SRC-TBR H.B. 1130 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1130
By: Rangel (Barrientos)
Finance
3/30/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The 75th Legislature created the Educational Aide Exemption Program to fund
tuition and fee exemptions for educational aides who attend college to
become certified teachers.  As proposed, H.B. 1130 amends certain
provisions of the Educational Aide Exemption Program to expand the number
of teacher aides who are eligible to receive the exemption from tuition and
fees, and requires school districts and universities to adopt plans
designed to facilitate the use of the program and increase the number of
certified teachers in Texas. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 54.214, Education Code, by amending Subsection
(c) and adding Subsections (f) and (g), as follows: 

(c)  Requires a person, to be eligible for an exemption under this section,
to be a resident of this state, be a school employee serving in any
capacity who worked as an educational aide for at least one school year
during the five years preceding the term or semester for which the person
receives the exemption, and be enrolled in courses required, rather than
classes necessary, for teacher certification at the institution of higher
education granting the exemption.  Deletes text requiring the person to be
a certified educational aide with at least two years experience working
directly with students, and be working directly with students during the
entire term or semester for which the person receives the exemption. 

(f)  Requires the board of trustees of a school district to establish a
plan to encourage the hiring of educational aides who show a willingness to
become certified teachers. 

(g)  Requires the governing board of an institution of higher education
that offers courses required for teacher certification to establish a plan
to make those courses more accessible to those who seek teacher
certification.  Requires the board to consider as part of its plan to make
those courses more accessible for teacher certification, evening classes,
Internet classes, or other means approved by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 21.050(c), Education Code, to provide that a
person who receives a bachelor's degree required for a teaching certificate
on the basis of higher education coursework completed while receiving an
exemption from tuition and fees under Section 54.214 may not be required to
participate in any field experience or internship consisting of student
teaching to receive a teaching certificate. 

SECTION 3.  (a)  Effective date: September 1, 2001.

 (b)  Provides that the changes in law made by this Act to Sections
54.214(c) and 21.050(c), Education Code, take effect beginning with the
2001 fall semester. 

(c)  Requires that not later than January 1, 2002, the board of trustees of
a school district shall establish a local plan as required by Section
54.214(f), Education Code, as added by this Act. 

(d)  Requires that not later than January 1, 2002, the governing board of
an institution of higher education that offers courses required for teacher
certification to establish a plan as required by Section 54.214(g),
Education Code, as added by this Act.