SRC-AMY S.B. 1394 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1394
By: Shapiro
Education
6-18-2003
Enrolled

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides that the first time a principal is employed by a
school district is under a probationary contract for the first year of
employment, regardless of experience with other districts.  S.B. 1394
allows school districts the option of offering term contracts the first
year a principal or classroom teacher is employed with the district if the
individual already has experience as a principal or classroom teacher,
respectively. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 21.102(a), Education Code, to require a person
who is employed as a teacher by a school district for the first time or
who has not been employed by the district for two consecutive school years
subsequent to August 28, 1967, to be employed under a probationary
contract, except as provided by Section 21.202(b). 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 21.202, Education Code, as follows:
 
Sec. 21.202.  PROBATIONARY CONTRACT REQUIRED.  (a)  Requires the teacher,
before he or she may be employed under a term contract, to be employed
under a probationary contract for the period provided by Subchapter C,
except as provided by Subsection (b). 

(b)  Authorizes a school district to employ a person as a principal, or
classroom teacher, under a term contract if the person has experience as a
public school principal or classroom teacher, respectively, regardless of
whether the person is being employed by the school district for the first
time or whether a probationary contract would otherwise be required under
Section 21.102. 

SECTION 3.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004
school year. 
 
SECTION 4.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.