Law to let teachers draw pension, teach again

LEWISTON – Retiring state workers and public school teachers soon will be able to return to their jobs while drawing a full pension.

A state law that takes effect Sept. 21 was intended to give retired state workers a way to supplement their pensions.

“One of the issues for a lot of retirees today is to make it on their retirement income,” said Rep. Zachary Matthews, D-Winslow, who sponsored the bill at the request of the Maine State Employees Association. Backers suggest that the law may help lure retired teachers back into the classroom, staving off the state’s growing teacher shortage. They reasoned that more teachers would go back to work if they didn’t risk losing their pensions.