By Shapleigh S.B. No. 855 76R7519 ESH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to financial incentives to aid in the recruitment and 1-3 hiring of qualified teachers in areas of demonstrated shortage. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 21, Education Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 21.358 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 21.358. RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE. (a) From funds 1-8 appropriated for the purpose, the commissioner may award grants to 1-9 school districts that demonstrate a teacher shortage in a critical 1-10 area, including math, science, special education, bilingual 1-11 education, and early reading. 1-12 (b) A district receiving a grant under this section shall 1-13 use the grant money to provide a salary supplement as an incentive 1-14 in the recruitment and hiring of qualified teachers in the areas in 1-15 which the district has demonstrated a shortage. 1-16 (c) A salary supplement paid from a grant under this section 1-17 is not considered in determining whether the district is paying a 1-18 teacher the minimum monthly salary under Section 21.402. 1-19 (d) The commissioner may adopt rules as necessary for the 1-20 implementation of this section. The commissioner shall solicit 1-21 gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this section. 1-22 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000 1-23 school year. 1-24 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-5 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-6 passage, and it is so enacted.