H1030 - 2016 Appropriations Act. (SL 2016-94)

Overview: Sec. 8.9 of S.L. 2016-94 requires the State Board of Education (SBE), in collaboration with the Department of Commerce (Commerce), to establish the Industry Certifications and Credentials Teacher Bonus Pilot Program (Pilot). Commerce, in consultation with the SBE, must assign a value ranking of $25 or $50 for industry certifications or credentials (certifications) based on academic rigor and employment value. The 2-year Pilot would provide bonus pay of $25 or $50, based on the certification value ranking, per student to those teachers providing direct instruction in courses that led to the student's attainment of certifications.

A teacher bonus awarded under this Pilot may not exceed $2,000 in any given school year. Data from the 2015-2016 school year must be used to award bonuses in January 2017, and data from the 2016-2017 school year must be used to award bonuses in January 2018. The teacher must be employed at the time bonuses are awarded to receive the bonus, and bonuses are not compensation for purposes of the retirement system.

The SBE must study and report to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Fiscal Research Division on the Pilot as follows:

• By March 15, 2017, on the amount of bonuses awarded.
• By March 15, 2018, on the amount of bonuses awarded and the effect of the Pilot on teacher performance and retention. The Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee must also receive this report.

This section became effective July 1, 2016, and expires June 30, 2018.