By Lewis of Orange H.B. No. 1770
76R1787 CAS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the Texas Teaching Fellows Commission.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding
1-5 Subchapter K to read as follows:
1-6 SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS TEACHING FELLOWS COMMISSION
1-7 Sec. 21.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-8 (1) "Commission" means the Texas Teaching Fellows
1-9 Commission.
1-10 (2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
1-11 assigned by Section 61.003.
1-12 (3) "Program" means the teaching fellows program.
1-13 Sec. 21.502. TEXAS TEACHING FELLOWS COMMISSION. (a) The
1-14 commission is composed of seven members as follows:
1-15 (1) the commissioner;
1-16 (2) two persons appointed by the governor;
1-17 (3) two persons appointed by the lieutenant governor;
1-18 and
1-19 (4) two persons appointed by the speaker of the house
1-20 of representatives.
1-21 (b) The commissioner serves on the commission as an
1-22 additional duty of the office of commissioner.
1-23 (c) In appointing members to the commission, each of the
1-24 appointing officers shall:
2-1 (1) appoint only persons who have demonstrated a
2-2 commitment to public education; and
2-3 (2) attempt to achieve a balanced membership
2-4 representing, to the maximum extent practicable, the state as a
2-5 whole.
2-6 Sec. 21.503. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Appointed members of the
2-7 commission serve for terms of two years expiring on January 31 of
2-8 each odd-numbered year.
2-9 (b) If a vacancy occurs during the term of an appointed
2-10 member, the officer who made the appointment shall appoint a
2-11 replacement to fill the unexpired portion of the term.
2-12 Sec. 21.504. APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The commission is
2-13 subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless
2-14 continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission
2-15 is abolished and this subchapter expires September 1, 2005.
2-16 Sec. 21.505. PRESIDING OFFICER. The commissioner serves as
2-17 presiding officer of the commission.
2-18 Sec. 21.506. PER DIEM; REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the
2-19 commission is entitled to receive, as provided by the General
2-20 Appropriations Act:
2-21 (1) a per diem for any day the member is engaged in
2-22 actual and necessary business of the commission; and
2-23 (2) reimbursement for actual and necessary travel
2-24 expenses.
2-25 Sec. 21.507. MEETINGS. The commission shall meet regularly
2-26 at a time and place called by the presiding officer.
2-27 Sec. 21.508. STAFF. The agency shall provide staff and
3-1 office space to the commission.
3-2 Sec. 21.509. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. (a) The commission
3-3 shall administer the program in cooperation with educator
3-4 preparation programs selected by the commission.
3-5 (b) Under the program, the commission may provide to Texas
3-6 high school students who intend to teach in public schools in this
3-7 state loans of $5,000 per year for four years to pay tuition and
3-8 fees incurred in attending an educator preparation program.
3-9 Sec. 21.510. ADMISSION TO PROGRAM. (a) The commission by
3-10 rule shall establish very stringent standards, including a minimum
3-11 grade point average and a minimum score on the Scholastic
3-12 Assessment Test (SAT) or American College Test, for awarding a loan
3-13 to ensure that only the most qualified high school seniors receive
3-14 the loans. Not more than 2,000 students may receive loans under
3-15 this subchapter at any one time.
3-16 (b) The commission shall form regional review committees to
3-17 assist in identifying the most qualified high school seniors for
3-18 the program. The commission and the review committees shall
3-19 attempt to identify and encourage minority students and students
3-20 who may not otherwise consider a career in teaching to enter the
3-21 program. The commission shall cooperate with the agency so that
3-22 the program and the recruitment program under Section 21.004 avoid
3-23 duplication of recruiting efforts.
3-24 Sec. 21.511. FORM OF LOAN; TERMINATION. (a) Each loan
3-25 under this subchapter must be evidenced by a note made payable to
3-26 the commission and must bear interest at the rate of 10 percent per
3-27 year beginning September 1 after completion of the educator
4-1 preparation program, or immediately after termination of the loan,
4-2 whichever is earlier.
4-3 (b) The commission may terminate the loan if the recipient
4-4 withdraws from an educator preparation program or fails to
4-5 maintain standards established by the commission.
4-6 Sec. 21.512. DEFERRAL OF REPAYMENT; FORGIVENESS OF LOAN.
4-7 (a) Before the seventh anniversary of the date a recipient
4-8 graduates from an educator preparation program, the recipient is
4-9 not required to repay the loan.
4-10 (b) The commission shall forgive the loan if:
4-11 (1) on or before the seventh anniversary of the date
4-12 the recipient graduates from an educator preparation program, the
4-13 recipient has taught a subject that the commissioner has identified
4-14 under Section 21.004(d) as having a shortage of teachers and the
4-15 recipient has taught that subject:
4-16 (A) for at least four school years at a public
4-17 school in this state or at a school operated by the United States
4-18 in this state; or
4-19 (B) for at least three consecutive school years
4-20 at a school that is considered low-performing under Section
4-21 39.131(b);
4-22 (2) the recipient is unable to meet the requirements
4-23 of Subdivision (1)(A) because of the recipient's death; or
4-24 (3) the commission determines that it is impossible
4-25 for the recipient to meet the requirements of Subdivision (1)(A)
4-26 because of the recipient's permanent disability.
4-27 (c) For purposes of Subsection (b)(1)(B), a recipient who
5-1 teaches a total of three school years is considered to have taught
5-2 consecutive school years despite a leave of absence if the leave of
5-3 absence is approved by the school district employing the recipient.
5-4 Sec. 21.513. REVOLVING ACCOUNT. (a) Except as provided by
5-5 Subsection (b), money appropriated to or otherwise received by the
5-6 program for loans, money received as repayment of loans, and all
5-7 interest earned on that money shall be placed in a revolving
5-8 account that may be used only for a loan granted under the program.
5-9 (b) If provided in the General Appropriations Act, the
5-10 account may also be used for campus and summer program support and
5-11 costs related to disbursement of awards and collection of loan
5-12 repayments.
5-13 SECTION 2. Section 21.004(c), Education Code, is amended to
5-14 read as follows:
5-15 (c) The agency shall cooperate with the Texas Teaching
5-16 Fellows Commission so that the recruitment program under this
5-17 section and the teaching fellows program under Subchapter K avoid
5-18 duplication of recruiting efforts. The Texas Higher Education
5-19 Coordinating Board shall cooperate with and assist the agency in
5-20 the development and implementation of the recruitment program.
5-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
5-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
5-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
5-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
5-25 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
5-26 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
5-27 passage, and it is so enacted.