Lynn Tucker, Legislative Chair, reports to
the 2017 TRTA Ra.
Beverly Berard recently joined the 2017 - 2018 TRTA Legislative Committee.
Jerry Winters, Lobbyist
Capitol Hill Review, 5-10-17
Legislation
Tennessee Retired Teachers' Association
Tell Congress to protect retirement security.
Educators converged on Capitol Hill on April 27, 2017 for National Retirement Security Advocacy Day. The day included lobbying in Washington by the NEA Board of Directors and NEA-Retired Executive Council, as well as back-home activities, emails, and phone calls by NEA members and partners. Tell Congress to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).
Click HerE for a printable version, with an explanation, of legislation that passed in 2017.
Click HERE for a printable version of the FY18 Budget.
TEA-backed legislation supporting community schools was moved to the first calendar of 2018, but had excellent testimony in the House prior to being delayed. Similarly, a TEA-backed bill protecting teacher pay stalled in the Senate, despite advancing out of House subcommittee. That said, members of both committees acknowledged the merits of both bills, and there will be plenty of work done in the offseason to bring both back next year.
TRTA LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM
1. Continue to keep the Defined Benefit Program of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System funded on an actuarially sound basis.
* Assure that the benefits of the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System accrue only to retirees and beneficiaries.
* Assure that the state's contribution to the Legacy Plan of Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System is never less
than the actuarial recommendation.
2. Monitor to assure that the tuition discount for dependents of retired teachers passed in 2014 is not discontinued.
3. Work toward tax fairness with adequate funding necessary to address the growing needs of public education and retirees.
4. Request that the 110th Legislature
* Improve the economic benefits of retired teachers.
* Increase the state contribution level to the State Medicare Supplement (Medigap) to improve benefits.
5. Inclusion of the TEA Legislative Program
TEA's 2018 BUDGET PRIORITIES
1. SALARY INCREASE FOR ALL- Every teacher needs to receive a 5% pay raise, plus full benefits funding.
- $1.25 million to teacher compensation
- Full TCRS funding to keep it strongest in the nation
- Health benefits increase ($40 million)
- 5% increase in State Minimum Salary Schedule
2. TESTING AND EVALUATION - Enough is enough. It's time to move to a fair state assessment.
- End punishments tied to TVAAS
- Enforce test transparency
- Repeal A - F school grades
- Pass moratorium on school takeovers
- Make Kindergarten and Pre-K portfolio system a pilot year
3. DEFEAT PRIVATIZATION - Dangerous privatization schemes will be back again this year. TEA's goals include:
- Stop private school voucher bills
- Repeal charter school operators' access to student data
- Pass reverse parent trigger law to empower parents to take their school back from ASD
- Sunset IEA special ed voucher program
- Eliminate SBE powers to authorize charters
- Sunset the ASD
4. INCREASE STATE FUNDING - When a school has the necessary funding to properly implement RTI, it is a valuable program for students. The problem is so few districts have the resources to fully fund RTI. TEA is proposing adding RTI to the BEP formula to
increase funding for this important program.
5. EMPOWER TEACHERS - Collaborative conferencing gives teachers a seat at the table in defining their working conditions. TEA lawsuits
have proven the power of the MOU and its significance in protecting teachers' rights. It's time to strengthen the law and add good-faith
language.
6. STRENGTHEN PROFESSION - TEA is always looking for ways to improve our profession. We will be proposing:
- Creating an independent professional standards board of educators to make licensing decisions
- Strengthening local grievance power to limit State Board interference
- Streamline the discipline process to resolve issues faster
Tennessee Education Association Public School Advocate Legislative Report, December 29, 2017,
To Track Bills That Interest You
2. Go to legislation; click on my bill and create an account.
3. Enter the bill numbers you wish to track.
Tuition Discount Form for Dependents of Retired Teachers
Click HERE for Tuition Discount Form and Information.