OKLAHOMA CITY – The House passed legislation authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert that removes restrictions on teachers from teaching in public schools after retirement.

House Bill 2288 eliminates an existing 36-month waiting period for teachers who retire before they can return to teaching in Oklahoma public schools. The bill will allow career teachers to continue teaching past their retirement age while also drawing on their earned retirement benefits.

Currently, teachers are allowed to go into a job in the private sector or in a private school, but must wait 36 months before returning to a public school classroom.

"Our state has a teacher shortage and we must do all we can to keep quality teachers in our public school classrooms as long as they are willing to continue teaching," said Hilbert, R-Bristow. "We need to allow these teachers – many of whom are still in their prime working years - to draw down the retirement benefits they have earned while remaining in the classroom if they choose to do so."

The bill passed the House with a vote of 74-7 and will move to the Senate for further consideration.