Sec. 12.133. WAGE INCREASE FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL STAFF

(a) This section applies to a charter holder that on January 1, 2006, operated an open-enrollment charter school.

(b) Each school year, using state funds received by the charter holder for that purpose under Subsection (d), a charter holder that participated in the program under Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, for the 2005-2006 school year shall provide employees of the charter holder, other than administrators, compensation in the form of annual salaries, incentives, or other compensation determined appropriate by the charter holder that results in an average compensation increase for classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time school nurses who are employed by the charter holder and who would be entitled to a minimum salary under Section 21.402 if employed by a school district, in an amount at least equal to $2,500.

(b-1) Using state funds received by the charter holder for that purpose under Subsection (d-1), a charter holder that participated in the program under Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, for the 2005-2006 school year shall provide employees of the charter holder, other than administrators, compensation in the form of annual salaries, incentives, or other compensation determined appropriate by the charter holder that results in average compensation increases as follows:

(1) for full-time employees other than employees who would be entitled to a minimum salary under Section 21.402 if employed by a school district, an average increase at least equal to $500; and

(2) for part-time employees, an average increase at least equal to $250.

(c) Each school year, using state funds received by the charter holder for that purpose under Subsection (e), a charter holder that did not participate in the program under Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, for the 2005-2006 school year shall provide employees of the charter holder, other than administrators, compensation in the form of annual salaries, incentives, or other compensation determined appropriate by the charter holder that results in an average compensation increase for classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time school nurses who are employed by the charter holder and who would be entitled to a minimum salary under Section 21.402 if employed by a school district, in an amount at least equal to $2,000.

(d) Each school year, in addition to any amounts to which a charter holder is entitled under this chapter, a charter holder that participated in the program under Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, for the 2005-2006 school year is entitled to state aid in an amount, as determined by the commissioner, equal to the product of $2,500 multiplied by the number of classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time school nurses employed by the charter holder at an open-enrollment charter school.

(d-1) In addition to any amounts to which a charter holder is entitled under this chapter, a charter holder that participated in the program under Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, for the 2005-2006 school year is entitled to state aid in an amount, as determined by the commissioner, equal to the sum of:

(1) the product of $500 multiplied by the number of full-time employees other than employees who would be entitled to a minimum salary under Section 21.402 if employed by a school district; and

(2) the product of $250 multiplied by the number of part-time employees.

(e) Each school year, in addition to any amounts to which a charter holder is entitled under this chapter, a charter holder that did not participate in the program under Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, for the 2005-2006 school year is entitled to state aid in an amount, as determined by the commissioner, equal to the product of $2,000 multiplied by the number of classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time school nurses employed by the charter holder at an open-enrollment charter school.

(f) A payment under this section is in addition to wages the charter holder would otherwise pay the employee during the school year.

Added by Acts 2006, 79th Leg., 3rd C.S., Ch. 5 , Sec. 4.02, eff. May 31, 2006.