House bill NO. 231

INTRODUCED BY B. Ler

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT REVISING EDUCATION LAWS TO ELIMINATE THE CERTIFICATION STANDARDS AND PRACTICES ADVISORY COUNCIL; AMENDING SECTION 20-4-109, MCA; REPEALING SECTIONS 2-15-1522, 20-4-131, 20-4-132, AND 20-4-133, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

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

Section 1. Section 20-4-109, MCA, is amended to read:

"20-4-109. Fees for teacher and specialist certificates. (1) A person applying for the issuance or renewal of a teacher or specialist certificate shall pay a fee not to exceed $6 for each school fiscal year that the certificate is valid. In addition to this fee, a person who has never held any class of Montana teacher or specialist certificate or for whom an emergency authorization of employment has never been issued shall pay a filing fee of $6. The fees must be paid to the superintendent of public instruction, who shall deposit the fees with the state treasurer to the credit of the state special revenue fund account, created in subsection (2), to be used in the following manner:

(a) $4 for expenses of the certification standards and practices advisory council created in 2-15-1522;

(b) $2 to the board of public education and the certification standards and practices advisory council for activities in support of the constitutional and statutory duties of the board of public education and the certification standards and practices advisory council.

(2)        There is an account in the state special revenue fund. Money from fees for teacher or specialist certificates required in subsection (1) must be deposited in the account."

Section 2. Repealer. The following sections of the Montana Code Annotated are repealed:

2-15-1522.         Certification standards and practices advisory council.

20-4-131.           Definitions.

20-4-132.           Meetings -- assistance.

20-4-133.           Duties of the council.

Section 3. Coordination instruction. If both House Bill No. 22 and [this act] are passed and approved, then House Bill No. 22 is void.

Section 4. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023.