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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the service of Texas state teachers of the year and |
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other outstanding educators as advisors to regional and state |
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education agencies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection A, Chapter 7, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 7.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 7.007. (a) The Texas Advisory Committee of Educators |
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is established to advise the agency, the board, and the State Board |
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for Educator Certification on matters relating to state education |
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policy and rulemaking. The commissioner, board, or State Board for |
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Educator Certification may submit a specific issue to the committee |
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for its consideration and advice. |
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(b) The advisory committee is composed of educators who are |
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recognized for excellence in their profession. The number of |
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educators on the advisory committee is determined by the |
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commissioner, but may not be less than five. Each teacher who is |
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selected as a state teacher of the year under a program adopted by |
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the agency serves as a member of the committee. The commissioner |
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shall appoint the remaining members of the committee. The |
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commissioner may appoint classroom teachers who have received state |
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or national recognition or are otherwise recognized for excellence |
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in education. The commissioner may request nominations from |
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entities that award teaching excellence, regional education |
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service centers, or other entities selected by the commissioner. |
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(c) A state teacher of the year serving on the advisory |
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committee serves a two-year term beginning on the first day of the |
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teacher's term as state teacher of the year. The remaining members |
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serve staggered two-year terms concurrent with the state teachers |
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of the year serving on the committee. |
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(c-1) The commissioner shall designate the terms of the |
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initial members of the advisory committee, including teachers of |
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the year, in a manner that results in the terms of subsequent |
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members being staggered so that approximately one-half of the terms |
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expire each year. This subsection expires September 1, 2010. |
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(d) The commissioner shall designate a member of the |
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advisory committee to serve as the presiding officer. The advisory |
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committee shall meet at the call of the presiding officer. |
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(e) A member of the advisory committee is not entitled to |
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compensation for service on the committee but is entitled to |
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reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in |
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performing committee duties. |
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(f) Staff members of the agency shall provide |
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administrative support for the committee. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.076, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) A teacher who is selected as the state teacher of the |
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year under a program adopted by the Texas Education Agency is |
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entitled to serve as a nonvoting member of the council. A state |
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teacher of the year serving on the council as provided by this |
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subsection serves a two-year term beginning on the first day of the |
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teacher's term as state teacher of the year. |
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SECTION 3. Section 8.003(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules to provide for the |
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local selection, appointment, and continuity of membership of |
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regional education service center boards of directors. The rules |
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must provide that a teacher who is selected as a regional teacher of |
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the year under a program adopted by the agency is entitled to serve |
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as a nonvoting member of the board of directors for that region. |
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SECTION 4. Section 22.003, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) A school district that employs a person who is serving |
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on a committee, council, or board under Sections 7.007, 8.003(b), |
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or 61.076(c-1) shall permit the employee to attend the meetings of |
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the committee, council, or board. The district may not require an |
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employee to use state minimum personal leave granted under this |
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section for that purpose, but may require the employee to use |
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personal leave provided beyond the state minimum if the employee |
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has such leave available. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |