A.(1) It is the intent of the legislature to make teacher quality a priority. Therefore, it is necessary to create an incentive and initiative program to entice teachers to earn certification and qualification, including certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Research indicates that one of the greatest factors impacting student achievement is the quality of the classroom teacher. It has been shown that there is an emerging teacher shortage in Louisiana and especially in the Acadiana, East Coast, Florida, and North Central parishes and the Louisiana delta region which are experiencing a more extensive shortage, thus threatening the education of children in these areas. The state's poor and rural areas face enormous and unique problems in attracting certified and highly qualified educators to their schools. Finally, it is the intention of the legislature to provide incentives for qualified classroom teachers to locate and teach in disadvantaged and underserved geographical areas of the state by encouraging and increasing the availability of such teachers for the benefit of children in elementary and secondary schools.
(2) As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Disadvantaged geographical area" means an area designated by the Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program, including, but not limited to the Acadiana, East Coast, Florida, and North Central parishes and the Louisiana delta region of the state.
(b) "Eligible teacher" means an individual who:
(i) Holds a valid Louisiana teaching certificate issued by the state Department of Education.
(ii) Meets all requirements for certification and employment as a teacher in public schools required by law and the rules and regulations of the state board.
(iii) Is employed by a city, parish, or other local public school board as a classroom teacher in a public school located in a disadvantaged geographical area that has been designated as a low-performing school as defined by the state board.
(c) "Panel" means the Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program established in this Section.
(d) "Program" means the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program established pursuant to this Section.
(e) "State board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
B. The Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyer Program is hereby established as a special home loan and loan closing assistance program for any eligible teacher. The Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program shall identify disadvantaged geographical areas in the state. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education through the state Department of Education shall identify low-performing schools as defined by the state board which are located in disadvantaged geographical areas.
C. The state treasurer is hereby authorized to administer the program as developed and approved pursuant to Subsection D of this Section in conjunction with the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae). The treasurer may contract or enter into any agreement with one or more public or private entities to provide assistance in implementing and administering the program. The treasurer shall adopt any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation and administration of the program pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
D.(1) The Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program is established within the Department of the Treasury to develop and monitor the program established pursuant to this Section.
(2) The panel shall consist of the following members:
(a) The state treasurer.
(b) One person appointed by the governor.
(c) One member of the Senate or other person appointed by the president of the Senate.
(d) One member of the House of Representatives or other person appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
(e) One person with knowledge of teacher recruitment and retention programs and issues appointed by the state superintendent of education.
(3) The program developed pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be submitted to and approved by the governor prior to implementation and administration by the state treasurer.
E. The powers, functions, and duties of the advisory panel shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) Identifying disadvantaged geographical areas in the state.
(2) Advising the state treasurer on the implementation of the panel's recommendations.
(3) Evaluating and assessing annually the effectiveness of the program.
(4) Developing recommendations to disseminate information regarding the program to eligible teachers.
(5) Developing recommendations to promote the program.
(6) Recommending rules and regulations for program implementation and administration.
(7) Meeting at least quarterly. The panel shall convene for its first meeting no later than July first in each state fiscal year. At the first meeting each year, the chairman of the panel shall be elected by the members of the panel. Meetings also shall be held on call of the chairman or at the request of at least three members of the panel. Presence of a majority of the members of the panel shall constitute a quorum.
(8) Submitting an annual report, including proposed legislation if necessary, to the state treasurer, governor, and the legislature at least thirty days prior to each regular legislative session.
F. Each appointment to the advisory panel by the governor and the state superintendent of education pursuant to this Section shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation and such members shall serve terms concurrent with the governor. A vacancy in such membership of the panel shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
G. All nonlegislative members of the advisory panel shall serve without compensation, but shall receive reimbursement for travel related to panel business to be paid out of funds appropriated to the appointing authority for such purpose. Legislators who are members of the panel shall receive such per diem and expenses as provided for legislators during attendance of committee meetings.
A.(1) It is the intent of the legislature to make teacher quality a priority. Therefore, it is necessary to create an incentive and initiative program to entice teachers to earn certification and qualification, including certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Research indicates that one of the greatest factors impacting student achievement is the quality of the classroom teacher. It has been shown that there is an emerging teacher shortage in Louisiana and especially in the Acadiana, East Coast, Florida, and North Central parishes and the Louisiana delta region which are experiencing a more extensive shortage, thus threatening the education of children in these areas. The state's poor and rural areas face enormous and unique problems in attracting certified and highly qualified educators to their schools. Finally, it is the intention of the legislature to provide incentives for qualified classroom teachers to locate and teach in disadvantaged and underserved geographical areas of the state by encouraging and increasing the availability of such teachers for the benefit of children in elementary and secondary schools.
(2) As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Disadvantaged geographical area" means an area designated by the Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program, including, but not limited to the Acadiana, East Coast, Florida, and North Central parishes and the Louisiana delta region of the state.
(b) "Eligible teacher" means an individual who:
(i) Holds a valid Louisiana teaching certificate issued by the state Department of Education.
(ii) Meets all requirements for certification and employment as a teacher in public schools required by law and the rules and regulations of the state board.
(iii) Is employed by a city, parish, or other local public school board as a classroom teacher in a public school located in a disadvantaged geographical area that has been designated as a low-performing school as defined by the state board.
(c) "Panel" means the Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program established in this Section.
(d) "Program" means the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program established pursuant to this Section.
(e) "State board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
B. The Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyer Program is hereby established as a special home loan and loan closing assistance program for any eligible teacher. The Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program shall identify disadvantaged geographical areas in the state. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education through the state Department of Education shall identify low-performing schools as defined by the state board which are located in disadvantaged geographical areas.
C. The state treasurer is hereby authorized to administer the program as developed and approved pursuant to Subsection D of this Section in conjunction with the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae). The treasurer may contract or enter into any agreement with one or more public or private entities to provide assistance in implementing and administering the program. The treasurer shall adopt any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation and administration of the program pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
D.(1) The Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program is established within the Department of the Treasury to develop and monitor the program established pursuant to this Section.
(2) The panel shall consist of the following members:
(a) The state treasurer.
(b) One person appointed by the governor.
(c) One member of the Senate or other person appointed by the president of the Senate.
(d) One member of the House of Representatives or other person appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
(e) One person with knowledge of teacher recruitment and retention programs and issues appointed by the state superintendent of education.
(3) The program developed pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be submitted to and approved by the governor prior to implementation and administration by the state treasurer.
E. The powers, functions, and duties of the advisory panel shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) Identifying disadvantaged geographical areas in the state.
(2) Advising the state treasurer on the implementation of the panel's recommendations.
(3) Evaluating and assessing annually the effectiveness of the program.
(4) Developing recommendations to disseminate information regarding the program to eligible teachers.
(5) Developing recommendations to promote the program.
(6) Recommending rules and regulations for program implementation and administration.
(7) Meeting at least quarterly. The panel shall convene for its first meeting no later than July first in each state fiscal year. At the first meeting each year, the chairman of the panel shall be elected by the members of the panel. Meetings also shall be held on call of the chairman or at the request of at least three members of the panel. Presence of a majority of the members of the panel shall constitute a quorum.
(8) Submitting an annual report, including proposed legislation if necessary, to the state treasurer, governor, and the legislature at least thirty days prior to each regular legislative session.
F. Each appointment to the advisory panel by the governor and the state superintendent of education pursuant to this Section shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation and such members shall serve terms concurrent with the governor. A vacancy in such membership of the panel shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
G. All nonlegislative members of the advisory panel shall serve without compensation, but shall receive reimbursement for travel related to panel business to be paid out of funds appropriated to the appointing authority for such purpose. Legislators who are members of the panel shall receive such per diem and expenses as provided for legislators during attendance of committee meetings.
A.(1) It is the intent of the legislature to make teacher quality a priority. Therefore, it is necessary to create an incentive and initiative program to entice teachers to earn certification and qualification, including certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Research indicates that one of the greatest factors impacting student achievement is the quality of the classroom teacher. It has been shown that there is an emerging teacher shortage in Louisiana and especially in the Acadiana, East Coast, Florida, and North Central parishes and the Louisiana delta region which are experiencing a more extensive shortage, thus threatening the education of children in these areas. The state's poor and rural areas face enormous and unique problems in attracting certified and highly qualified educators to their schools. Finally, it is the intention of the legislature to provide incentives for qualified classroom teachers to locate and teach in disadvantaged and underserved geographical areas of the state by encouraging and increasing the availability of such teachers for the benefit of children in elementary and secondary schools.
(2) As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise:
(a) "Disadvantaged geographical area" means an area designated by the Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program, including, but not limited to the Acadiana, East Coast, Florida, and North Central parishes and the Louisiana delta region of the state.
(b) "Eligible teacher" means an individual who:
(i) Holds a valid Louisiana teaching certificate issued by the state Department of Education.
(ii) Meets all requirements for certification and employment as a teacher in public schools required by law and the rules and regulations of the state board.
(iii) Is employed by a city, parish, or other local public school board as a classroom teacher in a public school located in a disadvantaged geographical area that has been designated as a low-performing school as defined by the state board.
(c) "Panel" means the Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program established in this Section.
(d) "Program" means the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program established pursuant to this Section.
(e) "State board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
B. The Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyer Program is hereby established as a special home loan and loan closing assistance program for any eligible teacher. The Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program shall identify disadvantaged geographical areas in the state. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education through the state Department of Education shall identify low-performing schools as defined by the state board which are located in disadvantaged geographical areas.
C. The state treasurer is hereby authorized to administer the program as developed and approved pursuant to Subsection D of this Section in conjunction with the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae). The treasurer may contract or enter into any agreement with one or more public or private entities to provide assistance in implementing and administering the program. The treasurer shall adopt any rules or regulations necessary for the implementation and administration of the program pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.
D.(1) The Advisory Panel on the Louisiana Teachers' Homebuyers Program is established within the Department of the Treasury to develop and monitor the program established pursuant to this Section.
(2) The panel shall consist of the following members:
(a) The state treasurer.
(b) One person appointed by the governor.
(c) One member of the Senate or other person appointed by the president of the Senate.
(d) One member of the House of Representatives or other person appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
(e) One person with knowledge of teacher recruitment and retention programs and issues appointed by the state superintendent of education.
(3) The program developed pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be submitted to and approved by the governor prior to implementation and administration by the state treasurer.
E. The powers, functions, and duties of the advisory panel shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) Identifying disadvantaged geographical areas in the state.
(2) Advising the state treasurer on the implementation of the panel's recommendations.
(3) Evaluating and assessing annually the effectiveness of the program.
(4) Developing recommendations to disseminate information regarding the program to eligible teachers.
(5) Developing recommendations to promote the program.
(6) Recommending rules and regulations for program implementation and administration.
(7) Meeting at least quarterly. The panel shall convene for its first meeting no later than July first in each state fiscal year. At the first meeting each year, the chairman of the panel shall be elected by the members of the panel. Meetings also shall be held on call of the chairman or at the request of at least three members of the panel. Presence of a majority of the members of the panel shall constitute a quorum.
(8) Submitting an annual report, including proposed legislation if necessary, to the state treasurer, governor, and the legislature at least thirty days prior to each regular legislative session.
F. Each appointment to the advisory panel by the governor and the state superintendent of education pursuant to this Section shall be submitted to the Senate for confirmation and such members shall serve terms concurrent with the governor. A vacancy in such membership of the panel shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
G. All nonlegislative members of the advisory panel shall serve without compensation, but shall receive reimbursement for travel related to panel business to be paid out of funds appropriated to the appointing authority for such purpose. Legislators who are members of the panel shall receive such per diem and expenses as provided for legislators during attendance of committee meetings.
