H.B. No. 621
AN ACT
relating to creating a temporary certification to teach career and
technology education 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
to teach career and technology education 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 teach
career and technology education to a person described by Subsection
(b) who meets all other eligibility requirements for standard
certification to teach career and technology education, 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 to
teach career and technology education 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 certificates to teach career
and technology education 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 621 was passed by the House on May 2,
2023, by the following vote: Yeas 107, Nays 34, 2 present, not
voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
H.B. No. 621 on May 23, 2023, and requested the appointment of a
conference committee to consider the differences between the two
houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
on H.B. No. 621 on May 28, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 113,
Nays 25, 2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 621 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 16, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays
8; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
621 on May 28, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 23, Nays 8.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor