Bill Text: TX SB119 | 2017 | 85th Legislature 1st Special Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to bonuses for public school classroom teachers and state assistance for the Texas Public School Employees Group Insurance Program; making an appropriation.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-08-04 - Filed [SB119 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB119-Introduced.html
  85S12349 LED/MM-D
 
  By: Uresti S.B. No. 119
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to bonuses for public school classroom teachers and state
  assistance for the Texas Public School Employees Group Insurance
  Program; making an appropriation.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) The amount of $193 million of the
  unencumbered appropriations from the general revenue fund for the
  state fiscal biennium ending August 31, 2019, made by Chapter 605
  (S.B. 1), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the
  General Appropriations Act), to the Health and Human Services
  Commission is transferred to the Texas Education Agency to be used
  by the agency to provide the following bonuses to public school
  classroom teachers:
               (1)  a bonus of $600 to be paid in September 2018 for
  each classroom teacher with at least 6 but less than 11 years of
  teaching experience at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year;
  and
               (2)  a bonus of $1,000 to be paid in September 2018 for
  each classroom teacher with at least 11 years of teaching
  experience at the beginning of the 2018-2019 school year.
         (b)  The Health and Human Services Commission shall identify
  the strategies and objectives out of which the transfer under
  Subsection (a) of this section is to be made.
         (c)  A bonus provided to a public school classroom teacher in
  accordance with Subsection (a) of this section is not considered in
  determining whether a school district is paying the teacher the
  minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402, Education Code.
         (d)  The Texas Education Agency shall provide a bonus under
  this section only to a person employed as a public school classroom
  teacher at the time the bonus is paid.
         SECTION 2.  (a) The amount of $212.7 million is appropriated
  from the economic stabilization fund to the Teacher Retirement
  System of Texas for use as provided by this section.
         (b)  The amount of $212 million of the unencumbered
  appropriations from the general revenue fund for the state fiscal
  biennium ending August 31, 2019, made by Chapter 605 (S.B. 1), Acts
  of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017 (the General
  Appropriations Act), to the Health and Human Services Commission is
  transferred to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas for use as
  provided by this section.
         (c)  The Health and Human Services Commission shall identify
  the strategies and objectives out of which the transfer under
  Subsection (b) of this section is to be made.
         (d)  The Teacher Retirement System of Texas may use the money
  appropriated under Subsection (a) of this section and transferred
  under Subsection (b) of this section to:
               (1)  reduce costs, including premiums, deductibles,
  and prescription drug copayments, for participants in the Texas
  Public School Employees Group Insurance Program authorized by
  Chapter 1575, Insurance Code, during the 2018 and 2019 plan years;
  and
               (2)  reduce the premium and maximum out-of-pocket cost
  for an enrolled adult child with a mental disability or a physical
  incapacity during the 2018 and 2019 plan years.
         (e)  The Teacher Retirement System of Texas shall determine
  the most efficient allocation of the money appropriated under
  Subsection (a) of this section and transferred under Subsection (b)
  of this section to achieve the maximum benefit for participants in
  the program.
         SECTION 3.  (a) Subject to Subsection (b) of this section:
               (1)  this Act takes effect immediately if it receives a
  vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution; and
               (2)  if this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
  immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the
  last day of the legislative session.
         (b)  This Act takes effect only if it receives a vote of
  two-thirds of the members present in each house of the legislature,
  as provided by Section 49-g(m), Article III, Texas Constitution.
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