COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

H. B. 2349


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegate Trump)

[By Request of the Executive]

(Originating in the Committee on Finance)

(March 2, 1999)


A BILL to amend article four, chapter eighteen-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section two-a, relating to providing a salary bonus for classroom teachers who hold a valid certificate issued by the National Board of Professional Teaching standards.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article four, chapter eighteen-a of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section two- a, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.
§18A-4-2a. State minimum salary bonus for classroom teachers with National Board Certification.

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the rigorous standards and process for certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) helps to promote the quality of teaching and learning. Therefore, classroom teachers in the public schools of West Virginia should be encouraged to achieve national board certification through an additional salary bonus which reflects their additional certification to be paid in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.
(b) One thousand dollars shall be paid annually to each classroom teacher who holds a valid certificate at the conclusion of the first semester issued by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Utilizing current funds appropriated to the department of education, the payment shall be dispersed to the qualifying classroom teacher at the conclusion of the first semester by the department of education.


This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.