Our efforts on your behalf have now led to the introduction of “enhanced-year service credit” legislation in both the House and Senate:

• Introduced by Representative Jesse Stairs and co-sponsored by more than 100 other members of the House.

• The bill also contains provisions regarding eligible annuitants; creditable non-school service; liberalization of school district hiring retirees as coaches without penalty to their annuity, an increase in premium assistance for medical insurance for retirees and a “30 and out” provision.

• Introduced by Senator James Rhoades.

*PLEASE NOTE, BOTH OF THESE BILLS DIFFER FROM THE ORIGINAL SENATE BILL OF THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION IN THAT THEY PROVIDE THE ENHANCED-YEAR SERVICE CREDIT TO
*ALL* FULL-TIME (MORE THAN 200 DAYS) SCHOOL EMPLOYEES.  
THIS MEANS, YOU’LL WANT TO ENCOURAGE ELIGIBLE CLERICAL, CUSTODIAL, ETC., EMPLOYEES TO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVES SUPPORTING THE BILLS.

You should review the text of these and all other bills of interest at:

www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/billroom.htm

You can find the addresses, fax numbers and phone numbers of both the local office and state office of your legislators in your Legislative Directory, from the associations, or your local newspaper.

• Make sure you do some preparation before picking up the phone to call your legislator’s local or state office. List the points you wish to make during your conversation. Know the number of the appropriate bill, its sponsor(s), and the rationale for your support. Find out when and where the next action is scheduled on the bill. If it is in committee, find out if the legislator you are speaking to is a member of that committee. If the legislator is not available, ask to speak to the legislative aide and respectfully request that your thoughts be communicated to the legislator in writing.

• Try to determine the position held by the legislator on the bill/issue. If the legislator’s position is favorable, express your appreciation and let the legislator know you will communicate their support for the bill/issue to other constituents and your state association. If undecided, ask the legislator what information would help them make a more informed decision. Let them know your state association representatives would be happy to provide any information they might need and that we would be willing to meet with them at their convenience.

1.      Letters to legislators should be addressed as follows:

The Honorable (full name)
Member of the House of Representatives (or Senate)
State Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Representative or Senator (last name):

2.      Introduce yourself. Tell them you are a principal/administrator in (school district). Make sure you are corresponding on your school or district stationery.

3.      Be specific. Clearly identify the particular legislation you are writing about and the particular provision of the bill if it covers more than one issue. Include the printer’s number.

4.      State your case. Be as concise as possible. Discuss what this legislation means to your profession, the children you serve and the community. If possible, cite an example of something that happened in the legislator’s own district that would be rectified with this bill. For example, discuss a recent search for a principal and the few candidates that applied, perhaps the search had to be reopened or how this is indicative of the shortage of administrators, etc. “Enhanced-year service credit” would help to encourage more quality teachers to consider administrative service. Additionally, you may want to consider some of the following points:

• Administrators are currently facing an explosion in their roles and responsibilities that is deterring candidates.

• Research clearly indicates that good schools have good principals.

• In Pennsylvania, teachers average 187 work days, administrators typically work from 220 to 245 days annually.

• Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) gives 1.0 year of credit for 180 days worked – no more.

• The “enhanced-year service credit” proposed in (HB 8 or SB 687) does not enable current administrators to leave service early. The capped enhancement applies to an increased annuity at the time the employee has reached whatever the law requires as the appropriate age or years of service for retirement.

• This legislation is fair enhancement for all full-year employees of school districts and does not just provide advantage to one class of employee.

• The three-year maximum enhancement of a full-year employer annuity benefit would not impose a financial strain on the PSERS funds.

5.      Ask for a response. Whenever appropriate, include a question in your letter that will elicit an answer. Ask the legislator for his or her view on the matter of its impact on your profession.

6.     Remember to say “Thank You.”

Other Bills of Interest            

Þ    “30 and Out” (in addition to HB 8)

• House Bill 100

• Senate Bill 210

You may want to write or call your legislator in support of these bills as well. The full text of these proposals can also be found at the “billroom” web site.  

• HB 223 -- “An increased multiplier in the retirement formula.”

HB 223 proposes an increase (from .02) in the retirement formula multiplier for SERS (state system employees including legislators) only. As currently written, this proposed increase does not apply to PSERS members.

Please also write and/or call your legislator indicating that an increase in the multiplier should also apply to PSERS members.