Texas House Bill HB86

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 11/10/08

Caption

Relating to the salary paid to certain professional employees of public schools.

Impact

The implementation of HB 86 is expected to influence state legislation significantly, particularly in setting the financial framework for public education. By establishing a systematic approach to salary determination that considers experience and is benchmarked against national averages, the bill aims to enhance the attractiveness of teaching and related professions. This could potentially lead to improved recruitment and retention of qualified personnel in public schools, thereby impacting the quality of education delivered across Texas.

Summary

House Bill 86 aims to amend various sections of the Education Code concerning the salaries of certain professional employees in public schools, including classroom teachers, librarians, counselors, and school nurses. The bill stipulates that school districts must pay these employees at least the minimum monthly salary determined by a formula that factors in the employee's level of experience. The commissioner of education is responsible for developing and updating the salary schedule annually, ensuring it aligns with the national average salaries based on statistics from reputable educational organizations.

Contention

Despite its objectives, the bill may face contention related to the sufficiency of funding and the equity of salary distributions among different districts. Critics may point to the financial burden that increased minimum salaries could place on districts with limited budgets, particularly those in areas with lower property tax revenues. Additionally, there may be concerns about ensuring that the adjustments do not exacerbate existing disparities between affluent and underfunded districts, making it critical for the state to balance these allocation challenges while promoting fair compensation for educational staff.