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• Introduced by Rep. Lorence Wenke (R) on May 17, 2007, to repeal a provision of the school employee pension law that allows an employee to “retire,” start collecting a pension, and then return to work for a school district, collecting a wage or salary while simultaneously collecting pension benefits ("double dipping"). The bill would suspend pension payments while an individual worked for a school. The bill is part of a government pension reform package comprised of House Bills 4799 to 4809.
  • Referred to the House Education Committee on May 17, 2007.
  • Substitute offered by Rep. Steve Tobocman (D) on May 25, 2007, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that creates exceptions, and so does not repeal the loophole. Through 2009, a school employee would be allowed to collect both pension benefits and a salary if he or she was employed by a school district that has a teacher shortage. Note: In many if not most cases, this is currently the reason usually given to justify what has been characterized as “double dipping”. The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on May 25, 2007.
• Passed 58 to 45 in the House on May 25, 2007, to revise a provision of the school employee pension law that allows an employee to “retire,” start collecting a pension, and then return to work for a school district, collecting a wage or salary while simultaneously collecting pension benefits. However, through 2009 a teacher would be allowed to collect both pension benefits and a salary if he or she was employed by a school district that has a teacher shortage. Note: In many if not most cases, this is currently the reason usually given to justify what has been characterized as “double dipping”.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the Senate on May 29, 2007.
  • Referred to the Senate Education Committee on May 29, 2007.
  • Amendment offered in the Senate on September 23, 2007, to clarify that a retiree who is again working for a school as or for a private contractor must ensure that the individual's post retirement health care benefits are coordinated with the those offered by the contractor, so that the latter receives first call on an any claims. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on September 23, 2007.
• Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on September 23, 2007, to revise a provision of the school employee pension law that allows an employee to “retire,” start collecting a pension, and then return to work for a school district, collecting a wage or salary while simultaneously collecting pension benefits. However, through 2009 a teacher would be allowed to collect both pension benefits and a salary if he or she was employed by a school district that has a teacher shortage. Note: In many if not most cases, this is currently the reason usually given to justify what has been characterized as “double dipping”.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on September 23, 2007.
• Received in the Senate on October 11, 2007.
  • Motion by Sen. Alan L. Cropsey (R) on October 11, 2007, that rule 3.311 be suspended to permit reconsideration of the vote by which the bill was passed. The motion passed by voice vote in the Senate on October 11, 2007.
  • Motion by Sen. Alan L. Cropsey (R) on October 11, 2007, to reconsider the vote by which the bill was passed. The motion passed by voice vote in the Senate on October 11, 2007.
  • Motion by Sen. Alan L. Cropsey (R) on October 11, 2007, that the bill be referred to the Committee on Education. The motion passed by voice vote in the Senate on October 11, 2007.
  • Referred to the Senate Education Committee on October 11, 2007.