Bill Text: MS HB459 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Teachers; require State Department of Education to develop incentive package to recruit experienced teachers to "F" school districts.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2020-03-03 - Died In Committee [HB459 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2020-HB459-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2020 Regular Session
To: Education; Appropriations
By: Representative Blackmon
House Bill 459
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CREATE AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE TO ATTRACT EXPERIENCED TEACHERS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED A GRADE OF "F" UNDER THE STATE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM; TO SPECIFY CERTAIN COMPONENTS THAT MAY BE PART OF AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT, INTERVIEW AND RELOCATION EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT, TUITION ASSISTANCE TOWARDS A MASTER'S OR SPECIALIST DEGREE, AND SALARY SUPPLEMENTS; TO REQUIRE TEACHERS ACCEPTING AN INCENTIVE PACKAGE TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE FOR REPAYMENT THROUGH SERVICE IN THE "F" SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: SECTION 1. (1) In order to attract experienced teachers to those school districts that have been assigned an "F" designation under the state accountability system, the State Department of Education shall create an incentive package to be made available to licensed teachers having no less than five (5) years teaching experience who agree to teach in an "F" school district.
(2) The incentive package created under this section may include, but need not be limited to, the following components, as determined by the department subject to the availability of funding:
(a) Loan repayment, in such amount as may be authorized by the department, for outstanding educational debt incurred while the teacher was pursuing a baccalaureate degree in education.
(b) Reimbursement to eligible teachers, from both in state and out of state, who enter into a contract for employment in an "F" district for the expense of moving when the employment necessitates the relocation of the teacher to a different geographical area than that in which the teacher resides before entering into the contract. A school district must apply to the department for approval for reimbursement before relocation occurs. If the reimbursement is approved, the department shall provide funds to the school district to reimburse the teacher an amount not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for the teacher's documented actual moving expenses. The relocation expense reimbursement as part of an incentive package may not be construed to require the actual residence to which a teacher relocates to be within the boundaries of the school district that has entered into a contract for employment with the teacher.
(c) Reimbursement to eligible teachers who interview for employment as a licensed teacher with an "F" school district for the mileage and other actual expenses incurred in the course of travel to and from the interview at a rate authorized for county and municipal employees under Section 25-3-41.
(d) A full or partial financial scholarship, in an amount established by the department, to an approved institution of higher learning in the state for the teacher to pursue a Master of Education degree or an Education Specialist degree while rendering service as a licensed teacher in an "F" school district.
(e) A salary supplement, in an amount not to exceed Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) annually as determined by the department, in addition to other compensation to which the teacher is entitled.
(3) A teacher accepting an incentive package to teach in an "F" school district must enter into an agreement with the State Department of Education in conjunction with the local school board which sets forth the incentives being provided to the teacher and the number of years of service which the teacher must render in the "F" school district in exchange for the incentive package. The agreement must be deemed to be a contract with the State of Mississippi and must include terms for the repayment of the value of the incentive package, prorated for service actually rendered, if the teacher abandons the terms of service established in the agreement. If a claim for payment under this subsection is placed in the hands of a collection agency or attorney for collection, the teacher will be liable for an additional amount equal to a reasonable collection commission or attorney's fee in addition to court costs.
(4) The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary for the proper administration of the incentive program created pursuant to this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2020.
