School employee retirement changes approved

Lawmakers passed a bill April 1 that changes the bona fide separation period for school retirement plans in Nebraska.

Currently, members of the School Employees Retirement System and the Class V School Employees Retirement System must wait 180 days from the time of their separation from service before they can return to the classroom, with exceptions for intermittent work as a volunteer or substitute employee at a school district or educational service unit.

LB824, introduced by Hastings Sen. Dan Lonowski, changes the required separation of service period for retirees to 120 days with no exceptions, beginning May 1.

The measure passed 47-1 and takes effect immediately.