A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT enacting the CORPORAL PRUITT RAINEY brass to class act, which directs the state board of education to establish rules for awarding credit for prior work experience given to certain veterans for the purpose of placing them on state salary schedules.
Whereas, formal education and training for both officers and enlisted ranks includes a tremendous breadth and depth of credentialed, technical, and vocational training, which is applied operationally for years with additional follow‑up support and continuing education; and
Whereas, in addition to technical and vocational training, many military members who spend more than one tour and certainly multiple tours in uniform take one or several professional military education courses of study; and
Whereas, select members of the military complete unique, rigorous programs that are the envy of some of the best graduate and postgraduate institutions in the United States, and these professional military education programs are college programs and certainly worthy of credit; 
Whereas Corporal Pruitt Rainey, North Carolina native and star high school wrestler, served during Operation Enduring Freedom and wished to become a physical education teacher and wrestling coach but was killed in action at the age of 22 on July 13, 2008, in the Battle of Wanat, Afghanistan; this act is named in his memory; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  The State Board of Education shall establish rules for awarding credit for salary purposes to principals, assistant principals, and teachers who served in the Armed Forces of the United States and who have retired or who have received an Honorable Discharge. The rules shall include the following provisions:
(1)	One full year of experience credit shall be awarded for each year of full‑time relevant nonteaching work experience completed (i) while on active military duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and (ii) after earning a bachelor's degree.
(2)	One full year of experience credit shall be awarded for each two years of full‑time relevant nonteaching work experience completed (i) while on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States and (ii) before earning a bachelor's degree.
(3)	One full year of experience credit shall be awarded for every two years of full‑time instructional or leadership duties while on active military duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, regardless of academic degree held while in instruction or leadership roles.
SECTION 2.  The State Board of Education shall establish specific criteria within the rules for determining the relevance of nonteaching work experience earned while on active military duty that shall be credited toward an individual's total licensure experience rating for salary purposes. The criteria shall include the following components:
(1)	A clearly defined process to explore, identify, recognize, and quantify the breadth and depth of career experiences, formal professional military education, and pertinent credentials of military veterans.
(2)	A transparent and timely decision‑making process for awarding complete credit for pertinent experience and education.
(3)	A process for reviewing and accepting military transcripts and corresponding American Council on Education (ACE) recommendations for awarding academic and experiential credit.
SECTION 3.  The State Board shall have continuing authority to cap nonteaching experience credit for Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructors as their pay formula includes both a State and federal funding component.
SECTION 4.  The State Board of Education shall report to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by February 28, 2014, on the rules drafted to implement this act.
SECTION 5.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies to military veterans initially employed by local school administrative units in the 2014‑2015 school year and beyond.