BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1057

By: Bhojani

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law allows for work experience in a career or technological field to count as teaching experience for salary step credit up to a maximum amount of two years. Similarly, current law also allows work experience for an eligible member of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas to count as service credit for one or two years. The bill author has informed the committee that career and technical education (CTE) educators and stakeholders have indicated that the current limits on both salary step credit and service credit do not sufficiently reflect the value of real-world experience in fields such as engineering, information technology, health care, and other technical areas. The bill author further informs the committee that many teachers entering CTE positions possess substantial industry experience, which significantly enhances the quality of instruction they provide. H.B. 1057 seeks to resolve the issue by increasing the maximum number of years of applicable work experience that may be credited toward salary step and service credit for certain CTE teachers.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1057 amends the Education Code to increase from two years to five years the maximum number of years of work experience for which a certified career or technology education teacher is entitled to salary step credit as if the work experience were teaching experience for purposes of placement on the minimum salary schedule.

H.B. 1057 amends the Government Code to change from one or two years to a maximum of five years the number of years of work experience for which such a teacher who is an eligible member of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas may establish equivalent membership service credit when the member is entitled to salary step credit in that manner.

H.B. 1057 applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.