1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to certification of public school educators.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is

 1-5     amended by adding Section 21.056 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 21.056.  ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATION.  The board by rule

 1-7     shall provide for a certified educator to qualify for additional

 1-8     certification to teach at a grade level or in a subject area not

 1-9     covered by the educator's certificate upon satisfactory completion

1-10     of an examination or other assessment of the educator's

1-11     qualification.

1-12           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-17     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-18     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 623 was passed by the House on May 7,

         1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in Senate

         amendments to H.B. No. 623 on May 28, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 623 was passed by the Senate, with

         amendments, on May 24, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor