January 2022 Committee on School Initiatives Item 7
Review of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 234, Military Service Members, Military Spouses, and Military Veterans
January 28, 2022
COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL INITIATIVES: ACTION
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION: ACTION
SUMMARY: This item provides the State Board of Education (SBOE) an opportunity to review the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) rule actions that would propose amendments to 19 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Chapter 234, Military Service Members, Military Spouses, and Military Veterans. The proposed amendments would implement House Bill (HB) 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021. The proposed amendments would add the space force to the list of branches of the United States Armed Forces and would allow service members, spouses, and veterans to get credit toward educator certification requirements for clinical and professional experience.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY: The statutory authority for 19 TAC Chapter 234, §234.3 and §234.5, is the Texas Education Code (TEC), §§21.041(b)(2) and (4); 21.044(a), as amended by HB 159, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021; and 21.052(b-1), as amended by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, (c), (d-1), (f), as amended by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, and (i), as added by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021; and Texas Occupations Code (TOC), §§55.001, as amended by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021; 55.002; 55.003; 55.004, as amended and added by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, 55.0041, as amended and added by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021; and 55.005; 55.006; 55.007; 55.008; 55.009; and 55.010.
TEC, §21.041(b)(2), requires the SBEC to propose rules that specify the classes of educator certificates to be issued, including emergency certificates.
TEC, §21.041(b)(4), requires the SBEC to propose rules that specify the requirements for the issuance and renewal of an educator certificate.
TEC, §21.044(a), as amended by HB 159, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, requires the SBEC to propose rules establishing training requirements a person must accomplish to obtain a certificate, enter an internship, or enter an induction-year program.
TEC, §21.052(b-1), as amended by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, requires the SBEC to establish procedures to accurately identify military spouses and expedite processing of certification applications that they submit.
TEC, §21.052(c), specifies the SBEC can specify the term of a temporary certificate issued under this subsection.
TEC, §21.052(d-1), requires the SBEC to issue a three-year temporary certificate to eligible military spouses of active-duty service members.
TEC, §21.052(f), as amended by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, provides definitions for terms used in the rest of TEC, §21.052.
TEC, §21.052(i), as added by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, defines active-duty service, lists the branches of the United States Armed Forces, and confirms the members of the military community eligible for processes established to certify educators from outside the state.
TOC, §55.001, as amended by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, defines key terms and identifies the individuals relevant to the processing and support of members of the military community.
TOC, §55.002, provides clarification and guidelines for implementing fee exemptions for members of the military community.
TOC, §55.003, states military service members are eligible to receive a two-year extension of time to complete requirements for license renewal.
TOC, §55.004, as amended and added by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, requires state agencies to adopt rules for issuance of licensure to members of the military community and provides alternatives to become eligible for licensure.
TOC, §55.0041, as amended by HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, requires state agencies to adopt rules to allow military spouses licensed in other states and in good standing to practice in their occupation of expertise with the license issued in another state.
TOC, §55.005, requires state agencies to establish a process to expedite applications for licensure submitted by members of the military community.
TOC, §55.006, requires state agencies to determine renewal requirements for expedited licenses issued to members of the military community.
TOC, §55.007, provides state agencies authority to credit verified military service, training, or education toward licensing requirements.
TOC, §55.008, authorizes state agencies to credit verified relevant military service, training, or education relevant to the occupation toward the apprenticeship requirements for licensure.
TOC, §55.009, confirms state agencies that issue licensure shall waive license application and examination fees paid to the state for applicable members of the military community.
TOC, §55.010, requires state agencies to prominently post notification of licensure provisions for military service members, military veterans, and military spouses on the home page of the agency's website.
The full text of statutory citations can be found in the statutory authority section of this agenda.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION: None.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND JUSTIFICATION: All military-related provisions for educator certification have been consolidated into 19 TAC Chapter 234. The proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 234 would implement HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021. Following is a description of the proposed amendments.
§234.3. Definitions.
The proposed amendment to §234.3(5) would implement HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, by adding "space force" to update the list of branches of the United States Armed Forces.
§234.5. Certification of Military Service Members, Military Spouses, and Military Veterans.
The proposed amendment to §234.5(f) would implement HB 139, 87th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, by adding "clinical and professional experience" training to the list of appropriate credit toward certification requirements. HB 139 allows state licensing agencies to give military service members, spouses, and veterans credit toward certification requirements for clinical and professional experience.
The proposed amendment would also include a technical edit to further define a cross reference to 19 TAC §152.1001 in §234.5(h).
SBOE Review of Proposed SBEC Rules
Under the TEC, §21.042, the SBEC must submit a written copy of each rule it proposes to adopt to the SBOE for review. The SBOE may reject the proposed rule by a vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the SBOE present and voting but may not modify a rule.
FISCAL IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The TEA staff has determined that there is no additional fiscal impact on state and local governments and there are no additional costs to persons or entities required to comply with the proposal.
LOCAL EMPLOYMENT IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal has no effect on local economy; therefore, no local employment impact statement is required under Texas Government Code (TGC), §2001.022.
SMALL BUSINESS, MICROBUSINESS, AND RURAL COMMUNITY IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal has no direct adverse economic impact for small businesses, microbusinesses, or rural communities; therefore, no regulatory flexibility analysis, specified in TGC, §2006.002, is required.
COST INCREASE TO REGULATED PERSONS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal does not impose a cost on regulated persons, another state agency, a special district, or a local government and, therefore, is not subject to TGC, §2001.0045.
TAKINGS IMPACT ASSESSMENT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal does not impose a burden on private real property and, therefore, does not constitute a taking under TGC, §2007.043.
GOVERNMENT GROWTH IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The TEA staff prepared a Government Growth Impact Statement assessment for this proposed rulemaking. During the first five years the proposed rulemaking would be in effect, it would increase the number of individuals subject to the rule's applicability because it adds individuals in the space force branch of the United States Armed Forces as military community members and adds military service members, veterans, and spouses who have clinical and professional experience to those persons eligible for credit toward certification requirements.
The proposed rulemaking would not create or eliminate a government program; would not require the creation of new employee positions or elimination of existing employee positions; would not require an increase or decrease in future legislative appropriations to the agency; would not require an increase or decrease in fees paid to the agency; would not create a new regulation; would not expand, limit, or repeal an existing regulation; would not decrease the number of individuals subject to its applicability; and would not positively or adversely affect the state's economy.
PUBLIC BENEFIT AND COST TO PERSONS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The public benefit anticipated as a result of the proposed amendments would be continued support to members of the military community who seek to become educators in Texas. There is no anticipated cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposal.
DATA AND REPORTING IMPACT: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The proposal would have no new data and reporting impact.
PRINCIPAL AND CLASSROOM TEACHER PAPERWORK REQUIREMENTS: No changes have been made to this section since published as proposed. The TEA staff has determined that the proposal would not require a written report or other paperwork to be completed by a principal or classroom teacher.
PUBLIC COMMENTS: In accordance with the SBEC rulemaking process, a summary of comments received by the SBEC on its proposed rules is shared with the SBOE under separate cover prior to this SBOE meeting.
MOTION TO BE CONSIDERED: The State Board of Education:
Take no action on proposed amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 234, Military Service Members, Military Spouses, and Military Veterans.
Staff Members Responsible:
Emily Garcia, Associate Commissioner, Educator Preparation, Certification, and Enforcement
Marilyn Cook, Director, Educator Certification
Attachment:
Text of Proposed Amendments to 19 TAC Chapter 234, Military Service Members, Military Spouses, and Military Veterans