SRC-JEC, TJG S.B. 34 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 34
78R1575 SLO-DBy: Zaffirini
Education
5/7/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

For more than 30 years, the Texas School for the Blind and Visually
Impaired (TSBVI) and the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) have paid their
employees salaries commensurate with the Austin Independent School
District (AISD).  However, in the past several years, AISD has
supplemented teacher salaries with assignment stipends for special
education and bilingual education and hiring bonuses for teachers in
critical shortage areas.  TSBVI and TSD only have the authority to pay
comparable "salaries," but hiring bonuses and stipends are not considered
part of "salary."  As proposed, S.B. 34 changes the stipulations to allow
compensation to include hiring bonuses and assignment stipends. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 30.024(b), Education Code, by replacing
"salary" with "compensation" and "salaries" with "compensation, including
hiring bonuses and assignment stipends" when referring to employee pay
under this subsection.  Makes a conforming change. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 30.055(b), Education Code, by making conforming
changes relating to employee pay. 

SECTION 3.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.