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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the salary and wages paid to public school employees; |
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making an appropriation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.402, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (c-2), (c-3), and (d) and amending Subsection |
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(g) to read as follows: |
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(c-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for the 2023-2024 |
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school year, a classroom teacher, full-time librarian, full-time |
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school counselor certified under Subchapter B, or full-time school |
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nurse is entitled to a monthly salary that is at least equal to the |
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sum of: |
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(1) the monthly salary the employee would have |
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received for the 2023-2024 school year under the district's salary |
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schedule for the 2022-2023 school year, if that schedule had been in |
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effect for the 2023-2024 school year, including any local |
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supplement and any money representing a career ladder supplement |
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the employee would have received in the 2023-2024 school year; and |
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(2) $400. |
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(c-3) Subsection (c-2) and this subsection expire September |
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1, 2024. |
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(d) A classroom teacher, full-time librarian, full-time |
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school counselor certified under Subchapter B, or full-time school |
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nurse employed by a school district in the 2023-2024 school year is, |
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as long as the employee is employed by the same district, entitled |
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to a salary that is at least equal to the salary the employee |
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received for the 2023-2024 school year. |
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(g) The commissioner may adopt rules to govern the |
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application of this section, including rules that: |
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(1) require the payment of a minimum salary under this |
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section to a person employed in more than one capacity for which a |
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minimum salary is provided and whose combined employment in those |
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capacities constitutes full-time employment; and |
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(2) specify the credentials a person must hold to be |
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considered a [speech pathologist or] school nurse under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter F, Chapter 48, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 48.2521 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.2521. ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR |
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CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES. (a) A school district, including |
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a school district that is otherwise ineligible for state aid under |
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this chapter, is entitled to state aid in an amount equal to the |
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product of $4,000 multiplied by the number of classroom teachers, |
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full-time librarians, full-time school counselors certified under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 21, and full-time school nurses employed by |
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the district. |
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(b) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this |
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section. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The amount of $1 billion is appropriated |
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from the economic stabilization fund to the foundation school fund |
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for distribution by the commissioner of education during the state |
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fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2023, to school districts to |
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provide one-time retention bonuses to district support staff. |
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(b) The commissioner of education shall distribute the |
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amount appropriated under this section to school districts on the |
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basis of the number of full-time district employees, other than |
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administrators and employees subject to the minimum salary schedule |
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under Section 21.402, Education Code. |
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(c) Each school district may use funds distributed under |
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this section only to increase the salary that would otherwise be |
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provided to district employees described by Subsection (b) of this |
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section. |
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(d) This section takes effect only if this Act is approved |
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by a vote of two-thirds of the members present in each house of the |
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legislature, as provided by Section 49-g(m), Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. |
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SECTION 4. Section 21.402(c-1), Education Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 6. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |