REFERENCE TITLE: teachers; nonadministrative staff; pay increases

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HB 2779

Introduced by

Representatives Schwiebert: Aguilar, Bravo, De Los Santos, Gutierrez, Pawlik, Seaman, Terech

An Act

appropriating monies to the department of education.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Appropriation; department of education; teacher salaries; nonadministrative staff pay; exemption; intent; definition

A. In addition to any other base-level increase provided for fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of $1,204,682,240 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the department of education for the following purposes:

1. To increase the base level for fiscal year 2023-2024 prescribed in section 15-901, subsection B, paragraph 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, to raise the average salary of teachers in this state to equal the median salary of public schoolteachers in the United States.

2. To raise the average pay of nonadministrative staff of the schools who provide services directly to students, including school counselors and librarians, by $4 per hour.

B. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.

C. The legislature intends that the appropriation made in subsection A of this section be considered ongoing funding in future years.

D. For the purposes of this section, "teacher" means any nonadministrative personnel who instruct students or support student academic achievement as prescribed by the school district governing board or charter school governing body, including certified teachers, classroom teachers, early childhood teachers, mentor teachers, instructional coaches and academic interventionists.