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HB 1 Chisum/Ogden
State budget - provides for increased educator salaries of an unspecified amount. The funding - $23.63 per weighted student works out to around $425 for each employee subject to the state minimum salary schedule (teachers, counselors, nurses and librarians) on a statewide basis, but depending on a district’s weighted student composition, the district could get somewhat more or less than that amount. There is no requirement that the raise be limited to those employees subject to the minimum salary schedule, no requirement that the raises be across-the-board, and no requirement that the raise be in addition to an already-planned increase. School districts must report annually on the use of these funds.
Increases the state’s TRS contribution rate from the current 6% to 6.58%.
Provides up to $97.5 million per year for the current teacher incentive pay program that is limited to low-income districts. Provides $245.2 million for the teacher incentive pay program that is expanded to include all districts; postpones its implementation from the originally-scheduled 2007-08 school year to 2008-09.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 06/15/07
HB 973 Eissler / Averitt
TCTA-initiated legislation that entitles school employees to remain on the district's health insurance plan through the summer months if their resignation was effective after the last day of the instructional year. Prohibits the district and TRS from reducing or eliminating the health insurance supplement as long as the employee is eligible to participate in the health plan.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 09/01/07
HB 1622 Delisi / Averitt
A TCTA-initiated proposal requiring that a district’s grievance policy include a provision allowing employees to report a grievance against a supervisor alleging the supervisor’s violation of law to a supervisor other than that supervisor.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 09/01/07
HB 2341 Truitt / Duncan
Authorizes districts to refuse to enter into a salary reduction agreement for certain privately-offered investment plans, in order to better comply with new federal laws making districts more accountable for the products offered.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 09/01/07
HB 2399 Delisi / Shapiro
Adds to the acceptable uses of teacher incentive pay money expenditures for a teacher retention demonstration project employing innovative practices to identify and retain highly effective teachers. The practices may include a teacher recruitment and selection strategy focused on attracting teachers with deep content knowledge and a long-term commitment to teaching; an alternative certification program to prepare people with deep content knowledge and outstanding academic or professional achievement; a campus governance model engaging teachers in leading campus management activities; differentiated compensation addressing teacher shortages in subject areas, instructional weaknesses at underperforming campuses, limited advanced course offerings, or other critical needs; or other research-based strategies.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 06/15/07
HB 2646 Rose / Watson
Allows for Educator Excellence Award (teacher incentive pay) funds to be used to provide stipends for teachers who obtain national certification through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Last Action: Vetoed by the Governor
SB 135 Wentworth / Eissler
TCTA-initiated legislation prohibiting employment policies that restrict the ability of a school district employee to communicate directly with a member of the school board on matters relating to the operation of the school district. Certain inappropriate communications related to legal matters are prohibited.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 04/23/07
SB 370 Shapiro / Eissler
TCTA-initiated legislation prohibiting districts from requiring employees to waive immunity from liability for acts for which they are immune from liability or an employee who acts in good faith to pay for or replace property that was in the employee's possession because of an act within the scope of employment, or an employee who acts in good faith to pay for certain equipment that is damaged, stolen, misplaced, or not returned, except under certain circumstances. That exception applies if the district enters into an agreement with an employee for the employee to assume financial responsibility for electronic textbook or technological equipment usage off school property or outside of a school-sponsored event in consideration for the ability of the school employee to use such equipment for personal business.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 05/17/07
SB 1039 Lucio / Homer
TCTA-initiated legislation providing that a retiree returning to work under the 6-month exemption can work through June 15 without losing the June TRS pension check. Also provides that time spent attending professional development activities is not considered “work” that would jeopardize a pension check.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 06/15/07
SB 1846 Duncan / Truitt
Increases the state TRS contribution rate to 6.58%, and provides that the state rate cannot be less than the active member contribution rate. The active member contribution can be increased by the TRS Board of Directors up to no more than 6.58% if needed to allow for the provision of a 13th check to retirees. The Board must provide the 13th check if it can be afforded (with or without the increased active contribution rate) without increasing the fund’s liability period beyond 31 years. The 13th check is in the normal monthly amount or $2,400, whichever is less.
A TCTA member-initiated provision exempts districts from paying the return-to-work surcharge for employees who retired prior to September 1, 2005.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 09/01/07
SB 1877 Averitt / Keffer
Adds teacher incentive pay, mentoring stipends and salary designated as health care supplementation to the definition of “salary and wages” required to be reported and deducted for member contributions to the TRS and to credit in benefit calculations.
Last Action: Signed by the Governor, Earliest effective date 09/01/07
Updated: 06/21/07
