A bill that would set a $60,000 minimum salary for Connecticut teachers and award $1,000 bonuses to those who taught in public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic advanced out of the legislature's Education Committee on Wednesday.

Under the proposal, known as Senate Bill 381, the state would subsidize the cost of the higher minimum salaries and fund the "recognition payments" using federal pandemic-relief money. The bill would also establish new standards for teacher termination and grant educators greater discretion in their role as mandatory reporters of abuse and neglect.

The measure drew support Wednesday from Democrats and some Republicans, while other Republicans objected, questioning the need for minimum salaries and arguing the provision was unlikely to become law given the tight state budget. Three lawmakers who taught during the pandemic abstained from voting on the bill because it would financially benefit them.

Having cleared the Education Committee, the proposal now advances to the Appropriations Committee, which must approve any measure affecting the state budget. With little room under the state's fiscal guardrails for new spending this session, minimum teacher salaries appear unlikely to become law this year, though other provisions in the bill could be more likely.

It is not yet clear what minimum teacher salaries or recognition payments would cost the state.

Before the Education Committee's vote Wednesday, Rep. Mitch Bolinsky, R-Newtown, questioned why teachers should be singled out for bonuses not available to other lawmakers. Rep. Greg Howard, R-Stonington, said he supported the one-time payment to teachers but objected to the idea of setting a minimum starting salary.

"I think it's outside of the realm of this legislature to mandate minimum salaries in union contracts," Howard said, before questioning the purpose of bills "we know really aren't going to make it."

At a public hearing last week, dozens of teachers testified in favor of minimum salaries and COVID bonuses. Some told stories of their experiences during the pandemic, while others warned that inadequate pay was fueling a teacher shortage in many districts statewide.

"This bill ensures that our students receive the best possible education and that educators and the teaching profession are valued and respected," wrote one veteran teacher from Milford.

A proposal to establish a minimum salary for teachers also drew support last year but was not ultimately included in the state budget negotiated between lawmakers and the governor.

In addition to the bill concerning teacher salary, the Education Committee also advanced measures simplifying the teacher certification process, creating new restrictions around school discipline and moving the State Board of Education under the authority of the education department, among several other proposals.

Those measures now advance to the broader legislation for further consideration.