79R5257 KKA-D

By:  Grusendorf                                                   H.B. No. 3009



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to certification of educators.                                       
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 21.041, Education Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to 
read as follows:
	(b)  The board shall propose rules that:                                       
		(1)  provide for the regulation of educators and the 
general administration of this subchapter in a manner consistent 
with this subchapter;
		(2)  specify the classes of educator certificates to be 
issued, including emergency and provisional certificates;
		(3)  specify the period for which each class of 
educator certificate is valid;
		(4)  specify the requirements for the issuance and 
renewal of an educator certificate;
		(5)  provide for the issuance of an educator 
certificate to a person who holds a similar certificate issued by 
another state or foreign country, subject to Section 21.052;
		(6)  provide for special or restricted certification of 
educators, including certification of instructors of American Sign 
Language;
		(7)  provide for disciplinary proceedings, including 
the suspension or revocation of an educator certificate, as 
provided by Chapter 2001, Government Code;
		(8)  provide for the adoption, amendment, and 
enforcement of an educator's code of ethics;
		(9)  provide for continuing education requirements; 
and                     
		(10)  provide for certification of persons performing 
appraisals under Subchapter H.
	(d)  Except as provided by Subsection (e), rules proposed 
under Subsection (b)(2) shall provide for only the following 
categories of certificates to be issued to classroom teachers:
		(1)  Generalist: Early Childhood-Grade 6;                              
		(2)  Generalist: Grades 4-8; and                                       
		(3)  Generalist: Grades 6-12.                                          
	(e)  The board may propose rules providing for additional 
categories of certificates to be issued to classroom teachers who 
provide instruction in the area of special education, bilingual 
education, or English as a second language.
	(f)  The board shall propose rules designating the manner in 
which categories of classroom teacher certificates issued before 
September 1, 2005, will be considered as equivalent to the 
appropriate categories authorized by Subsection (d).  Beginning 
with the 2005-2006 school year, the board may limit a classroom 
teacher's authority to provide instruction solely on the basis of 
whether the teacher holds the appropriate category of certificate 
authorized by Subsection (d) or the equivalent of that category of 
certificate.  This subsection does not apply to the authority of a 
classroom teacher to provide instruction in the area of special 
education, bilingual education, or English as a second language.  
This subsection expires September 1, 2006.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 21.0521 to read as follows:
	Sec. 21.0521.  PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE.  (a)  The board may 
issue a provisional certificate to a person who performs 
satisfactorily on a national certification examination that is 
similar to and at least as rigorous as the examination prescribed 
under Section 21.048.
	(b)  A provisional certificate issued under this section is 
valid until the earlier of:
		(1)  the date the person receives a standard 
certificate on the basis of a recommendation from the school 
district that employs the person; or
		(2)  the first anniversary of the effective date of the 
provisional certificate.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.