HBA-JRA H.B. 3766 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3766
By: Gallego
Public Education
4/17/1999
Introduced


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

According to an American Federation of Teachers national survey, the
average teachers' salary in the United States was $37,594 for the 1995-96
school year and $38,436 for the 1996-97 school year. In Texas, the average
teachers' salary was $31,400 for the 1995-96 school year and $32,426 for
the 1996-97 school year.  Increasing the salaries of classroom teachers may
improve the state's ability to attract and retain good teachers. 

H.B. 3677 entitles each school district to an annual allotment of $6,000
for each full-time equivalent classroom teacher, $5,500 of which must be
used to supplement each full-time teachers' salary.  It authorizes each
school district to use the remainder of the allotment to further supplement
the salaries of all teachers or only the salaries of those who teach in the
areas of math, science, reading, or bilingual education and in which the
district has identified a critical shortage of qualified teachers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of education in
SECTION 1 (Section 21.4031, Education Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding
Section 21.4031, as follows: 

Sec. 21.4031.  SALARY SUPPLEMENT.  (a)  Entitles each school district to an
annual allotment of $6,000 for each full-time equivalent classroom teacher
from funds appropriated for the purpose. 

(b)  Entitles each full-time classroom teacher to a salary supplement of
$5,500 from the allotment.  Entitles a part-time classroom teacher to a
proportionate salary supplement as determined by the district in accordance
with the rules of the commissioner of education (commissioner). 

(c)  Authorizes the district to use the balance of the allotment to pay an
additional salary supplement for all classroom teachers or for only those
who teach in the areas of math, science, reading, or bilingual education
and in which the district has identified a critical shortage of qualified
teachers. 

(d)  Provides that a salary supplement is not considered in determining
whether the district is paying a teacher the minimum monthly salary under
Section 21.402 (Minimum Salary Schedule for Classroom Teachers and
Full-Time Librarians). 

(e)  Authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules as necessary for the
implementation of this section. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective to the 1999-2000
school year. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.