,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #gjcb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #ac1 #bjbf,mr4 ,garca of ,illinois 7for himself1 ,mrs4 ,hayes1 ,mrs4 ,grijalva1 ,mr4 ,casar1 ,ms4 ,craig1 ,mr4 ,krishnamoorthi1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,mr4 ,landsman1 ,mr4 ,johnson of ,georgia1 ,ms4 ,budzinski1 ,mrs4 ,cherfilus-,mc,cormick1 ,mr4 ,carbajal1 ,mr4 ,garcia of ,california1 ,mr4 ,carson1 ,ms4 ,chu1 ,ms4 ,tokuda1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,mr4 ,evans of ,pennsylvania1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,stansbury1 ,mr4 ,boyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,mrs4 ,ramirez1 ,mr4 ,thanedar1 ,ms4 ,garcia of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,wilson of ,florida1 and ,mr4 ,davis of ,illinois7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to ensure that paraprofessionals and education support staff are paid a living wage4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,pay ,paraprofessionals and ,support ,staff ,act4 #b4 ,pay ,paraprofessionals and ,education ,support ,staff ,act 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,,esea ,the terms ,english learner1 local educational agency1 paraprofessional1 professional development1 ,secretary1 and ,state have the meanings given the terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,annual adjustment percentage ,the term annual adjustment percentage means1 with respect to a fiscal year1 a percentage equal to the estimated percentage change in the ,consumer ,price ,index1 as determined by the ,secretary1 for the most recent calendar year ending prior to the beginning of such fiscal year4 7#c7 ,minimum salary for paraprofessional and education support staff 7,a7 ,in general ,the term minimum salary for paraprofessional and education support staff means an amount1 determined by the ,state1 that all full-time equivalent employees employed by a local educational agency are required by the ,state to be compensated by such agency as their annual base salary1 and which-- 7i7 is greater than the amount described in subparagraph 7,b72 and 7ii7 increases as the experience of such school staff increases4 7,b7 ,indexing salary growth to inflation 7i7 ,fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj ,for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj1 the amount described in this subparagraph is #de1jjj4 7ii7 ,fiscal years #bjca and after ,for each fiscal year in the fiscal year period #bjca through #bjce and in each subsequent #e fiscal year period1 the amount described this subparagraph shall be equal to the amount applicable for each fiscal year in the previous #e fiscal year period1 increased by the greater of-- 7,i7 the aggregate annual adjustment percentage over the previous #e fiscal years2 or 7,,ii7 #b percent of the amount applicable under this subsection for the previous #e fiscal year period4 7#d7 ,minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support staff 7,a7 ,in general ,the term minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support staff means an amount1 determined by the ,state1 that all part-time equivalent staff employed by a local educational agency are required by the ,state to be paid by such agency1 and which-- 7i7 is greater than the amount described in subparagraph 7,b72 and 7ii7 increases as the experience of such school staff increases4 7,b7 ,indexing salary growth to inflation 7i7 ,fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj ,for each of fiscal years #bjbf through #bjcj1 the amount described in this subparagraph is #cj4jj an hour4 7ii7 ,fiscal years #bjca and after ,for each fiscal year in the fiscal year period #bjca through #bjce and in each subsequent #e fiscal year period1 the amount described this subparagraph shall be equal to the amount applicable for each fiscal year in the previous #e fiscal year period1 increased by the greater of-- 7,i7 the aggregate annual adjustment percentage over the previous #e fiscal years2 or 7,,ii7 #b percent of the amount applicable under this subsection for the previous #e fiscal year period4 7b7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to ensure that paraprofessionals and education support staff1 who are the backbone of our ,nation's public education system1 are-- 7#a7 paid a living wage1 which means-- 7,a7 a minimum salary for paraprofessional and education support staff2 or 7,b7 a minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support staff2 7#b7 compensated in a manner that recognizes some regions may have higher costs of living and therefore necessitate higher minimum salaries or wages2 7#c7 recognized as public servants who provide essential services that keep our ,nation's public schools running and our students thriving2 and 7#d7 provided safe working conditions and treated with the respect and dignity they deserve4 7c7 ,authorization and appropriations ,in addition to amounts otherwise available1 there are authorized to be appropriated and there are appropriated out of any money in the ,treasury not otherwise appropriated1 to the ,department of ,education1 to carry this section-- 7#a7 for fiscal year #bjbf1 #be1jjj1jjj1jjj2 and 7#b7 for each succeeding fiscal year1 the amount appropriated under this section for the preceding fiscal year1 increased by the annual adjustment percentage4 7d7 ,authorization of grants 7#a7 ,reservations ,from the total amount appropriated under subsection 7c7 for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall reserve not more than-- 7,a7 #a percent to provide grants1 contracts1 or cooperative agreements to regional educational laboratories 7established under section #agd of the ,education ,sciences ,reform ,act of #bjjb 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iefd77 or qualified nonprofit organizations to assist ,states that receive grants under this section carry out applied research or evaluations in providing paraprofessionals and education support staff with opportunities for personnel preparation1 professional development1 credentials1 or certifications1 such as to assist in the provision of special education and related services or to serve ,english learners2 and 7,b7 #a percent for technical assistance and program administration of this section4 7#b7 ,grants ,the ,secretary shall award grants to ,states from allotments under paragraph 7#c7 to ensure that all local educational agencies have the resources necessary to pay paraprofessionals and education support staff a living wage1 which means-- 7,a7 the minimum salary for paraprofessional and education support staff2 or 7,b7 a minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support staff4 7#c7 ,allotments ,from the amounts appropriated under subsection 7b7 that are remaining after making the reservations described in paragraph 7#a7 for a fiscal year1 the ,secretary shall allot to each ,state that has submitted an approved application under subsection 7d71 an amount that bears the same relationship to the remainder as the amount the ,state received under part ,a of title ,i of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #fcaa et seq47 for the preceding fiscal year bears to the amount all ,states received under that subpart for the preceding fiscal year4 7e7 ,state application ,in order to receive a grant under this section1 a ,state shall submit an application to the ,secretary at such time1 in such manner1 and including such information as the ,secretary may reasonably require1 including the following3 7#a7 ,a timeline1 consistent with the goals required under paragraph 7#b71 to ensure that1 not later than #d years after the receipt of a grant under this section-- 7,a7 the annual base salary of a full-time equivalent employee employed by a local educational agency in the ,state is not less than the minimum salary for paraprofessional and education support staff1 as determined by the ,state2 and 7,b7 all part-time equivalent staff employed by a local educational agency in the ,state are paid not less than the minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support staff1 as determined by the ,state4 7#b7 ,for each fiscal year in the timeline specified in paragraph 7#a71 statewide annual goals for increasing average salary or wage baselines of paraprofessionals and education support staff in a manner that-- 7,a7 annually proposes a percentage increase in the average wage or salary of paraprofessionals and education support staff2 7,b7 provides for the first increase to occur not later than the second fiscal year a ,state receives a grant under this section2 and 7,c7 makes significant progress toward ensuring that1 by the end of the timeline described in subparagraph 7,a7-- 7i7 the annual base salary of a full-time equivalent employee employed by a local educational agency in the ,state is not less than the minimum salary for paraprofessional and education support staff1 as determined by the ,state2 and 7ii7 all part-time equivalent staff employed by a local educational agency in the ,state are paid not less than the minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support staff1 as determined by the ,state4 7#c7 ,the ,state's proposed formula to subgrant funds to local educational agencies as described in subsection 7g7 in a manner that ensures-- 7,a7 local educational agencies that serve a high number or percentage of students from low-income backgrounds receive substantial subgrant allocations that enable such agencies to meet the requirements described in subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 of paragraph 7#a7 not later than #b years after the receipt of a subgrant2 and 7,b7 all remaining local educational agencies in the ,state meet the ,state's requirements in the timeline described in paragraph 7#a74 7f7 ,improving paraprofessional and school staff wages and salaries 7#a7 ,state reservation ,a ,state that receives a grant under this section may reserve not more than #b percent of the total grant amount received by the ,state for technical assistance1 administrative purposes1 and statewide efforts to provide paraprofessionals and education support staff with opportunities for personnel preparation1 professional development1 credentials1 or certifications1 such as to assist in the provision of special education and related services or to serve ,english learners4 7#b7 ,improving wages and salaries 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 a ,state that receives a grant under this section shall ensure that1 within a timeline determined by the ,state under subsection 7e77#a7 and approved by the ,secretary-- 7i7 the annual base salary of a full-time equivalent employee employed by a local educational agency in the ,state is not less than the minimum salary for paraprofessional and education support staff1 as determined by the ,state2 and 7ii7 all part-time equivalent staff employed by a local educational agency in the ,state are paid not less than the minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support staff1 as determined by the ,state4 7,b7 ,timing ,the ,secretary shall ensure that1 by not later than #d years after the date of implementation of the final regulations issued under this ,act1 each ,state that receives a grant under this section meets the salary and wage requirements specified in subparagraph 7,a74 7g7 ,subgrants to local educational agencies 7#a7 ,allocation ,each ,state shall allocate not less than #ih percent of the grant funds awarded to the ,state under this section as subgrants to local educational agencies 7including charter schools that are local educational agencies7 in the ,state under the formula determined by the ,state under subsection 7e77#c7 and approved by the ,secretary4 7#b7 ,uses of subgrant funds ,a local educational agency that receives a subgrant under paragraph 7#a7-- 7,a7 shall use the subgrant funds to comply with the ,state's requirements in accordance with subsection 7e7 guaranteeing that no full-time equivalent employee of the agency is paid less than the minimum salary for paraprofessional and education support staff and no part-time equivalent employee of the agency is paid less than the minimum wage for paraprofessional and education support staff2 and 7,b7 may use subgrant funds-- 7i7 to increase salaries or wages for teachers1 paraprofessionals1 specialized instructional support personnel1 classified school employees1 principals1 other school leaders1 school librarians1 school bus drivers1 and other staff across their careers2 and 7ii7 to provide paraprofessionals and education support staff with opportunities for personnel preparation1 professional development1 credentials1 or certifications1 such as to assist in the provision of special education and related services or to serve ,english learners4 7#c7 ,contracted staff 7,a7 ,in general ,a local educational agency that receives a subgrant under this section shall ensure that staff employed by such agency or in any contract such agency enters into1 are paid an amount not less than the minimum salary for paraprofessionals and education support staff or the minimum wage for paraprofessionals and education support staff in the ,state4 7,b7 ,monitoring ,a ,state that receives a grant under this section shall monitor local educational agencies for compliance with subparagraph 7,a74 7h7 ,rules 7#a7 ,rule of construction for collective bargaining 7,a7 ,in general ,subject to subparagraph 7,b71 nothing in this ,act shall be construed to alter or otherwise affect the rights1 remedies1 and procedures afforded to school or local educational agency employees under ,federal1 ,state1 or local laws 7including applicable regulations or court orders7 or under the terms of collective bargaining agreements1 memoranda of understanding1 or other agreements between such employers and their employees4 7,b7 ,compliance ,subparagraph 7,a7 shall not be construed to exempt a ,state1 local educational agency1 or school from complying with salary or wage requirements in this ,act or from negotiating in compliance with ,state labor laws to comply with this ,act4 7#b7 ,rule of construction for additional pay or other salary augmenting systems ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to prevent ,states or local educational agencies from supplementing the annual base salary of teachers1 paraprofessionals1 education support staff1 or other staff employed by such agencies-- 7,a7 for additional skills1 knowledge1 duties1 and responsibilities2 7,b7 by salary systems that increase teachers' compensation through supplemental pay that is not part of an annual base salary2 or 7,c7 through the provision of bonuses1 stipends1 or awards4 7#c7 ,no waiver authority ,section #hdja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghfa7 shall not apply to this ,act4 7#d7 ,supplement not supplant 7,a7 ,in general ,a ,state shall use ,federal funds received under this ,act only to supplement the funds that would1 in the absence of such ,federal funds1 be made available from ,state and local sources for elementary and secondary education1 and not to supplant ,state and local funds4 7,b7 ,compliance ,the ,secretary shall use funds described in subsection 7d77#a77;,b7 to administer programs authorized under this subpart and to issue technical assistance to ,states and to monitor and enforce the requirements under such programs4