Rep. Matt Boehnke has introduced a bill that would provide an opportunity for all K-12 instructional staff to receive a yearly bonus of roughly $5,000.

Since 2000, the Legislature has provided a bonus for K-12 instructional staff who have attained certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. However, certain staff, such as occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, school nurses, school social workers, and school psychologists have not been eligible for the bonus because their field is not included in the same certification process.

Under House Bill 2012, if the individuals in these professions attain national certification through the relevant national professional association for their field, they will receive the same annual bonus as their colleagues.

Another provision of the bill states that individuals working in high-poverty schools would receive an extra bonus on top of their annual certification bonus.

“I want to make sure that we, as a Legislature, make it clear just how much we value all of the incredibly dedicated instructional school staff members in our state,” said Boehnke, R-Kennewick. “This bill would help us do that.”

The 2019 session began Jan. 14 and is scheduled to run for 105 consecutive days.