By Culberson H.B. No. 2343 76R1542 CAS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to certification to teach at an elementary grade level in 1-3 public schools. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended to 1-6 read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 21.044. EDUCATOR PREPARATION. The board shall propose 1-8 rules establishing the training requirements a person must 1-9 accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or enter 1-10 an induction-year program. The board shall specify the minimum 1-11 academic qualifications required for a certificate. The 1-12 qualifications for a certificate to teach at an elementary grade 1-13 level must include successful completion of a course that 1-14 emphasizes teaching reading through the use of phonics. 1-15 SECTION 2. Section 21.044, Education Code, as amended by 1-16 this Act, applies to the qualifications of a person who initially 1-17 obtains a certificate to teach at an elementary grade level on or 1-18 after September 1, 2001. A person who, before that date, obtained 1-19 a certificate to teach at an elementary grade level is not required 1-20 to meet the requirements of Section 21.044, Education Code, as 1-21 amended by this Act. 1-22 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-4 passage, and it is so enacted.