AN ACT CONCERNING TEACHERS' DISABILITY AND RETIREMENT BENEFITS AND PARAEDUCATORS' SALARY AND RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS.

This bill proposes two main changes to Connecticut's education sector: it requires a study on whether retired teachers could return to full-time work without affecting their pensions and allows former teachers to apply for disability benefits if their condition began while employed, with results due by January 2027; and it establishes a $45,000 minimum annual salary for paraeducators starting July 2026. To help schools afford the salary increase, the state will provide subsidies to cover the difference between current and minimum pay rates for the fiscal year ending June 2028 and annually thereafter. Additionally, school boards must pay the employee portion of retirement contributions for paraeducators, with the state covering at least half of that cost. These provisions aim to improve retirement options for teachers and increase compensation and retirement security for paraeducators.