House Bill 1047

(As Passed the House)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE TASK FORCE ON TEACHER ATTRITION, RETENTION AND GROWTH IN MISSISSIPPI; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO STUDY CERTAIN MATTERS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON ITS FINDINGS; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO PRESENT A REPORT ON ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) The Task Force on Teacher Attrition, Retention and Growth in Mississippi is created to study and report on its findings and recommendations on those matters enumerated in subsection (3) of this section. The task force shall be composed of the following twenty-four (24) members:

(a) The Chairmen of the House and Senate Education Committees;

(b) The Chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees;

(d) The Bureau Director for the Center of Teacher Recruitment of the State Department of Education, or his designee;

(e) The Bureau Director for the Office of Educator Licensure of the State Department of Education, or his designee;

(f) Eight (8) persons who represent the state's schools of education, with one (1) person being appointed by the Commissioner of Higher Education from the school of education at each state institution of higher learning;

(g) One (1) person who represents the Mississippi Association of Educators, to be appointed by its executive director;

(h) One (1) person who represents the Mississippi School Board Association, to be appointed by its executive director;

(i) One (1) person who represents the Mississippi Association of School Superintendents, to be appointed by its executive director;

(j) Four (4) educators, one (1) from each Supreme Court District and one (1) at large, all to be appointed by the Governor, who represent each level of public education: pre-kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school;

(k) The superintendent of a local school district, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; and

(l) One (1) person who is recognized as an expert in early childhood, primary and secondary education, to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.

(2) All members of the task force must be appointed within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act. The task force shall hold its first meeting no later than August 1, 2010, on the call of the Governor at a place designated by him. At that first meeting, the task force shall elect from among its membership a chairman and other officers, if any, determined to be necessary. A majority of the membership of the task force shall constitute a quorum, and an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force shall be required for all actions taken. All members must be notified in writing of all meetings at least five (5) days before the date on which a meeting of the task force is scheduled.

(3) (a) The task force shall conduct a comprehensive study in the areas of teacher salaries, teacher growth rates as determined by the number of prospective teachers currently enrolled in education programs, the adequacy of teacher resources and support, working conditions, professional development, tangible resources and teacher incentives.

(b) Before January 2, 2011, the task force shall submit a written report presenting its findings and recommendations regarding the teacher attrition, retention and growth in Mississippi to the Governor and to all members of the Legislature for consideration during the 2011 Regular Session.

(4) Members of the task force, other than the legislative members, shall receive reimbursement for travel expenses incurred while engaged in official business of the task force in accordance with Section 25-3-41. Legislative members of the task force shall receive the compensation authorized for committee meetings when the Legislature is not in session. Payment of these expenses must be from funds made available specifically for such purpose by the Legislature or from any other public or private source.

(5) The State Department of Education and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, acting jointly, shall provide appropriate staff support to assist the task force in carrying out its duties. Each agency shall designate an appropriate employee to act as a point of contact for the provision of staff support to the task force.

(6) Upon presentation of its report, the task force shall be dissolved.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.