A key priority for GAE this legislative session is the passage of SB 105, a bill, which if passed, would increase the monthly pension many ESPs receive in retirement.

The legislation would provide for an immediate but small increase in the monthly pension amount that school bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians, and school maintenance personnel receive from the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS).  Under current law, the maximum pension benefit an individual with 30 years of service can receive is $495 a month.  The average current benefit is only $290 a month.

If passed by the Senate Retirement Committee Thursday and enacted into law, the bill would increase the maximum benefit to $510, but, more importantly, SB 105 would eliminate language in current state law that sets a ceiling on PSERS benefits.  This would allow legislators to increase benefits much more significantly in future years.  GAE's goal is to see the maximum benefit double in the next five years.

Consideration of the legislation will begin at 1 p.m. tomorrow, in Room 310 of the Coverdell Legislative Office Building.  Interested members may watch the proceedings live at: https://vimeo.com/showcase/9076396?autoplay=1

HB 995 requires each public school and local school system, for students in 11th and 12th grades, to administer a "nationally recognized multiple-aptitude battery assessment that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success  
in the military."

HB 1006 would require school systems that issue student identification cards in grades 6-12 to include on the card contact information for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and, if one exists, for the local crisis prevention hotline.

SB 379 authorizes public schools to retain volunteer "school chaplains" to "provide support, services, and programs for students."  The bill states: "Such school chaplains may be employed or accepted as volunteers ... in lieu of employing school counselors to perform the duties required of a school counselor."  Under the bill, "school chaplains" need no formal training or education and need not be a certified professional.

Next week, the legislature will be in session as follows:

Click here to download the form.  Directions for submitting are on the form.  It is not fillable, and you must print and sign.  You can email a scan or a picture of the completed form to gaeelections@gae.org.