MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2023 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Darnell
AN ACT TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAM TO RECOGNIZE TEACHERS WHO ACHIEVE PERFECT ATTENDANCE DURING A SEMESTER; TO REQUIRE THE PAYMENT OF A $500 SALARY SUPPLEMENT TO TEACHERS HAVING PERFECT ATTENDANCE; TO EXCLUDE CERTAIN ABSENCES FOR PROFESSIONAL REASONS FROM CONSIDERATION OF A TEACHER'S ATTENDANCE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. (1) The school board of each school district shall establish a program to recognize teachers who achieve perfect attendance during a semester. Under the program, a teacher who has a record of perfect attendance for an entire semester will receive a salary supplement in the amount of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), subject to the availability of funding, at the conclusion of each semester in which the teacher achieves perfect attendance.
(2) For purposes of this section, a teacher has perfect attendance whenever the teacher has not used any of the teacher's vacation, personal or sick leave allowance, as provided for under Section 37-7-307, during the semester. A teacher's use of professional leave due to an absence that is caused by reason of the teacher's statutorily required membership and attendance at a regular or special meeting held within the state of the State Board of Education, the Commission on Teacher and Administrator Education, Certification and Licensure and Development, the Commission on School Accreditation, the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television, meetings of the state textbook rating committees or other meetings required by the school board may not be considered when determining whether or not the teacher has achieved perfect attendance.
(3) A salary supplement paid to a teacher for perfect attendance is in addition to all other compensation and benefits to which the teacher is entitled. A school district may not reduce the compensation of any teacher who receives a salary supplement under this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2023.