FISCAL NOTE

House Bill 175 as passed the House of Representatives expands the provisions of the Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE), to incorporate computer science teachers pursuant to Act 2019-389; and provides further for the eligibility of teachers to participate in AMSTEP. This bill provides that qualifying teachers endorsed in computer science shall be eligible for $3,000 per year, or $1,500 per semester worked, for a maximum of four consecutive years and are eligible for an additional $1,000 per year, or $500 per semester worked, for a maximum of four consecutive years if certain criteria is met. This bill provides that a recipient of AMSTEP funds satisfying the employment requirement shall continue to receive an award for the four-year limit if the employing school retains its acute shortage designation or the school is removed from the failing school list, but shall no longer qualify for the supplement if they leave an acute shortage school or a failing school.

In addition, this bill provides for a rehearing process for any person or institution aggrieved by ACHE’s actions with the decision of the rehearing being final.

This bill would increase the obligations of AMSTEP by up to $7,500 for each teacher which qualifies to participate in the program that otherwise would not have qualified.