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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 "qualifying educational background" to include certain
13 teachers with a background in earth science; and
14 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 AMENDS:
21 53A-17a-156, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2016, Chapter 217
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23 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24 Section 1. Section 53A-17a-156 is amended to read:
25 53A-17a-156. Teacher Salary Supplement Program -- Appeal process.
26 (1) As used in this section:
27 (a) "Board" means the State Board of Education.
28 (b) "Certificate teacher" means a teacher who holds a National Board certification.
29 (c) "Eligible teacher" means a teacher who:
30 (i) has an assignment to teach:
31 (A) a secondary school level mathematics course;
32 (B) integrated science in grade seven or eight;
33 (C) chemistry;
34 (D) physics; or
35 (E) computer science;
36 (ii) holds the appropriate endorsement for the assigned course;
37 (iii) has qualifying educational background; and
38 (iv) (A) is a new employee; or
39 (B) received a satisfactory rating or above on the teacher's most recent evaluation.
40 (d) "National Board certification" means the same as that term is defined in Section
41 53A-6-103.
42 (e) "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) earth science;
56 [
57 [
58 requirements that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements of those required for a
59 degree listed in Subsections (1)(e)(ii)(A) through [
60 (iii) for a teacher who is assigned a computer science course, a bachelor's degree major,
61 master's degree, or doctoral degree in:
62 (A) computer science;
63 (B) computer information technology; or
64 (C) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree that has course
65 requirements that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements of those required for a
66 degree listed in Subsections (1)(e)(iii)(A) and (B).
67 (f) "Title I school" means a school that receives funds under the Elementary and
68 Secondary Education Act of 1965, Title I, 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6301 et seq.
69 (g) "Title I school certificate teacher" means a certificate teacher who is assigned to
70 teach at a Title I school.
71 (2) (a) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall annually appropriate
72 money to the Teacher Salary Supplement Restricted Account established in Section
73 53A-17a-157 to fund the Teacher Salary Supplement Program.
74 (b) Money appropriated for the Teacher Salary Supplement Program shall include
75 money for the following employer-paid benefits:
76 (i) retirement;
77 (ii) workers' compensation;
78 (iii) social security; and
79 (iv) Medicare.
80 (3) (a) (i) The annual salary supplement for an eligible teacher who is assigned full
81 time to teach one or more courses listed in Subsections (1)(c)(i)(A) through (E) is $4,100.
82 (ii) An eligible teacher who has a part-time assignment to teach one or more courses
83 listed in Subsections (1)(c)(i)(A) through (E) shall receive a partial salary supplement based on
84 the number of hours worked in a course assignment that meets the requirements of Subsections
85 (1)(c)(ii) and (iii).
86 (b) The annual salary supplement for a certificate teacher is $750.
87 (c) (i) The annual salary supplement for a Title I school certificate teacher is $1,500.
88 (ii) A certificate teacher who qualifies for a salary supplement under Subsections (3)(b)
89 and (c) may only receive the salary supplement that is greater in value.
90 (4) The board shall:
91 (a) create an online application system for a teacher to apply to receive a salary
92 supplement through the Teacher Salary Supplement Program;
93 (b) determine if a teacher:
94 (i) (A) is an eligible teacher; and
95 (B) has a course assignment as listed in Subsections (1)(c)(i)(A) through (E);
96 (ii) is a certificate teacher; or
97 (iii) is a Title I school certificate teacher;
98 (c) verify, as needed, the determinations made under Subsection (4)(b) with school
99 district and school administrators; and
100 (d) certify a list of eligible teachers, certificate teachers, and Title I school certificate
101 teachers.
102 (5) (a) An eligible teacher, a certificate teacher, or a Title I school certificate teacher
103 shall apply with the board before the conclusion of a school year to receive the salary
104 supplement authorized in this section.
105 (b) An eligible teacher, a certificate teacher, or a Title I school certificate teacher may
106 apply with the board, after verification that the requirements under this section have been
107 satisfied, to receive a salary supplement after the completion of:
108 (i) the school year as an annual award; or
109 (ii) a semester or trimester as a partial award based on the portion of the school year
110 that has been completed.
111 (6) (a) The board shall establish and administer an appeal process for a teacher to
112 follow if the teacher applies for the salary supplement and is not certified under Subsection (4).
113 (b) (i) The appeal process established in Subsection (6)(a) shall allow a teacher to
114 appeal eligibility as an eligible teacher on the basis that the teacher has a degree or degree
115 major with course requirements that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements for
116 a degree listed in:
117 (A) Subsection (1)(e)(i)(A);
118 (B) Subsections (1)(e)(ii)(A) through [
119 (C) Subsections (1)(e)(iii)(A) and (B).
120 (ii) A teacher shall provide transcripts and other documentation to the board in order
121 for the board to determine if the teacher has a degree or degree major with course requirements
122 that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements for a degree listed in:
123 (A) Subsection (1)(e)(i)(A);
124 (B) Subsections (1)(e)(ii)(A) through [
125 (C) Subsections (1)(e)(iii)(A) and (B).
126 (c) (i) The appeal process established under Subsection (6)(a) shall allow a teacher to
127 appeal eligibility as a certificate teacher on the basis that the teacher holds a current certificate.
128 (ii) A teacher shall provide to the board a certificate or other related documentation in
129 order for the board to determine if the teacher holds a current certificate.
130 (d) (i) The appeal process established under Subsection (6)(a) shall allow a teacher to
131 appeal eligibility as a Title I school certificate teacher on the basis that the teacher:
132 (A) holds a current certificate; and
133 (B) is assigned to teach at a Title I school.
134 (ii) A teacher shall provide to the board:
135 (A) information described in Subsection (6)(c)(ii); and
136 (B) verification that the teacher is assigned to teach at a Title I school.
137 (7) (a) The board shall distribute money from the Teacher Salary Supplement
138 Restricted Account to school districts and charter schools for the Teacher Salary Supplement
139 Program in accordance with the provisions of this section.
140 (b) The board shall include the employer-paid benefits described under Subsection
141 (2)(b) in the amount of each salary supplement.
142 (c) The employer-paid benefits described under Subsection (2)(b) are an addition to the
143 salary supplement limits described under Subsection (3).
144 (8) (a) Money received from the Teacher Salary Supplement Restricted Account shall
145 be used by a school district or charter school to provide a salary supplement equal to the
146 amount specified in Subsection (3) for each eligible teacher, certificate teacher, or Title I
147 school certificate teacher.
148 (b) The salary supplement is part of the teacher's base pay, subject to the teacher's
149 qualification as an eligible teacher, a certificate teacher, or a Title I school certificate teacher
150 every year, semester, or trimester.
151 (9) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the appropriation for the program
152 is insufficient to cover the costs associated with salary supplements, the board may limit or
153 reduce the salary supplements.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel