SRC-MKV H.B. 1721 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1721
By: Martinez Fischer (Van de Putte)
Education
5/28/2001(REVISED)
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As a result of a statewide teacher shortage, Texas has resorted to
alternative educator certification programs and emergency teaching permits
for individuals who are not certified. These are programs that may
compromise the quality of education. At the same time, educators outside of
Texas must take a certification examination to be certified to teach in
Texas, even if they are certified to teach in another state and have passed
rigorous requirements and examinations. This policy impedes teacher
mobility and contributes to the teacher shortage in Texas. H.B. 1721
authorizes the State Board for Educator Certification to issue a teacher's
certificate to teachers who have been certified outside of Texas, without
requiring the teacher to pass the certification examination.  

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 21.052(a), Education Code, to authorize the
State Board of Educator Certification (board) to issue a certificate to an
educator if the educator holds a certificate or other credential issued by
another state or country, an examination similar to and at least as
rigorous as that described by Paragraph (A) administered to the educator
under the authority of that state. 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.