Amends TCA Section 37-5-119.

Under present law, each teacher in the special school district shall receive annual compensation at a rate of one tenth times 12 of the annual compensation in effect in the county in which the respective youth development center and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner of children's services are located, or one tenth times 12 of the average of the annual compensation of all the counties that are contiguous with the county in which the respective youth development centers and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner are located, whichever is greater, solely out of the state appropriations made to the respective youth development centers and any other facilities deemed appropriate by the commissioner.<br /> <br /> Present law prohibits:<br /> <br /> (1) The above provision from acting to reduce the compensation currently paid to a teacher in the special school district; and<br /> <br /> (2) Certain longevity from being paid to teachers in the special school district.<br /> <br /> Present law requires federal funding resources, to the extent such resources are available, to be utilized to meet increased costs resulting from implementation of the above provisions.<br /> <br /> This bill deletes all of the above.<br /> <br /> ON FEBRUARY 27, 2023, THE SENATE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED SENATE BILL 244, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to delete present law and replace it with the following: <br /> <br /> (1) Each teacher in the special school district must receive an annual compensation rate at the start of the teacher's employment in the special school district that is no less than the average annual compensation rate for teachers in the county in which the respective youth development center is located;<br /> <br /> (2) Each teacher in the special school district who has completed an annual performance review cycle on or before July 1, 2023, is eligible for merit pay, salary increases, bonuses, and other benefits implemented after July 1, 2023, in the same manner as other preferred service employees; and<br /> <br /> (3) Teachers in the special school district are eligible for longevity pay consistent with other law. <br /> <br /> This amendment also clarifies that the provisions above do not reduce the compensation currently paid to a teacher in the special school district.<br />