By:  Grusendorf (Senate Sponsor - Shapiro)                        H.B. No. 558
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 14, 2003; 
April 15, 2003, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Education; May 19, 2003, reported favorably by the following vote:  
Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 19, 2003, sent to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to rehiring experienced teachers under probationary 
contracts.   
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 21.102(a), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(a)  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, shall be employed under a probationary contract.  A person who 
previously was employed as a teacher by a district and, after at 
least a two-year lapse in district employment returns to district 
employment, may be employed under a probationary contract.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2003-2004 
school year.       
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.



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