SB148

Senate Bill 148, titled the 'Creating an Investment Opportunity for Early Childhood Workers Act of 2025,' seeks to expand eligibility for the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System (ATRS). The bill allows early childhood workers, specifically those employed at licensed facilities that receive state or federal child care funding, to voluntarily participate in the ATRS. This participation will be facilitated through a single nonprofit fiscal agent approved by the ATRS Board of Trustees. The legislation explicitly mandates that no state funds or matching contributions shall be provided by the state or the retirement system for these workers. It further clarifies that such participation is voluntary rather than mandatory for eligible employees. The bill tasks the ATRS board with promulgating rules to implement these changes.