Bill Caption

Relating to eligibility requirements for issuance of a teaching certificate to an applicant who holds a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps instructor teaching certification.

Fiscal Notes

No significant fiscal impact to the State.

Local Government Impact

This bill would eliminate fees that districts pay for emergency permits for JROTC instructors who seek the new JROTC standard certificate. Currently, districts pay a $57 fee annually for permits for these JROTC instructors. For everyone who moves to the new ROTC certificate, districts would only pay $77 for an initial certification and then $20 every five years. Districts may also incur a fee of $170 for a review of credentials, but that fee is unlikely.

Bill Analysis

SB 1309 would amend the Education Code to allow a person to obtain standard teaching certification if the person has received a JROTC instructor teaching certification from the United States Department of Defense, United States Army, United States Navy, United States Air Force, or United States Marine Corps. Their years spent as a JROTC instructor would count towards the traditional supervised teaching hours as part of the certification process.

Vote Recommendation Notes

Allowing an individual who has already spent significant time and effort as an instructor in the military to transfer that to a civilian educator certificate would assist military members in transferring to civilian life and allow them to use their past experience instead of starting over. This supports our limited government principle by reducing occupational licensing requirements for people who are otherwise already qualified. We support SB 1309.