79R3837 ESH-D

By:  Mowery                                                       H.B. No. 557



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the number of administrators employed by a school 
district and the salaries paid to those persons.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 11, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 11.204 to read as follows:
	Sec. 11.204.  TEACHER/ADMINISTRATOR RATIOS; SALARY LIMIT.  
(a)  In this section:
		(1)  "Administrator" means a school district employee, 
other than a classroom teacher or direct student service provider, 
who:
			(A)  holds at least a bachelor's degree; and                          
			(B)  earns an annual salary of more than $40,000.                     
		(2)  "Direct student service provider" means:                          
			(A)  a librarian assigned to a campus;                                
			(B)  a nurse assigned to a campus; or                                 
			(C)  a certified counselor.                                           
	(b)  A school district may not employ a number of 
administrators that exceeds a ratio of one administrator for each 
nine classroom teachers employed by the district.
	(b-1)  Subsection (b) applies beginning with the 2009-2010 
school year.  For the 2006-2007, 2007-2008, and 2008-2009 school 
years, a school district may not employ a number of administrators 
that exceeds the following average ratios:
		(1)  for the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 school years, one 
administrator for each seven classroom teachers employed by the 
district; and
		(2)  for the 2008-2009 school year, one administrator 
for each eight classroom teachers employed by the district.
	(b-2)  Subsection (c) applies to the computation of a ratio 
under Subsection (b-1).  Subsection (b-1) and this subsection 
expire January 1, 2010.
	(c)  For purposes of Subsection (b):                                    
		(1)  the principal and one assistant principal at each 
campus in the district are considered to be direct student service 
providers;
		(2)  an administrator who teaches one or more classes 
is counted as one-half an administrator and is not counted as a 
classroom teacher; and
		(3)  a direct student service provider is not counted 
as either a classroom teacher or an administrator unless the person 
is also a classroom teacher, in which event the person is counted as 
a classroom teacher.
	(d)  A school district may not pay an administrator a salary 
that exceeds five times the amount of the lowest salary the district 
pays a full-time classroom teacher.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.