Alabama Senate Bill SB85

Alabama 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/21/23
• Refer: 3/21/23
• Report Pass: 5/3/23
• Engrossed: 5/4/23
• Refer: 5/4/23
• Report Pass: 5/24/23
• Enrolled: 5/26/23
• Passed: 5/26/23

Caption

Relating to the salaries of public education employees; to provide for a revision of the State Minimum Salary Schedule to reflect a pay increase of two percent beginning with the fiscal year 2023-2024; to provide that each employee of certain boards of education shall receive the pay increase according to placement on the appropriate salary step; to require the appropriate increases on the State Minimum Salary Schedule; to provide support employees with a two percent pay increase beginning with the fiscal year 2023-2024; to require salary schedules; to provide the employees of certain other public educational institutions and schools with a two percent pay increase for the 2023-2024 fiscal year; to provide for an across the board salary increase on all two-year postsecondary salary schedules, to establish other requirements on the two-year postsecondary salary schedules; and to establish miscellaneous pay provisions relating to public education.

Impact

With SB85's enactment, local boards of education must revise their salary schedules to accommodate the specified increases for both full-time and part-time employees within the K-12 system and two-year postsecondary institutions. The bill specifically requires that salary adjustments comply with the State Minimum Salary Schedule while additionally putting provisions in place to exempt certain employment categories from this salary increase, thereby allowing flexibility for local authorities when managing compensation for specific roles not covered under the act.

Summary

SB85 aims to implement a two percent salary increase for public education employees in Alabama beginning in the fiscal year 2023-2024. The legislation targets certificated personnel across K-12 systems, including those at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, and education support staff. It outlines that every employee's salary shall reflect this increment based on their placement on the appropriate salary schedule, ensuring that all public education employees receive equitable pay raises in line with their experience and roles. It's designed to maintain local salary schedules while not mandating excess increases beyond the specified two percent.

Sentiment

The general sentiment regarding SB85 has been positive, especially among educators and employee groups who view the proposed salary increase as a necessary step towards fair compensation for teaching staff in Alabama. However, there are nuances in perspectives; while the bill is embraced for its intent, concerns may arise regarding its funding mechanisms and potential limitations on local boards' abilities to offer additional incentives or supplements beyond the prescribed increase. This creates an ongoing dialogue about equitable pay structures for education professionals in the state.

Contention

Notable points of contention involve the allocation of funds required to support the salary increases mandated by SB85 and how this interacts with existing local salary schedules. Discussions also highlight the necessity for clarity in implementing the new salary structures, particularly regarding how they can be aligned with performance-based pay or supplements that local boards may wish to offer. The exemption for certain employment categories, such as part-time community education personnel, has sparked debates about fairness and inclusivity, and how SB85 may inadvertently create disparities among education employees.