85S12349 LED/MM-D
By: Uresti S.B. No. 119
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to bonuses for public school classroom teachers and state
assistance for the Texas Public School Employees Group Insurance
Program; making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) The amount of $193 million of the
unencumbered appropriations from the general revenue fund for the
state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2019, made by Chapter 605
(S.B. 1), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the
General Appropriations Act), to the Health and Human Services
Commission is transferred to the Texas Education Agency to be used
by the agency to provide the following bonuses to public school
classroom teachers:
(1) a bonus of $600 to be paid in September 2018 for
each classroom teacher with at least 6 but less than 11 years of
teaching experience at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year;
and
(2) a bonus of $1,000 to be paid in September 2018 for
each classroom teacher with at least 11 years of teaching
experience at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.
(b) The Health and Human Services Commission shall identify
the strategies and objectives out of which the transfer under
Subsection (a) of this section is to be made.
(c) A bonus provided to a public school classroom teacher in
accordance with Subsection (a) of this section is not considered in
determining whether a school district is paying the teacher the
minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402, Education Code.
(d) The Texas Education Agency shall provide a bonus under
this section only to a person employed as a public school classroom
teacher at the time the bonus is paid.
SECTION 2. (a) The amount of $212.7 million is appropriated
from the economic stabilization fund to the Teacher Retirement
System of Texas for use as provided by this section.
(b) The amount of $212 million of the unencumbered
appropriations from the general revenue fund for the state fiscal
biennium ending August 31, 2019, made by Chapter 605 (S.B. 1), Acts
of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the General
Appropriations Act), to the Health and Human Services Commission is
transferred to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for use as
provided by this section.
(c) The Health and Human Services Commission shall identify
the strategies and objectives out of which the transfer under
Subsection (b) of this section is to be made.
(d) The Teacher Retirement System of Texas may use the money
appropriated under Subsection (a) of this section and transferred
under Subsection (b) of this section to:
(1) reduce costs, including premiums, deductibles,
and prescription drug copayments, for participants in the Texas
Public School Employees Group Insurance Program authorized by
Chapter 1575, Insurance Code, during the 2018 and 2019 plan years;
and
(2) reduce the premium and maximum out-of-pocket cost
for an enrolled adult child with a mental disability or a physical
incapacity during the 2018 and 2019 plan years.
(e) The Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall determine
the most efficient allocation of the money appropriated under
Subsection (a) of this section and transferred under Subsection (b)
of this section to achieve the maximum benefit for participants in
the program.
SECTION 3. (a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this section:
(1) this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a
vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution; and
(2) if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
last day of the legislative session.
(b) This Act takes effect only if it receives 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.