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House approves bill to let some retired teachers return quickly to classrooms
Summary
House Bill 96 passed 66–0. The bill permits school districts to reemploy retired teachers age 62 and older with a seven-day waiting period, a change sponsors said is intended to address critical teacher shortages, especially in rural districts.
House Bill 96, aimed at easing teacher shortages by allowing retired educators to return to work more quickly, passed the Utah House on Feb. 14 by a vote of 66–0 and will be sent to the Senate.
Sponsor DeMar Bud Bowman said the change permits reemployment of retired licensed educators who are at least 62 years old with a seven-day waiting period to return to work for the same school district. Bowman and supporters argued rural districts, in particular, face difficulty recruiting qualified teachers and that allowing retired teachers to return promptly would help ensure classrooms are staffed at the start of the school year.
Some members asked why current law does not already allow districts to rehire retirees in certain circumstances. Others expressed concern that the age threshold could exclude some experienced teachers who retire before 62; the sponsor said the age provision was added to reduce the bill’s fiscal note.
