Amend SB 1727, house committee report, as follows:
      (1)  Between the enacting clause and SECTION 1 of the bill
(page 1, between lines 3 and 4) insert the following new SECTION:
      SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 21.058 to read as follows:
      Sec. 21.058.  PROGRAM TO PROMOTE CERTIFICATION BY A NATIONAL
BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS. (a)  The board shall
establish a program to encourage, assist, and provide financial
assistance to  public school teachers and other educators who seek
certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards.
      (b)  For purposes of Subsection (a), the board may:
            (1)  accept gifts, grants, and other donations; and
            (2)  use funds appropriated to the board that may be
used for that purpose.
      (c)  The standing committee in each house of the legislature
with primary responsibility for primary and secondary education is
encouraged to conduct one or more interim studies to examine:
            (1)  the number of public school teachers and other
public school educators in this state who have applied for
certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards;
            (2)  the subject in which or grade level for which a
teacher or other educator holds certification by the National Board
for Professional Teaching Standards;
            (3)  the amount of federal funds available to pay
expenses associated with the process of certification by the
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, including
expenses associated with applying for that certification;
            (4)  the amount of funds, including appropriated funds,
that the board uses for purposes of this section; and
            (5)  the amount of financial assistance, including
stipends, paid by other states to encourage educators to seek
certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching
Standards.
      (2)  Between existing SECTIONS 1 and 2 of the bill (page 1,
between lines 23 and 24), insert the following new SECTION:
      SECTION 3.  Section 21.458, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
      (d)  A teacher who obtains certification by the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards satisfies staff
development requirements under this section for a five-year period
beginning on the date of certification.
      (3)  Renumber SECTIONS of the bill accordingly