The law, sponsored by state Sen. Dina Neal (D-District 4), was passed to provide long-overdue benefits and protections for substitute teachers. But CCSD officials say previous district leadership never implemented it, leaving the nation's fifth-largest school district facing an estimated $44 million in back pay and penalties.

"We have a lot of new folks on the leadership team, and they're doing a huge review of all sorts of policies and procedures. And someone discovered this," said Kirsten Searer, CCSD's chief community engagement officer.

Under the law, substitutes who work more than 720 hours must either enroll in the Public Employees' Retirement System or work fewer hours. Moving forward, the district says only a select group known as Substitutes on Special Assignment, or SOSAs, will be allowed to exceed that limit because of the cost.

Searer said implementing the law will cost the district about $500,000 a month once it begins splitting PERS costs with employees, plus roughly $1 million a month in back pay. Separately, CCSD estimates annual benefits costs for eligible substitutes could reach $15 million to $17.5 million.

The change means substitutes outside the SOSA category who had planned to work more than 720 hours will no longer be able to do so.

"I don't make all that much as a sub, but that would literally cut my yearly income in half," said Kimberly Johnson, a substitute teacher.

Brandy Christensen, another substitute, questioned whether the job would remain worthwhile. "If they're gonna cut our pay and do all of the things that they've been doing, it's not worth it," she said.

Neal said she has asked CCSD to pause the changes so lawmakers can update the law in the upcoming legislative session. She noted that other Nevada school districts have been in compliance since 2023.

"It's literally right around the corner, and hurting people and cutting their hours and saying, 'Well, we need to comply with the law. We need to comply with the law.' Well, you didn't for an entire three years," Neal said. "There should be some level of empathy."

Searer said the district has consulted with PERS attorneys, outside legal counsel and internal counsel, and that all agreed the law must be implemented and that doing so as soon as possible is the most financially responsible path. She added that other districts in Nevada have established similar criteria for substitute eligibility.

The dispute highlights the tension between correcting a years-long compliance failure and the immediate financial impact on substitute teachers, many of whom say they rely on the hours to make a living. For a district already grappling with staffing challenges, the new limits could complicate efforts to keep classrooms covered.