80R3305 JRJ-F
 
  By: Bailey H.B. No. 1859
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to minimum compensation for educational aides employed by
school districts.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.4031 to read as follows:
       Sec. 21.4031.  MINIMUM COMPENSATION FOR EDUCATIONAL AIDES.
(a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a school district shall
pay each educational aide compensation that, calculated on an
hourly basis, is not less than the amount of half of the salary,
calculated on an hourly basis, the district would pay a classroom
teacher with the same years of experience.
       (b)  A school district shall pay an educational aide employed
by the district during the 2006-2007 school year who continues to be
employed by that district compensation that is not less than the
greater of the following:
             (1)  the amount calculated under Subsection (a); or
             (2)  the hourly rate the district paid the aide during
the 2006-2007 school year.
       SECTION 2.  (a) This Act applies beginning with the
2007-2008 school year.
       (b)  In paying minimum compensation to an educational aide in
accordance with Section 21.4031, Education Code, as added by this
Act, a school district shall credit the aide for each year of
experience in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner of
education, regardless of whether the experience was gained before,
during, or after the 2007-2008 school year.
       SECTION 3.  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, 2007.