H. B. 2151
(By Delegate Mezzatesta)
[Introduced January 13, 2003; 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 establishing a state minimum salary
supplement for speech-language pathologists and audiologists
who hold certification by the American speech-language-hearing
association.
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 certified
speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
(a) The Legislature finds that achieving national
certification for speech-language pathology and audiology through
the American speech-language-hearing association is a rigorous
process and results in highly trained and capable employees to
provide needed services to the school students of this state. The
Legislature further finds that the national certification is a
valuable professional credential for both public and private
employment. The purpose of this section is to provide an
additional statewide supplement to American speech-language-hearing
association certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists
employed in the public schools to encourage others to attain
certification and to help school systems to employ and retain
certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
(b) In addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable
state minimum salary schedule, each professional educator employed
as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds a
certification by the American speech-language-hearing association
shall, subject to appropriation by the Legislature in a line item
established for the department of education, be paid annually a
supplement in such amount as shall be established by the pro rata
distribution to each qualified person of the legislative
appropriation. The payments shall be paid in equal monthly
installments and shall be considered a part of the state minimum
salaries for teachers.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide speech-language
pathologists and audiologists in the public schools with an annual
state salary supplement as may be appropriated by the Legislature.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.