78S20292 CCK-D

By:  Alonzo                                                       H.R. No. 104



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Of great importance to the success of the Texas 
educational system is the availability of teachers who are 
certified in the subject areas in which they provide school 
instruction; and
	WHEREAS, In a state with large numbers of students of limited 
proficiency in English, there is a shortage of certified bilingual 
educators, a problem that is particularly evident in North Texas; 
and
	WHEREAS, The 2003 General Appropriations Act offers a 
potential means to address those state and regional shortages, 
through Section 58 of its special provisions relating to state 
agencies of higher education; and
	WHEREAS, Section 58 authorizes the Texas Higher Education 
Coordinating Board to use not less than $150,000 in each of the next 
two fiscal years to develop and operate a program at the University 
of North Texas System Center at Dallas to provide financial 
incentives to encourage enrollees in educator preparation programs 
to become certified to teach bilingual education, Spanish, or 
English as a second language; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby direct the Texas Higher 
Education Coordinating Board to give a high priority to the 
incentive program under Section 58 of the General Appropriations 
Act special provisions relating to state agencies of higher 
education and if at all possible to exercise its discretion to fund 
that program at the annual minimum levels specified by that Act; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be 
forwarded to the commissioner of higher education and the chair of 
the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board as an official 
expression of legislative will and intent by the Texas House of 
Representatives.