reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.140. Notification of lay off or nonretention.

(a) If a teacher who has acquired tenure rights is to be laid off under AS 14.20.177 or is not to be retained for the following school year, the employer shall notify the teacher of the layoff or nonretention by writing, delivered before May 15, or by registered mail postmarked before May 15.
(b) If a teacher who has not acquired tenure rights is to be laid off under AS 14.20.177 or is not to be retained for the following school year the employer shall notify the teacher of the layoff or nonretention by writing delivered on or before the last day of the school term or by registered mail postmarked on or before the last day of the school term.
(c) Notwithstanding a teacher's right to continued employment under AS 39.20.500 - 39.20.550, a school district may notify a teacher of layoff or nonretention under this section for the following school year for a permissible reason.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.145. Automatic reemployment.

If notification of nonretention or layoff is not given according to AS 14.20.140, a teacher is entitled to be reemployed in the same district for the following school year on the contract terms the teacher and the employer may agree upon, or, if no terms are agreed upon, the provisions of the previous contract are continued for the following school year, subject to AS 14.20.158. Except as provided in AS 14.20.177(e), the right to automatic reemployment under this section expires if the teacher does not accept reemployment within 30 days after the date on which the teacher receives a contract of reemployment. A teacher who is on family leave under AS 39.20.500 - 39.20.550 must comply with the 30-day deadline in this section to retain the teacher's reemployment rights under this section.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.147. Transfer or absorption of attendance area and teachers.

(a) When an attendance area is transferred from a currently operating district to, or absorbed into, a new or existing school district, the teachers for the attendance area also shall be transferred unless otherwise mutually agreed by the teacher or teachers and the chief school administrator of the new district if the district employs a chief school administrator. Accumulated or earned benefits, including seniority, salary level, tenure, leave, and retirement, accompany the teacher who is transferred.
(b) [Repealed, § 48 ch 15 SLA 2014.]
(c) On the first day of service in the absorbing school district, a teacher transferred from a federal agency school shall be allowed the actual number of days of accumulated sick leave that the teacher has earned while teaching in the state. Consistent with the established district policy the absorbing district may allow credit for any other type of leave. Credit for retirement shall be allowed in accordance with AS 14.25.060.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.148. Intradistrict teacher reassignments.

When a teacher is involuntarily transferred or reassigned to a position for which the teacher is qualified, within the district, the teacher's moving expenses shall be paid unless the one-way driving distance is 20 miles or less from the teacher's present place of residence, or unless otherwise mutually agreed by the teacher and chief school administrator of the district if the district employs a chief school administrator.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.155. Effect of tenure rights.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a teacher who has acquired tenure rights has the right to employment within the district during continuous service.
(b) A teacher who has acquired tenure rights may agree to a new contract at any time. However, if the teacher fails to agree to a new contract, the provisions of the previous contract are continued subject to AS 14.20.158.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.158. Continued contract provisions.

Continuation of the provisions of a teacher's contract under AS 14.20.145 or 14.20.155 does not
(1) affect the alteration of the teacher's salary in accordance with the salary schedule prescribed by state law, or in accordance with a local salary schedule applicable to all teachers in the district and adopted by bylaws;
(2) limit the right of the employer to assign the teacher to any teaching, administrative, or counseling position for which the teacher is qualified; or
(3) limit the right of the employer to assign the teacher, as is reasonably necessary, to any school in the district.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.160. Loss of tenure rights.

Tenure rights are lost when the teacher's employment in the district is interrupted or terminated. However, a teacher on layoff status does not lose tenure rights during the period of layoff except as provided under AS 14.20.177.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.165. Restoration of tenure rights.

A teacher who held tenure rights and who was retired due to disability under AS 14.25.130, but whose disability (1) has been removed, and the removal of that disability is certified by a competent physician following a physical or mental examination, or (2) has been compensated for by rehabilitation or other appropriate restorative education or training, and that rehabilitation or restoration to health has been certified by the division of vocational rehabilitation of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, shall be restored to full tenure rights in the district from which the teacher was retired, at such time as an opening for which the teacher is qualified becomes available.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.170. Dismissal.

(a) A teacher, including a teacher who has acquired tenure rights, may be dismissed at any time only for the following causes:
(1) incompetency, which is defined as the inability or the unintentional or intentional failure to perform the teacher's customary teaching duties in a satisfactory manner;
(2) immorality, which is defined as the commission of an act that, under the laws of the state, constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude; or
(3) substantial noncompliance with the school laws of the state, the regulations or bylaws of the department, the bylaws of the district, or the written rules of the superintendent.
(b) A teacher may be suspended temporarily with regular compensation during a period of investigation to determine whether or not cause exists for the issuance of a notification of dismissal according to AS 14.20.180.
(c) A teacher who is dismissed under this section is not entitled to a plan of improvement under AS 14.20.149.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.175. Nonretention.

(a) A teacher who has not acquired tenure rights is subject to nonretention for the school year following the expiration of the teacher's contract for any cause that the employer determines to be adequate. However, at the teacher's request, the teacher is entitled to a written statement of the cause for nonretention. The boards of city and borough school districts and regional educational attendance areas shall provide by regulation or bylaw a procedure under which a nonretained teacher may request and receive an informal hearing by the board.
(b) A teacher who has acquired tenure rights is subject to nonretention for the following school year only for the following causes:
(1) the school district demonstrates that
(A) the district has fully complied with the requirements of AS 14.20.149 with respect to the tenured teacher;
(B) the teacher's performance, after completion of the plan of improvement, failed to meet the performance objectives set out in the plan; and
(C) the evaluation of the teacher established that the teacher does not meet the district performance standards;
(2) immorality, which is defined as the commission of an act that, under the laws of the state, constitutes a crime involving moral turpitude; or
(3) substantial noncompliance with the school laws of the state, the regulations or bylaws of the department, the bylaws of the district, or the written rules of the superintendent.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 2. Employment and Tenure. › Sec. 14.20.215. Definitions.

In AS 14.20.010 - 14.20.215,
(1) “continuous employment” means employment that is without interruption except for temporary absences approved by the employer or its designee, or except for the interval between consecutive school terms if the teacher is employed only for the months of the school term;
(2) “dismissal” means termination by the employer of the contract services of the teacher during the time a teacher's contract is in force, and termination of the right to the balance of the compensation due the teacher under the contract;
(3) “district performance standards” means evaluation criteria for the district's teachers and administrators that are adopted by a school district under AS 14.20.149 and that are based on the professional performance standards adopted by the department;
(4) “employer” means the school board or superintendent that appoints the teacher;
(5) “nonretention” means the election by an employer not to reemploy a teacher for the school year or school term immediately following the expiration of the teacher's current contract;
(6) “school year” includes “school term” if the teacher is employed only for the period of the school term;
(7) “teacher” means an individual who, for compensation, has primary responsibility to plan, instruct, and evaluate learning of elementary or secondary school students in the classroom or an equivalent setting and also includes individuals holding other positions as determined by the department by regulation.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 3. Salary Scales. › Sec. 14.20.220. School experience for salary scales.

(a) [Repealed, § 52 ch 6 SLA 1984.]
(b) [Repealed, § 52 ch 6 SLA 1984.]
(c) [Repealed, § 52 ch 6 SLA 1984.]
(d) [Repealed, § 35 ch 46 SLA 1970.]
(e) For teachers holding bachelors' degrees, not more than six years of school experience outside the state may be substituted for a like period of school experience in the state when a teacher's position on the salary scale is established, and, for teachers holding masters' degrees, not more than eight years of school experience outside the state may be substituted for a like period of school experience in the state when a teacher's position on the salary scale is established.
(f) [Repealed, § 23 ch 37 SLA 1986.]
(g) In this section, “school experience” means a full-time elementary or secondary teacher in a public or nonpublic school as defined in AS 14.25.220.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 4. Sabbatical Leave. › Sec. 14.20.300. Selection of teachers.

(a) The governing body of the school district has the responsibility for selection of the teachers to be granted sabbatical leave.
(b) In selecting teachers for sabbatical leave, the governing body shall consider the benefit that the school district will derive from the proposed plan of the teacher for educational purposes, the field of study of the teacher, the contributions of the teacher to education in the state, and the seniority of the teacher.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 4. Sabbatical Leave. › Sec. 14.20.310. Number of teachers on sabbatical leave; compensation.

(a) The number of teachers eligible for sabbatical leave that may be allowed under AS 14.20.280 - 14.20.350 is as follows:
(1) not more than one-half of one percent of the total number of teachers from all borough and city school districts and regional educational attendance areas may be on state-supported sabbatical leave in any year;
(2) any number of teachers may be on sabbatical leave at school district or personal expense.
(b) A teacher on state-supported sabbatical leave is entitled to one-half of base salary to be paid by the department.
(c) A teacher on sabbatical leave at district expense is entitled to an amount of salary to be determined by the school board.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 4. Sabbatical Leave. › Sec. 14.20.320. Responsibility of teacher.

Upon the return of a teacher to the teaching position, the teacher shall make a report to the governing body concerning educational accomplishments. A teacher who does not serve for at least a full year after returning shall refund to the school board money paid to the teacher under AS 14.20.310 unless the failure to serve a full year after return is attributable to sickness, injury, or death.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 4. Sabbatical Leave. › Sec. 14.20.330. Position, tenure, and retirement.

(a) Unless it is otherwise agreed, a teacher returning from sabbatical leave shall return to the position occupied by that teacher when the sabbatical leave began.
(b) A sabbatical leave is not an interruption of the continuous service necessary to attain or retain tenure under AS 14.20.150, 14.20.155, or 14.20.160. However, the time spent on sabbatical leave may not be counted in determining when a teacher has sufficient service to enable the teacher to acquire tenure rights.
(c) A sabbatical leave is not a break in service for retirement purposes. Payment into the retirement fund shall be made on the basis of full salary.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 4. Sabbatical Leave. › Sec. 14.20.345. Leave of absence without pay.

(a) A teacher may be granted a leave of absence without pay for the purposes which may be approved by the governing body of the district if
(1) the teacher's application is approved by the governing body of the district; and
(2) the teacher agrees to return to employment in a public school not later than the beginning of the school year following termination of the period for which the leave of absence was granted.
(b) A leave of absence is not an interruption of the continuous service necessary to attain or retain retirement or tenure rights under AS 14.20.150, 14.20.155, or 14.20.160. However, the time spent on leave of absence may not be counted in determining when a teacher has sufficient service to enable the teacher to acquire retirement or tenure rights.
(c) The leave of absence is not a break in service for retirement purposes.
(d) The governing body of the district may agree to continue the teacher's retirement contributions if the teacher agrees to pay the percent required under AS 14.25.050 of the salary the teacher would have received during the leave of absence and reimburse the district for the district's required retirement contribution. Each year of leave of absence then would count as a year of retirement service.
(e) The governing body of the district may advance the teacher on the district salary schedule when the teacher returns to employment if the governing body determines that the teacher's leave of absence was educationally or professionally beneficial to the teacher or the district.
(f) A teacher may make contributions to the retirement fund for each year or portion of a year of leave of absence taken. The contribution shall include the required percent of the salary the teacher would have received had the leave of absence not been taken, plus the required employer and state contributions that would have been made. Compound interest at the rate prescribed by regulation shall be added as computed from the beginning date of the leave of absence to the date the teacher pays the contribution.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 5. Professional Teaching Practices Act. › Sec. 14.20.390. Appointment and qualifications.

The commission consists of nine members appointed by the governor and confirmed by a majority of the members of the legislature in joint session. Each member, in addition to having been actively engaged in the teaching profession for at least five years immediately preceding appointment, shall be a citizen of the United States and a resident of the state.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 5. Professional Teaching Practices Act. › Sec. 14.20.400. Composition of the commission.

The commission consists of the following members:
(1) five classroom teachers;
(2) one principal;
(3) one superintendent;
(4) one representative of the office of the commissioner;
(5) one representative of an Alaska institution of higher learning.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 5. Professional Teaching Practices Act. › Sec. 14.20.410. Selection of members.

(a) Members of the commission shall be selected as follows:
(1) the five classroom teachers from lists of names submitted by recognized Alaska teachers' organizations, each list not to exceed 12 names; however, in lieu of one of the five, one classroom teacher may be selected from a list of not more than four names signed and submitted by not less than 25 teachers who have no affiliation with any organization qualified to submit nomination lists, with the limitation that no teacher may sign more than one list in any year;
(2) the principal from a list of three names submitted by the Alaska Principals Association;
(3) the superintendent from a list of three names submitted by the Superintendents Advisory Commission;
(4) the representative of the office of the commissioner from a list of three names submitted by the commissioner;
(5) the representative of an Alaska institution of higher learning from lists of names submitted by Alaska institutions of higher learning, each list not to exceed three names.
(b) The lists shall be submitted to the commissioner who shall submit them as a group to the governor's office.
(c) At least 30 days before a position on the commission is due to become vacant, the chairman shall cause notice of the impending vacancy to be published and to be conveyed to each organized group eligible to submit a list of nominees.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 5. Professional Teaching Practices Act. › Sec. 14.20.420. Term of office.

(a) The term of office for each member of the commission is three years and, except as provided in AS 39.05.080(4), each member serves until a successor is appointed.
(b) Vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the governor and, except as provided in AS 39.05.080(4), an appointment to fill a vacancy is for the unexpired term.
(c) An individual may not serve more than a total of two 3-year terms.
(d) The commission shall select a chairman from among its members.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 5. Professional Teaching Practices Act. › Sec. 14.20.440. Reimbursement.

Members of the commission shall receive per diem according to law and are to be granted administrative leave with full pay by their employer for time spent in the performance of official duties under AS 14.20.370 - 14.20.510. If a member is required to spend more than 15 days in a fiscal year in the performance of official duties under AS 14.20.370 - 14.20.510, the state shall reimburse the employer for costs incurred after the 15th day.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 5. Professional Teaching Practices Act. › Sec. 14.20.450. Responsibilities of commission.

The commission shall have the initial responsibility of developing, through the teaching profession, criteria of professional practices in areas including
(1) ethical and professional performance;
(2) preparation for and continuance in professional services; and
(3) contractual obligations.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 5. Professional Teaching Practices Act. › Sec. 14.20.460. Duties of commission.

The commission shall
(1) establish procedures, and adopt regulations to implement the purposes of AS 14.20.370 - 14.20.510;
(2) conduct investigations and hearings on alleged violations of ethical or professional teaching performance, contractual obligations, and professional teaching misconduct;
(3) review the regulations of the department as they relate to teacher certification and recommend necessary changes;
(4) review the decisions of the department regarding the issuance or denial of certificates and in its discretion recommend reversal of decisions.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 5. Professional Teaching Practices Act. › Sec. 14.20.470. Powers of commission.

(a) The commission may
(1) study proposals developed by regular committees of any existing professional organization whose members are within the teaching profession;
(2) subpoena witnesses, place them under oath, and maintain written records;
(3) warn or reprimand members of the teaching profession, if in the judgment of the commission such action is warranted;
(4) suspend or revoke the certificate of a member of the teaching profession for one of the reasons set out in AS 14.20.030 except that in the case of an administrator, the commissioner must concur;
(5) make any recommendation to the board or to school boards that will promote an improvement in the teaching profession;
(6) request assistance through any of the investigative processes of any existing professional teaching organizations when analyzing charges of breach of ethical or professional teaching practices;
(7) appoint an executive secretary, delegate those ministerial functions to the executive secretary as the commission may decide and set the executive secretary's compensation with a starting salary not exceeding range 26, step B of the pay plan for state employees in AS 39.27.011(a).
(b) A decision issued by the commission with the approval of the commissioner under (a)(4) of this section is final.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 6. Interstate Agreement on Qualification of Educational Personnel. › Sec. 14.20.620. Entry into agreement.

The interstate Agreement on Qualification of Educational Personnel is enacted into law and entered into in behalf of the State of Alaska with all other states and jurisdictions legally joining in it in a form substantially as contained in AS 14.20.630.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 6. Interstate Agreement on Qualification of Educational Personnel. › Sec. 14.20.650. Filing and publishing of contracts.

True copies of all contracts made on behalf of this state under the agreement shall be kept on file in the office of the commissioner and in the office of the lieutenant governor. The department shall publish all the contracts in convenient form.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 20. Teachers and School Personnel › Article 7. Required Training. › Sec. 14.20.680. Required alcohol and drug related disabilities training.

(a) A school district or regional educational attendance area shall train each teacher, administrator, counselor, and specialist on the needs of individual students who have alcohol or drug related disabilities. The training must utilize the best available educational technology and include an overview of medical and psychological characteristics associated with alcohol or drug related disabilities, family issues, and the specific educational needs of students with alcohol or drug related disabilities.
(b) A school district or regional educational attendance area shall provide the training required under (a) of this section on a schedule adopted by the governing body of a school district or regional educational attendance area.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 1. Administration of the Teachers' Retirement System. › Sec. 14.25.004. Powers and duties of the administrator.

(a) The administrator shall
(1) establish and maintain an adequate system of accounts;
(2) transmit the funds deposited in the system to the retirement fund established and maintained by the Alaska Retirement Management Board;
(3) approve or disapprove claims for retirement benefits;
(4) make payments for the various purposes specified;
(5) submit periodic reports or statements of account that are needed;
(6) issue a statement of account to an employee not less than once each year showing the amount of the employee's contributions to the applicable plan in the system;
(7) formulate and recommend to the commissioner of administration regulations to govern the operation of the system;
(8) as soon as possible after the close of each fiscal year, and not later than six months after the close of each fiscal year, send to the governor and the legislature an annual statement on the operations of each of the plans in the system containing
(A) a balance sheet;
(B) a statement of income and expenditures for the previous fiscal year;
(C) a report on valuation of trust fund assets;
(D) a summary of assets held in the trust fund listed by the categories of investment, as provided by the Alaska Retirement Management Board;
(E) other statistical financial data that are necessary for proper understanding of the financial condition of the system as a whole and each plan in the system and the result of its operations;
(9) engage an independent certified public accountant to conduct an annual audit of each plan's accounts and the annual report of the system's financial condition and activity;
(10) report to the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee concerning the condition and administration of each plan and distribute the report to the members of each plan in the system;
(11) publish an information handbook for each plan in the system at intervals that the administrator considers appropriate;
(12) meet at least annually with the board to review the condition and management of the retirement systems and to review significant changes to policies, regulations, or benefits; and
(13) do whatever else may be necessary to carry out the purposes of each plan in the system.
(b) The administrator is authorized to charge fees necessary to members' accounts to cover the ongoing cost of operating each plan in the system.
(c) The administrator is authorized to contract with public and private entities to provide record keeping, benefits payments, and other functions necessary for the administration of each plan in the system.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 1. Administration of the Teachers' Retirement System. › Sec. 14.25.005. Regulations.

(a) Regulations adopted by the commissioner of administration under this chapter relate to the internal management of a state agency, and the adoption of the regulations is not subject to AS 44.62 (Administrative Procedure Act).
(b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a regulation adopted under this chapter shall be published in the Alaska Administrative Register and Code for informational purposes.
(c) Each regulation adopted under this chapter must conform to the style and format requirements of the drafting manual for administrative regulations that is published under AS 44.62.050.
(d) At least 30 days before the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation under this chapter, the commissioner of administration shall provide notice of the action that is being considered. The notice shall be
(1) posted in public buildings throughout the state;
(2) published in one or more newspapers of general circulation in each judicial district of the state;
(3) mailed to each person or group that has filed a request for notice of proposed action with the commissioner of administration; and
(4) furnished to each member of the legislature and to the Legislative Affairs Agency.
(e) Failure to mail notice to a person as required under (d)(3) of this section does not invalidate an action taken by the commissioner of administration.
(f) The commissioner of administration may hold a hearing on a proposed regulation.
(g) A regulation adopted under this chapter takes effect 30 days after adoption by the commissioner of administration.
(h) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a regulation may be adopted, amended, or repealed, effective immediately, as an emergency regulation by the commissioner of administration. For an emergency regulation to be effective, the commissioner must find that the adoption, amendment, or repeal of the regulation is necessary for the immediate preservation of the orderly operation of the system. The commissioner shall, within 10 days after adoption of an emergency regulation, give notice of the adoption under (d) of this section.
(i) In this section, “regulation” has the meaning given in AS 44.62.640(a).
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 1. Administration of the Teachers' Retirement System. › Sec. 14.25.006. Appeals.

An employer, member, annuitant, or beneficiary may appeal a decision made by the administrator to the office of administrative hearings established under AS 44.64. An aggrieved party may appeal a final decision to the superior court.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 1. Administration of the Teachers' Retirement System. › Sec. 14.25.008. Definitions.

In AS 14.25.001 - 14.25.008,
(1) “plan” means a retirement plan established in AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 or the retirement plan established in AS 14.25.310 - 14.25.590;
(2) “system” means all retirement plans established under the teachers' retirement system.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.009. Applicability of AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220.

The provisions of AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 apply only to members first hired before July 1, 2006.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.010. Retirement plan established; federal qualification requirements.

(a) A joint-contributory retirement plan for teachers of the state is created.
(b) The retirement plan established by AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 is intended to qualify under 26 U.S.C. 401(a) and 414(d) (Internal Revenue Code) as a qualified retirement plan established and maintained by the state for its employees, for the employees of school districts and regional educational attendance areas in the state, and for the employees of other employers whose participation is authorized by AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 and who participate in this plan.
(c) An amendment to AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 does not provide a person with a vested right to a benefit if the Internal Revenue Service determines that the amendment will result in disqualification of the plan under the Internal Revenue Code.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.012. Purpose and effective date.

(a) [Repealed, § 132 ch 9 FSSLA 2005.]
(b) The plan created in AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 became effective as of July 1, 1955, at which time contributions by the participating employers and members began.
(c) Employees first hired after June 30, 2006, are not eligible to participate in the plan established in AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.043. Reemployment of retired members.

(a) Except as provided in (f) of this section, if a retired member again becomes an active member, benefit payments may not be made during the period of reemployment. During the period of reemployment, deductions from the member's salary will be made in accordance with AS 14.25.050.
(b) [Repealed, § 12 ch 57 SLA 2001 as amended by § 6 ch 15 SLA 2003 and § 10 ch 50 SLA 2005.]
(c) Except as provided in (f) of this section, upon subsequent retirement, the retired member is entitled to receive an additional benefit based on the credited service and the average base salary during the period of reemployment in accordance with AS 14.25.110. If the initial benefit payments to which the retired member is eligible have been actuarially reduced because the member retired early under AS 14.25.110(b), the member shall also receive an incremental benefit based on the amount of the actuarial reduction imposed by AS 14.25.110(j) on the first benefit and the length of time that the employee was reemployed and not receiving retirement benefits. The amount of the incremental benefit is equal to the difference between the normal retirement benefit to which the member would have been entitled had the member taken a normal retirement and the early retirement benefit that the member has been receiving based on the member's initial period of employment multiplied by the total number of months that the member did not receive retirement benefits because of reemployment and that amount actuarially adjusted to be paid over the expected lifetime of the member.
(d) A member who retired under AS 14.25.110(a) and participated in a retirement incentive program under ch. 26, SLA 1986; ch. 89, SLA 1989; ch. 65, SLA 1996; ch. 4, FSSLA 1996; or ch. 92, SLA 1997, who is subsequently reemployed as a commissioner may become an active member without losing the incentive credit provided under the applicable retirement incentive plan and is not subject to any related reemployment indebtedness.
(e) [Repealed, § 6 ch 15 SLA 2003 as amended by § 10 ch 50 SLA 2005.]
(f) If a member who retired under AS 14.25.110(a) is reemployed by a school district under AS 14.20.136,
(1) the member does not become an active member;
(2) the member shall continue to receive retirement benefits from the plan as though the member were not reemployed by the school district;
(3) deductions from the member's salary may not be made under AS 14.25.050; and
(4) the member may not receive credited service in the plan during the period of reemployment.
(g) Notwithstanding (f) of this section, a member who is retired under AS 14.25.110(a) and reemployed by a school district under AS 14.20.136 is eligible to receive the group health plan coverage provided to active members employed by that school district.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.047. Participation by Special Education Service Agency employees.

An employee of the Special Education Service Agency may participate in the plan under AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 if
(1) the employee possesses or is eligible to possess a teacher certificate under AS 14.20.020; and
(2) the employee pays all retroactive contributions required to be made under AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.048. Teachers of Alaska Native language and culture.

(a) Except as provided in (d) of this section, an employee employed by a participating employer on or after June 5, 1988, shall participate in the plan under AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 if the employee
(1) teaches Alaska Native language or culture in a permanent full-time or permanent part-time position;
(2) learned about the subject to be taught by living in the culture or using the language in daily life; and
(3) is qualified to teach the subject to elementary or secondary students as required by regulations adopted by the Department of Education and Early Development.
(b) An employee or former employee may receive credit for retroactive membership service for employment before June 5, 1988 if the employee or former employee met the requirements listed in (a) of this section at the time of the employment. To receive credit for the retroactive membership service, the employee or former employee shall claim the service and pay the retroactive contributions required under AS 14.25.061. However, an employee or former employee may not receive retroactive credit under this subsection if the employee received credited service under AS 39.35 for the employment.
(c) An employee or former employee who received credit under AS 39.35 for service that qualifies under (a) of this section may elect to transfer those periods of employment to the plan. To receive credit for retroactive membership service under this subsection, the employee or former employee shall claim the service and pay the retroactive contributions required under AS 14.25.061.
(d) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, an employee employed as a teacher of Alaska Native language and culture and participating in the Public Employees' Retirement System under AS 39.35 on the day before June 5, 1988 shall remain a member under AS 39.35 unless the employee elects to become a member of the Teachers' Retirement System on or before September 3, 1988.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.050. Contributions by members.

(a) Except as provided in (c) of this section, beginning January 1, 1991, each member shall contribute to the plan an amount equal to 8.65 percent of the member's base salary accrued from July 1 to the following June 30. The employer shall deduct the contribution from the member's salary at the end of each payroll period, and the contribution shall be credited by the plan to the member contribution account. The contributions shall be deducted from employee compensation before the computation of applicable federal taxes and shall be treated as employer contributions under 26 U.S.C. 414(h)(2). A member may not have the option of making the payroll deduction directly in cash instead of having the contribution picked up by the employer.
(b) Each teacher is entitled to receive credit for unrefunded contributions paid into the retirement fund of 1945.
(c) The employer of a teacher who, because of a physical injury caused by an on-the-job assault, is on unpaid leave of absence or is receiving benefits under AS 23.30 shall pay the teacher's contributions required by this section while the teacher is on unpaid leave or receiving the workers' compensation benefits.
(d) A teacher who is placed on leave of absence without pay because the teacher is unable to work due to an on-the-job injury or occupational illness for which the teacher is receiving benefits under AS 23.30 and for which the teacher is not entitled to credited service under AS 14.25.040(e) may elect to receive credited service for the time on leave of absence without pay status. When a teacher elects to receive credited service under this subsection, an indebtedness is established. The amount of the indebtedness is equal to the contributions that the teacher would have made if the teacher had been working. Interest as prescribed by regulation accrues on the indebtedness beginning on the date that the teacher returns to work or terminates employment. If there is an outstanding indebtedness at the time the teacher is appointed to retirement, benefits shall be actuarially adjusted.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.055. Supplemental contributions by teachers.

If a teacher first joined the plan before July 1, 1982, and is married or has a minor child and wishes to make a spouse or minor child eligible for a spouse's pension or a survivor's allowance, the teacher may elect to make a supplemental contribution of an additional one percent of the teacher's base salary within 90 days of the teacher's entry into participation in the plan, or within 90 days of marriage, or within 90 days of the birth or adoption of a child dependent upon the teacher. Once an election is made under this section, supplemental contributions must be made whenever contributions are required under AS 14.25.050 unless the teacher executes a written waiver with the administrator. The execution of a waiver relinquishes all rights and benefits previously accrued under AS 14.25.162 and 14.25.164.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.061. Retroactive indebtedness.

(a) A member who was not subject to the provisions of AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220, but who becomes subject to them because of a legislative change, may elect to receive credit for retroactive membership service by contributing to the plan an amount equal to the contributions the member would have made had the member been subject to the provisions of AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220 for those years of retroactive service after June 30, 1955. Retroactive contributions are not required for retroactive membership service before July 1, 1955. Compound interest at the rate prescribed by regulation shall be added to the retroactive indebtedness from July 1, 1966, or the time of first becoming eligible under AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220, whichever is later, to the date of payment or the date of retirement, whichever occurs first.
(b) If retroactive indebtedness contributions have been made for retroactive service before July 1, 1955, the member is entitled to a refund of those retroactive membership indebtedness contributions.
(c) [Repealed, § 133 ch 9 FSSLA 2005.]
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.063. Payment of indebtedness.

(a) In AS 14.25.009 - 14.25.220, a member does not have to be reemployed under this plan in order to make indebtedness payments. However, except as provided in (d) of this section, a former member must be reemployed under this plan in order to make indebtedness payments. Payments apply first to accrued interest and then to principal.
(b) Any outstanding indebtedness that exists at the time a member is appointed to retirement will necessitate an actuarial adjustment to the benefits payable based on the member's corresponding service.
(c) If, as a result of service credit claimed for which there is a corresponding indebtedness existing at retirement, the member's retirement benefit is actuarially reduced and the resulting benefit is less than it would have been if the service credit had not been claimed, the retirement benefit shall be equal to the amount it would have been had the service credit never been claimed.
(d) A former member who received a total refund of the member's contribution account balance because of a levy under AS 09.38.065 or a federal tax levy may make indebtedness payments under this section.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.065. Transmittal of contributions; claims against funds of an employer.

(a) All contributions deducted in accordance with AS 14.25.050 and 14.25.055 shall be transmitted to the plan for deposit in the retirement fund no later than 15 days following the close of the payroll period, with the final contributions due for any school year transmitted no later than July 15.
(b) The contributions of employers under AS 14.25.070 must be transmitted to the plan for deposit in the retirement fund and the Alaska retiree health care trust at the close of each pay period. If the contributions are not submitted within the prescribed time limit, interest must be assessed on the outstanding contributions at one and one-half times the most recent actuarially determined rate of earnings for the plan from the date that contributions were originally due. Amounts due from an employer and interest as prescribed in this section may be claimed by the administrator from any agency of the state or political subdivision that has in its possession funds of the employer or that is authorized to disburse funds to the employer that are not restricted by statute or appropriation to a specific purpose. The amount claimed shall be certified by the administrator as sufficient to pay the contributions and interest due from the employer. The amount claimed shall be submitted to the administrator for deposit in the retirement fund and the Alaska retiree health care trust.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.085. Additional state contributions.

In addition to the contributions that the state is required to make under AS 14.25.070 as an employer, the state shall contribute to the plan each July 1 or, if funds are not available on July 1, as soon after July 1 as funds become available, an amount for the ensuing fiscal year that, when combined with the total employer contributions that the administrator estimates will be allocated under AS 14.25.070(c), is sufficient to pay the plan's past service liability at the contribution rate adopted by the board under AS 37.10.220 for that fiscal year.
2023 Alaska Statutes › Title 14. Education, Libraries, and Museums › Chapter 25. Teachers' Retirement › Article 2. Teachers' Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. › Sec. 14.25.087. Contributions for medical benefits.

Contributions made by an employer under AS 14.25.070 and 14.25.085 shall be separately computed for benefits provided by AS 14.25.168 and shall be deposited in the Alaska retiree health care trust established under AS 39.30.097(a).