HR1582: HR1582 House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensation; create

26 LC 65 0084 House Resolution 1582 By: Representatives Rice of the 139th, Erwin of the 32nd, Dubnik of the 29th, Donatucci of the 105th, Hilton of the 48th, and others A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Veteran Teacher Compensat ion; and for other1 purposes.2 WHEREAS, protecting and strengthening the teacher workforce are key priorities for this3 state, the General Assembly, and the House of Representatives; and4 WHEREAS, experienced veteran educators provide skilled instruction to students and serve5 as an invaluable resource in the mentoring of their less experienced peers; and6 WHEREAS, Georgia's current state-wide teacher salary schedule does not include any salary7 step increases after 21 years of service; and8 WHEREAS, while some school districts provide further step incre ases through local9 supplements, other school districts are unable to provide similar step increases with current10 resources; and11 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia is currently experiencing a persistent and ongoing teacher12 shortage; and13 H. R. 1582 - 1 - 26 LC 65 0084 WHEREAS, Teachers Retirement System of Georgia reports the average length of service14 for teachers is currently 25.5 years, several years short of the full-retirement service length15 of 30 years; and16 WHEREAS, the lack of salary increases in the later stages of a teacher's career fails to17 recognize the value veteran teachers bring to the profession and contributes to higher attrition18 rates; and19 WHEREAS, in December 2025, the Georgia Roundtable for Strategic Educator Recruitment20 and Retention recommended an additional salary step at Year 28 to encourage continued21 service in its "Strategic Plan for Educator Recruitment and Retention"; and22 WHEREAS, further study on this issue is needed to study and identify the most beneficial23 and cost-effective way to recognize the importance of veteran teachers and properly reward24 and incentivize their continued retention in the workforce.25 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:26 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee27 on Veteran Teacher Compensation.28 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of six members of the29 House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of30 Representatives. The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson31 of the committee.32 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,33 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or34 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.35 H. R. 1582 - 2 - 26 LC 65 0084 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee36 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or37 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and38 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.39 (5) Allowances and funding.40 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided41 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.42 (B) The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member43 of the committee for more than five days unless additional days are authorized. Funds44 necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds45 appropriated to the House of Representatives.46 (6) Report.47 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that48 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the49 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to50 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.51 (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for52 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)53 of this paragraph.54 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of55 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.56 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with57 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.58 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the59 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu60 thereof.61 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2026.62 H. R. 1582 - 3 -