HBA-JEK, MSH H.B. 1143 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1143 By: Grusendorf Public Education 3/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas suffers from a widely recognized teacher shortage. To overcome this shortage, the state needs to recruit new teachers and retain experienced teachers. House Bill 1143 provides teacher retention and recruitment programs including bonuses for service at low-performing schools and alternative teacher certification options. 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 1143 amends the Education Code relating to various provisions of public education. Teacher Mentor and Induction Programs To the extent that funds are available, the bill requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) or a person designated by the commissioner to make grants to school districts of $3,000 for each new teacher who holds a school district teaching permit or alternative certification, and $1,000 for each new teacher who has certification from the State Board for Educator Certification (certification board). The bill requires the school district to use this money for the support of teacher mentoring, recruitment, and professional development programs (Sec. 21.005). Alternative Certification of Person Holding Bachelor's Degree The bill authorizes the certification board to issue alternative certification to a person who passes a comprehensive examination administered by the certification board and who holds a bachelor's degree in one or more academic majors related to the essential knowledge and skills curriculum. The bill provides that a person whose academic major is related to only one of these subject areas is authorized to receive a certificate to teach only in that subject area (Sec. 21.0491). Parental Notification The bill requires a school district to give parents or guardians notice about the qualifications of district teachers at least once each school year. The bill removes the current provision that requires a district to provide written notice to a parent or guardian if a district assigns an inappropriately certified or uncertified teacher to the same classroom for more than 30 consecutive school days. The bill requires TEA to develop guidelines regarding the required notice no later than October 1, 2001. For the 2001-2002 school year, a school district is required to provide the notice no later than November 1, 2001 (Sec. 21.057 and SECTION 3). Bonuses for Service at Low-Performing School Campus To the extent that funds are available, the bill entitles an experienced, extraordinary teacher or principal who agrees to serve for three school years at a campus identified as low-performing by the commissioner to a $3,000 bonus. The bill requires the commissioner to adopt criteria to identify such a teacher. The criteria must include the teacher's subject matter expertise, and the performance of the teacher's students and former students. The bill requires the commissioner to pay any bonuses from funds appropriated for that purpose (Sec. 21.411). Professional School District Employees and Personal Liability The bill extends personal liability limitations to a professional employee of a school district who provides personnel information on a current or former employee of the school district to another school or district (Sec. 22.051). EFFECTIVE DATE Provisions regarding teacher mentor and induction programs and bonuses for service at a low-performing school campus take effect September 1, 2001. The remainder of the Act takes effect on passage or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. The Act applies beginning with the 2001-2002 school year.