Texas 2017 - 85th 1st C.S.

Texas Senate Bill SB37 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 07/13/2017

                            85S10107 MM-D
 By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 37


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to stipends for certain public school teachers.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 21.4023 to read as follows:
 Sec. 21.4023.  ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION. (a) A classroom
 teacher is entitled to:
 (1)  an annual stipend of $500 if the teacher has at
 least three years of classroom experience; and
 (2)  an annual stipend of $500 if the teacher serves as
 a certified teacher in a subject area designated by the
 commissioner as a teacher shortage area.
 (b)  A stipend a teacher receives under this section:
 (1)  is in addition to the regular salary to which a
 teacher is otherwise entitled under the district's salary schedule;
 and
 (2)  is not considered in determining whether the
 district is paying the teacher the minimum monthly salary under
 Section 21.402.
 SECTION 2.  Section 42.2513(a), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (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 sum of:
 (1)  the product of $500 multiplied by the number of
 full-time district employees, other than administrators or
 employees subject to the minimum salary schedule under Section
 21.402; [and]
 (2)  the product of $500:
 (A)  multiplied by the number of classroom
 teachers employed by the district who have at least three years of
 classroom experience; and
 (B)  multiplied by the number of certified
 teachers employed by the district who serve as a teacher in a
 subject area designated by the commissioner as a teacher shortage
 area; and
 (3)  the product of $250 multiplied by the number of
 part-time district employees, other than administrators.
 SECTION 3.  Section 822.201(b), Government Code, as
 effective September 1, 2017, is amended to read as follows:
 (b)  "Salary and wages" as used in Subsection (a) means:
 (1)  normal periodic payments of money for service the
 right to which accrues on a regular basis in proportion to the
 service performed;
 (2)  amounts by which the member's salary is reduced
 under a salary reduction agreement authorized by Chapter 610;
 (3)  amounts that would otherwise qualify as salary and
 wages under Subdivision (1) but are not received directly by the
 member pursuant to a good faith, voluntary written salary reduction
 agreement in order to finance payments to a deferred compensation
 or tax sheltered annuity program specifically authorized by state
 law or to finance benefit options under a cafeteria plan qualifying
 under Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, if:
 (A)  the program or benefit options are made
 available to all employees of the employer; and
 (B)  the benefit options in the cafeteria plan are
 limited to one or more options that provide deferred compensation,
 group health and disability insurance, group term life insurance,
 dependent care assistance programs, or group legal services plans;
 (4)  performance pay awarded to an employee by a school
 district as part of a total compensation plan approved by the board
 of trustees of the district and meeting the requirements of
 Subsection (e);
 (5)  the benefit replacement pay a person earns under
 Subchapter H, Chapter 659, except as provided by Subsection (c);
 (6)  stipends paid to teachers in accordance with
 Section 21.4023, 21.410, 21.411, 21.412, or 21.413, Education Code;
 (7)  amounts by which the member's salary is reduced or
 that are deducted from the member's salary as authorized by
 Subchapter J, Chapter 659;
 (8)  a merit salary increase made under Section 51.962,
 Education Code;
 (9)  amounts received under the relevant parts of the
 educator excellence awards program under Subchapter O, Chapter 21,
 Education Code, or a mentoring program under Section 21.458,
 Education Code, that authorize compensation for service;
 (10)  salary amounts designated as health care
 supplementation by an employee under Subchapter D, Chapter 22,
 Education Code; and
 (11)  to the extent required by Sections 3401(h) and
 414(u)(12), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, differential wage
 payments received by an individual from an employer on or after
 January 1, 2009, while the individual is performing qualified
 military service as defined by Section 414(u), Internal Revenue
 Code of 1986.
 SECTION 4.  Section 21.402(c-1), Education Code, is
 repealed.
 SECTION 5.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
 school year.
 SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect December 1, 2017.