Capital Pulse April 1, 2022

 Tier 2 passed the Legislature! HB134, by Rep. Alan Baker, would modify the retirement benefits for Tier II members of the Teachers' Retirement System by providing 30-year service retirement and sick leave conversion for employees who were hired on or after January 1, 2013. The bill has now gone to the Governor for signature!

 A Historic Win! After years of AEA working to fix the teacher salary matrix and add steps, the Senate approved changes to the teacher salary matrix that would raise the salaries of experienced teachers between 10-20% – beginning at nine years of service. Adjustments to the salary matrix also included adding steps after 27 years up to 35 years. Teachers who have less than nine years of service would still receive a 4% pay increase. Once signed by the Governor, all pay increases will go into effect October 1, 2022. Click here for the FY23 salary matrix changes.

 HB135, The Education Trust Fund Budget, was approved by the Senate as the largest education budget to ever pass at $8.26 billion. This increased budget includes a 4% pay increase for all K-14 employees and an additional pay increase for substitute teachers. The budget also would allow each school system to receive funding for a technology coordinator, increased instructional supply money from $700 to $900 per classroom, auxiliary teachers in high-needs areas, increased funding for reading coaches, and resources to improve math and reading scores throughout Alabama. The ETF budget will now go back to the House for concurrence before heading to the Governor to be signed into law.

 SB30, the Education Retiree Bonus by Sen. Bobby Singleton, which provides a one-time longevity bonus payment for retirees and beneficiaries of the Teachers' Retirement System, was signed into law by the Governor. It is dictated in the law the checks will be delivered by April 2022.

 SB171, The Alabama Numeracy Act by Sen. Arthur Orr, passed the House on Tuesday and has been forwarded to the Governor. This bill would implement steps to improve mathematics proficiency of public-school kindergarten to fifth-grade students and ensure those students are proficient in mathematics at or above grade level by the end of fifth grade by monitoring the progression of each student from one grade to another, in part, by their proficiency in mathematics. There is no retention language in this bill. AEA staff deeply vetted this bill and worked with legislators to amend the bill to expedite reporting for educators ensuring that no undue burdens are inflicted on educators.

 SB302, the Charter School Bill by Sen. Del Marsh did not move this week and is not expected to move next week, which is the final week of the legislative session.

 SB140, the School Choice Bill by Sen. Del Marsh, is DEAD.

Moving This Week

 2-Year delay of the Alabama Literacy Act on the House Floor next week! SB200, by Sen. Rodger Smitherman– which postpones the implementation of the third-grade retention requirement in the Alabama Literacy Act until the 2023-2024 school year – will be on the House floor Tuesday. CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES  AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT THIS BILL! 

 HB429, by Rep. Nathaniel Ledbetter, would authorize the State Board of Education to phase in the employment of auxiliary teachers to assist classroom teachers with instructional and non-instructional activities in all public schools in the state providing instruction in grades K-3. HB429 passed the House Tuesday and is now headed to the Senate.

 HB442, by Rep. Steve Hurst, would require public K-12 schools and local boards of education to accept all forms of payment, including cash, for admission to school-sponsored sporting events that are open to the public. HB442 passed the House Wednesday and is now headed to the Senate.

 HB435, by Rep. Rich Wingo, would increase the per semester loan repayment award for math and science teachers participating in the AMSTEP program through the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. The Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP) provides student loan repayment for public high school math and science teachers who serve in underserved areas of the state. The loan repayment award would increase from $2,500 to $3,750 per semester for math and science teachers. HB435 passed the House Thursday and now heads to the Senate.

The Alabama Legislature will reconvene Tuesday, April 5^th, for the 27th day of the regular legislative session.

If you have any questions about legislative activity, contact your local AEA UniServ Director. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates. 

 
To find your legislator's contact information, click here.

Remember, while you're busy serving our state's students, we've got your back in the Alabama Legislature!