Bill > SB148

This bill establishes the Creating an Investment Opportunity for Early Childhood Workers Act of 2025, which provides a voluntary mechanism for early childhood workers to participate in the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS). The bill defines an "early childhood worker" as someone providing teaching, early childcare education, or supervision at a licensed childcare facility, employed by a licensed childcare provider that receives state or federal child care funding. A single nonprofit fiscal agent approved by the ATRS Board of Trustees can facilitate voluntary participation in the retirement system. Importantly, membership is not mandatory, and early childhood workers will not receive state contributions or matching funds. The bill amends existing Arkansas law to expand the definition of "employment with a school" to include these early childhood workers, allowing them to potentially invest in the retirement system. The legislative intent is to create an optional retirement investment pathway for early childhood workers without requiring additional state expenditures, giving these workers a new financial planning opportunity while maintaining flexibility in their participation.

Labor and Employment

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb148&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R