BILL REQ. #:  H-3498.1 

Read first time 01/12/2006.   Referred to Committee on Education.

     AN ACT Relating to salary bonuses for certificated instructional staff attaining state professional certification; adding a new section to chapter 28A.405 RCW; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the professional certification process required of new teachers and experienced teachers from out-of-state is intended to advance their teaching skills and demonstrate their ability to improve student learning. The legislature also finds that professional certification is a rigorous and demanding process, yet the state salary schedule does not recognize these advanced skill levels. Furthermore, teachers often pay substantial costs to complete the programs, but are not reimbursed for their expenses. Therefore the legislature intends to address these inequities by providing a bonus for all teachers who have achieved professional certification.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28A.405 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Certificated instructional staff who have attained a professional certificate under rules adopted by the professional educator standards board or its predecessor agency shall receive an annual bonus beginning the school year immediately following their certification.
     (2) The bonus for professional certification is provided in addition to compensation received under a district's salary schedule adopted in accordance with RCW 28A.405.200 and shall not be included in calculations of a district's average salary and associated salary limitations under RCW 28A.400.200.
     (3) The bonus shall be paid in monthly increments and shall be included in the definition of "earnable compensation" under RCW 41.32.010(10). The amount of the bonus shall be established by the legislature through the omnibus appropriations act and is not part of basic education.