By: Shaheen (Senate Sponsor - Hughes) H.B. No. 621
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2023;
May 4, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on
Education; May 12, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 13, Nays 0;
May 12, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 621 By: Birdwell
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating a temporary educator certification for certain
military service members and first responders.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by
adding Section 21.0444 to read as follows:
Sec. 21.0444. TEMPORARY CERTIFICATION FOR CERTAIN MILITARY
SERVICE MEMBERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. (a) In this section, "first
responder" means a person elected, employed, or appointed as:
(1) a peace officer as defined by Article 2.12, Code of
Criminal Procedure;
(2) fire protection personnel as defined by Section
419.021, Government Code; or
(3) emergency medical services personnel as defined by
Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code.
(b) This section applies to a person seeking certification
who:
(1) has served in the armed forces of the United States
and was honorably discharged, retired, or released from active
duty; or
(2) has served as a first responder and, while in good
standing and not because of pending or final disciplinary actions
or a documented performance problem, retired, resigned, or
separated from employment as a first responder.
(c) The board shall propose rules under this subchapter
providing for the issuance of a temporary certificate to a person
described by Subsection (b) who meets all other eligibility
requirements for standard certification, except that the person may
substitute for a requirement that the person hold:
(1) an associate degree from an accredited institution
of higher education, 48 months of active duty military service or
service as a first responder; or
(2) a bachelor's degree:
(A) the military service or service as a first
responder described by Subdivision (1); and
(B) 60 semester credit hours completed at a
public or private institution of higher education with a minimum
grade point average of at least 2.50 on a four-point scale.
(d) Rules proposed by the board for a temporary certificate
issued under this section must provide that the certificate is:
(1) valid for no more than three years;
(2) limited to a one-time issuance; and
(3) not subject to renewal.
(e) A person issued a temporary certificate under this
section may be issued a standard certificate if the person
completes all eligibility requirements required for that
certification.
(f) A school district shall require a new employee who holds
a temporary certificate issued under this section to obtain at
least 20 hours of classroom management training, unless the new
employee has documented experience as an instructor or trainer
during the employee's required 48 months of active duty military
service or service as a first responder.
SECTION 2. Section 21.458, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as
follows:
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-2), each [Each]
school district may assign a mentor teacher to each classroom
teacher who has less than two years of teaching experience in the
subject or grade level to which the teacher is assigned. A teacher
assigned as a mentor must:
(1) to the extent practicable, teach in the same
school;
(2) to the extent practicable, teach the same subject
or grade level, as applicable; and
(3) meet the qualifications prescribed by
commissioner rules adopted under Subsection (b).
(a-2) A school district shall assign a mentor teacher to a
classroom teacher who has been issued a temporary certificate under
Section 21.0444 for at least two school years.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the State Board for Educator Certification shall
propose rules relating to temporary educator certificates for
certain military service members and first responders as required
by Section 21.0444, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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