BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3573

By: Aycock

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties assert that among the fields in highest demand for employment and career opportunities are health science and technology, but recruiting high-quality teachers in these areas can be challenging. School districts often work with individuals to pursue teacher certification through an approved alternative certification program, but there is concern that the requirement that an individual have a bachelor's degree for the health science technology alternative certification is limiting the number of potential health science professionals entering the teaching profession. It has been noted that many registered nurses hold an associate's degree rather than a bachelor's degree and that revising the law to enable districts to recruit registered nurses to their health science programs would address the shortage of teachers available to instruct students in advanced courses required for clinical nurse aide and phlebotomy licenses. H.B. 3573 seeks to provide the opportunity for more health professionals to become teachers in this critical shortage area.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board for Educator Certification in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 3573 reenacts and amends Section 21.044, Education Code, as amended by Chapters 635 (S.B. 866) and 926 (S.B. 1620), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, to require the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), in proposing rules establishing the training requirements for a person to obtain a certificate to teach a health science technology education course, to specify that a person must have an associate degree or more advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education; current licensure, certification, or registration as a health professions practitioner issued by a nationally recognized accrediting agency for health professionals; and at least two years of wage earning experience utilizing the licensure requirement. The bill prohibits SBEC from proposing rules for a certificate to teach a health science technology education course that specify that a person must have a bachelor's degree or that establish any other credential or teaching experience requirements that exceed the bill's requirements.

H.B. 3573 authorizes a person who holds a technology applications certificate to teach, in addition to teaching technology applications courses as authorized under the certificate, courses in principles of arts, audio/video technology, and communications and principles of information technology.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.