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Senate approves bill to allow vocational teachers to receive retirement credit |
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May 19, 2005 - In an effort to allow vocational educators to receive retirement credit for the time in which they spend working in their trade prior to employment as a teacher, a bill co-sponsored by Senator Richard T. Moore (D-Uxbridge), was approved by the Senate today. “Passing a bill that allows those teachers to purchase a portion of the service in which they were learning their trade as retirement service credit in the state teacher’s retirement system is long overdue,” said Moore. “Since we require these teachers to have a certain amount of apprenticeship and direct employment in a vocational setting, it is only fair that we allow that service to count for retirement purposes.” As a former Senate Chair of the Committee on Public Service, the Senator has continuously worked to address the concerns of these vocational educators. Last session, Governor Romney suggested amendments to the bill and sent it back to the Legislature instead of signing it. The last-minute veto by the Governor prevented the Legislature to override it in time. However, through the hard work of Senator Moore, legislative leaders and vocational education advocates, the bill was revised and passed by the Senate today. The bill now goes to the House for debate and will be returned to the Senate for final enactment. Should the governor veto the bill again after review and consideration, the Legislature will most likely take up a veto override. For more information on Senator Moore’s legislation and other issues can be obtained by checking his web site www.senatormoore.com. |
