HBA-LCA H.B. 3487 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3487 By: Dunnam Public Education 4/17/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Section 21.050, Education Code (Academic Degree Required For Teaching Certification; Internship), requires all classroom teachers to hold a bachelor's degree, with a major other than education, that is related to the curriculum as prescribed under Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code (Essential Knowledge and Skills; Curriculum). However, there is no requirement that a classroom teacher perform instruction only in areas in which he or she is qualified to teach. H.B. 3487 amends Chapter 21, Education Code (Educators), to require each school district to implement a plan by which each classroom teacher is certified within his or her area of knowledge. The plan, which each school district will have five years to develop and implement, may allow for the use of short-term, uncertified substitute teachers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, by adding Section 21.057, as follows: Sec. 21.057. PLAN FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS. (a) Requires each school district (district) to develop and implement a plan to enable the district to, at the end of a five-year period, employ as a teacher only a person who holds a certificate issued under this subchapter (Certification of Educators) and the appropriate certificate issued under this subchapter for each class or course the person teaches. (b) Authorizes a district plan to provide for the use, on a short-term basis, of substitute teachers who do not hold a certificate issued under this subchapter. (c) Provides that this section expires September 1, 2006. SECTION 2. Requires each district to implement a plan under Section 21.057, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than September 1, 2000. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.