BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2518

By: Blanco

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Many special education teachers have students identified as in need of bilingual education services in their classrooms, thus requiring the teacher to have a bilingual education certification in addition to their current certification. Current law authorizes a district to offer a program other than a bilingual education program by applying for an exception to this requirement. However, a granted exception is valid for only one year, leaving the teacher little time to earn the bilingual education certification while continuing their classroom teaching obligations. S.B. 2518 seeks to provide relief to public school districts and provide teachers with more time to earn applicable certification by extending the period of validity of a granted exception to the requirement to use a bilingual education program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2518 amends the Education Code to extend from one to three years the period of validity of a granted exception to the requirement for a district to use a bilingual education program. The bill authorizes the application for such an exception for a second or succeeding period to be for the same teacher or a different teacher as in a preceding period. The bill applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2023.