Gerdes Bill Pays Returning Grads Like 5-Year Employees

The text as introduced · 218 words

89R9022 ANG-F

By: Gerdes
H.B. No. 2499

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to placement on the minimum salary schedule for certain

public school employees.

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

SECTION 1. Section 21.403, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, an employee who is

employed as a classroom teacher, full-time librarian, full-time

school counselor certified under Subchapter B, or full-time school

nurse and who has less than five years of experience is entitled to

salary step credit for at least five years of experience if, not

later than one year after the date on which the employee earned a

bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree, the employee is

employed:

(1) by the district from which the employee received a

high school diploma; and

(2) at a district campus located within a county with a

population of 150,000 or less.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026

school year.

SECTION 3. 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. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.