BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1178
89R1140 PRL-D	By: Cunningham et al. (Campbell)
	Education K-16
	5/19/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The bill author has informed the committee that while Texas is facing a teacher shortage crisis, educators certified out of state cannot begin teaching until they have met Texas' examination and certification requirements. The bill author has also informed the committee that this can be a lengthy process, leaving these educators without work and keeping them from providing a quality education to Texas students. H.B. 1178 seeks to address this issue by providing for the immediate issuance of a one-year temporary educator certificate to out-of-state educators who apply for certification in Texas.

H.B. 1178 amends current law relating to the creation of a temporary educator certificate for educators certified by other states.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board for Educator Certification in SECTION 3 of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Section 21.0521, as follows:

Sec. 21.0521. TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATORS FROM OUTSIDE THIS STATE. (a) Requires the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) to:

(1) establish a temporary certificate for educators certified by other states;� and

(2) immediately issue a certificate described by Subdivision (1) to a person who applies for a certificate issued under Section 21.052 (Certification of Educators From Outside the State).

(b) Authorizes SBEC to rescind a temporary certificate issued to a person under this section if SBEC determines as a result of a review of the person's credentials that the person does not meet the eligibility requirements under Subsection (c).

(c) Requires a person, to be eligible for a temporary certificate issued under this section, to hold a valid, unexpired, non-temporary certificate or similar credential in another state that qualifies the person to be employed as an educator in that state and hold a bachelor's degree from an institution of higher education that is, and at the time the person received the degree was, accredited.

(d) Provides that, except as provided by Subsection (e), a temporary certificate issued under this section expires on the earlier of the first anniversary of the date the certificate was issued or the date the person is issued a certificate under Section 21.052.

(e) Provides that a temporary certificate issued under this section to an educator who is the spouse of a person serving on active duty as a member of the armed forces of the United States, as those terms are defined by Section 55.001 (Definitions), Occupations Code, expires on the third anniversary of the date the certificate was issued or a later date specified by SBEC rule.

(f) Prohibits a temporary certificate issued under this section from being reissued or renewed.

SECTION 2. Repealers: Sections 21.052(c) (relating to authorizing SBEC to issue a temporary certificate to an educator who holds certain credentials) and (d) (relating to prohibiting a temporary certificate issued under Subsection (c) to a certain educator from expiring before a certain date), Occupations Code.

Repealers: Sections 21.052(d-1) (relating to prohibiting a temporary certificate issued under Subsection (c) to a certain educator from expiring before a certain date), and (e) (relating to requiring a certain educator to perform satisfactorily on a certain examination), Occupations Code.

SECTION 3. Requires SBEC, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules necessary to implement Section 21.0521, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2025.