(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “County grant for national certification” means an annual grant distributed to a teacher certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards established:
(i) Outside of the collective bargaining process; or
(ii) As part of a collective bargaining agreement with the local employee organization.
(3) “School–based employee” means a certificated employee who works directly with students or teachers at a public school.
(b) (1) For fiscal year 2000 and each subsequent fiscal year, the Governor shall include in each year’s operating budget funding for the stipends and bonuses provided in this subsection.
(2) A classroom teacher or other nonadministrative school–based employee in a public school identified by the State Board as having comprehensive needs who holds a standard professional certificate or an advanced professional certificate who is employed by a county board and who holds a certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall receive a stipend from the State in an amount equal to the county grant for national certification, up to a maximum of:
(i) For fiscal year 2018, $2,000 per qualified individual; and
(ii) For fiscal year 2019 and each fiscal year thereafter, $4,000 per qualified individual.
(3) A classroom teacher or other nonadministrative school–based employee in a school not identified by the State Board as having comprehensive needs who holds a standard professional certificate or an advanced professional certificate who is employed by a county board and who holds a certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards shall receive a stipend from the State in an amount equal to the county grant for national certification, up to a maximum of $1,000 per qualified individual.
(4) To the maximum extent practicable, each public school shall utilize teachers who have obtained National Board Certification in leadership roles within the school.
(5) (i) 1. The State Board shall establish a program to support locally negotiated incentives, governed under Subtitles 4 and 5 of this title, for highly effective classroom teachers and principals to work in public schools that are:
A. In improvement, corrective action, or restructuring;
B. Categorized by the local school system as a Title I school; or
C. In the highest 25% of schools in the State based on a ranking of the percentage of students who receive free and reduced price meals.
2. The program established under subsubparagraph 1 of this subparagraph may include financial incentives, leadership changes, or other incentives.
(ii) 1. The State Board shall adopt guidelines to implement this paragraph.
2. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prohibit a local school system from employing more stringent standards than the guidelines adopted under this subparagraph.
(c) An individual who receives a stipend or bonus under subsection (b) of this section may not be deemed an employee of the State.
(d) The employer of an individual who receives a stipend or bonus under subsection (b) of this section shall pay the increase in fringe benefit costs associated with the stipend or bonus.
(e) The Department shall act as fiscal agent for funds disbursed under this section.