Bill Text: CT SB00018 | 2014 | General Assembly | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning The English Language Learner Educator Incentive Program.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 13-2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2014-05-16 - Signed by the Governor [SB00018 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2014-SB00018-Comm_Sub.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 18
February Session, 2014		LCO No. 513
		*_____SB00018HED___030514____*
Referred to Committee on HIGHER EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT ADVANCEMENT
Introduced by:
(HED)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER EDUCATOR INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 10a-19j of the general statutes is repealed the following substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2014):

(a) There is established an English language learner educator [loan reimbursement] incentive program to be administered by the Office of Higher Education. [within available appropriations.]

[(b) Up to twenty persons may be eligible for reimbursement of federal or state educational loans up to a maximum of five thousand dollars per person per year for up to five years, provided each such person, on or after May 1, 2012, (1) (A) graduates from a teacher preparation program offered by an institution of higher education in this state and completes teacher certification requirements pursuant to section 10-145b, or (B) holds a teaching certificate and completes a program in this state pursuant to which such person receives an endorsement in teaching English to speakers of other languages or bilingual education, (2) if such person has not received an endorsement in teaching English to speakers of other languages or bilingual education, receives such an endorsement, and (3) is employed in a teaching position that requires an endorsement in teaching English to speakers of other languages or bilingual education at a public school in this state and commits, in writing, to remain employed in such a position at a public school in this state for at least five years following such person's receipt of such an endorsement. Any such person eligible for reimbursement under this section who does not remain employed in a teaching position that requires an endorsement in teaching English to speakers of other languages or bilingual education at a public school in this state for at least five years after receiving such an endorsement shall repay the cost to the state of any such reimbursement in accordance with subsection (c) of this section.

(c) The executive director of the Office of Higher Education shall treat reimbursement of educational loans pursuant to this section as loans for any person who does not remain employed for at least five years in a teaching position that requires an endorsement in teaching English to speakers of other languages or bilingual education at a public school in this state. The executive director shall determine the manner of the repayment of such reimbursement by persons who do not remain employed in such a position at a public school in this state for five years, provided, for each year of such five-year period that the person does not remain employed in such a position, the person shall owe to the state not less than twenty per cent of the total amount of such reimbursement.

(d) The Office of Higher Education may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section.]

(b) Within available appropriations, such program shall provide a grant to any student who (1) is in the last two years of a teacher preparation program leading to professional certification at any four-year institution of higher education in this state, and (2) will pursue an endorsement in bilingual education or teaching English to speakers of other languages. No student shall receive a grant under such program for more than two years. Maximum grants shall not exceed five thousand dollars per year.

(c) A student who receives a grant under subsection (b) of this section and who teaches in a public school in this state under such bilingual education or teaching English to speakers of other languages endorsement upon graduation from the teacher education program shall be eligible for reimbursement of federal or state educational loans up to a maximum of two thousand five hundred dollars per year for up to four years of teaching service.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	July 1, 2014	10a-19j

HED

Joint Favorable