Georgia Senate Mulls Social Security Coverage for Public School Teachers

A bill is before the Georgia Senate that would extend Social Security coverage to teachers in public school systems in the Peach State. 

Sen. Larry Walker (R-Perry) introduced SB 206 on Feb. 16. The legislation would amend Georgia law regarding Social Security coverage for employees of the state and its political subdivisions to require certain Social Security coverage for all employees of a political subdivision who are members of the Public School Employees Retirement System.

Specifically the bill provides that each political subdivision of the state would be authorized to submit for approval by the state agency a plan for extending the benefits of Title II of the Social Security Act to employees of that political subdivision. The relevant state agency would be required to approve such a plan and any amendments concerning it if it finds that the plan conforms with that agency’s regulations.

However, in order to be approved, such a plan would have to:  

• conform with the requirements of the Social Security Act;  
• provide the plan would cover all services an employee performs for the political subdivision, except that it may exclude services performed by individuals covered by Section 218(c)(3)(C) of the Social Security Act;  
• specify the sources from which the funds necessary to make the payments are expected to be derived and contains reasonable assurance that such sources will be adequate;
• provide for methods of administration of the plan by the political subdivision that the state agency finds necessary for its proper and efficient administration; and
• provide that political subdivisions will make reports to the relevant state agency as required.  

The bill also would authorize state agencies to terminate a plan to extend Social Security to employees of state political divisions if there has been a failure to comply with any plan provision.

The measure would require that by July 1, 2023, state agencies identify each Georgia political subdivision that does not extend Social Security coverage to their employees who are members of the Public School Employees Retirement System. Further, it would require state agencies to report to the chairpersons of the House Retirement Committee and the Senate Committee on Retirement that contains the names of all such political subdivisions and also provide the total number of employees per political subdivision who do not have such coverage. 

Status. SB 206 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Retirement.