Senator Darius Brown presented Senate Bill 52 in the Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee as legislation to ease return‑to‑work restrictions for state retirees and address staffing shortages.

Under current law, returning retirees face a separation period and an earnings cap. Brown described SB 52 as lowering the qualifying age for return‑to‑work rules from 65 to 59, reducing the required separation period from six months to three months for many retirees, and eliminating the current $50 earnings cap for retirees who return to temporary state positions. Brown said the measure is aimed at retaining experienced educators, health care workers and other state employees and to compete with neighboring states that recruit retired Delaware workers.

Nick Johnson, Director of Operations at Polytech School District and treasurer of the Delaware Association of School Administrators and School Business Officials, testified that the bill would allow districts to hire retired educators to reduce learning loss and fill difficult vacancies. Johnson provided day‑rate comparisons for substitutes and said rehiring retired staff could save districts money. A representative from the pension administration office (identified in testimony as Adam, pension administrator) explained the need to preserve the pension fund’s qualified tax status and said the bill was drafted to remain compliant with federal Internal Revenue Service rules on return‑to‑work restrictions; Joanna Adams of the pension office assisted in formulating language, the sponsor said.

Committee members asked whether unions and chief school officers endorsed the bill; the sponsor said several education officials and school‑management groups had been consulted and expressed support. Senator Richardson asked to be added as a cosponsor. The committee concluded the hearing on SB 52 without a vote; the final action recorded for the meeting was a motion to adjourn, seconded and approved unanimously.