bill as a fairness and retention measure: witnesses testified that many longtime school aides, bus drivers and cafeteria workers are being asked to work years longer than teachers to reach retirement eligibility. No opposition appeared at the hearing; Nevada Policy offered written opposition in a later example but no witnesses opposed during the committee hearing.

Committee members asked several technical questions about administration and whether the change should be limited; speakers stressed the bill’s statewide standard (900 hours) was intended to simplify recordkeeping across 17 districts and numerous charter schools. No committee vote was taken at the hearing.