87R10420 MEW-F
 
  By: Allen H.B. No. 3296
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the salary and wages paid to public school employees;
  making an appropriation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.402, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (c-2), (c-3), and (d) and amending Subsection
  (g) to read as follows:
         (c-2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), for the 2021-2022
  school year, a classroom teacher, full-time librarian, full-time
  school 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 2021-2022 school year under the district's salary
  schedule for the 2020-2021 school year, if that schedule had been in
  effect for the 2021-2022 school year, including any local
  supplement and any money representing a career ladder supplement
  the employee would have received in the 2021-2022 school year; and
               (2)  $400.
         (c-3)  Subsection (c-2) and this subsection expire September
  1, 2022.
         (d)  A classroom teacher, full-time librarian, full-time
  school counselor certified under Subchapter B, or full-time school
  nurse employed by a school district in the 2021-2022 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 2021-2022 school year.
         (g)  The commissioner may adopt rules to govern the
  application of this section, including rules that:
               (1)  require the payment of a minimum salary under this
  section to a person employed in more than one capacity for which a
  minimum salary is provided and whose combined employment in those
  capacities constitutes full-time employment; and
               (2)  specify the credentials a person must hold to be
  considered a [speech pathologist or] school nurse under this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter F, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 48.2521 to read as follows:
         Sec. 48.2521.  ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR SALARY INCREASES FOR
  CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES. (a)  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 equal to the
  product of $4,000 multiplied by the number of classroom teachers,
  full-time librarians, full-time school counselors certified under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, and full-time school nurses employed by
  the district.
         (b)  The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this
  section.
         SECTION 3.  (a)  The amount of $1 billion is appropriated
  from the economic stabilization fund to the foundation school fund
  for distribution by the commissioner of education during the state
  fiscal biennium beginning September 1, 2021, to school districts to
  provide one-time retention bonuses to district support staff.
         (b)  The commissioner of education shall distribute the
  amount appropriated under this section to school districts on the
  basis of the number of full-time district employees, other than
  administrators and employees subject to the minimum salary schedule
  under Section 21.402, Education Code.
         (c)  Each school district may use funds distributed under
  this section only to increase the salary that would otherwise be
  provided to district employees described by Subsection (b) of this
  section.
         (d)  This section takes effect only if this Act is approved
  by a vote of two-thirds of the members present in each house of the
  legislature, as provided by Section 49-g(m), Article III, Texas
  Constitution.
         SECTION 4.  Section 21.402(c-1), Education Code, is
  repealed.
         SECTION 5.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
  school year.
         SECTION 6.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.