HBA-JRA, PDH H.B. 849 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 849
By: Dutton
Public Education
3/12/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

In December, 1996, the Comptroller of Public Accounts noted in a
performance review that teachers' salaries in Texas are 20 percent lower
than those of comparable jobs.  A recent study conducted by the National
Education Association ranked Texas 36th nationally for average public
school teacher salary in 1995-1996, which may be a factor in high turnover
among Texas teachers.  H.B. 849 increases the minimum salary for classroom
teachers and full-time librarians to at least $50,000 and places a cap on
the salaries of administrators. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 21.402 (a), (e), and (f), Education Code, to
require a school district to pay each classroom teacher or full-time
librarian not less than the minimum annual salary, rather than monthly
salary, based on the employee's level of experience, as determined by a
formula provided in this section.  Creates a new formula for computing the
annual salary.  Deletes text relating to the existing formula.  Makes
conforming changes.   

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 21.401 (b), Education Code, to require an
educator employed under a 10-month contract to provide a minimum of a 187
days of service, rather than the number of days computed using the existing
formula.   

SECTION 3.  Amends Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding
Section 21.4031, as follows: 

Sec. 21.4031.  MAXIMUM SALARY OF ADMINISTRATORS. (a) Prohibits a school
district from paying an administrator, other than a superintendent, an
annual salary that exceeds 140 percent of the minimum annual salary a
person would be entitled to as a teacher or librarian under Section 21.402.

(b) Prohibits a school district from paying a superintendent an annual
salary that exceeds 140 percent of the maximum annual salary a person would
be entitled to as an administrator, other than a superintendent, under
Subsection (a). 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 30.102 (b), Education Code, to make a conforming
change. 

SECTION 5.  Repealer:  Sections 21.401 (b-1) and (c) (Concerning the
existing formula in Subsection (b)), Education Code, and Sections 21.402
(a-1), (a-2), (b), and (d) (Concerning the existing formula in Subsection
(a)), Education Code. 

SECTION 6.  Makes application of this Act prospective beginning with the
1999-2000 school year. Makes an exception to Section 21.4031 by providing
that a school district is not required to reduce the salary of a
superintendent who is entitled to a salary greater than the maximum
provided if a contract was entered into prior to the effective date of this
Act. 
 
SECTION 7.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.