88R2468 JTZ-D
 
  By: Shaheen H.B. No. 621
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating a temporary educator certification for certain
  military service members.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.0444 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.0444.  TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION FOR CERTAIN MILITARY
  SERVICE MEMBERS. (a)  This section applies to a person seeking
  certification who:
               (1)  has served in the armed forces of the United
  States; and
               (2)  was honorably discharged, retired, or released
  from active duty.
         (b)  The board shall propose rules under this subchapter
  providing for the issuance of a temporary certificate to a person
  described by Subsection (a) who meets all other eligibility
  requirements for certification, except that the person may
  substitute for a requirement that the person hold:
               (1)  an associate degree from an accredited institution
  of higher education, 48 months of active duty military service; or
               (2)  a bachelor's degree:
                     (A)  the military service described by
  Subdivision (1); and
                     (B)  60 semester credit hours completed at a
  public or private institution of higher education with a minimum
  grade point average of at least 2.50 on a four-point scale.
         (c)  Rules proposed by the board for a temporary certificate
  issued under this section must provide that the certificate is:
               (1)  valid for no more than five years;
               (2)  limited to a one-time issuance; and
               (3)  not subject to renewal.
         (d)  A person issued a temporary certificate under this
  section may be issued a standard certificate if the person
  completes all eligibility requirements required for that
  certification.
         SECTION 2.  Section 21.458, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), each [Each]
  school district may assign a mentor teacher to each classroom
  teacher who has less than two years of teaching experience in the
  subject or grade level to which the teacher is assigned.  A teacher
  assigned as a mentor must:
               (1)  to the extent practicable, teach in the same
  school;
               (2)  to the extent practicable, teach the same subject
  or grade level, as applicable; and
               (3)  meet the qualifications prescribed by
  commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (b).
         (a-2)  A school district shall assign a mentor teacher to a
  classroom teacher who has been issued a temporary certificate under
  Section 21.0444 for at least two school years.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the State Board for Educator Certification shall
  propose rules relating to temporary educator certificates for
  certain military service members as required by Section 21.0444,
  Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.