HB 1420

AN ACT TO BE KNOWN AS THE SPRING-STEP TEACHER PAY BRIDGE ACT; TO PROVIDE FOR A PREDICTABLE, ANNUAL SPRING-STEP PAY BRIDGE ON JANUARY 7 OF EACH YEAR FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE YEARS FOLLOWING A TEACHER'S OR OTHER INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF'S RETURN FROM THE CHRISTMAS BREAK; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PAYMENT SHALL BE AUTOMATIC, REQUIRING NO ADDITIONAL APPLICATION OR VERIFICATION FROM THE EMPLOYEE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PAYMENT SHALL BE CALCULATED AS ONE-HALF OF THE EMPLOYEE'S REGULAR BIWEEKLY PAY, OR A FIXED AMOUNT ESTABLISHED ANNUALLY BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BASED ON AVAILABLE APPROPRIATIONS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER; TO PROVIDE THAT THE PAYMENT SHALL NOT REDUCE, REPLACE, OR INTERFERE WITH ANY STEP INCREASES, RAISES, OR SUPPLEMENTS OTHERWISE DUE TO THE EMPLOYEE; TO PROVIDE THAT THE LEGISLATURE SHALL APPROPRIATE FUNDS ANNUALLY TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADMINISTERING THE SPRING-STEP PAY BRIDGE; TO PROVIDE THAT FUNDS SHALL BE DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGH THE MISSISSIPPI STUDENT FUNDING FORMULA OR A DESIGNATED SUPPLEMENTAL LINE ITEM; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO PROVIDE THAT AFTER FIVE YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE SHALL REVIEW THE PROGRAM FOR CONTINUATION, EXPANSION, OR PERMANENT ADOPTION; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 37-19-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.