SB 41 - This act defines a Rural School District as any school district which contains any part of either a third or fourth class county, has a current assessed valuation which is less than thirty million dollars, and has a current membership which is less than or equal to six hundred pupils.

This act creates a program of signing bonuses for newly- hired teachers in rural school districts. An annual signing bonus of $2000 will be given for a period of up to five consecutive years, provided the teacher is employed in the current year with a rural school district in a full-time teaching position.

A "newly-hired teacher" must be employed by the district as a full time teacher for the first time in the current school year, beginning no later than February first. Neither a substitute teacher nor any teacher who has been a "newly-hired teacher" in a previous school year is eligible to be a "newly- hired teacher".

The signing bonus shall be in addition to the base salary to which the teacher would otherwise be entitled. Teachers receiving the signing bonus shall receive any pay and benefits received by teachers of similar training, experience, and duties. The signing bonus shall be provided no later than one month following the commencement of employment as a newly-hired teacher.

This act is similar to SB 697 (2002).
DONALD THALHUBER