- Introduced -

SB 748 - The bill creates a 5-level minimum salary program for teachers as follows:

$22,000 for 5 or less years experience,

$25,000 for Master's (or higher) + 6-10 years or Bachelor's + 6-19 years)

$28,000 for Bachelors + 20 or Master's (or higher) + 11-19 years

$34,000 for Master's (or higher) + 20-29 years

$40,000 for Master's (or higher) + 30 or more years

Eligibility requirements for state minimum salary payments:

a) Operating levy of at least $2.75,

b) No increase in a voluntary rollback,

c) No illegal transfers for capital purposes,

d) Employ all teachers under board policy and salary schedule,

e) Place new teachers (with experience in other districts) on salary schedule using no fewer years experience credit than was provided the previous year for new teachers from other districts (example, all experienced teachers may start at, say, 5 years on the district's salary schedule).

f) Pay returning teachers no less than they were paid the previous year (on an FTE basis).

State payments will be reduced if the district's extra duty pay is more than 8.5% or if end of year operating balances are over 15%.

State minimum salary levels will be increased by $1,000 when state cost decreases to 85% of the first year cost.

The Commissioner of Education shall report annually to the legislature on minimum salaries.

The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to administer the program.

Expenditure of state minimum salary revenues shall not be counted toward compliance with teacher salary expenditure requirements under Section 165.016, RSMo.

State payments shall be funded from increases in gaming boat proceeds, including boarding fees.

OTTO FAJEN