84R5194 KSD-D
 
  By: Alonzo H.B. No. 990
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a program to provide financial incentives to students
  who agree to teach bilingual education, English as a second
  language, or Spanish in certain public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter LL to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER LL. FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO PREPARE TEACHERS IN
  BILINGUAL EDUCATION, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, AND SPANISH
         Sec. 61.9851.  ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.
  (a)  The board shall establish a program to provide financial
  incentives such as tuition assistance or student loan repayment to:
               (1)  assist persons in obtaining certification to teach
  bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish in a
  public elementary or secondary school in this state; and
               (2)  facilitate the employment of those persons by a
  public elementary or secondary school in this state that has a
  shortage of teachers certified to teach in those fields.
         (b)  In administering the program, the board shall give
  priority to awarding financial incentives to those eligible persons
  who demonstrate the greatest financial need. 
         Sec. 61.9852.  ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
  financial incentives under this subchapter, a person must:
               (1)  apply to the board in the form and manner
  prescribed by board rule;
               (2)  have completed at least 60 semester credit hours
  of course work toward an associate's degree at a public junior
  college or a junior college accredited by a recognized accrediting
  agency;
               (3)  be admitted into an educator preparation program
  at an institution of higher education or at a private or independent
  institution of higher education that prepares students for
  certification to teach bilingual education, English as a second
  language, or Spanish;
               (4)  enter into an agreement with the board as provided
  by Section 61.9853; and
               (5)  satisfy any other criteria jointly prescribed by
  the board and the State Board for Educator Certification.
         Sec. 61.9853.  AGREEMENT. To qualify for financial
  incentives under this subchapter, a person must enter into a
  written agreement with the board as provided by this section. The
  agreement must require the person to:
               (1)  obtain, within the period prescribed by board
  rule, certification to teach bilingual education, English as a
  second language, or Spanish in a public elementary or secondary
  school in this state;
               (2)  accept, during the first school year that begins
  after the date the person becomes certified as provided by
  Subdivision (1), an offer of full-time employment to teach
  bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish in a
  public elementary or secondary school in this state that has a
  shortage of teachers certified to teach in one or more of those
  fields; and
               (3)  teach bilingual education, English as a second
  language, or Spanish at that school for at least two school years.
         Sec. 61.9854.  FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. The board shall award
  financial incentives such as tuition assistance or student loan
  repayment to each participant in the program to assist with the cost
  of payment of mandatory tuition and fees for courses required to
  obtain certification to teach bilingual education, English as a
  second language, or Spanish.
         Sec. 61.9855.  REIMBURSEMENT; EXCEPTIONS. (a) A program
  participant who fails to meet the requirements of Section 61.9853
  shall reimburse the board for the amount of any assistance received
  by the participant under this subchapter.
         (b)  The board by rule shall establish exceptions to the
  reimbursement requirement under this section for participants who
  are unable to meet the requirements of Section 61.9853 as a result
  of an unusual hardship.
         Sec. 61.9856.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. In addition to
  money appropriated by the legislature, the board may solicit and
  accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this
  subchapter.
         Sec. 61.9857.  RULES. The board shall adopt rules necessary
  for the administration of this subchapter, including a rule that
  sets the maximum amount of financial assistance that a person may
  receive under this subchapter in one year.
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
  shall adopt rules for the administration of Subchapter LL, Chapter
  61, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable
  after this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating
  board may adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for
  emergency rules.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the 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, 2015.