1-1     By:  Madla                                             S.B. No. 998
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 28, 2001; March 1, 2001, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 19, 2001,
 1-4     reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0;
 1-5     April 19, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the alternative certification requirements for certain
 1-9     public school teachers.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Section 21.049, Education Code, is amended to
1-12     read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 21.049.  ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION.  (a)  To provide a
1-14     continuing additional source of qualified educators, the board
1-15     shall propose rules providing for educator certification programs
1-16     as an alternative to traditional educator preparation programs.
1-17     The rules may not provide that a person may be certified under this
1-18     section only if there is a demonstrated shortage of educators in a
1-19     school district or subject area.
1-20           (b)  The board may not require a person employed as a teacher
1-21     in an alternative education program under Section 37.008 or a
1-22     juvenile justice alternative education program under Section 37.011
1-23     for at least three years to complete an alternative educator
1-24     certification program adopted under this section before taking the
1-25     appropriate certification examination.
1-26           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-27           (b)  For purposes of Subsection (b), Section 21.049,
1-28     Education Code, as added by this Act, a person's employment as a
1-29     teacher in an alternative education program or juvenile justice
1-30     alternative education program before the 2001-2002 school year is
1-31     not included in determining whether the person meets the
1-32     requirements of that section.
1-33                                  * * * * *