H. B. 4045


(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates

Pethtel, Mezzatesta, Poling and Varner)


[Introduced January 16, 2002; referred to the

Committee on Education then Finance.]




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-b, relating to creating the equitable compensation act; and establishing a state minimum salary supplement for professional personnel holding a nationally recognized professional certification in speech-language pathology or audiology.

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-b, to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.
§18A-4-2b. State minimum salary supplement for professional personnel with recognized national certification in speech-language pathology or audiology.

(a)(1) The Legislature finds that achieving a nationally recognized professional certification in speech-language pathology or audiology involves a rigorous process of demonstrating both knowledge and skills and results in highly trained and capable employees. Individuals who attain the national professional certification provide needed and essential services to the school students of this state and, consequently, should be treated equitably. National professional certification in speech-language pathology or audiology is a valuable professional credential for both public and private employment.
(2) The Legislature further finds that national teacher certification is not available to all professionals who help educate the school students of this state, including speech language pathologists and audiologists who hold certification equivalent to national teacher certification.
(3) Therefore, the purpose of this section is to provide an additional statewide supplement for certain professional personnel employed in the public schools who hold a nationally recognized professional certification in speech-language pathology or audiology that is equivalent to a national teacher certification, to treat the professional certification equally, to encourage others to attain such a certification and to help school systems employ and retain professional personnel with these certifications.
(b) This section may be known and cited as the "Equitable Compensation Act."
(c) In addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable state minimum salary schedule, each professional personnel employed as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds a certification by the American speech-language-hearing association is annually entitled to, subject to appropriation by the Legislature in a line item established for the department of education, a supplement in the same amount as is paid to other teachers who have qualified for national certification and as established by the pro rata distribution to each qualified person of the legislative appropriation. The payments shall be paid in equal monthly installments and are a part of the state minimum salaries for teachers.



NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Equitable Compensation Act that establishes a state minimum salary supplement for professional personnel holding a nationally recognized professional certification in speech-language pathology or audiology.

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