By Burnam                                             H.B. No. 2897
         77R8780 ESH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to mentoring and induction programs for certain public
 1-3     school teachers.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 21.005 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 21.005.  TEACHER MENTOR AND INDUCTION PROGRAMS. (a)  In
 1-8     this section, "new or returning teacher" means a teacher who:
 1-9                 (1)  is teaching in a primary or secondary school in
1-10     this state for the first time; or
1-11                 (2)  last taught in a primary or secondary school in
1-12     this state five or more years before the beginning of the current
1-13     school year.
1-14           (b)  To the extent that funds are available, the commissioner
1-15     shall make grants to school districts of:
1-16                 (1)  $3,000 for each new or returning teacher employed
1-17     by the district who holds a certificate under Section 21.049 or a
1-18     permit under Section 21.055; and
1-19                 (2)  $1,000 for each new or returning teacher employed
1-20     by the district who holds a certificate under Section 21.044 or
1-21     21.052.
1-22           (c)  A school district shall use money received under
1-23     Subsection (b) only to support one or more of the following
1-24     programs in the district:
 2-1                 (1)  a mentor or induction program for new or returning
 2-2     teachers;
 2-3                 (2)  employment of new or returning teachers under a
 2-4     12-month contract that provides training and professional
 2-5     development;
 2-6                 (3)  signing bonuses for employment of new or returning
 2-7     teachers in shortage areas; or
 2-8                 (4)  payment of college tuition for appropriate
 2-9     semester credit hours received by a new or returning teacher.
2-10           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.