S.B. No. 95
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the recruitment of teachers, including assistance in
1-2 the repayment of student loans for teachers.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
1-5 amended by adding Section 11.37 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 11.37. TEACHER RECRUITMENT. (a) The commissioner of
1-7 education may coordinate and administer a comprehensive program to
1-8 identify the need for teachers in specific subject areas and
1-9 geographic regions and to encourage members of minority groups to
1-10 enter the teaching profession. In coordinating the program, the
1-11 commissioner shall consider the efforts of existing programs for
1-12 recruiting minorities into the teaching profession, including those
1-13 authorized under Section 13.050 of this code. The commissioner
1-14 shall give priority to implementing this program from the agency's
1-15 discretionary funds.
1-16 (b) The commissioner may implement a plan to identify
1-17 talented secondary school students and to attract them to the
1-18 teaching profession. In cooperation with the commissioner, the
1-19 principal of each high school in the state shall appoint a
1-20 volunteer teacher as the teacher recruiting officer for the school
1-21 to assist in providing information about the merits of the teaching
1-22 profession and in identifying and encouraging talented students to
1-23 become teachers. At least once each school year, the commissioner
1-24 shall sponsor a meeting in each regional education service center
2-1 area of the teacher recruiting officers from each high school in
2-2 that area to provide the officers the opportunity to share
2-3 information and written materials about the teacher recruitment
2-4 program.
2-5 (c) The commissioner shall encourage the business community
2-6 to cooperate with local schools to develop recruiting programs
2-7 designed to attract and retain capable teachers. The commissioner
2-8 shall encourage the business community to provide summer employment
2-9 opportunities for teachers.
2-10 (d) The commissioner shall encourage major education
2-11 associations to cooperate in developing a long-range program
2-12 promoting teaching as a career and to assist in identifying local
2-13 activities and resources that may be used to promote the teaching
2-14 profession.
2-15 (e) Any funds solicited for or received from any public or
2-16 private source for this program shall be used exclusively for the
2-17 implementation of this program.
2-18 SECTION 2. Section 61.701, Education Code, is amended to
2-19 read as follows:
2-20 Sec. 61.701. Repayment Authorized. The coordinating board
2-21 may provide, <using funds appropriated for that purpose and> in
2-22 accordance with this subchapter and board rules, assistance in the
2-23 repayment of student loans for teachers who apply and qualify for
2-24 the assistance.
2-25 SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 61.705, Education Code,
2-26 is amended to read as follows:
2-27 (b) A repayment made under this subchapter may be applied
3-1 <only> to the principal amount of the loan and to interest that
3-2 accrues.
3-3 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
3-4 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
3-5 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-6 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-7 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-8 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.