1-1     By:  Rangel, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Barrientos)     H.B. No. 1130
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House March 14, 2001;
 1-3     March 15, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Finance; April 17, 2001, reported favorably, as amended, by the
 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 11, Nays 0; April 17, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6     COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1                           By:  Barrientos
 1-7           Amend H.B. No. 1130 by striking Section 3, Subsection (a) on
 1-8     page 2 and substituting the following:
 1-9           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it
1-10     receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
1-11     house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
1-12     If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
1-13     effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-14                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-15                                   AN ACT
1-16     relating to the exemption of certain educational aides from the
1-17     payment of tuition and fees at institutions of higher education and
1-18     to the employment of those aides.
1-19           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-20           SECTION 1.  Section 54.214, Education Code, is amended by
1-21     amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read
1-22     as follows:
1-23           (c)  To be eligible for an exemption under this section, a
1-24     person must:
1-25                 (1)  be a resident of this state;
1-26                 (2)  be a school employee serving in any capacity who
1-27     worked as an educational aide for at least one school year during
1-28     the five years preceding the term or semester for which the person
1-29     receives the exemption [be certified as an educational aide by the
1-30     State Board for Educator Certification];
1-31                 (3)  [have at least two school years of experience as a
1-32     certified educational aide working directly with students in a
1-33     school district;]
1-34                 [(4)  be employed as a certified educational aide
1-35     working directly with students in a school district during the
1-36     entire term or semester for which the person receives the
1-37     exemption;]
1-38                 [(5)]  establish financial need as determined by
1-39     coordinating board rule;
1-40                 (4) [(6)]  be enrolled in courses required [classes
1-41     necessary] for teacher certification [as a teacher] at the
1-42     institution of higher education granting the exemption;
1-43                 (5) [(7)]  maintain an acceptable grade point average
1-44     as determined by coordinating board rule; and
1-45                 (6) [(8)]  comply with any other requirements adopted
1-46     by the coordinating board under this section.
1-47           (f)  The board of trustees of a school district shall
1-48     establish a plan to encourage the hiring of educational aides who
1-49     show a willingness to become certified teachers.
1-50           (g)  The governing board of an institution of higher
1-51     education that offers courses required for teacher certification
1-52     shall establish a plan to make those courses more accessible to
1-53     those who seek teacher certification.  The board shall consider as
1-54     part of its plan to make those courses more accessible for teacher
1-55     certification, evening classes, Internet classes, or other means
1-56     approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
1-57           SECTION 2.  Section 21.050(c), Education Code, is amended to
1-58     read as follows:
1-59           (c)  A person who receives a bachelor's degree required for a
1-60     teaching certificate on the basis of higher education coursework
1-61     completed while receiving an exemption from tuition and fees under
1-62     Section 54.214 [and who has at least two school years of classroom
1-63     working experience as an educational aide] may not be required to
 2-1     participate in [perform] any field experience or internship
 2-2     consisting of student teaching to receive a teaching certificate.
 2-3           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
 2-4           (b)  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
 2-5     54.214(c) and 21.050(c), Education Code, take effect beginning with
 2-6     the 2001 fall semester.
 2-7           (c)  Not later than January 1, 2002, the board of trustees of
 2-8     a school district shall establish a local plan as required by
 2-9     Section 54.214(f), Education Code, as added by this Act.
2-10           (d)  Not later than January 1, 2002, the governing board of
2-11     an institution of higher education that offers courses required for
2-12     teacher certification shall establish a plan as required by Section
2-13     54.214(g), Education Code, as added by this Act.
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