44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

RELATING TO EDUCATION; PROVIDING SALARY INCREASES AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXAMINATION EXPENSES FOR TEACHERS WHO ARE CERTIFIED BY THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS; ENACTING A NEW SECTION OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE;

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of the Public School Code is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] TEACHERS CERTIFIED BY THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS--SALARY INCREASE--REIMBURSEMENT FOR EXAMINATION EXPENSE.--A teacher who takes the examination to become certified by the national board for professional teaching standards shall have his salary increased by twenty percent and shall be reimbursed for the examination expense of two thousand dollars ($2,000), if:

A. the teacher passes the examination and is certified by the national board for professional teaching standards; and

B. the teacher prepared for the examination on his own time and not during regular school hours."

Section 2. APPROPRIATION.--Three hundred thousand dollars ($300,000) is appropriated from the general fund to the state department of public education for expenditure in fiscal year 2000 for the purpose of making equitable distributions to school districts for the expenses incurred by school districts when teachers are certified by the national board for professional teaching standards. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2000 shall revert to the general fund.

Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 1999.