LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Hundreds of active and retired teachers and other school employees crowded into a Senate hearing Wednesday to voice concerns that proposed changes to their retirement benefits would unfairly push more costs onto them and even drive some out of education.

The Senate Appropriations Retirement Subcommittee is considering a bill under which all school employees would continue to pay at least 3 percent of salary toward retiree health care. They also would have to contribute anywhere from 1 percent to 5 percent of their salaries to keep their pensions above the contributions they're already making, up to 8 percent.

Retirees would be required to pay 20 percent of their health care premiums, and retiree health care wouldn't be offered before age 60.