1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to certification examinations for educators certified in
 1-3     other jurisdictions.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 21.052(a), Education Code, is amended to
 1-6     read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  The board may issue a certificate to an educator who:
 1-8                 (1)  holds:
 1-9                       (A)  a degree issued by an institution accredited
1-10     by a regional accrediting agency or group that is recognized by a
1-11     nationally recognized accreditation board; or
1-12                       (B)  a degree issued by an institution located in
1-13     a foreign country, if the degree is equivalent to a degree
1-14     described by Paragraph (A);
1-15                 (2)  holds an appropriate certificate or other
1-16     credential issued by another state or country; and
1-17                 (3)  performs satisfactorily on:
1-18                       (A)  the examination prescribed under Section
1-19     21.048; or
1-20                       (B)  if the educator holds a certificate or other
1-21     credential issued by another state or country, an examination
1-22     similar to and at least as rigorous as that described by Paragraph
1-23     (A) administered to the educator under the authority of that state.
1-24           SECTION 2.  Section 21.052(a), Education Code, as amended by
 2-1     this Act, applies only to a certificate issued under Section
 2-2     21.052, Education Code, on or after the effective date of this Act.
 2-3     A certificate issued under Section 21.052, Education Code, before
 2-4     the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
 2-5     the date the certificate is issued, and the former law is continued
 2-6     in effect for that purpose.
 2-7           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-8     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-9     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-10     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-11     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1721 was passed by the House on May
         3, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1721 was passed by the Senate on May
         23, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor