House Bill 521

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO EXECUTE CONTRACTS WITH LICENSED EMPLOYEES BY COMPLETING A UNIFORM EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND TO REQUIRE ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE UNIFORM EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT FORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37-9-23, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-9-23. The superintendent shall enter into a contract with each assistant superintendent, principal, licensed employee and person anticipating graduation from an approved teacher education program or the issuance of a proper license before October 15 or February 15, as the case may be, who is elected and approved for employment by the school board. Such contracts shall be written by completing the uniform employment contract prescribed by the State Board of Education and shall be executed in duplicate with one (1) copy to be retained by the appropriate superintendent and one (1) copy to be retained by the principal, licensed employee or person recommended for a licensed position contracted with. The contract shall show: the name of the district; the school or building location to which the employee is assigned; the number of employment days covered by the contract; the beginning and ending dates of the contract year; the length of the school term; the length of the school day and the employee's workday; the name or title of the employment position held (whether an assistant superintendent, principal or licensed employee); the subject or subjects to be taught, if any; the scholastic years which the contract covers; the total amount of the annual salary; and how the salary is payable, including the time and date of payment. The amount of salary to be shown in such contract shall be the amount which shall have been fixed and determined by the school board, but, as to the licensed employees paid in whole or in part with adequate education program funds, such salary shall not be less than that required under the provisions of Chapter 19 of this title. The contract entered into with any person recommended for a licensed position who is anticipating either graduation from an approved teacher education program before September 1 or December 31, as the case may be, or the issuance of a proper license before October 15 or February 15, as the case may be, shall be a conditional contract and shall include a provision stating that the contract will be null and void if, as specified in the contract, the contingency upon which the contract is conditioned has not occurred. If any superintendent, other than those elected, principal, licensed employee or person recommended for a licensed position who has been elected and approved shall not execute and return the contract within ten (10) days after same has been tendered to him for execution, then, at the option of the school board, the election of the licensed employee and the contract tendered to him shall be void and of no effect.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2006.