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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating a temporary educator certification for certain |
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military service members and first responders. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.0444 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.0444. TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION FOR CERTAIN MILITARY |
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SERVICE MEMBERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. (a) In this section, "first |
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responder" means a person elected, employed, or appointed as: |
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(1) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of |
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Criminal Procedure; |
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(2) fire protection personnel as defined by Section |
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419.021, Government Code; or |
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(3) emergency medical services personnel as defined by |
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Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) This section applies to a person seeking certification |
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who: |
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(1) has served in the armed forces of the United States |
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and was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active |
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duty; or |
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(2) has served as a first responder and, while in good |
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standing and not because of pending or final disciplinary actions |
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or a documented performance problem, retired, resigned, or |
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separated from employment as a first responder. |
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(c) The board shall propose rules under this subchapter |
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providing for the issuance of a temporary certificate to a person |
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described by Subsection (b) who meets all other eligibility |
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requirements for certification, except that the person may |
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substitute for a requirement that the person hold: |
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(1) an associate degree from an accredited institution |
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of higher education, 48 months of active duty military service or |
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service as a first responder; or |
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(2) a bachelor's degree: |
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(A) the military service or service as a first |
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responder described by Subdivision (1); and |
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(B) 60 semester credit hours completed at a |
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public or private institution of higher education with a minimum |
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grade point average of at least 2.50 on a four-point scale. |
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(d) Rules proposed by the board for a temporary certificate |
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issued under this section must provide that the certificate is: |
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(1) valid for no more than five years; |
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(2) limited to a one-time issuance; and |
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(3) not subject to renewal. |
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(e) A person issued a temporary certificate under this |
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section may be issued a standard certificate if the person |
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completes all eligibility requirements required for that |
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certification. |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.458, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), each [Each] |
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school district may assign a mentor teacher to each classroom |
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teacher who has less than two years of teaching experience in the |
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subject or grade level to which the teacher is assigned. A teacher |
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assigned as a mentor must: |
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(1) to the extent practicable, teach in the same |
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school; |
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(2) to the extent practicable, teach the same subject |
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or grade level, as applicable; and |
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(3) meet the qualifications prescribed by |
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commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (b). |
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(a-2) A school district shall assign a mentor teacher to a |
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classroom teacher who has been issued a temporary certificate under |
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Section 21.0444 for at least two school years. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the State Board for Educator Certification shall |
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propose rules relating to temporary educator certificates for |
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certain military service members and first responders as required |
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by Section 21.0444, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |