86R14015 JES-F
 
  By: Goodwin H.B. No. 3628
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating a special education certification to teach
  students with disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.04891 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.04891.  SPECIAL EDUCATION CERTIFICATION. (a) To
  ensure that there are teachers with special training in providing
  instruction to students with disabilities, the board shall
  establish a special education certificate.
         (b)  To be eligible for a certificate established under this
  section, a person must:
               (1)  satisfactorily complete the course work for that
  certificate in an educator preparation program, including a
  knowledge-based and skills-based course of instruction and
  field-based experience in providing instruction to students with
  disabilities;
               (2)  perform satisfactorily on a special education
  certificate examination prescribed by the board; and
               (3)  satisfy any other requirements prescribed by the
  board.
         (c)  If the board determines that there is a shortage of
  teachers who hold special education certificates, the board may
  offer incentives to teachers to become certified under this
  section.
         SECTION 2.  The State Board for Educator Certification shall
  propose rules:
               (1)  establishing requirements and prescribing an
  examination for a special education certificate examination as
  required by Section 21.04891, Education Code, as added by this Act;
  and
               (2)  establishing standards to govern the approval and
  renewal of approval of educator preparation programs for special
  education certification.
         SECTION 3.  Beginning on or after January 1, 2021, a person
  must satisfy the requirements for certification under Section
  21.04891, Education Code, as added by this Act, to receive a
  certification in special education.
         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, 2019.