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AN ACT
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relating to creating a temporary certification to teach career and |
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technology education for certain military service members and first |
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responders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.0444 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.0444. TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION FOR CERTAIN MILITARY |
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SERVICE MEMBERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. (a) In this section, "first |
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responder" means a person elected, employed, or appointed as: |
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(1) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of |
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Criminal Procedure; |
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(2) fire protection personnel as defined by Section |
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419.021, Government Code; or |
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(3) emergency medical services personnel as defined by |
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Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) This section applies to a person seeking certification |
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to teach career and technology education who: |
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(1) has served in the armed forces of the United States |
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and was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active |
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duty; or |
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(2) has served as a first responder and, while in good |
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standing and not because of pending or final disciplinary actions |
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or a documented performance problem, retired, resigned, or |
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separated from employment as a first responder. |
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(c) The board shall propose rules under this subchapter |
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providing for the issuance of a temporary certificate to teach |
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career and technology education to a person described by Subsection |
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(b) who meets all other eligibility requirements for standard |
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certification to teach career and technology education, except that |
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the person may substitute for a requirement that the person hold: |
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(1) an associate degree from an accredited institution |
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of higher education, 48 months of active duty military service or |
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service as a first responder; or |
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(2) a bachelor's degree: |
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(A) the military service or service as a first |
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responder described by Subdivision (1); and |
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(B) 60 semester credit hours completed at a |
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public or private institution of higher education with a minimum |
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grade point average of at least 2.50 on a four-point scale. |
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(d) Rules proposed by the board for a temporary certificate |
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issued under this section must provide that the certificate is: |
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(1) valid for no more than three years; |
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(2) limited to a one-time issuance; and |
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(3) not subject to renewal. |
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(e) A person issued a temporary certificate under this |
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section may be issued a standard certificate if the person |
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completes all eligibility requirements required for that |
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certification. |
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(f) A school district shall require a new employee who holds |
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a temporary certificate issued under this section to obtain at |
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least 20 hours of classroom management training, unless the new |
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employee has documented experience as an instructor or trainer |
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during the employee's required 48 months of active duty military |
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service or service as a first responder. |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.458, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), each [Each] |
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school district may assign a mentor teacher to each classroom |
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teacher who has less than two years of teaching experience in the |
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subject or grade level to which the teacher is assigned. A teacher |
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assigned as a mentor must: |
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(1) to the extent practicable, teach in the same |
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school; |
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(2) to the extent practicable, teach the same subject |
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or grade level, as applicable; and |
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(3) meet the qualifications prescribed by |
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commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (b). |
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(a-2) A school district shall assign a mentor teacher to a |
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classroom teacher who has been issued a temporary certificate to |
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teach career and technology education under Section 21.0444 for at |
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least two school years. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Board for Educator Certification shall |
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propose rules relating to temporary certificates to teach career |
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and technology education for certain military service members and |
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first responders as required by Section 21.0444, Education Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 621 was passed by the House on May 2, |
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2023, by the following vote: Yeas 107, Nays 34, 2 present, not |
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voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to |
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H.B. No. 621 on May 23, 2023, and requested the appointment of a |
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conference committee to consider the differences between the two |
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houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report |
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on H.B. No. 621 on May 28, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 113, |
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Nays 25, 2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 621 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 16, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays |
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8; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference |
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committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and |
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that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No. |
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621 on May 28, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |