SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California lawmakers want to exempt teachers from paying state income tax as a means of attracting new talent to a profession plagued by high turnover and a perception of low pay.

Democratic state Sens. Henry Stern and Cathleen Galgiani introduced Senate Bill 807 to allow the state’s educators to deduct the cost of obtaining a teaching certificate from their state income taxes over five years, and to avoid paying taxes on their income until 2027, the Sacramento Bee reports.

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The legislation cites statistics from the California State Teachers’ Retirement System as justification for the tax breaks, though the exact cost of the lost taxes is unclear.

“Over 30 percent of new teachers in California leave the profession in the first five years. According to the California State Teachers’ Retirement system, teachers leave the profession at a rate six times greater than other public employees, and 50 percent faster than first resonders,” the legislation reads.

“The shortage of teachers in California is reaching critical levels in a number of teaching disciplines and geographic areas of the state and is projected to get worse with the oncoming wave of baby boomer retirements,” it continues.

“Aspiring teachers in California often report the path for completing requirements for a preliminary credential, induction, and clearing a credential is uneven and costly. Some teachers face unexpected mandatory paycheck deductions and program closures for training required to clear a credential and legally teach in California, making it unnecessarily difficult to remain in teaching.”

The Sacramento Bee points out that the current teaching shortage has forced the state to help fill in the gaps with temporary permits, waivers and other measures that allow teachers without full credentials to staff classrooms.

Stern, who represents Los Angeles, thinks his bill will help fix the problem.

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“The teaching profession is critical to California’s economic success and impacts every vocation and profession in the state,” he said in a statement. “SB 807 addresses the immediate teacher shortage and sends a loud and clear message across the state and nation: California values teachers.”

SB 807, which backers allege equates to a roughly 4 percent to 6 percent salary increase, is expected to receive a committee hearing by the end of the month, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The pro-reform education advocacy group EdVoice is “pushing hard for passage,” according to the news site.

“It’s time California leads the nation and sends a clear message to all current and future teachers: You are valued and California will reward your commitment to California’s kids and future,” EdVoice president Bill Lucia said.

Data from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing illustrates the teaching profession’s downward spiral over the last decade.

“In the 2014-15 school year, enrollments in teacher preparation programs dropped to 20,881 – down 40% from 2010-11 and 73% from 2001-02,” the Times reports.

The California Teachers Association is expected to take a position on the legislation at its state council meeting this month, the Bee reports.