85R2506 KJE-F
 
  By: King of Hemphill H.B. No. 880
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to permissible teachers assigned to a bilingual education
  program and the permissible uses of the bilingual education
  allotment provided under the foundation school program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 29.061, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-3) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-3), a [A] teacher
  assigned to a bilingual education program using one of the
  following program models must be appropriately certified for
  bilingual education by the board:
               (1)  transitional bilingual/early exit program model;
  or
               (2)  transitional bilingual/late exit program model.
         (b-1)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-3), a [A] teacher
  assigned to a bilingual education program using a dual language
  immersion/one-way or two-way program model must be appropriately
  certified by the board for:
               (1)  bilingual education for the component of the
  program provided in a language other than English; and
               (2)  bilingual education or English as a second
  language for the component of the program provided in English.
         (b-3)  A school district may assign to any bilingual
  education program a teacher certified for English as a second
  language for a school year if:
               (1)  the commissioner has determined that there is a
  shortage of teachers certified for bilingual education by the board
  for the school year; and
               (2)  a teacher certified for bilingual education is not
  reasonably available to the district.
         SECTION 2.  Section 42.153(c), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  A district's bilingual education or special language
  allocation may be used only for program and student evaluation,
  instructional materials and equipment, staff development,
  supplemental staff expenses, salary [supplements] for teachers,
  and other supplies required for quality instruction and smaller
  class size.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2017-2018
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2017.