H. B. 4045
(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates
Pethtel, Mezzatesta, Poling and Varner)
[Introduced January 16, 2002; referred to the
Committee on Education then Finance.]
A BILL to amend article four, chapter eighteen-a of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section
two-b, relating to creating the equitable compensation act;
and establishing a state minimum salary supplement for
professional personnel holding a nationally recognized
professional certification in speech-language pathology or
audiology.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article four, chapter eighteen-a of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section two-b,
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4. SALARIES, WAGES AND OTHER BENEFITS.
§18A-4-2b. State minimum salary supplement for professional
personnel with recognized national certification in
speech-language pathology or audiology.
(a)(1) The Legislature finds that achieving a nationally
recognized professional certification in speech-language pathology
or audiology involves a rigorous process of demonstrating both
knowledge and skills and results in highly trained and capable
employees. Individuals who attain the national professional
certification provide needed and essential services to the school
students of this state and, consequently, should be treated
equitably. National professional certification in speech-language
pathology or audiology is a valuable professional credential for
both public and private employment.
(2) The Legislature further finds that national teacher
certification is not available to all professionals who help
educate the school students of this state, including speech
language pathologists and audiologists who hold certification
equivalent to national teacher certification.
(3) Therefore, the purpose of this section is to provide an
additional statewide supplement for certain professional personnel
employed in the public schools who hold a nationally recognized professional certification in speech-language pathology or
audiology that is equivalent to a national teacher certification,
to treat the professional certification equally, to encourage
others to attain such a certification and to help school systems
employ and retain professional personnel with these certifications.
(b) This section may be known and cited as the "Equitable
Compensation Act."
(c) In addition to any amounts prescribed in the applicable
state minimum salary schedule, each professional personnel employed
as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds a
certification by the American speech-language-hearing association
is annually entitled to, subject to appropriation by the
Legislature in a line item established for the department of
education, a supplement in the same amount as is paid to other
teachers who have qualified for national certification and as
established by the pro rata distribution to each qualified person
of the legislative appropriation. The payments shall be paid in
equal monthly installments and are a part of the state minimum
salaries for teachers.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the Equitable Compensation Act that establishes a state minimum salary supplement
for professional personnel holding a nationally recognized
professional certification in speech-language pathology or
audiology.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and
underscoring have been omitted.
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