SECTION 1. Chapter 71, Section 40 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out, the words “shall be at a rate of not less than eighteen thousand dollars or at a rate not less than twenty thousand dollars,” and inserting in place thereof the following words:- “shall be at a rate of not less than sixty-five thousand dollars for teachers and shall be at a rate of not less than forty thousand dollars for paraprofessionals or teachers aides or staff who provide educational services directly to students and does not require a state license for their position.”

SECTION 2. Chapter 71, Section 40 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section: Beginning in fiscal year 2025, any district whose total compensation amount is greater than its total compensation amount for the previous year shall be reimbursed by the commonwealth in accordance with this paragraph and subject to appropriation; provided, however, that no funds for said compensation shall be deducted from funds distributed pursuant to chapter 70. The compensation amount shall be equal to 100 per cent of the increase in the year in which the increase occurs; 60 per cent of that amount in the first year following; 40 per cent of that amount in the second year following; and 20 per cent of that amount in the third year following

SECTION 3. Chapter 71, Section 40 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the following “Any city, town, regional school district, educational collaborative or independent vocational school district which currently employs teachers at salaries below eighteen thousand dollars or below twenty thousand dollars and which accepts the minimum salary provisions of this section for school years commencing after July first, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven shall receive a minimum teacher salary grant from the commonwealth in fiscal years nineteen hundred and eighty-eight and nineteen hundred and eighty-nine equal to the cost incurred by such city, town, collaborative or regional school district during said fiscal years as a result of increasing the minimum teacher salary to eighteen thousand dollars or to twenty thousand dollars, as designated by the vote of the school committee and the appropriating authority thereof, for each teacher whose salary was below that level prior to July first, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven and for each teacher hired after June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven whose salary was below that level at any time between July first, nineteen hundred and eighty-seven and June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and eighty-nine.”