78R1826 ESH-D

By:  Pena                                                         H.B. No. 1228



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the salary paid to certain professional employees of 
public schools.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 21.402, Education Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) to 
read as follows:
	(c-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for the 2003-2004 and 
2004-2005 school years, a classroom teacher, full-time librarian, 
full-time counselor certified under Subchapter B, or full-time 
school nurse is entitled to a monthly salary that is at least equal 
to the sum of:
		(1)  the monthly salary the employee would have 
received for the 2003-2004 or 2004-2005 school year, as applicable 
under the district's salary schedule for the 2002-2003 school year, 
if that schedule had been in effect for the 2003-2004 or 2004-2005 
school year, including any local supplement and any money 
representing a career ladder supplement the employee would have 
received in the 2003-2004 or 2004-2005 school year; and
		(2)  $500.                                                             
	(c-2)  Subsection (c-1) and this subsection expire September 
1, 2005. 
	(d)  A classroom teacher, full-time librarian, full-time 
counselor certified under Subchapter B, or full-time school nurse 
employed by a school district in the 2004-2005 [2000-2001] school 
year is, as long as the employee is employed by the same district, 
entitled to a salary that is at least equal to the salary the 
employee received for the 2004-2005[2000-2001] school year.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 42.2516 to read as follows:
	Sec. 42.2516.  ADDITIONAL STATE AID OR CREDIT AGAINST COST 
OF ATTENDANCE CREDITS FOR PROFESSIONAL STAFF SALARIES. (a)  A 
school district, including a school district that is otherwise 
ineligible for state aid under this chapter, is entitled to state 
aid in an amount, as determined by the commissioner, equal to the 
product of $5,000 multiplied by the number of classroom teachers, 
full-time librarians, full-time counselors certified under 
Subchapter B, Chapter 21, and full-time school nurses employed by 
the district and entitled to a minimum salary under Section 21.402.
	(b)  A school district that is required to take action under 
Chapter 41 to reduce its wealth per student to the equalized wealth 
level is entitled to a credit, in the amount of state aid to which 
the district is entitled under this section, against the total 
amount required under Section 41.093 for the district to purchase 
attendance credits.
	(c)  A determination by the commissioner under this section 
is final and may not be appealed.
	(d)  The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this 
section.      
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.