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A.  Effective for the 2003-2004 school year and thereafter, a full-time school social worker who holds both a valid professional ancillary certificate in school social work issued by the state Department of Education and the Certified School Social Work Specialist credential issued by the National Association of Social Workers and who is employed by a school board to provide social work services to students shall receive from the school board, in addition to annual salary, an annual amount of five thousand dollars with such additional amount to be distributed in the same manner as the annual salary provided the amount for such supplement has been appropriated to the state Department of Education for reimbursement pursuant to Subsection C of this Section.

B.(1)  Any school social worker verified to have been awarded the Certified School Social Work Specialist credential issued by the National Association of Social Workers by June thirtieth shall be paid the initial supplement beginning in the school year immediately following such date provided he submits appropriate documentation to the employing school board.

(2)  The school board shall submit the appropriate documentation as required by the Department of Education no later than a date to be determined no later than September 15, 2004, by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for verification of the documentation and in order to receive reimbursement as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

C.  Subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose, the amount of the salary supplement provided by a school board to a school social worker pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be reimbursed to the school board annually by the state Department of Education out of funds appropriated for such purpose.  However, no such reimbursement shall exceed five thousand dollars per year per school social worker.

D.  In addition to any other requirements of this Section, to receive the salary supplement provided by this Section for the fall school term of the 2003-2004 school year, an otherwise eligible person shall have been awarded the initial credential issued by the National Association of Social Workers before July 1, 2003, and shall provide such documentation of validity to the school board prior to September 1, 2003.

E.  The salary supplement of any school social worker authorized by this Section shall continue for a period not to exceed the term of the national certificate as determined by the National Association of Social Workers, which is a period not to exceed two years.  However, such supplement shall continue in effect without interruption as long as the school social worker provides to the school board documentation of renewal by the national board.

F.(1)  The supplements provided for in this Section shall be implemented over a three-year period as follows:

(a)  Those who are entitled to a supplement under this Section in the 2003-2004 school year shall receive one thousand dollars.

(b)  Those who are entitled to a supplement under this Section in the 2004-2005 school year shall receive two thousand five hundred dollars.

(c)  Those who are entitled to a supplement under this Section in the 2005-2006 school year and thereafter shall receive the supplement otherwise provided for in this Section.

(2)  The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection for implementation of payments shall not extend the period of eligibility to receive payments.

G.  For the purposes of this Section, “school board” means the governing authority of any public elementary or secondary school.

Acts 2003, No. 937, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 243, §1, eff. June 15, 2004.

NOTE:  See Acts 2003, No. 937, §2, relative to implementation of the Act and eligibility for the salary supplement.