By:  Hochberg                                                     H.B. No. 2812



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the assignment of students to classroom teachers.                 
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 28.0216 to read as follows:
	Section 28.0216.  LIMITS ON ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO 
TEACHERS.  (a)  A student in grades Kindergarten through 6 may not 
be assigned for two consecutive school years to a teacher who:
		(1)  has less than one year of teaching experience; or                 
		(2)  does not hold the appropriate certificate issued 
by the State Board for Educator Certification.
	(b)  In a subject for which a student takes an assessment 
under Section 39.023(a) or (c), a student in grade 7 or higher may 
not be assigned for two consecutive school years to a teacher who:
		(1)  has less than one year of teaching experience; or                 
		(2)  does not hold the appropriate certificate issued 
by the State Board for Educator Certification.
	SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2005-2006 
school year.       
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all 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, 2005.