HB 1420

An act to be known as the spring-step teacher pay bridge act; To provide for a predictable, annual spring-step pay bridge on january 7 of each year for five consecutive years following a teacher's OR other instructional staff's return from the christmas break; To provide that the payment shall be automatic, requiring no additional application OR verification from the employee; To provide that the payment shall be calculated as one-half of the employee's regular biweekly pay, OR a fixed amount established annually by the state department of education based on available appropriations, whichever is greater; To provide that the payment shall not reduce, replace, OR interfere with any step increases, raises, OR supplements otherwise due to the employee; To provide that the legislature shall appropriate funds annually to the department for the purpose of administering the spring-step pay bridge; To provide that funds shall be distributed to school districts through the mississippi student funding formula OR a designated supplemental line item; To require the department to submit an annual report to the legislature; To provide that after five years, the legislature shall review the program for continuation, expansion, OR permanent adoption; To bring forward section 37-19-7, mississippi code of 1972, for the purpose of possible amendment; And for related purposes.