Senate Committee Unanimously Approves Bill to Expand PERA Benefits

HB26-1146 would allow employees at approved facility schools to participate in the Public Employees’ Retirement Association

DENVER, CO – Legislation sponsored by Senators Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, and Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, to expand Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) benefits to facility school employees passed the Senate Finance Committee today. 

“Educators at facility schools are multi-talented professionals who adapt to challenging situations to serve some of our state’s most vulnerable students,” Kolker said. “Those students deserve consistent and engaged teachers, and the benefits offered by this bill would create an environment where teachers and students alike can thrive.”

“Facility schools and the faculty who run them offer indispensable services to Colorado students, but they sometimes struggle to offer competitive benefits, resulting in high turnover rates,” Kipp said. “This legislation would put benefits offered by facility schools on par with other school districts to keep educators healthy and engaged.”

HB26-1146 would expand PERA benefits to educators and staff at facility schools, which serve students with behavioral or special education needs. These state-approved facilities specialize in high-needs academic and therapeutic services for their students and are often located outside of a traditional school setting. 

This bill aims to strengthen educator recruitment, create parity in educator retirement benefits and improve employee retention. To accomplish this, HB26-1146 would expand the definition of “employer” to include facility schools. Facility schools would still be required to apply with PERA for approval. 

HB26-1146 would apply to more than 30 state-approved facility schools that serve approximately 3,000 students. According to the Colorado Department of Education, facility program types include residential, day treatment, hospitals and specialized day schools. Additionally, between the 2021-2022 and 2024-2025 school years, staff numbers at facility schools have increased by 19 percent.

HB26-1146 now moves to the Senate floor for further consideration. Track its progress here.