HB298 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Public education employees, including K-12, postsecondary education, and AIDB, salary increase

Summary

HB298 would raise salaries for Alabama public education employees (K-12, two-year colleges, and AIDB) starting in FY 2021-2022, mainly through a 2% pay increase and updated salary schedules.

What This Bill Does

The bill directs funds to education boards to disburse the pay increases beginning in FY2021-2022. It provides a 2% pay increase for certificated K-12 personnel, with the State Minimum Salary Schedule adjusted accordingly. It also provides a 2% pay increase for Education Support Personnel (K-12), AIDB employees (both certificated and support), and two-year postsecondary institution staff, with appropriate updates to local and separate salary schedules. In addition, it includes rules about how increases are applied (including degrees earned, years of experience, and pro rata adjustments for extended contracts) and sets exclusions and implementation details; the act becomes effective immediately and continues in subsequent years, but does not authorize additional increases beyond those specified.

Who It Affects

• Certificated K-12 personnel (teachers) who will receive a 2% pay increase and have their steps and salaries adjusted on the State Minimum Salary Schedule based on experience and degrees.
• Education Support Personnel (K-12), including adult bus drivers and related staff, who will receive a 2% pay increase and have local salary schedules updated.
• Employees of the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB), including certificated and support staff, who will receive a 2% pay increase and have their salary schedules adjusted.
• Employees of two-year postsecondary institutions (community colleges) who will receive a 2% pay increase and be placed on revised salary schedules reflecting prior public education experience.
• Local boards of education and authorities, which must establish and maintain appropriate salary schedules and ensure placement and pay increases are applied, with exceptions noted (e.g., superintendents are not covered by the increases).
• Part-time employees and community education program staff, who may be excluded if designated by local boards, and local salary supplements are generally not affected by the increases.

Key Provisions

• Certificated K-12 personnel receive a 2% increase for FY2021-2022; the State Minimum Salary Schedule is increased by 2% across all steps, with pay tied to degrees earned and years of service.
• Education Support Personnel (K-12) receive a 2% pay increase starting FY2021-2022; part-time base pay also increases by 2%, and separate local salary schedules are required for these employees.
• AIDB employees receive a 2% pay increase for both certificated and education support personnel; separate local schedules are established and part-time rates increase by 2%.
• Two-Year Postsecondary Institutions’ salary schedules are revised to reflect a 2% increase for FY2021-2022, with careful placement based on prior public education experience and no increases beyond 2% unless specified in the act.
• Miscellaneous provisions include pro rata increments for extended contracts beyond 187 days, local increments being additive to local schedules, exclusions for certain local salary supplements and specific programs, and superintendent pay is not automatically increased (requires action by local boards).
• The act takes effect immediately and the specified increases apply to FY2021-2022 and continue in subsequent years, but the act does not authorize additional pay increases beyond those described.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education