HCS HB 2281, 2489 & 2537 -- EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL

SPONSOR:  Cunningham (86)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Elementary
and Secondary Education by a vote of 10 to 0.

This substitute changes the laws regarding educational personnel.
In its main provisions, the substitute:

(1)  Requires school districts to publish detailed financial
information on the total compensation package of their
superintendents and assistant superintendents when it exceeds
$100,000 per year and establishes guidelines for the development
of the web site that will contain the financial information;

(2)  Allows two or more adjacent school districts to share a
superintendent if one of the districts is accredited or
provisionally accredited by the State Board of Education;

(3)  Requires the Public School Retirement System of Missouri
when calculating a member's final average salary to disregard any
increase in compensation in excess of 10% from one year to the
next in the final average salary period for the superintendent of
schools or other certified central office personnel of a school
district or 20% for any other member; and

(4)  Makes public some benefit information held by the retirement
system in certain circumstances when retirees return to work at
public schools or colleges.

The substitute contains an emergency clause for the provisions
regarding a member's final average salary.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and
FY 2011.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters of House Bill 2281 say that most teachers
pay their own association dues, but most superintendents' dues
are paid for by the school district.

Supporters of House Bill 2489 say that although the public is
entitled to see an administrator's salary information, many
districts make it difficult.

Supporters of House Bill 2537 say that two districts may share a
superintendent already under certain circumstances.  The bill
makes it possible to do a little more to hold down costs.

Testifying for HB 2281 was Representative Cunningham (86).

Testifying for HB 2489 were Representatives Funderburk and Ervin;
and Americans for Prosperity and Foundation.

Testifying for HB 2537 was Representative Robb.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose House Bill 2281 say that the
decision on who pays dues should be a local control issue.

Those who oppose House Bill 2489 say that these records are
already covered by the Open Meetings and Records Law, commonly
known as the Sunshine Law.

Testifying against HB 2281 were Penney Rector, School
Administrators Coalition; and Cooperating School Districts of
Greater Kansas City.

Testifying against HB 2489 was Penney Rector, School
Administrators Coalition.

OTHERS:  Others testifying on House Bill 2489 say some retirement
records are required by statute to be kept confidential.

Testifying on HB 2489 was Maria Cauwenberg, Public School
Retirement System of Missouri.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm