A bill

to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 59-20-52 so as to ESTABLISH THE GOAL OF PROVIDING THE STATE MINIMUM SALARY SCHEDULE FROM FISCAL YEAR 2029-2030 FORWARD IS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF TEACHER SALARIES, AND TO PROVIDE THE METHOD FOR DETERMINING THIS AVERAGE.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.   Chapter 20, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

   Section 59-20-52.   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 59-20-50 and any other provision of law, the General Assembly establishes the goal of providing the state minimum salary schedule from Fiscal Year 2029-2030 forward is at least equal to or greater than the national average of teacher salaries as projected by the Office of Research and Statistics of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office and provided to the General Assembly during their deliberations on the annual appropriations bill. The national average teacher salary is the average of K4-12 public school teacher salaries of all fifty states in the United States and the District of Columbia. In projecting the national average, the office shall include the South Carolina base teacher salary, all local teacher supplements, and all incentive pay.

SECTION 2.   This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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