Amend SB 2 (senate committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTION to the bill and renumbering subsequent SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 29.029 to read as follows:
Sec. 29.029. SUPPORTS FOR RECRUITING SPECIAL EDUCATION STAFF. (a) From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the agency shall provide grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to increase the number of qualified and appropriately credentialed special education staff, including special education teachers, special education paraprofessionals, evaluation personnel, ancillary instruction personnel, and related service personnel.
(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school that receives a grant under this section shall require each person the district or school uses the grant money to assist in becoming licensed, certified, or otherwise credentialed as described by Subsection (a) to work at the district or school for a period established by commissioner rule.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules establishing the period of required employment described by Subsection (b) and any other rules necessary to implement this section.