05 LC 22
5816
House
Bill 625
By:
Representatives Jamieson of the
28th
and Oliver of the
83rd
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
provide findings of the General Assembly; to amend Subpart 2 of Part 6 of
Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to conditions of employment of certificated personnel, so as to provide
for a 10 percent increase in state salary for certain nationally certified
school psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors; to provide
for additional qualifications; to provide for terms and conditions; to provide
different terms and conditions for such school psychologists, school social
workers, and school counselors who become nationally certified on and after a
specified date; to provide for an annual roster of persons eligible for the
salary increase; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
The
General Assembly finds that:
(1)
The process for certification by the National School Psychology Certification
Board requires:
(A)
Earning a six-year degree or 60 hours of graduate courses;
(B)
Passing the PRAXIS II exam in school psychology;
(C)
Completion of a portfolio documenting qualifications for the certification;
and
(D)
Completion of 1,200 hours of internship;
(2)
The process for certification by the National Association of Social Workers
requires:
(A)
Earning a
masteŕs
degree in social work;
(B)
Two
yearś
work in a school setting;
(C)
Certification or licensure by the state in school social work;
(D)
Documentation and recommendation by a supervisor who is a certified school
social worker; and
(E)
Passing the American Social Work Board exam; and
(3)
The process for certification by the National Board for Certified Counselors
requires:
(A)
Earning a
masteŕs
degree;
(B)
Certification or licensure by the state as a school counselor;
(C)
Completion of three
yearś
work as a school counselor, including 3,000 hours of counseling
students;
(D)
Documentation of qualifications for certification; and
(E)
Passing the National Certified School Counselor Exam.
SECTION
2.
Subpart
2 of Part 6 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to conditions of employment of certificated
personnel, is amended by inserting a new Code section to be designated Code
Section 20-2-212.5 to read as follows:
"20-2-212.5.
(a)
As used in this Code section, the term:
(1)
'High-needs school' means a Georgia public school that has received an
unacceptable rating for a period of two or more consecutive years.
(2)
'National certification' means certification as a Nationally Certified School
Psychologist from the National School Psychology Certification Board, as a
Certified School Social Work Specialist by the National Association of Social
Workers, or as a National Certified School Counselor by the National Board for
Certified Counselors.
(b)
For initial national certification prior to July 1, 2006, and subsequent
renewals anytime thereafter, any person who:
(1)
Has completed three years of satisfactory performance as a school psychologist,
school social worker, or school counselor in a public school system in the
state;
(2)
Holds a valid Georgia certificate as a school psychologist, school social
worker, or school counselor; and
(3)
Has received national certification
shall
receive not less than a 10 percent rate increase in state salary at the
commencement of the 2006-2007 school year. The increase in state salary provided
by this subsection shall be in addition to any other increase for which the
person is eligible. The 10 percent increase shall be computed based on the state
salary for such individual when national certification is received and
recomputed each subsequent year based on the
individuaĺs
state salary for that school year.
(c)
Any person who was enrolled in the process, as determined by the Professional
Standards Commission, of attaining national certification on or before December
31, 2004, and who obtains initial certification and subsequent renewals after
July 1, 2006, shall be eligible for salary increases pursuant to subsection (b)
of this Code section if such person otherwise meets the requirements of
subsection (b) of this Code section.
(d)
For initial national certification on and after July 1, 2006, and subsequent
renewals anytime thereafter, any person who:
(1)
Is currently serving in a high-needs school as a school psychologist, school
social worker, or school counselor, and holds a valid Georgia certificate as a
school psychologist, school social worker, or school counselor, as defined by
the Professional Standards Commission; and
(2)
Has received national certification
shall
receive not less than a 10 percent rate increase in state salary for each year
he or she holds national certification. Such increase shall be awarded beginning
on the date such certification is received. The 10 percent increase shall be
computed based on the state salary for such individual when national
certification is received. A school psychologist, school social worker, or
school counselor who transfers to a high-needs school after such individual
receives national certification shall receive such increase beginning on the
effective date of transfer if the school psychologist, school social worker, or
school counselor meets the requirements of this subsection, and such increase
shall be computed based on the state salary for such individual on the effective
date of the transfer. Provided that such individual remains employed in a
high-needs school or in a school that was designated as a high-needs school at
the time the individual received national certification or transferred to such
school and otherwise continues to meet the requirements of this subsection, the
10 percent increase shall be recomputed each subsequent year based on such
individuaĺs
state salary for that school year. The increase in state salary provided by this
subsection shall be in addition to any other increase for which the person is
eligible.
(e)
The Professional Standards Commission shall provide annually to the Department
of Education a roster of school psychologists, school social workers, and school
counselors who have attained and retained national certification and are
eligible for the annual increase provided for by subsections (b) and (d) of this
Code
section."
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.