86R28210 KJE-F
By: King of Hemphill, González of El Paso, H.B. No. 2609
Bernal
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to permissible teachers assigned to a bilingual education
program and the permissible uses of the bilingual education
allotment provided under the foundation school program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 29.061, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (b) and (b-1) and adding Subsection (b-3) to
read as follows:
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-3), a [A] teacher
assigned to a bilingual education program using one of the
following program models must be appropriately certified for
bilingual education by the board:
(1) transitional bilingual/early exit program model;
or
(2) transitional bilingual/late exit program model.
(b-1) Except as provided by Subsection (b-3), a [A] teacher
assigned to a bilingual education program using a dual language
immersion/one-way or two-way program model must be appropriately
certified by the board for:
(1) bilingual education for the component of the
program provided in a language other than English; and
(2) bilingual education or English as a second
language for the component of the program provided in English.
(b-3) A school district may assign to any bilingual
education program a teacher certified for English as a second
language for a school year if:
(1) the commissioner has determined that there is a
shortage of teachers certified for bilingual education by the board
for the school year; and
(2) a teacher certified for bilingual education is not
reasonably available to the district.
SECTION 2. Section 42.153(c), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) A district's bilingual education or special language
allocation may be used only for:
(1) program and student evaluation;[,]
(2) instructional materials and equipment;[,]
(3) staff development, including assisting a teacher
employed by the district in obtaining certification under Section
29.061;
(4) supplemental staff expenses;[,]
(5) salary supplements for teachers;[,] and
(6) other supplies required for quality instruction
and smaller class size.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
school year.
SECTION 4. 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, 2019.