BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 158
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Currently, educational diagnosticians are not required to be certified in any manner.
S.B. 158 adds educational diagnosticians to the list of education professionals who must be certified under Section 21.003(a), Education Code. It grandfathers uncertified educational diagnosticians who are currently employed by a district for as long as they work for that district and requires them to be certified upon moving to another district. The bill also exempts educational diagnosticians from the minimum service time requirements that are contractually required of other educators.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority previously granted to the State Board of Education, with regard to rules proposed by the State Board for Educator Certification, is modified in SECTION 3 of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 21.003(a), Education Code, to add an educational diagnostician to the list of persons prohibited from being employed by a school district unless the person holds an appropriate certificate or permit issued as provided by Subchapter B (Certification of Educators).
SECTION 2. Amends Section 21.401, Education Code, by adding Subsection (d), to provide that Subsections (a) (requiring a contract between a school district and an educator to provide for a 10-month minimum amount of service from an educator) and (b) (requiring an educator to provide at least 187 days service) do not apply to a contract between a school district and an educational diagnostician.
SECTION 3. Requires the State Board for Educator Certification to propose rules governing the certification of educational diagnosticians, not later than January 1, 2008.
SECTION 4. Makes application of this Act prospective to September 1, 2008, and grandfathers current educational diagnosticians employed by a district as of that date.
SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2007.