_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT PROVIDING RECIPROCITY FOR TEACHERS AND SPECIALISTS LICENSED IN GOOD STANDING IN ANOTHER STATE; requiring the montana certification to be aligned with the person's existing area of certification and commensurate with the person's experience; AMENDING SECTION 20-4-104, MCA; and PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE."

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

Section 1. Section 20-4-104, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-4-104. Qualifications. (1) A person may be certified as a teacher when the person satisfies the following qualifications. The person:

(a) is 18 years of age or older;

(b) is of good moral and professional character;

(c) has completed the teacher education program of a unit of the Montana university system or an essentially equivalent program at an accredited institution of equal rank and standing as that of any unit of the Montana university system, and the training is evidenced by at least a bachelor's degree and a certification of the completion of the teacher education program, except as provided for in 20-4-106(1)(d); and

(d) has subscribed to the following oath or affirmation before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths:

"I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support The Constitution of the United States of America and The Constitution of the State of Montana."

(2) Any A person may be certified as a specialist when the person satisfies the requirements of subsections (1)(a) and (1)(b) and the requirement for a specialist certificate provided in 20-4-106(2).

(3) A person may be certified as a teacher or a specialist if the person holds a current valid teacher or specialist certificate issued by another state and is in good standing in that state. The person must also satisfy the requirements of subsections (1)(a) and (1)(b) before being certified in the teacher or specialist classification under 20-4-106 that most closely aligns with the person's current areas of certification and is commensurate with the person's years of experience."

NEW SECTION. Section 2. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2021.