HCS HB 1041 -- SCHOOL PERSONNEL

SPONSOR:  Cunningham (86)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Education
by a vote of 17 to 7.

This substitute requires successor school districts to ensure
access to continuation of health care for retired teachers and
employees of a district that lapses, is merged or divided, or
otherwise loses its corporate structure, if the original district
provided health care benefits at the time of its dissolution.
The substitute permits districts to offer hiring incentives and
salary schedule modifications under certain circumstances to both
tenured and probationary teachers.  The substitute also prohibits
public school personnel from performing strip searches on
students and reduces the annual requirement for bus drivers over
the age of 70 to have a criminal background check.  The annual
re-examination remains the same, but the background check will
occur every three years.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that hiring and retention incentives
are necessary for attracting and keeping teachers in shortage
areas, and districts should be able to offer them without fear of
litigation.  The possibility of a district's retirees finding
themselves without health insurance if a district lapses needs to
be addressed in statute.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Cunningham (86);
Missouri State Teachers Association; American Board for
Certification of Teaching Excellence; U. S. Department of
Education; Frederick Springsteel; and Missouri School Boards
Association.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that incentive pay is
divisive.  Methods already exist to compensate teachers through
extra duties and other more objectively measurable means.

Testifying against the bill were Southwestern Superintendents
Association; and Missouri National Education Association.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on the bill say care must be taken
when privileging one certification route over another (in
reference to a part of the bill that was deleted).

Others testifying on the bill was School Administrators
Coalition.

Becky DeNeve, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
92nd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 23, 2004 at 11:14 am