By:  Zaffirini                                                            S.B. No. 34



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the compensation of employees of the Texas School for 
the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Texas School for the Deaf.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 30.024(b), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(b)  The governing board of the school may enter into an 
employment contract with any employee who provides, or supervises 
any employee who provides, direct and regular educational services 
to students or who provides other professional educational 
services.  Each teacher shall be employed under a term contract as 
provided by Subchapter E, Chapter 21, or under a probationary 
contract as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 21. An employee 
employed under a contract under this subsection:
		(1)  shall be paid in accordance with a compensation
[salary] structure adopted by the superintendent with the 
concurrence of the board that provides compensation [salaries] 
equal, on a daily-rate basis, to compensation, including hiring 
bonuses and assignment stipends, [salaries] paid to employees 
employed in comparable positions by the Austin Independent School 
District;
		(2)  is not eligible for longevity pay under Subchapter 
D, Chapter 659, Government Code, and is not entitled to a paid day 
off from work on any national or state holiday;
		(3)  is eligible for sick leave accrual under the 
General Appropriations Act in each month in which at least one day 
of the month is included in the term of the employment contract and 
in any other month in which work is performed or paid leave is 
taken;
		(4)  may be permitted by the board to take paid time off 
from work during the term of the employment contract for personal 
reasons as designated by the board, but the paid time off may not 
exceed three days per contract term and may not be carried forward 
from one contract term to a subsequent contract term;
		(5)  may be permitted by the board to be paid the salary 
designated in the employment contract in 12 equal monthly 
installments;  and
		(6)  shall work the hours established by the board.                           
	SECTION 2.  Section 30.055(b), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(b)  The governing board of the school may enter into an 
employment contract with any employee who provides, or supervises 
any employee who provides, direct and regular educational services 
to students or who provides other professional, educational 
services.  Each teacher shall be employed under a term contract as 
provided by Subchapter E, Chapter 21, or under a probationary 
contract as provided by Subchapter C, Chapter 21. An employee 
employed under a contract under this subsection:
		(1)  shall be paid in accordance with a compensation
[salary] structure adopted by the superintendent with the 
concurrence of the board that provides compensation [salaries] 
equal, on a daily-rate basis, to compensation, including hiring 
bonuses and assignment stipends, [salaries] paid to employees 
employed in comparable positions by the Austin Independent School 
District;
		(2)  is not eligible for longevity pay under Subchapter 
D, Chapter 659, Government Code, and is not entitled to a paid day 
off from work on any national or state holiday;
		(3)  is eligible for sick leave accrual under the 
General Appropriations Act in each month in which at least one day 
of the month is included in the term of the employment contract and 
in any other month in which work is performed or paid leave is 
taken;
		(4)  may be permitted by the board to use a maximum of 
four days per contract term of accrued sick leave for personal 
reasons as designated by the board but the number of sick leave days 
not used for personal reasons during a contract term may not be 
carried forward to a subsequent contract term for use as personal 
leave;
		(5)  shall be paid the salary designated in the 
employment contract in 12 equal monthly installments if the 
employee chooses to be paid in that manner;  and
		(6)  shall work the hours established by the board.                           
	SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 
school year.       
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.