Gov. Ed Rendell signed into law yesterday a measure that will prevent public school employees convicted of sexual offenses against students from collecting their pensions.

About 200 men and women have lost their Pennsylvania teaching licenses in the past dozen years for crimes ranging from murder to shoplifting.

But in most cases, unless the crimes were committed on the job, their pensions remained intact -- even if the crimes were sex offenses against children.

Because of what she believed was a "serious gap" in state law, Sen. Jane Earll, R-Erie, sponsored the legislation.

The bill was approved 49-0 in the Senate and 201-0 in the House.

The bill will take effect in 60 days.