HBA-JEK, MSH C.S.H.B. 1143 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1143 By: Grusendorf Public Education 4/3/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.H.B. 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 C.S.H.B. 1143 amends the Education Code relating to teacher retention and recruitment. Teacher Mentor and Induction Programs From amounts appropriated for these purposes, the bill requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) or a person designated by the commissioner to make grants to school districts of not more than $3,000 as determined by the commissioner for each new teacher who holds a school district teaching permit or alternative certification, and not more than $1,000 as determined by the commissioner 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). The bill authorizes the State Board for Educator Certification to issue a certificate to an educator who holds a certificate or other credential issued by another state and performed satisfactorily on an examination similar to and at least as rigorous as that the examination required for educators in this state (Sec. 21.052). Bonuses for Service at Low-Performing School Campus From amounts appropriated for these purposes, 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 bonus of not more than $3,000 as determined by the commissioner. 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. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1143 differs from the original by removing provisions from the original relating to parental notification of the qualifications of district teachers. The substitute provides that the commissioner of education (commissioner) determines the amount of any bonuses issued to educators under specified maximum amounts rather than setting the amount in law (Sections 21.005 and 21.411). The substitute authorizes the State Board for Educator Certification to issue a certificate to an educator who holds a certificate or other credential issued by another state and performs satisfactorily on an examination similar to and at least as rigorous as the examination required for educators in this state (Sec. 21.052).