HBA-LCA H.B. 3485 76(R)    HBA-LCA H.B. 3485 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3485
By: Dunnam
Public Education
4/17/1999
Introduced




BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently a classroom teacher shortage exists in Texas. Math and science
are major areas where teacher shortages exist, but shortages occur in every
subject matter and across grade levels.  Many believe that a primary reason
for the shortage is the relatively low pay available to qualified teachers,
as compared to other professionals. 

By amending Subchapter H, Education Code (Appraisals and Incentives), H.B.
3485 authorizes the commissioner of education to award grants to school
districts that demonstrate a teacher shortage in a critical area.  A
critical area may include math, science, special education, special or
bilingual education, or early reading.  The grants, awarded from funds
appropriated for this purpose, are for salary supplements to the minimum
monthly salary schedule set forth in Section 21.402, Education Code
(Minimum Salary Schedule for Classroom Teachers and Full-Time Librarians).

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the commissioner of education in
SECTION 1 (Section 21.358, Education Code) of this Act. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding
Section 21.358, as follows: 

Sec. 21.358.  RECRUITMENT INCENTIVE.  (a)  Authorizes the commissioner of
education (commissioner), from funds appropriated for the purpose, to award
grants to a school district (district) that demonstrates a teacher shortage
in a critical area, including, but not limited to, math, science, special
education, bilingual education, and early reading. 

(b)  Requires a district receiving funds under this section to use the
grant money to provide a salary  supplement as an incentive for potential
qualified teachers in areas where the district has demonstrated a shortage. 

(c)  Provides that a salary supplement paid from a grant under this section
is not considered when determining whether the district is paying a teacher
the minimum monthly salary set forth in Section 21.402. 

(d)  Authorizes the commissioner to adopt rules to implement this section.
Requires the commissioner to solicit gifts, grant, and donations for the
purposes of this section. 

SECTION 2.  Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1999-2000
school year. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.