SB283 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Teachers' Retirement System, designated non-governmental and quasi-governmental agencies and any elected local superintendent of education elected to office on or after January 1, 2017, prohibited from participation in, Secs. 16-25-1, 16-25-10.1 to 16-25-10.12, inclusive, 16-25-32, 16-25A-11, 36-29-14 am'd.

Summary

The bill would bar certain education-related associations’ staff and any local superintendent elected after 2017 from joining Alabama’s Teachers' Retirement System and Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan, while preserving some pre-2017 eligibility rules.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits officers and employees of the named associations and community action groups who are hired on or after January 1, 2017, and any elected local superintendent elected after January 1, 2017, from participating in the Teachers' Retirement System and the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan. For those who were already employed or elected before 2017, participation remains possible under current law with employer-paid costs and potential credit for prior service if allowed by board-approved resolutions. The bill also allows pre-2017 elected superintendents to join TRS within 90 days after a constitutional amendment and to purchase prior service, but it blocks post-2017 local superintendents from joining via that position; overall, the definitions and administration of TRS/PEHIP are adjusted to reflect these changes.

Who It Affects

• Staff and officers of the listed organizations (e.g., AE A, AHSAA, AASB, ACSS, Vocation Association, PTA, and related centers/agencies) hired on or after January 1, 2017, and any local superintendent elected after January 1, 2017, who would be barred from participating in the Teachers' Retirement System and Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan.
• Individuals who were employed or elected before January 1, 2017 (including pre-2017 elected superintendents and other pre-2017 participants) who would retain eligibility under transitional rules, with potential employer-paid costs and possible prior-service credit as permitted by resolutions.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits participation in the Teachers' Retirement System and Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan for officers/employees of the named associations and centers who are hired on or after January 1, 2017, and for any local superintendent elected after January 1, 2017.
• Preserves continued TRS/PEHIP eligibility for those employed or elected before 2017 under existing rules, with employer costs payable by the employer and potential credit for prior service if authorized by applicable resolutions.
• Allows pre-2017 elected superintendents to join TRS within 90 days after ratification of a constitutional amendment, to be treated as teachers, with employer costs and the option to purchase prior service credit; post-2017 local superintendents may not participate via that position.
• Amends definitions and related provisions in Sections 16-25-1, 16-25-10.x, and 36-29-14 to implement the new eligibility rules for TRS and PEHIP.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Teachers' Retirement System