Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB5099 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/10/2023

                    88R8076 CJD-D
 By: Manuel H.B. No. 5099


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the establishment of a grant program to assist certain
 current and former peace officers in receiving a teacher
 certification.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 21.066 to read as follows:
 Sec. 21.066.  TEACHER CERTIFICATION GRANT PROGRAM FOR PEACE
 OFFICERS. (a) From money appropriated or otherwise available for
 the purpose, the board shall establish a grant program to enable
 eligible persons to receive a teacher certification under this
 subchapter.
 (b)  To be eligible to receive a grant under the program, a
 person must:
 (1)  be:
 (A)  a peace officer, as defined by Article 2.12,
 Code of Criminal Procedure; or
 (B)  a retired peace officer, as defined by
 Section 1701.3161, Occupations Code; and
 (2)  hold a bachelor's degree from an institution of
 higher education that is, and at the time the person received the
 degree was, accredited or otherwise approved by an accrediting
 organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating
 Board.
 (c)  A grant awarded under this section may be used only to
 pay:
 (1)  the costs of an educator preparation program or
 alternative educator certification program; or
 (2)  a fee assessed for the administration of an
 examination prescribed under Section 21.048 for teacher
 certification.
 (d)  The board shall propose rules necessary to implement
 this section.
 SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.