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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill makes certain speech-language pathologists and audiologists eligible for the
11 Teacher Salary Supplement Program.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ defines terms;
15 ▸ makes certain speech-language pathologists and audiologists eligible for the
16 Teacher Salary Supplement Program; and
17 ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 53F-2-504, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2021, Chapter 328
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26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 53F-2-504 is amended to read:
28 53F-2-504. Teacher Salary Supplement Program.
29 (1) As used in this section:
30 (a) "Educator" means the same as that term is defined in Section 53E-6-102.
31 [
32 (i) has a qualifying educational background or qualifying teaching background;
33 (ii) has a supplement-approved assignment that corresponds to the teacher's qualifying
34 educational background or qualifying [
35 (iii) qualifies for the teacher's supplement-approved assignment in accordance with
36 state board rule; and
37 (iv) is a new employee or received at least a satisfactory rating on the teacher's most
38 recent evaluation.
39 [
40 (i) computer science; or
41 (ii) computer information technology.
42 [
43 (i) integrated science;
44 (ii) chemistry;
45 (iii) physics;
46 (iv) physical science; or
47 (v) general science.
48 [
49 (i) for a teacher who is assigned a secondary school level mathematics course:
50 (A) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree in mathematics; or
51 (B) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree that has course
52 requirements that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements for a bachelor's degree
53 major, master's degree, or doctoral degree in mathematics;
54 (ii) for a teacher who is assigned a grade 7 or 8 integrated science course, chemistry
55 course, or physics course:
56 (A) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree in a field of science;
57 or
58 (B) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree that has course
59 requirements that are substantially equivalent to the course requirements of those required for a
60 bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree in a field of science;
61 (iii) for a teacher who is assigned a computer science course:
62 (A) a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree in a field of
63 computer science; or
64 (B) 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 bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or doctoral degree in a field of computer science; [
67 (iv) for a teacher who is assigned to teach special education, a bachelor's degree major,
68 master's degree, or doctoral degree in special education[
69 (v) for a speech-language pathologist, a bachelor's degree major, master's degree, or
70 doctoral degree in speech-language pathology; or
71 (vi) for an audiologist, a master's degree or doctoral degree in audiology.
72 [
73 (i) the teacher has [
74 Utah public schools for at least 10 years; or
75 (ii) the teacher has a professional deaf education license issued by the state board.
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77 (i) teach:
78 [
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81 [
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83 [
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85 (ii) provide speech-language pathology services in a public school; or
86 (iii) provide audiology services in a public school.
87 (h) "Teacher" means an educator who:
88 (i) has an assignment to teach in a classroom;
89 (ii) is a speech-language pathologist; or
90 (iii) is an audiologist.
91 (2) (a) Subject to future budget constraints, the Legislature shall:
92 (i) annually appropriate money to the Teacher Salary Supplement Program to maintain
93 annual salary supplements for eligible teachers provided in previous years; and
94 (ii) provide salary supplements to new recipients.
95 (b) Money appropriated for the Teacher Salary Supplement Program shall include
96 money for the following employer-paid benefits:
97 (i) retirement;
98 (ii) workers' compensation;
99 (iii) Social Security; and
100 (iv) Medicare.
101 (3) (a) The annual salary supplement for an eligible teacher who is assigned full-time
102 to a supplement-approved assignment is $4,100 and funded through an appropriation described
103 in Subsection (2).
104 (b) An eligible teacher who is assigned part-time to a supplement-approved assignment
105 shall receive a partial salary supplement based on the number of hours worked in the
106 supplement-approved assignment.
107 (4) The state board shall:
108 (a) create an online application system for a teacher to apply to receive a salary
109 supplement through the Teacher Salary Supplement Program;
110 (b) determine if a teacher is an eligible teacher;
111 (c) verify, as needed, the determinations made under Subsection (4)(b) with school
112 district and school administrators; and
113 (d) certify a list of eligible teachers.
114 (5) An eligible teacher shall apply to the state board, as provided by the board to
115 receive the salary supplement authorized in this section in accordance with state board rule
116 made in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act.
117 (6) (a) The state board shall establish and administer an appeal process for a teacher to
118 follow if the teacher applies for a salary supplement and does not receive a salary supplement
119 under Subsection (8).
120 (b) (i) The appeal process established in Subsection (6)(a) shall allow a teacher to
121 appeal eligibility as an eligible teacher with a qualifying educational background on the basis
122 that the teacher has a degree or degree major with course requirements that are substantially
123 equivalent to the qualifying educational background associated with the teacher's
124 supplement-approved assignment.
125 (ii) A teacher shall provide transcripts and other documentation to the state board in
126 order for the state board to determine if the teacher has a degree or degree major with course
127 requirements that are substantially equivalent to the qualifying educational background
128 associated with the teacher's supplement-approved assignment.
129 (c) (i) The appeal process established under Subsection (6)(a) shall allow a teacher to
130 appeal eligibility as an eligible teacher with a qualifying [
131 the basis that the teacher has a qualifying [
132 (ii) The teacher shall provide to the state board evidence to verify that the teacher has a
133 qualifying [
134 (7) (a) The state board shall distribute money appropriated to the Teacher Salary
135 Supplement Program to school districts and charter schools for the Teacher Salary Supplement
136 Program in accordance with the provisions of this section.
137 (b) The state board shall include the employer-paid benefits described under
138 Subsection (2)(b) in the amount of each salary supplement.
139 (c) The employer-paid benefits described under Subsection (2)(b) are an addition to the
140 salary supplement limits described under Subsection (3).
141 (8) (a) Money received from the Teacher Salary Supplement Program shall be used by
142 a school district or charter school to provide a salary supplement equal to the amount specified
143 in Subsection (3) for each eligible teacher.
144 (b) The salary supplement is part of an eligible teacher's base pay, subject to eligible
145 teacher's qualification as an eligible teacher every year, semester, or trimester.
146 (9) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the appropriation for the program
147 is insufficient to cover the costs associated with salary supplements, the state board may
148 distribute the funds in the Teacher Salary Supplement Program on a pro rata basis.