House Bill 574

AN ACT TO IMPOSE A MORATORIUM ON SALARY INCREASES PROVIDED TO CERTAIN ADMINISTRATORS OF SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS IF THE SCHOOL OR DISTRICT IN WHICH SUCH ADMINISTRATOR OVERSEES THE DAILY OPERATIONS OF HAS BEEN RATED AS A "D" OR "F" SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS; TO PROVIDE THAT SUCH PENALTY IS APPLICABLE TO EACH INDIVIDUAL AND REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, REGARDLESS OF SCHOOL OR SCHOOL DISTRICT OF EMPLOY IN THE STATE; TO MAKE THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT APPLICABLE TO PERSONNEL HIRED WITHIN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S CENTRAL OFFICE WHO SERVE IN ANY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY; TO PROHIBIT SCHOOL BOARDS FROM ENTERING INTO EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS PROVIDING FOR AN INCREASE IN COMPENSATION TO ANY CLASS OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) (a) Notwithstanding any laws of the State of Mississippi to the contrary, from July 1, 2015, until June 30, 2018, there shall be instituted a moratorium on salary increases awarded to any school district administrator, whether assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent or superintendent if such administrator serves as assistant principal or principal of a school rated as a "D" or "F" for two (2) consecutive years, or if such administrator serves as assistant superintendent or superintendent in a school district rated "D" or "F" for two (2) consecutive years, respectively.

(b) The implications of this moratorium shall be applicable to any individual school administrator described in the preceding paragraph (a) above regardless of his or her school or school district of administrative employment. If by reason of resignation or termination that an above described administrator ceases employment with the "D" or "F" rated school or school district respective to the individual's duties and responsibilities associated with administering the daily operations of the school or district, upon acquiring employment elsewhere in the affected school district or a new district within the state, the moratorium shall remain effective as to the individual administrator. Additionally, the provisions of this section shall apply to any and all personnel hired within the school district's central office to serve in any chief administrative capacity.

(2) From and after July 1, 2015, until the expiration of the moratorium imposed under the provisions of this act, the board of trustees of any public school district under the authority of the State Department of Education shall not enter into or renew any contract for employment that provides for a compensation increase to any class of individuals described in subsection (1) of this section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.