By: Shaheen (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 621
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2023;
  May 4, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Education; May 12, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 13, Nays 0;
  May 12, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 621 By:  Birdwell
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to creating a temporary educator certification for certain
  military service members and first responders.
         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 AND FIRST RESPONDERS. (a)  In this section, "first
  responder" means a person elected, employed, or appointed as: 
               (1)  a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of
  Criminal Procedure; 
               (2)  fire protection personnel as defined by Section
  419.021, Government Code; or 
               (3)  emergency medical services personnel as defined by
  Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code. 
         (b)  This section applies to a person seeking certification
  who: 
               (1)  has served in the armed forces of the United States
  and was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active
  duty; or
               (2)  has served as a first responder and, while in good
  standing and not because of pending or final disciplinary actions
  or a documented performance problem, retired, resigned, or
  separated from employment as a first responder.
         (c)  The board shall propose rules under this subchapter
  providing for the issuance of a temporary certificate to a person
  described by Subsection (b)  who meets all other eligibility
  requirements for standard 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
  service as a first responder; or 
               (2)  a bachelor's degree: 
                     (A)  the military service or service as a first
  responder 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. 
         (d)  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 three years; 
               (2)  limited to a one-time issuance; and 
               (3)  not subject to renewal. 
         (e)  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. 
         (f)  A school district shall require a new employee who holds
  a temporary certificate issued under this section to obtain at
  least 20 hours of classroom management training, unless the new
  employee has documented experience as an instructor or trainer
  during the employee's required 48 months of active duty military
  service or service as a first responder. 
         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 and first responders as required
  by Section 21.0444, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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