Updated: May 11, 1999

In recent years, parents and educators have been looking for ways to ensure the safety of the children and employees of the schools. I introduced HB 226 to address on-the-job safety of school employees.

This legislation is very basic and accomplishes two things:

• Provides equity of credited service between TERS and PERS
• Provides that when an employee of a public school losses work time from a physical assault on the job, the employer would contribute to the employee's credited service.

This legislation provides for a teacher or other employee of the public school system placed on leave without pay because of injuries received from an on-the-job assault to accrue credited service. While the individual is on unpaid leave or receiving workers' compensation benefits, the employer would pay the employee's contributions to credited service.

This legislation also amends the Teacher's Retirement System (TERS) so a teacher unable to work due to an on-the-job injury or occupational illness for which the teacher is receiving workers' compensation may opt to purchase credited service. Public employees already have this option under Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).