SRC-JJJ S.B. 1449 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1449
76R6679 JSA-DBy: West
Higher Education
4/16/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

The recodification of the Education Code occurred with the passage of S.B.
1, in 1995, which placed the total state funds delivered to a school
district as a "driver" to increase the state salary schedule. This change
was an effort to achieve proportionality to state salary adjustments and
the totally flow of state funds to school districts.  However, a large
majority of school districts used local labor markets to drive the
establishment of wage schedules.  S.B. 1449 would establish programs to
assist university students to become public school teachers, to provide
loan repayment assistance to certain classroom teachers, and to provide
funding for certain teacher certification program. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1449 establishes programs to assist university students
to become public school teachers, to provide loan repayment assistance to
certain classroom teachers, and to provide funding for certain teacher
certification program. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
Board in SECTION 1 (Sections 61.955 and 61.957, Education Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Subchapter W, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER W.  TEXAS TEACHER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM

 Sec. 61.951.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "eligible institution."

Sec. 61.952.  PURPOSE.  Provides that the purpose of this subchapter is to
enhance and coordinate the efforts of this state through public and private
institutions of higher education to develop and maintain an adequate,
effective, classroom teacher workforce by establishing certain provisions. 

Sec. 61.953.  FORMULA FUNDING FOR CERTIFICATION INITIATIVES.  Requires the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to include funding for a
planned initiative to expand or develop certain teacher certification
programs, in establishing formulas required by Section 61.059, in order to
ensure certain availability of adequate funding for the initiative, if
certain conditions have been met.   
 
Sec. 61.954.  TEXAS TEACHER CONDITIONAL GRANT PROGRAM.  Requires THECB to
establish a program to provide conditional grants, to be known as Texas
Teacher grants, to eligible persons who enter a teacher preparation program
at an eligible institution and agree to teach in the public schools of this
state.  Sets forth requirements a person must meet in order to apply to
receive a Texas Teacher grant. Sets forth the amount of the grant per
semester as determined by THECB.  Requires a person to begin fulfilling the
teaching obligation not later than the 18th month after the person begins
the degree program and obtains teacher certification, unless additional
time is granted by THECB.  Provides that the period within which the
teacher must complete the teaching obligation is six years after the  date
of beginning to fulfill the obligation.  Requires THECB to grant a person
additional time to complete the obligation for good cause.  Provides
conditions by which the board shall cancel a person's teaching obligation.
Requires THECB to require a person who receives a grant to sign a
promissory note acknowledging the conditional nature of the grant and
promising to repay the amount of the grant plus applicable interest and
reasonable collection costs if the person does not satisfy applicable
conditions.  Requires THECB to determine the terms of the promissory note.
Provides that a person who does not fulfill their obligations shall repay
an amount determined in proportion to the portion of the teaching
obligation that the person has satisfied.  Sets forth conditions by which a
grant becomes a loan for a person considered to have failed to satisfy the
conditions of the grant.   

Sec. 61.955.  TEXASTEACHER LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM.  Requires THECB to
provide assistance in the repayment of student loans for classroom teachers
who apply and qualify for the assistance.  Sets forth requirements for a
person to be eligible to receive loan repayment assistance.  Authorizes
THECB by rule to provide for loan repayment assistance on a pro rata basis
for a person employed as a part-time classroom teacher.  Prohibits a person
from receiving loan repayment assistance for more than five years.
Authorizes a teacher to receive loan repayment assistance for the repayment
of any student loan for education at a public or private institution of
higher education in or outside of the state received by the person from any
lender.  Prohibits THECB from providing loan repayment assistance for a
student  loan that is in default at the time of the person's application.
Sets forth the requirements, in a written agreement between the person and
THECB, concerning qualification for loan repayment assistance.  Establishes
that a person is eligible for loan repayment assistance in an amount equal
to 10 percent of the person's outstanding loans, but not to exceed $2,000,
for every full school year the person serves as a classroom teacher as well
as satisfying other conditions of the agreement.  Requires THECB to pay the
person in a manner determined by THECB.  Requires THECB to provide the
assistance in a manner that ensures that the board is authorized to recover
any amount of assistance paid to the person before the person completes a
full school year as a classroom teacher as required by the agreement.
Authorizes THECB to enter into an agreement to provide certain conditional
loan repayment assistance as it becomes available.  Requires the board to
select persons to receive payment assistance, if money is available, on any
basis the board considers reasonable to further the purpose of this
subchapter.  Authorizes THECB to grant partial loan assistance to, for good
cause, the portion of the school year the person actually teaches. 
  
Sec. 61.956.  ADVISORY COMMITTEES.  Authorizes THECB to appoint advisory
committees to assist THECB in performing its duties. 

Sec. 61.957.  RULES; DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION.  Requires THECB to adopt
rules necessary for the administration of this subchapter.  Requires THECB
to distribute a copy of the rules and pertinent information relating to the
programs established by this subchapter to certain institutions and
associations. 
   
Sec. 61.958.  FUNDING.  Authorizes THECB to accept gifts and grants from
any public or private source, as well as authorizing the legislature to
appropriate money for the purposes of this subchapter.   

SECTION 2.  (a)  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

(b)  Requires THECB to begin providing the Texas Teacher grants as soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Act, and subject to available
funding. 
 
SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.