84R5194 KSD-D
By: Alonzo H.B. No. 990
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a program to provide financial incentives to students
who agree to teach bilingual education, English as a second
language, or Spanish in certain public schools.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter LL to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER LL. FINANCIAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM TO PREPARE TEACHERS IN
BILINGUAL EDUCATION, ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE, AND SPANISH
Sec. 61.9851. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.
(a) The board shall establish a program to provide financial
incentives such as tuition assistance or student loan repayment to:
(1) assist persons in obtaining certification to teach
bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish in a
public elementary or secondary school in this state; and
(2) facilitate the employment of those persons by a
public elementary or secondary school in this state that has a
shortage of teachers certified to teach in those fields.
(b) In administering the program, the board shall give
priority to awarding financial incentives to those eligible persons
who demonstrate the greatest financial need.
Sec. 61.9852. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive
financial incentives under this subchapter, a person must:
(1) apply to the board in the form and manner
prescribed by board rule;
(2) have completed at least 60 semester credit hours
of course work toward an associate's degree at a public junior
college or a junior college accredited by a recognized accrediting
agency;
(3) be admitted into an educator preparation program
at an institution of higher education or at a private or independent
institution of higher education that prepares students for
certification to teach bilingual education, English as a second
language, or Spanish;
(4) enter into an agreement with the board as provided
by Section 61.9853; and
(5) satisfy any other criteria jointly prescribed by
the board and the State Board for Educator Certification.
Sec. 61.9853. AGREEMENT. To qualify for financial
incentives under this subchapter, a person must enter into a
written agreement with the board as provided by this section. The
agreement must require the person to:
(1) obtain, within the period prescribed by board
rule, certification to teach bilingual education, English as a
second language, or Spanish in a public elementary or secondary
school in this state;
(2) accept, during the first school year that begins
after the date the person becomes certified as provided by
Subdivision (1), an offer of full-time employment to teach
bilingual education, English as a second language, or Spanish in a
public elementary or secondary school in this state that has a
shortage of teachers certified to teach in one or more of those
fields; and
(3) teach bilingual education, English as a second
language, or Spanish at that school for at least two school years.
Sec. 61.9854. FINANCIAL INCENTIVES. The board shall award
financial incentives such as tuition assistance or student loan
repayment to each participant in the program to assist with the cost
of payment of mandatory tuition and fees for courses required to
obtain certification to teach bilingual education, English as a
second language, or Spanish.
Sec. 61.9855. REIMBURSEMENT; EXCEPTIONS. (a) A program
participant who fails to meet the requirements of Section 61.9853
shall reimburse the board for the amount of any assistance received
by the participant under this subchapter.
(b) The board by rule shall establish exceptions to the
reimbursement requirement under this section for participants who
are unable to meet the requirements of Section 61.9853 as a result
of an unusual hardship.
Sec. 61.9856. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. In addition to
money appropriated by the legislature, the board may solicit and
accept gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this
subchapter.
Sec. 61.9857. RULES. The board shall adopt rules necessary
for the administration of this subchapter, including a rule that
sets the maximum amount of financial assistance that a person may
receive under this subchapter in one year.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules for the administration of Subchapter LL, Chapter
61, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable
after this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the coordinating
board may adopt the initial rules in the manner provided by law for
emergency rules.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.