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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions related to the Teacher Salary Supplement Program.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 ▸ amends the definition of an eligible teacher and a qualifying educational
13 background;
14 ▸ changes the entity that distributes money for the Teacher Salary Supplement
15 Program; and
16 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
17 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 This bill provides a special effective date.
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 AMENDS:
23 53A-17a-156, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 351
24 53A-17a-157, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 397
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26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 53A-17a-156 is amended to read:
28 53A-17a-156. Teacher Salary Supplement Program -- Appeal process.
29 (1) As used in this section:
30 (a) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
31 (b) "Eligible teacher" means a teacher who:
32 (i) has an assignment to teach:
33 (A) a secondary school level mathematics course;
34 (B) integrated science in grade seven or eight;
35 (C) chemistry; [
36 (D) physics; or
37 (E) computer science;
38 (ii) holds the appropriate endorsement for the assigned course;
39 (iii) has qualifying educational background; and
40 (iv) (A) is a new employee; or
41 (B) received a satisfactory rating or above on the teacher's most recent evaluation.
42 (c) "Qualifying educational background" means:
43 (i) for a teacher who is assigned a secondary school level mathematics course:
44 (A) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree in mathematics; or
45 (B) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree that has course
46 requirements that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements for a bachelor's degree
47 major, master's degree, or doctoral degree in mathematics; [
48 (ii) for a teacher who is assigned a grade seven or eight integrated science course,
49 chemistry course, or physics course, a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral
50 degree in:
51 (A) integrated science;
52 (B) chemistry;
53 (C) physics;
54 (D) physical science;
55 (E) general science; or
56 (F) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree that has course
57 requirements that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements of those required for a
58 degree listed in Subsections (1)(c)(ii)(A) through (E)[
59 (iii) for a teacher who is assigned a computer science course, a bachelor's degree major,
60 master's degree, or doctoral degree in:
61 (A) computer science;
62 (B) computer information technology; or
63 (C) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree that has course
64 requirements that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements of those required for a
65 degree listed in Subsections (1)(c)(iii)(A) and (B).
66 (2) (a) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall annually appropriate
67 money to the Teacher Salary Supplement Restricted Account established in Section
68 53A-17a-157 to fund the Teacher Salary Supplement Program.
69 (b) Money appropriated for the Teacher Salary Supplement Program shall include
70 money for the following employer-paid benefits:
71 (i) retirement;
72 (ii) workers' compensation;
73 (iii) Social Security; and
74 (iv) Medicare.
75 [
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77 [
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79 [
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81 (3) (a) The annual salary supplement for an eligible teacher who is assigned full time to
82 teach one or more courses listed in Subsections (1)(b)(i)(A) through (E) is $4,100.
83 (b) An eligible teacher who has a part-time assignment to teach one or more courses
84 listed in Subsections (1)(b)(i)(A) through [
85 based on the number of hours worked in a course assignment that meets the requirements of
86 Subsections (1)(b)(ii) and (iii).
87 (4) The board shall:
88 (a) create an online application system for a teacher to apply to receive a salary
89 supplement through the Teacher Salary Supplement Program;
90 (b) determine if a teacher:
91 (i) is an eligible teacher; and
92 (ii) has a course assignment as listed in Subsections (1)(b)(i)(A) through [
93 (c) verify, as needed, the determinations made under Subsection (4)(b) with school
94 district and school administrators[
95 [
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97 (5) (a) An eligible teacher shall apply with the board before the conclusion of a school
98 year to receive the salary supplement authorized in this section.
99 (b) An eligible teacher may apply with the board, after verification that the
100 requirements under this section have been satisfied, to receive a salary supplement after the
101 completion of:
102 (i) the school year as an annual award; or
103 (ii) a semester or trimester as a partial award based on the portion of the school year
104 that has been completed.
105 (6) (a) The board shall establish and administer an appeal process for a teacher to
106 follow if the teacher applies for the salary supplement and is not certified under Subsection
107 (4)[
108 (b) (i) The appeal process established in Subsection (6)(a) shall allow a teacher to
109 appeal on the basis that the teacher has a degree or degree major with course requirements that
110 are substantially equivalent to the course requirements for a degree listed in:
111 (A) Subsection (1)(c)(i)(A) [
112 (B) Subsections (1)(c)(ii)(A) through (E)[
113 (C) Subsections (1)(c)(iii)(A) and (B).
114 (ii) A teacher shall provide transcripts and other documentation to the board in order
115 for the board to determine if the teacher has a degree or degree major with course requirements
116 that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements for a degree listed in:
117 (A) Subsection (1)(c)(i)(A) [
118 (B) Subsections (1)(c)(ii)(A) through (E)[
119 (C) Subsections (1)(c)(iii)(A) and (B).
120 (7) (a) The [
121 Supplement Restricted Account to school districts and charter schools for the Teacher Salary
122 Supplement Program in accordance with the provisions of this section.
123 (b) The board shall include the employer-paid benefits described under Subsection
124 (2)(b) in the amount of each salary supplement [
125 (c) The employer-paid benefits described under Subsection (2)(b) are an addition to the
126 salary supplement limits described under Subsection (3).
127 (8) (a) Money received from the Teacher Salary Supplement Restricted Account shall
128 be used by a school district or charter school to provide a salary supplement equal to the
129 amount specified in Subsection (3) for each eligible teacher.
130 (b) The salary supplement is part of the teacher's base pay, subject to the teacher's
131 qualification as an eligible teacher every year, semester, or trimester.
132 (9) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the appropriation for the program
133 is insufficient to cover the costs associated with salary supplements, the board may limit or
134 reduce the salary supplements.
135 Section 2. Section 53A-17a-157 is amended to read:
136 53A-17a-157. Teacher Salary Supplement Restricted Account.
137 (1) There is created within the Uniform School Fund a restricted account known as the
138 "Teacher Salary Supplement Restricted Account."
139 (2) The account shall be funded from appropriations made to the account by the
140 Legislature.
141 (3) The account shall be used to fund teacher salary supplements for school districts
142 and charter schools as provided in Section 53A-17a-156.
143 (4) The [
144 to school districts and charter schools for the Teacher Salary Supplement Program as provided
145 in Section 53A-17a-156.
146 Section 3. Effective date.
147 This bill takes effect on July 1, 2015.