AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-19-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL SALARY SUPPLEMENT OF $6,000.00, PLUS FRINGE BENEFITS, TO AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WHO HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS AND ACQUIRED INITIAL CERTIFICATION AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST REGISTERED FROM THE NATIONAL BOARD FOR CERTIFICATION IN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, INC., AND WHO IS EMPLOYED BY A LOCAL SCHOOL BOARD OR THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION AS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AND NOT AN ADMINISTRATOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
Summary
SB 2241 amends Mississippi’s teacher salary statute, Section 37-19-7, to add occupational therapists to the list of school employees eligible for a state-funded annual salary supplement. Under the bill, an occupational therapist employed by a local school board or the State Board of Education, and not serving as an administrator, would receive a $6,000 supplement plus fringe benefits if they have obtained initial certification as an Occupational Therapist Registered from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. The bill also sets documentation deadlines for full or prorated eligibility, tying the supplement to certification timing during the school year.
The measure leaves the broader teacher salary schedule and existing supplement structure in place, but expands the group of school-based professionals who can receive the $6,000 incentive. It also preserves existing reimbursement rules for certification costs, including limits on reimbursable expenses and provisions allowing school districts or private entities to pay those costs upfront and be reimbursed by the State Department of Education. The bill would take effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill would amend Section 37-19-7 of the Mississippi Code to explicitly include occupational therapists in the state’s salary-supplement framework for certain nationally certified school employees. As a result, school districts and the State Department of Education would need to administer a new eligibility category, process certification documentation, and pay the supplement and fringe benefits from state funds in the same manner as other qualifying personnel. The bill does not alter the base teacher salary schedule, but it does increase potential state spending for school personnel compensation and certification reimbursements.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears generally supportive of school-based professional compensation and is framed as a targeted pay incentive rather than a controversial policy change. There are no recorded committee transcripts or votes in the provided materials, so there is no evidence of formal opposition or debate in the available record. The caption and structure suggest a straightforward education compensation bill aimed at recognizing occupational therapists alongside other certified school professionals.
Contention
The main policy issue is fiscal: the bill creates an additional recurring state salary supplement and associated fringe-benefit obligation for a new category of employees, which could draw scrutiny from appropriators or budget-conscious lawmakers. A secondary point is eligibility administration, since the supplement is limited to occupational therapists with specific national certification, employed in non-administrative roles, and subject to documentation deadlines for full or prorated payment. No other specific disagreements are documented in the provided materials.