HBA-CCH H.B. 1525 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1525
By: Garcia
Public Education
3/12/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there is a shortage of classroom teachers in Texas, which is
especially critical in the subjects of mathematics and computer sciences.
Existing law authorizes the State Board for Educator Certification to
certify educators who hold a degree issued by an institution located in a
foreign country if the individual holds an appropriate certificate or other
credential issued by another state or country.  Removing this requirement
would expand the pool of potential teachers, especially in subjects where
the teacher shortage is critical.  House Bill 1525 provides for the
certification of individuals who do not possess teaching experience and
have not completed higher education courses related to teaching if the
individuals have an advanced degree from an institution in a foreign
country in a subject area for which there is a shortage of classroom
teachers. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1525 amends the Education Code  to authorize the State Board for
Educator Certification (SBEC) to issue a teacher's certificate to a person
who holds an advanced degree from an institution in a foreign country in
mathematics, computer science, or another subject in which the commissioner
of education determines that there is a shortage of educators in Texas, and
the person performs satisfactorily on the appropriate certification
examination.  H.B. 1525 provides that the advanced degree must be
equivalent to an advanced degree issued in the United States by an
accredited institution.  The bill prohibits SBEC from requiring the person
to possess teaching experience or to have completed higher education
courses related to teaching in order to receive a teacher's certificate.
The bill authorizes SBEC to require the person to receive training approved
by SBEC that addresses fundamental state educational goals and preferences,
including preferred techniques for disciplining students.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.