GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1991

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1364

Short Title:  Teacher/St. Emp'ee Raises.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Barnes, Nesbitt, Hackney, Hensley, Fitch, Dickson, Diamont, Miller, Stamey, Fussell, Payne; Ethridge, Gottovi, Hightower, Jeffus, Justus, Luebke, McLawhorn, Oldham, and Redwine.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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May 28, 1992

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TOWARD THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE AND FOR A RAISE FOR ALL OTHER STATE EMPLOYEES.
Whereas, in 1989, the General Assembly began the process of implementing a rational and equitable pay schedule for public school teachers; and
Whereas, the General Assembly anticipated completing the implementation of the salary schedule during the 1991-92 fiscal year but was unable to do so because of severe budgetary constraints; and
Whereas, because no funds were appropriated for the 1991-92 fiscal year towards implementation of the teacher salary schedule, teachers with no years of experience and teachers with one year of experience received the same salary for the 1991-92 school year; and
Whereas, when the teacher salary schedule is fully implemented, this "bunching" at the lower end of the salary schedule will be eliminated and each teacher will be paid based on teaching experience; and
Whereas, sound personnel policy makes it imperative that the General Assembly appropriate funds toward the implementation of the teacher salary schedule during the 1992-93 fiscal year; and
Whereas, since the 1965-66 fiscal year, only two of the pay raises and one bonus granted by the General Assembly to State employees have included a lump sum amount for each State employee; and 
Whereas, by consistently giving State employees percentage pay increases instead of lump sum increases, the General Assembly has created an enormous discrepancy between the upper and lower end of the State employee salary schedule; and
Whereas, State employees at the lower end of the salary schedule are experiencing great financial difficulties because of the condition of the economy and the cost-of-living; and
Whereas, a lump sum salary increase will, on a percentage basis, benefit most the employees at the lower end of the salary schedule and will slightly reduce the percentage gap between the upper and lower ends of the salary schedule; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Reserve for State Employees Salary Increases the sum of sixty-two million two hundred thousand dollars ($62,200,000) for the 1992-93 fiscal year to provide a lump-sum raise for each State employee and each school employee except for teachers; provided however, the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina may allocate the funds it receives for the salary increment for its employees in positions exempt from the State Personnel Act according to rules adopted by the Board of Governors.
Sec. 2.  There is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Reserve for State Employees Salary Increases the sum of nine million two hundred thousand dollars ($9,200,000) for the 1992-93 fiscal year to provide a lump-sum raise for each State employee.
Sec. 3.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Reserve for Teacher Salary Increases the sum of forty-two million three hundred thousand dollars ($42,300,000) for the 1992-93 fiscal year to be used toward the implementation of a teacher salary schedule.
Sec. 4.  There is appropriated from the Highway Fund to the Reserve for Teacher Salary Increases the sum of three hundred ninety-one thousand dollars ($391,000) for the 1992-93 fiscal year to be used toward the implementation of a teacher salary schedule.
Sec. 5.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1992.