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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program to reimburse public schools for certain |
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costs associated with hiring retired teachers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 21.416 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.416. EMPLOYED RETIREE TEACHER REIMBURSEMENT GRANT |
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PROGRAM. (a) From money appropriated or otherwise available, the |
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commissioner shall establish and administer a grant program to |
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reimburse a school district, an open-enrollment charter school, the |
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Windham School District, the Texas School for the Deaf, or the Texas |
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School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for the increased |
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contributions to the Teacher Retirement System associated with |
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hiring a teacher who retired before September 1, 2024. |
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(b) In appropriating money for grants awarded under this |
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section, the legislature may provide for, modify, or limit amounts |
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appropriated for that purpose in the General Appropriations Act, |
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including by: |
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(1) providing, notwithstanding Subsection (a), a date |
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or date range other than September 1, 2024, before which a teacher |
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must have retired for a school district, an open-enrollment charter |
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school, the Windham School District, the Texas School for the Deaf, |
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or the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired to be |
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eligible; or |
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(2) limiting eligibility to a district or school |
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described by Subdivision (1) that hires a retired teacher: |
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(A) who holds a certain certification; |
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(B) to teach a certain subject or grade; |
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(C) in a certain geographical area; or |
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(D) to provide instruction to certain students, |
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including to students with disabilities. |
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(c) If the total amount of money sought by eligible |
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districts or schools exceeds the amount of money appropriated or |
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otherwise available for the purpose, the commissioner shall |
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prioritize awarding grants to eligible districts or schools with |
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the most need, beginning with districts or schools that hire a |
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retired teacher to teach special education or bilingual education. |
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(d) A school district, an open-enrollment charter school, |
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the Windham School District, the Texas School for the Deaf, or the |
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Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired may use money |
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received under this section to make required payments under Section |
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825.4092, Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |