§ 18A-4-15a — Employment of retired bus operators as substitutes in areas of critical need and shortage

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that due to a shortage of qualified substitute bus operators a compelling state interest exists in expanding the use of retired bus operators to provide service as substitute bus operators in an area of critical need and shortage.

(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that this shortage is significant and overarching, and in order to comply with §18-5-13(f)(1) of this code, this need supersedes any preclusion of modification of rights codified in §18-7A-28e of this code.

(1) For the purposes of this subsection, “area of critical need and shortage for substitute bus operators” means that the number of available qualified substitute bus operators in the county who are not retired and are available and willing to accept substitute bus operator assignments is insufficient to meet the projected need for qualified substitute bus operators.

(2) A person receiving retirement benefits under §18-7A-1et seq. of this code, or who is entitled to retirement benefits during the fiscal year in which that person retired, may accept employment as a critical need substitute bus operator for an unlimited number of days each fiscal year without affecting the monthly retirement benefit to which the retirant is otherwise entitled, subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:

(A) The county board adopts a policy recommended by the superintendent to address a critical need and shortage for substitute bus operators;

(B) The superintendent of the county board submits the policy to the State Board of Education for approval in the first year of its utilization. After initial approval by the State Board of Education, the county board must annually renew the policy at the local level and provide confirmation to the State Board of Education of its intent to utilize the policy in the subsequent year;

(C) The policy sets forth the critical need and shortage for substitute bus operators in the county in accordance with the definition of area of critical need and shortage for substitute bus operators as provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection;

(D) The policy provides for the employment of retired bus operators as critical need substitute bus operators during the school year on an expanded basis in areas of critical need and shortage for substitute bus operators as provided in this subsection;

(E) The policy provides that a retired bus operator may be employed as a substitute bus operator in an area of critical need and shortage for substitute bus operators on an expanded basis as provided in this subsection only when no other qualified bus operator who is not retired is available and accepts the substitute assignment; and

(F) Prior to employment of a retired bus operator as a critical need substitute bus operator beyond the post-retirement employment limitations established by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board, the superintendent of the affected county submits to the state board in a form approved by the Consolidated Public Retirement Board and the state board, an affidavit signed by the superintendent stating the name of the county, the fact that the county has adopted a policy to employ retired bus operators as substitutes to address its critical need and shortage, the name or names of the person or persons to be employed as a critical need substitute pursuant to the policy, the date that the person gave notice to the county board of the person’s intent to retire, and the effective date of the person’s retirement. Upon verification of compliance with this section and the eligibility of the critical need substitute bus operator for employment beyond the post-retirement limit, the state board shall submit the affidavit to the Consolidated Public Retirement Board.

(3) Any person who retires and begins work as a critical need substitute bus operator within the same fiscal year in which that person retired shall lose those retirement benefits attributed to the annuity reserve, effective from the first day of employment as a retiree critical need substitute bus operator in that fiscal year and ending with the month following the date the retiree ceases to perform service as a critical need substitute bus operator.

(4) Retired bus operators employed to perform expanded substitute service pursuant to this subsection are considered day-to-day, temporary, part-time employees. The substitutes are not eligible for additional pension or other benefits paid to regularly employed employees and may not accrue seniority.

(5) A retired bus operator is eligible to be employed as a critical need substitute bus operator to fill a vacant position without any loss of retirement benefits attributed to the annuity reserve only if the retired bus operator’s retirement became effective before the first day of July preceding at least the fiscal year during which he or she is employed as a critical need substitute bus operator.

(6) When a retired bus operator is employed as a critical need substitute to fill a vacant position, the county board shall continue to post the vacant position until it is filled with a regularly employed bus operator who is fully qualified for the position:Provided, That:

(A) The posting is only required to occur once at the beginning of the year and once mid-year;

(B) This subdivision does not apply when filling a bus operator position of a regular bus operator on leave of absence; and

(C) This subdivision does not apply when a position is filled with a certified bus operator but the bus operator is not available at the time the bus operator accepts the position.

(7) When a retired bus operator is employed as a critical need substitute to fill a vacant position, the position vacancy shall be posted electronically and easily accessible to prospective employees as determined by the state board:Provided, That:

(A) The posting is only required to occur once at the beginning of the year and once mid-year;

(B) This subdivision does not apply when filling a bus operator position of a regular bus operator on leave of absence; and

(C) This subdivision does not apply when a position is filled with a certified bus operator but the bus operator is not available at the time the bus operator accepts the position.

(8) The provisions of this subsection shall expire on June 30, 2030.

Legislative History

2025 Reg. Sess., SB282; 2023 Reg. Sess., HB2346; 2022 Reg. Sess., HB4580