HB 378 -- Minimum Teachers' Salaries

Sponsor:  Schilling

This bill raises the minimum teacher salary from the current
$18,000 to $20,000 for school year 2000-2001 and to $21,000 for
school year 2001-2002.  For a teacher with a master's degree and
10 years' experience, the minimum salary is raised from $24,000
to $26,000 in school year 2000-2001 and to $27,000 in school
year 2001-2002.  Career ladder payments are excluded from the
definition of salary.  The bill also revises the qualifications
for districts receiving funds from the Excellence in Education
Fund for providing minimum salary levels.  Currently, districts
may receive such funds after qualifying on 7 criteria and only
for a period of 3 years.  The bill removes the time limit on
receipt of funds and substitutes 3 criteria:  (1)  no increase
in any voluntary property tax rollback; (2)  placement of the
tax rate in a self-sufficient teachers' fund; and (3)
completion of transfers from the incidental fund to the capital
projects or debt service funds in compliance with law.
Financially distressed districts are exempt from the above
criteria and must comply with the statutes governing financially
distressed districts and operate with an approved budget and
education plan to qualify.