The proposed bill amends sections of the North Dakota Century Code to establish the authority of school boards and center boards to offer first-year signing bonuses to newly hired teachers. Specifically, it allows school districts to provide a signing bonus to individuals who are licensed or approved by the education standards and practices board, have signed a contract of employment, and were not classroom teachers in the state during the previous school year. The bill stipulates that these bonuses are in addition to any negotiated teachers' contract amounts and cannot be included in the district's salary schedule or counted as salary for continuing contract purposes.

Additionally, the bill modifies existing provisions regarding the powers and duties of center boards, allowing them to offer similar signing bonuses under the same conditions. It clarifies that the signing bonuses can be paid in a lump sum or in installments over a period not exceeding five years. The bill also includes specific restrictions on the eligibility of individuals who were employed in the same role by another school district in the previous year. This legislation is declared an emergency measure, indicating its immediate importance for the recruitment of teachers in North Dakota.

Statutes affected:
Adopted by the House Education Committee: 15-20.2-07
FIRST ENGROSSMENT: 15-20.2-07
Adopted by the Senate Workforce Development Committee: 15-20.2-07, 15.1-09-33.1