REQUESTING A MOVE TOWARD PARITY BETWEEN THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ACT AND THE EDUCATIONAL RETIREMENT ACT IN ORDER TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN TEACHERS STATEWIDE AND PROVIDE A HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN OF NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is facing a shortage of teachers as a result of retirements, resignations and difficulties attracting and retaining quality individuals to the profession; and

WHEREAS, research confirms that teacher quality is the single most influential determinant of student academic success, outside of home and family circumstances; and

WHEREAS, the disparity between the retirement benefits of the Public Employees Retirement Act and the Educational Retirement Act has been a growing concern since the 1994 amendments to the Public Employees Retirement Act that enhance retirement benefits; and

WHEREAS, the lack of parity between retirement benefits of the Public Employees Retirement Act and the Educational Retirement Act may be a contributing factor to the teacher shortage in New Mexico; and

WHEREAS, the legislature has attempted to correct this disparity since 1994;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the state of New Mexico move toward parity between the Public Employees Retirement Act and the Educational Retirement Act in order to attract and retain teachers statewide and provide a high quality education for the children of New Mexico.