BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	C.S.S.B. 3
	By: Nelson
	Finance
	2/25/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Provides a $5,000 annual salary increase for every classroom teacher. Establishes a new Classroom Teacher Salary Allotment by adding Section 21.4023 to the Education Code.

Directs that each classroom teacher is entitled to a $5,000 salary increase above their 2018�2019 school year salary.

Clarifies this bill does not preclude districts from providing merit-based salary increases to teachers in addition to this $5,000 salary increase.

Stipulates that the raise be paid for by the state via Section 42.25131.

Property wealthy districts (Chapter 41 districts), normally ineligible for state aid, are entitled to this additional $5,000 per teacher and funds will not be subject to recapture for this additional aid. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent.)

C.S.S.B. 3 amends current law relating to additional funding to school districts for classroom teacher salaries.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the commissioner of education in SECTIONS 1 and 2 (Sections 21.4023 and 42.25131, Education Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Section 21.4023, as follows:

Sec. 21.4023. CLASSROOM TEACHER SALARY ALLOTMENT. (a) Entitles every full-time classroom teacher to an annual salary allotment in the amount of $5,000.

(b) Provides that a salary allotment a teacher receives under this section:

(1) is not considered in determining whether the district is paying the teacher the minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402 (Minimum Salary Schedule for Certain Professional Staff); and

(2) is in addition to the regular salary to which a teacher is otherwise entitled under the district's salary schedule.

(b-1) Entitles every full-time classroom teacher for the 2019�2020 school year, notwithstanding Section 21.402, to a monthly salary that is at least equal to the sum of:

(1) the monthly salary the teacher would have received for the 2019�2020 school year under the district's salary schedule for the 2018�2019 school year, if that schedule had been in effect for the 2019�2020 school year, including any local supplement and any money representing any other supplement the teacher would have received in the 2019�2020 school year; and

(2) $500.

(b-2) Provides that Subsection (b-1) and this subsection expire September 1, 2020.

(b-3) Entitles a full-time classroom teacher employed by a school district in the 2019�2020 school year, as long as the teacher is employed by the same district, to a salary that is at least equal to the salary the teacher received for the 2019�2020 school year.

(c) Authorizes a school district to provide a merit salary increase to a full-time classroom teacher in addition to the salary allotment to which the teacher is entitled under this section.

(d) Requires a school district to provide written notice to each full-time classroom teacher that the salary allotment to which the teacher is entitled under this section is provided by the state.

(e) Authorizes the commissioner of education (commissioner) to adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

(f) Provides that this section applies to a person employed as a classroom teacher of an open enrollment charter school.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, by adding Section 42.25131, as follows:

Sec. 42.25131. ADDITIONAL STATE AID OR CREDIT AGAINST COST OF ATTENDANCE CREDITS FOR CLASSROOM TEACHER SALARY ALLOTMENT. (a) Entitles a school district, including a school district that is otherwise ineligible for state aid under this chapter (Foundation School Program), to state aid for each school year in an amount equal to the product of $5,000 multiplied by the number of full-time classroom teachers employed by the district.

(b) Requires a school district to use the amount received under this section to provide the salary allotments for full-time classroom teachers required under Section 21.4023.

(c) Entitles a school district that is required to take action under Chapter 41 (Equalized Wealth Level) to reduce its wealth per student to the equalized wealth level 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 (Cost) for the district to purchase attendance credits.

(d) Authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules to implement this section.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 822.201(b), Government Code, as follows:

(b) Redefines "salary and wages" to include a salary allotment paid to teachers under Section 21.4023, Education Code. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 4. Amends Section 825.405(b), Government Code, to make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 5. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2019�2020 school year.

SECTION 6. Provides that this Act takes effect September 1, 2019.