By Kitchen H.B. No. 491 77R2932 CAS-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to a financial award for classroom teachers who are 1-3 certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching 1-4 Standards. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 21, Education Code, is 1-7 amended by adding Section 21.358 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 21.358. FINANCIAL AWARD FOR CERTIFICATION BY NATIONAL 1-9 BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHING STANDARDS. (a) In addition to any 1-10 other compensation a classroom teacher receives, a classroom 1-11 teacher who is certified by the National Board for Professional 1-12 Teaching Standards is entitled to an award of $7,500 each year the 1-13 teacher holds that certification. 1-14 (b) A financial award under this section shall be paid from 1-15 state money appropriated specifically for that purpose. 1-16 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-17 (b) Section 21.358, Education Code, as added by this Act, 1-18 does not entitle a classroom teacher to a financial award on the 1-19 basis of holding National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 1-20 certification before the effective date of this Act.