The bill proposes a two percent pay increase for various public education employees, including K-12 certificated and support personnel, employees at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, and employees at two-year postsecondary institutions, effective from the fiscal year 2024-2025. It requires revisions to the State Minimum Salary Schedule for certificated employees and mandates local boards of education to place employees on the salary schedule according to their qualifications and experience. The bill also ensures that the pay increase is in addition to any other step increases employees are entitled to and includes provisions for full payment of salaries before the end of the fiscal year, pro rata increments for extended contracts, and clarification that the increase is on top of any local pay increases.

The bill specifies that the pay increase does not apply to salary supplements, bonuses for national certification, the federal portion of JROTC instructor salaries, or superintendents, whose pay increases must be approved by a majority vote. It allows local boards the option to exclude part-time employees of certain programs from the pay increase. The bill includes a severability clause and will become law immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor. It has been passed by the Senate on May 2, 2024, as indicated by the insertion in the text.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-13-231, 16-1-1
Enrolled: 16-13-231, 16-1-1