EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. Green numbers along left margin indicate location on the printed bill (e.g., 5-15 indicates page 5, line 15).

1-1 Section 1. 1. There is hereby appropriated from the state general

1-2 fund to the Department of Education the sum of $20,000 for reimbursement

1-3 of certain costs of public school teachers related to acquiring certification

1-4 by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

1-5 2. If a public school teacher desires to obtain reimbursement from the

1-6 Department of Education for the costs that will be incurred in acquiring

1-7 certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the

1-8 teacher shall file a statement of intended certification with the school district

1-9 by whom he is employed. The statement must be filed at least 1 year before

1-10 the teacher reasonably believes that he will acquire the certification. Upon

1-11 receipt of such a statement, the school district shall forward a copy of the

1-12 statement to the Department of Education.

1-13 3. Upon certification, a public school teacher who has filed such a

1-14 statement may request reimbursement by submitting to the school district

2-1 proof that he has acquired the certification and a statement of the costs

2-2 incurred by the teacher in acquiring the certification. The school district

2-3 shall verify the certification and the statement of costs. Upon verification,

2-4 the school district shall notify the Department of Education of the

2-5 certification and the amount of verified costs and shall request the

2-6 Department to reimburse the teacher. Upon receipt of such a request, the

2-7 Department shall cause the teacher to be reimbursed. Such a reimbursement

2-8 must not exceed an amount equal to the actual verified costs incurred by the

2-9 teacher or $2,000, whichever is less, to the extent that money is available

2-10 from the appropriation made by subsection 1 for this purpose or other

2-11 sources.

2-12 4. The Department of Education shall not reimburse costs related to

2-13 certification acquired by a teacher before July 1, 1999.

2-14 Sec. 2. Any remaining balance of the appropriation made by subsection

2-15 1 of section 1 of this act must not be committed for expenditure after June

2-16 30, 2001, and reverts to the state general fund as soon as all payments of

2-17 money committed have been made.

2-18 Sec. 3. This act becomes effective upon passage and approval.