79S30650 ESH-D

By:  Delisi                                                       H.B. No. 88 


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the salary paid to certain professional public school employees. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 21.402, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (c-1), (c-2), and (c-3) and amending Subsection (d) to read as follows: (c-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for the 2006-2007 school year, 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 2006-2007 school year under the district's salary schedule for the 2005-2006 school year, if that schedule had been in effect for the 2006-2007 school year, including any local supplement and any money representing a career ladder supplement the employee would have received in the 2006-2007 school year; and (2) depending on the employee's years of experience: (A) $200, if the employee has less than two years of experience; (B) $250, if the employee has at least two but less than five years of experience; (C) $300, if the employee has at least five but less than 10 years of experience; (D) $350, if the employee has at least 10 but less than 15 years of experience; (E) $400, if the employee has at least 15 but less than 20 years of experience; (F) $450, if the employee has at least 20 but less than 25 years of experience; or (G) $500, if the employee has at least 25 years of experience. (c-2) For purposes of Subsection (c-1), an employee's years of experience do not include any credit to which the employee is entitled under Section 21.403(b) or (d). (c-3) Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) and this subsection expire September 1, 2007. (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 2006-2007 [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 2006-2007 [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) In this section, "professional school employee" means a person who is: (1) employed by a school district as a classroom teacher, full-time librarian, full-time counselor certified under Subchapter B, Chapter 21, or full-time school nurse; and (2) entitled to a minimum salary under Section 21.402. (b) 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 sum of: (1) $2,000 multiplied by the number of professional school employees employed by the district with less than two years of experience; (2) $2,500 multiplied by the number of professional school employees employed by the district with at least two but less than five years of experience; (3) $3,000 multiplied by the number of professional school employees employed by the district with at least five but less than 10 years of experience; (4) $3,500 multiplied by the number of professional school employees employed by the district with at least 10 but less than 15 years of experience; (5) $4,000 multiplied by the number of professional school employees employed by the district with at least 15 but less than 20 years of experience; (6) $4,500 multiplied by the number of professional school employees employed by the district with at least 20 but less than 25 years of experience; and (7) $5,000 multiplied by the number of professional school employees employed by the district with at least 25 years of experience. (c) 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. (d) A determination by the commissioner under this section is final and may not be appealed. (e) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this section. SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2006-2007 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.