HBA-MSH H.B. 1310 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1310
By: Salinas
Public Education
3/12/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Continuing education for classroom teachers is a means of improving
teaching skills and the caliber of classroom instruction.  Teachers often
do not have the time or resources to engage in continuing education
opportunities.  House Bill 1310 establishes the Texas Teachers' Excellence
Program to provide statesupported incentives to encourage teachers to
become certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1310 amends the Education Code to require the State Board for
Educator Certification (board) to establish the Texas Teachers' Excellence
Program (program) to encourage teachers to become certified by the National
Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  The bill requires the board to
provide or authorize training and to provide information to teachers about
the program, including scholarships, stipends, or other assistance
available (Sec. 21.602). 

The bill establishes a 15 member applicant review committee to review
applications of teachers who apply to participate in the program and sets
forth provisions for the appointment, terms of office, meeting dates, and
reimbursement of expenses incurred by members (Sec. 21.604).  For each
teacher selected by the applicant review committee, the bill requires the
board to pay the application fee for the national certification examination
and provide a scholarship of $500 to pay other expenses of applying for
national certification.  The bill entitles a teacher to three days of leave
to prepare the application for national certification, in addition to any
other leave to which the teacher is entitled (Sec. 21.605).  The bill sets
forth eligibility requirements for financial assistance to teachers
preparing for the certification examination (Sec. 21.603).  The bill sets
forth conditions under which the teacher is required to reimburse the board
for the money received to train and apply for national certification (Sec.
21.606).  The bill requires school districts to pay an annual salary
stipend of $4,000 to teachers who hold national certification, and an
additional $2,000 to those who serve as mentors to other teachers preparing
for the national certification examination (Secs. 21.602 and 21.067).  The
bill provides that the program shall be funded using state money
appropriated for that purpose and gifts, grants, and donations received for
that purpose (Sec. 21.608) 

The bill amends the Government Code to include salary stipends provided as
a part of the program  in the definition of salary and wages for the
purposes of calculating member contributions and benefits under the Teacher
Retirement System of Texas (Sec. 822.201). 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.