By Rangel                                             H.B. No. 1130
         77R5368 KSD-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the exemption of certain educational aides from the
 1-3     payment of tuition and fees at institutions of higher education.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 54.214, Education Code, is amended by
 1-6     amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read
 1-7     as follows:
 1-8           (c)  To be eligible for an exemption under this section, a
 1-9     person must:
1-10                 (1)  be a resident of this state;
1-11                 (2)  be a school employee serving in any capacity who
1-12     worked as an educational aide for at least one school year during
1-13     the five years preceding the term or semester for which the person
1-14     receives the exemption [be certified as an educational aide by the
1-15     State Board for Educator Certification];
1-16                 (3)  [have at least two school years of experience as a
1-17     certified educational aide working directly with students in a
1-18     school district;]
1-19                 [(4)  be employed as a certified educational aide
1-20     working directly with students in a school district during the
1-21     entire term or semester for which the person receives the
1-22     exemption;]
1-23                 [(5)  establish financial need as determined by
1-24     coordinating board rule;]
 2-1                 [(6)]  be enrolled in courses required [classes
 2-2     necessary] for teacher certification [as a teacher] at the
 2-3     institution of higher education granting the exemption;
 2-4                 (4) [(7)]  maintain an acceptable grade point average
 2-5     as determined by coordinating board rule; and
 2-6                 (5) [(8)]  comply with any other requirements adopted
 2-7     by the coordinating board under this section.
 2-8           (f)  The board of trustees of a school district shall
 2-9     establish a local plan to encourage the hiring of educational aides
2-10     from the local community who show a willingness to attend an
2-11     institution of higher education to become certified teachers.  In
2-12     developing a local plan under this subsection, the board shall
2-13     consider providing financial incentives to a person currently
2-14     employed as an educational aide who enrolls in courses required for
2-15     teacher certification in order to receive an exemption from tuition
2-16     fees under this section or under a similar program at the local
2-17     level.  The board shall review and readopt the board's local plan
2-18     with or without revisions every two years.
2-19           (g)  The governing board of an institution of higher
2-20     education that offers courses required for teacher certification
2-21     shall establish a plan to make those courses more accessible to
2-22     educational aides who seek teacher certification.  In developing a
2-23     plan under this subsection, the board shall consult with local
2-24     school districts.  The board shall review and readopt the board's
2-25     plan with or without revisions every two years.
2-26           SECTION 2.  Section 21.050(c), Education Code, is amended to
2-27     read as follows:
 3-1           (c)  A person who receives a bachelor's degree required for a
 3-2     teaching certificate on the basis of higher education coursework
 3-3     completed while receiving an exemption from tuition and fees under
 3-4     Section 54.214 [and who has at least two school years of classroom
 3-5     working experience as an educational aide] may not be required to
 3-6     participate in [perform] any field experience or internship
 3-7     consisting of student teaching to receive a teaching certificate.
 3-8           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
 3-9           (b)  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
3-10     54.214(c) and 21.050(c), Education Code, take effect beginning with
3-11     the 2001 fall semester.
3-12           (c)  Not later than January 1, 2002, the board of trustees of
3-13     a school district shall establish a local plan as required by
3-14     Section 54.214(f), Education Code, as added by this Act.
3-15           (d)  Not later than January 1, 2002, the governing board of
3-16     an institution of higher education that offers courses required for
3-17     teacher certification shall establish a plan as required by Section
3-18     54.214(g), Education Code, as added by this Act.