1-1 By: Rangel, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Barrientos) H.B. No. 571 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 2, 1997; 1-3 May 5, 1997, read first time and referred to Committee on Finance; 1-4 May 16, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 11, 1-5 Nays 0; May 16, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to exempting certain educational aides from tuition and 1-9 fees charged by institutions of higher education. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Section 21.050, Education Code, is amended by 1-12 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-13 (c) A person who receives a bachelor's degree required for a 1-14 teaching certificate on the basis of higher education coursework 1-15 completed while receiving an exemption from tuition and fees under 1-16 Section 54.214 and who has at least two school years of classroom 1-17 working experience as an educational aide may not be required to 1-18 perform any internship consisting of student teaching to receive a 1-19 teaching certificate. 1-20 SECTION 2. Section 54.213, Education Code, is amended to 1-21 read as follows: 1-22 Sec. 54.213. FUNDING OF EXEMPTIONS. (a) An institution of 1-23 higher education may fund tuition exemptions under Section 54.212 1-24 or 54.214 from local funds or from funds appropriated to the 1-25 institution. An institution of higher education is not required to 1-26 provide tuition exemptions beyond those funded through 1-27 appropriations specifically designated for this purpose. 1-28 (b) Savings to the foundation school fund that occur as a 1-29 result of the Early High School Graduation Scholarship program 1-30 created in Subchapter K, Chapter 56, and that are not required for 1-31 the funding of state tuition credits under that program shall be 1-32 used first to provide tuition exemptions under Section 54.212. Any 1-33 of those savings remaining after providing tuition exemptions under 1-34 Section 54.212 shall be used to provide tuition exemptions under 1-35 Section 54.214. The Texas Education Agency shall also accept and 1-36 make available to provide tuition exemptions under Section 54.214 1-37 gifts, grants, and donations made to the agency for that purpose. 1-38 Payment of funds under this subsection shall be made in the manner 1-39 provided by Section 56.207 for tuition credits under Subchapter K, 1-40 Chapter 56. 1-41 SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 54, Education Code, is 1-42 amended by adding Section 54.214 to read as follows: 1-43 Sec. 54.214. EDUCATIONAL AIDES. (a) In this section, 1-44 "coordinating board" means the Texas Higher Education Coordinating 1-45 Board. 1-46 (b) The governing board of an institution of higher 1-47 education shall exempt an eligible educational aide from the 1-48 payment of tuition and fees, other than class or laboratory fees. 1-49 (c) To be eligible for an exemption under this section, a 1-50 person must: 1-51 (1) be a resident of this state; 1-52 (2) be certified as an educational aide by the State 1-53 Board for Educator Certification; 1-54 (3) have at least two school years of experience as a 1-55 certified educational aide working directly with students in a 1-56 school district; 1-57 (4) be employed as a certified educational aide 1-58 working directly with students in a school district during the 1-59 entire term or semester for which the person receives the 1-60 exemption; 1-61 (5) establish financial need as determined by 1-62 coordinating board rule; 1-63 (6) be enrolled in classes necessary for certification 1-64 as a teacher at the institution of higher education granting the 2-1 exemption; 2-2 (7) maintain an acceptable grade point average as 2-3 determined by coordinating board rule; and 2-4 (8) comply with any other requirements adopted by the 2-5 coordinating board under this section. 2-6 (d) The coordinating board must certify a person's 2-7 eligibility to receive an exemption under this section. As soon as 2-8 practicable after receiving an application for certification, the 2-9 coordinating board shall make the determination of eligibility and 2-10 give notice of its determination to the applicant, the institution 2-11 of higher education at which the applicant is enrolled, and the 2-12 school district employing the person as an educational aide. 2-13 (e) The coordinating board shall adopt rules consistent with 2-14 this section as necessary to implement this section. The 2-15 coordinating board shall distribute a copy of the rules adopted 2-16 under this section to each school district and institution of 2-17 higher education in this state. 2-18 SECTION 4. The changes in law made by Sections 2 and 3 of 2-19 this Act take effect beginning with the fall semester in 1997. 2-20 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the 2-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-25 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-26 passage, and it is so enacted. 2-27 * * * * *